Munter v Clermont Auvergne:IF IT'S Thomond Park on the Saturday of a Heineken Cup weekend it must be another epic collision of Euro heavyweights, neither of whom can probably afford to lose. Once again then all aboard for another of those bare-knuckle rides. Ever the drama kings, Munster don't do routine.
The consequences of last week's defeat in the Auvergne is that a crack Clermont outfit arrive in Limerick not only with their confidence restored but still alive and contenders in Pool One. This time, Vern Cotter and his players would appear to mean business, unlike last season. Then his decision to make 14 changes from the side that thrashed Llanelli met with a bonus-point win for Munster which was ultimately as critical as the losing bonus point the eventual champions picked up in Clermont to edge out the French side on the head-to-head record after both finished level on 19 points.
Not that Cotter hasn't again made changes, with only Jamie Cudmore and Julien Bonnaire remaining from the starting eight up front a week ago, and they have moved from flanker to lock and number eight to flanker respectively. That said, Cotter has been rotating his forwards consistently this season. Although Aurelien Rougerie has been rendered hors de combat, this is offset by the return from injury and suspension of their hugely influential Marius Joubert and their latest wing sensation, Napolini Nalaga.
But there's probably no more daunting task than trying to beat Munster two weekends running.
"They're a quality team," admits Cotter of Munster, "and part of their quality is to prepare for games and they're not a team that likes losing or takes losing easily. So if we thought this game was difficult, and it was, we expect them to find strategies to counter what we did against them last week.
"We're aware that we're playing a smart team and they will have adjusted. We can't expect them to play in the same manner they played against us a week ago, that's a testament to their quality and the way they're coached and the team they are. . .They will be pushed along by a very vocal crowd and they will play with a little bit more intensity and passion, and we've got to be ready for that."
As both Cotter and Brock James said in the wake of last week's win, Clermont needed it and arrive with a renewed level of confidence having finally, perhaps, rid themselves of the hangover from last June's defeat to Toulouse in Stade de France. Nor will they be sending over the espoirs.
"We are getting a chance to measure ourselves. We won at home, but can we take our game and be consistent away from our ground? That's one of the first things we need to look at. What is the reward for playing well? Well, more confidence again. What is the opportunity? To perhaps test Munster in Munster, and if we put in a good performance and get a chance to win, and if they can beat Munster in Munster then it would be a great feat. We have to isolate the 80 minutes and maximise everything we can do, and then we'll see what happens."
It will be interesting to see if Clermont seek to repeat their changed tactics of that third quarter, when using their power up front to make inroads closer in after Munster's well organised defence - albeit at great effort - had withstood their wide game in the opening 40.
In the immediate aftermath of last week's defeat and ever since Munster have been reproaching themselves for allowing their intensity to drop off in that decisive third quarter. Presuming the recent Munster-All Blacks game has set the atmospheric template for the remodelled Thomond Park then, as Cotter concedes, that is liable to be the case.
Munster coach Tony McGahan has also spoken of improving their kicking game, to allow for a harder chase and put the classy Clermont outside three under more pressure. With the return of Jerry Flannery at hooker their only change, they'll also want to up their effort at scrum time, where their problems contributed to the concession of six points last week. Munster will hardly come off as badly on the penalty count, presuming the normally excellent Chris White consistently referees both sides at the breakdown. The best pressure of all should come on the scoreboard, and the quicker Ronan O'Gara obtains the seven points he needs to become the first player to score 1,000 points in the competition in his 79th appearance, the better.
It's Clermont's turn to feel the vengeful Munster wrath. Nobody beats Munster twice, goes the saying, least of all, one suspects, two weekends in a row.
Previous meetings: (07-08) Munster 33 Clermont 13; Clermont 26 Munster 19 (0809) Clermont 25 Munster 19.
Results so far: Clermont - 15-32 v Sale (h); 24-19 v Montauban (a); 25-19 v Munster (h). Munster - 19-17 v Montauban (h); 24-16 v Sale (a); 19-25 v Clermont (a).
Leading try scorers: Munster - B Murphy, P Warwick, D Wallace, M Horan one each. Clermont - N Nalaga 2, A Audebert, B James one each.
Leading points scorers: Munster - R O'Gara 39. Clermont - B James 49.
Betting (Paddy Powers): 1/6 Munster, 25/1 Draw, 7/2 Clermont. Handicap betting (= Clermont + 10pts) 10/11 Munster, 20/1 Draw, 10/11 Clermont. Forecast: Munster to win.
