PRO 12 LEAGUE Munster v Ulster:THERE IS the sentimental factor, what with Mick O'Driscoll and Lifeimi Mafi playing their last game at Thomond Park, but Munster must also win to keep everything on course for a RaboDirect Pro 12 final in Dublin against Leinster in three weeks' time.
They need the four points to guarantee third spot in the table and a trip to the Liberty Stadium to face the Ospreys next Friday. Defeat could send them up to the RDS two weeks ahead of schedule.
There is also the residue from the recent defeat to tonight’s visitors in the defining fixture of their season last month. Munster were comprehensively beaten that day in a result that changed the pecking order in Irish rugby.
“Munster are always tough opponents, particularly at home,” said Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin. “But the Heineken Cup quarter-final win down there proved we can do it. We set the bar very high that day and I expect the boys to go out and defend our reputation.”
The departing Mafi is partnered in midfield by Ivan Dineen, after the latter’s impressive showing for Munster A in last week’s BI Cup final, while O’Driscoll locks down alongside Paul O’Connell one last time.
Tomás O’Leary is the other departing son, named on the bench, as is Ian Humphreys for Ulster. This pair intend to make up the London Irish halfback combination next season.
But the most valuable selection for Tony McGahan, also on his last home outing as head coach, is Keith Earls’ return to the squad from a knee injury.
To make the play-offs Ulster must win with a bonus point and hope Glasgow and the Scarlets both lose without a bonus against Cardiff and Connacht respectively. However their priorities lie elsewhere now.
“We are reliant on other results but we will approach the game trying to do our job . . . the ideal outcome is to get a semi-final spot but we realise it’s unlikely.”
McLaughlin’s selection reflects a club with only one focus; Twickenham on May 19th v Leinster. It must be felt that Andrew Trimble requires more exposure, having been confined largely to defensive duties of late on the wing, while Paddy Jackson is the starting 10 now and Humphreys doesn’t get a final outing before moving on.
Willie Faloon and Dan Tuohy are others rolled out again from the unimpressive defeat of Edinburgh at the Aviva stadium, as is Declan Fitzpatrick, who has one more chance to book a plane ticket to New Zealand as Ireland’s replacement tighthead, following his impressive scrummaging display last week. Come Monday John Afoa’s suspension is served.
The Irish management will be interested observers. It would be nice to see Craig Gilroy and Simon Zebo cross paths or Fitzpatrick hold his own against Wian du Preez. But the pecking order is already altered, a fact that should spur Munster on to victory.
MUNSTER: F Jones; J Murphy, I Dineen, L Mafi, S Zebo; I Keatley, C Murray; W du Preez, M Sherry, BJ Botha; M O'Driscoll, P O'Connell; D Ryan, T O'Donnell, P O'Mahony. Replacements: D Varley, D Kilcoyne, S Archer, D O'Callaghan, P Butler, T O'Leary, S Deasy, K Earls.
ULSTER: A D'Arcy; A Trimble, N Spence, I Whitten, C Cochrane; P Jackson, P Marshall; P McAllister, N Brady (capt), D Fitzpatrick; L Stevenson, D Tuohy; I Henderson, W Faloon, R Diack. Replacements: N Annett, C Black, T Court, M McComish, A Birch, B McIlroy, I Humphreys, C Gilroy.
Referee: A Rolland(Ireland).
Verdict: Munster win.
