PERPIGNAN WILL RUN out at Thomond Park this afternoon as leaders of Heineken Cup pool six, but with the weight of history stacked against them.
The fixture marks the eighth meeting between the sides in what has been an absorbing 15-year rivalry. Today’s hosts have managed to win five of the seven meetings between the sides, including once in Catalonia and once in Lansdowne Road.
All four teams in the pool have a 50% record after two games, Munster’s defeat to Edinburgh forming the low-light of their entire season thus far.
Since that day though, the southern province have strung five wins together and a sixth today could see them take pole position in the group at the halfway stage.
Standing in the way of that will be the familiar face of Welsh utility back James Hook who is named fullback and captain for Perpignan today. Kicking accuracy has always proved a trump card for Munster in this fixture down the years, but the presence of Hook and French international out-half Camille Lopez will give the visitors much more threat from the boot to worry the Thomond faithful.
One method of easing those worries would be to look upon Paul O’Connell; starting for the fourth consecutive week, but for only the third time this season with his province. Against a Perpignan side hurt by injuries in the tight five, O’Connell’s long-term second row partner Donncha O’Callaghan joins him in the engine room once again while captain Peter O’Mahony has been able to shake off a bruise to take up the blindside role.
Depth chart
There are a number of, if not surprising, eyebrow-raising selections: BJ Botha will take up a seat next to CJ Stander on the bench allowing Stephen Archer line up at tight-head from the start, while Sean Dougall has been given a shot at openside.
Unfortunately, there was no surprise at hooker where Damien Varley beings a long residency with Mike Sherry ruled out for six months. As a result Penney has had to delve into the depth chart and promote Shannon’s Duncan Casey to the replacements bench and the hooker will make his debut for the southern province – if not today, then next weekend.
Behind the scrum Ian Keatley will look to work in tandem with Conor Murray to give the crowd plenty to shout about in the early stage of this less-than-ideal Sunday lunchtime kick-off.
Penney and O’Mahony were clear in their pronouncements this week. It’s win or bust for Munster. And if they take that mood into the opening half then they should be set up to push for an extra point in the latter stages.
However, to get that far and turn the one-point gap into an advantage, the intensity must be focused, tackles and clear-outs must be clinical and kicks from hand or tee must be on the money.
Munster: Felix Jones; Keith Earls, Casey Laulala, James Downey, Johne Murphy; Ian Keatley, Conor Murray; David Kilcoyne, Damien Varley, Stephen Archer; Donncha O’Callaghan, Paul O’Connell; Peter O’Mahony (Capt.), Sean Dougall, James Coughlan.Replacements: Duncan Casey, James Cronin, BJ Botha, Billy Holland, CJ Stander, Cathal Sheridan, JJ Hanrahan, Denis Hurley
Perpignan: James Hook (capt), Joffrey Michel, Tommaso Benvenuti, Watisoni Votu, Sofiane Guitoune, Camille Lopez, Tom Ecochard; Sébastien Taofifenua, Romain Terrain, Paulica Ion, Luke Charteris, Guillaume Vilaceca, Jean-Pierre Perez, Alasdair Strokosch, Justin Purll.
Maxime Delonca, Kisi Pulu, Jean Baptiste Custoja, Sébastien Vahaamahina, Dewaldt Duvenage, Tommy Allan, Richard Haughton, Dan Leo.
