Back to reality for Munster

Glasgow v Munster:TRAVELLING TO face the Glasgow Warriors on their home turf has traditionally proved a taxing experience for Munster, so attempting to do so without seven members of the first-choice pack highlights the magnitude of the task. The Irish province sits atop the Magners League table but face a couple of pivotal games over the next eight days.

They follow their trip to Glasgow by hosting their closest pursuers, Leinster, at Thomond Park and on Sunday April 12th at the same Limerick venue will welcome the Ospreys in a Heineken Cup quarter-final. Munster coach Tony McGahan is able to call upon a handful of players who were members of the Ireland squad in Cardiff at the weekend.

Mick O’Driscoll will lead the team from the second row while Peter Stringer is named at scrumhalf. Tomás O’Leary, who started for Ireland against Wales, is included among the replacements. Barry Murphy has recovered from a shoulder injury and is named on the left wing in a strong-looking backline. Ian Dowling is expected to be available for the Leinster match. Up front James Coughlan joins Niall Ronan and Alan Quinlan in an athletic backrow.

McGahan said: “Obviously we have to be happy where we are in terms of league position as the competition restarts after the Six Nations. The squad have worked extremely hard, applied themselves well.

“However, we recognise how difficult a fixture this is. Glasgow haven’t been beaten in Firhill by an Irish side in almost two years. They have almost all their internationals back and there has never been much between us in recent times.

“Obviously the break (for the Six Nations) makes it difficult but it’s the same for them as well so it’s a matter of adjusting quickly, players getting back into the tempo of game time and taking the opportunities when they present themselves.”

His Glasgow counterpart, Seán Lineen, will be looking for strong performances from the returning Scottish internationals, especially the Evans brothers, Max and Thom. Flanker James Eddie and Samoan winger Lome Fa’atau are back in the team after injury.

Eddie will make only his fourth appearance of the season having been forced out in the early part because of a shoulder injury and latterly by knee ligament damage. Fa’atau has been out of commission for three and a half months because of a shinbone injury. He replaces Hefin O’Hare, who is required by the Scotland squad for the Hong Kong Sevens.

The primary issue for the visitors tomorrow will be to try to establish some sort of platform because they certainly possess the wherewithal behind the scrum to cause the home side problems.

It’s an important occasion for players like fullback Denis Hurley and wing Barry Murphy who could contend strongly for a place in the starting team over the next few weeks if former Maori centre Rua Tipoki fails to recover from injury in time for the Leinster match.

Much could depend on where McGahan elects to play Keith Earls, who is as versatile as he is talented. Dowling is likely to return on the left wing for the Leinster match and along with Doug Howlett and Lifeimi Mafi will take three of the four three-quarter line places: for Hurley and Murphy performances at Firhill could decide their short-term prospects.

Glasgow will start as favourites by virtue of having more of their established internationals. That’ll suit Munster. It should be close but the Irish province may have to settle for a bonus point.

GLASGOW WARRIORS:B Stortoni; L Fa'atau, M Evans, R Jackson, T Evans; D Parks, M McMillan; J Va'a, F Thomson, M Low; T Barker, A Kellock (capt); J Eddie, K Brown, J Beattie. Replacements: D Hall, K Tkachuk, D Turner, C Forrester, C Gregor, J Maria Nunez Piossek, P Horne.

MUNSTER:D Hurley; D Howlett, K Earls, L Mafi, B Murphy; P Warwick, P Stringer; F Pucciariello, D Fogarty, T Buckley, M O'Driscoll (capt), D Ryan, A Quinlan, N Ronan, J Coughlan. Replacements: M Essex, D Hurley, B Holland, T O'Donnell, T O'Leary, J Manning, K Lewis.

Referee:Tim Hayes (Wales).

Last meeting (October 2008): Munster 25 Glasgow 17; Leading points scorers: Glasgow – Dan Parks 108. Munster – Paul Warwick 67.

Leading try scorers: Glasgow – Thom Evans 6. Munster – Keith Earls 5.

Verdict: Glasgow to win.