RUGBY MUNSTER v NEW ZEALAND:AS WITH their predecessors, these All Blacks are conscious of their responsibilities to history, tradition, public, sponsors, union and media alike. Hence, they've been out and about these last few days. No sooner had they arrived in Limerick on Sunday afternoon than several, including Dan Carter, visited Thomond Park to open the new Munster Rugby Store.
Yesterday, about 300 people attended a corporate breakfast for an audience with Graham Henry, Tony McGahan, Richie McCaw, Joe Rokocoko and Doug Howlett. McGahan and McCaw remained with Rodney So'oialo at Thomond Park for a coaching clinic with the winners of the adidas "Impossible is Nothing" event.
A rugby-themed art exhibition is being held in town and yesterday evening, Jonah Lomu officially switched on the Christmas lights in O'Connell Street and last night there was a re-union dinner for the Munster heroes of 1978 as well as some of the beaten All Blacks, including captain Graham Mourie.
Today Munster will officially open their impressive €500,000 museum; very modernistic and different. The Taoiseach, Brian Cowan, and the IRFU president John Lyons will officially open the new Thomond Park this evening, although this would appear to be somewhat after the event.
Oh yes, there's also a match this evening. It's called the Zurich Challenge, and at around lunchtime the heroes of '78 will individually present the Munster players with their shirts for tonight's game. This symbolises how the red jersey is passed down from generation to generation, and everyone who wears it, for no matter how long, is only in temporary occupancy; akin to the All Blacks.
It promises to be a touching gesture, and while those away on Ireland duty are entitled to feel a little envious, tonight's team are liable to need all the inspiration they can get for the 25,700 sell-out.
All told, 10 of the Munster frontliners are otherwise engaged with Ireland in the build-up to Saturday's crucial encounter with Argentina. Whereas tonight is a nod to the past, Saturday's outcome has ramifications for the next three years and beyond.
Munster can at least be grateful for the release of Ian Dowling, Peter Stringer, Mick O'Driscoll, Donnacha Ryan, Denis Leamy and Tony Buckley, although the latter is confined to the bench.
Coupled with the unavailability of Marcus Horan and an injury to Darragh Hurley, this has obliged McGahan to name 24-year-old Academy and Cork Constitution prop Timmsy Ryan at tighthead for his first Munster start. His previous nine appearances have been off the bench, none for more than 13 minutes, the last of which was away to Ulster in March '07.
Denis Hurley's absence sees Doug Howlett, the All Blacks' all-time leading try scorer, move to fullback for a poignant run-out against his native country and at least Rua Tipoki is fit again to ensure he and Lifeimi Mafi will also line up against the haka - amid strong rumours that the three will perform a haka of their own in response.
While the backline still has a strong look to it, this Munster selection features eight of the starting line-up and 13 of the 22 on duty for their last outing, the 22-6 defeat to Ulster three and a half weeks ago. New Zealand field eight of the starting line-up and 13 of the 22 that beat Scotland 32-6 in Murrayfield last Saturday week.
Conceding this was one of his more diluted selections and that Munster had only had one run-out on Sunday prior to yesterday evening's 20-minute captain's run, McGahan maintained they still had the nucleus of the backline, "so we'll definitely be able to put together some good first phase attacks with our backs and I think defensively we'll be strong, and with lots of speed out in the back three."
"We expect them (All Blacks) to play a very high, up-tempo game. They'll won't have a lot of intrinsic first phase play or a lot of intrinsic patterns, but what they do do is put you under enormous pressure by doing things exceptionally well time and time again until you crack. So we need to be at our best in all facets of our play. We're looking to stress them too. We need to play some rugby, we're not going to just try and fill holes, we're going to attack them too."
For his part, Henry dutifully commented: "It's a pretty special game because it's the anniversary of 30 years ago. It's a part of history, especially in this part of the world. Munster is one of the leading clubs in Europe if not the leading club. I must be careful of what I'm saying here," he smiled.
While the game is slightly disruptive of preparations for the third leg of their Grand Slam attempt in Wales next Saturday, Henry is glad to grant playing time to many in his 36-man squad who probably won't see any more action after tonight. That said, with this being one of 16 matches this year for the All Blacks, he does not envisage traditional tours being revived. "Reality says it can't happen."
Citing Munster's two Heineken Cup wins, Henry said: "You can bet your bottom dollar the Munster side will play to the utmost of their ability. They'll be hugely motivated. They're fulfilling a huge tradition and playing for a lot of people who have worn the Munster jersey before and, of course, the 1978 side particularly." Of course.
MUNSTER:D Howlett; B Murphy, R Tipoki, L Mafi, I Dowling; P Warwick, P Stringer; F Pucciariello, F Sheahan, T Ryan; M O'Driscoll capt, D Ryan; J Coughlan, N Ronan, D Leamy. Replacements: D Fogarty, T Buckley, M Melbourne, B Holland, J O'Sullivan, M Prendergast, J Manning.
NEW ZEALAND:C Jane (Wellington); H Gear (Wellington), A Tuitavake (North Harbour), I Toeava, J Rokocoko (both Auckland); S Donald (Waikato), P Weepu (Wellington, capt); J Mackintosh (Southland), C Flynn, B Franks (both Canterbury), R Filipo (Wellington), J Eaton (Taranaki), A Thomson (Otago), S Waldrom (Taranaki), L Messam (Waikato). Replacements: H Elliott (Hawke's Bay), J Afoa (Auckland), B Thorn (Tasman), K Read (Canterbury), A Mathewson (Wellington), R Kahui, M Muliaina (both Waikato).
Referee:Romain Poite (France).
Betting(Paddy Powers): 10/1 Munster, 50/1 Draw, 1/33 New Zealand. Handicap odds (= Munster +26pts) 10/11 Munster, 25/1 Draw, 10/11 New Zealand.
