James Johnston v Dave Kilcoyne
CENSUS’ WEE BROTHER ain’t all that wee.
We know ‘Killer’ Kilcoyne is a powerful asset to have in the loose but if Munster are to cause an upset, then they will need parity at the scrum.
Uncertainty over Kilcoyne’s set-piece was the reason Declan Kidney leap-frogged him with Tom Court during the Six Nations and Munster won just 75% of their own ball in the group stages (the worst of the eight quarter-finalists according to Andy McGeady). Today, he’ll have the responsibility along with Mike Sherry and BJ Botha.
If that trio can stunt the progress of Johnson, Marler and Buchanan, then we could, just maybe, be in for a vintage away day.
Nick Evans v Ronan O’Gara
Predictably, ROG didn’t appear to lose any of his swagger while Ireland were limping through the final rounds of the Six Nations without him. If he really does have any designs on playing on for another year, then a big performance on Sky this afternoon is imperative.
He will be helped enormously in that venture by the presence of Paul O’Connell, who will give his old mate a workable platform.
Evans will ensure the visitors will be punished for almost any penalty conceded in their own half, so we might just see The Big Os taking executive decisions and playing the game-plan they know best.
Tom Williams v Simon Zebo
What can we say about Tom Williams that isn’t connected to his history with joke-shop blood capsules?
No, to be fair to the winger, he’s rebounded extremely well from that hugely embarrassing point in his career (was it really this time four years ago?) and become a regular contributor to Conor O’Shea’s success.
But while Williams is a workmanlike Premiership grade wing, the man opposite him at The Stoop today is absolutely overflowing with star quality.
The problem for Simon Zebo is that he comes into this game just barely fit after recovering from a broken foot. Still, if the Corkman can bring anything close to his previous form into the knock-out stage, then Williams will be in for a long afternoon, and Munster will profit in fives and sevens.
