Munster can handle bit of drama

Munster v Perpignan:EVER THE Drama Kings, it wouldn't be a Heineken Cup campaign without Munster facing a moment of crisis, or at any rate truth. Coming off the back of their fifth defeat of a fitful season, Munster have the advantage of playing hosts to Perpignan in the first of the pivotal Celtic-French showdowns in Pool One. But that also accentuates the pressure to win.

If they don’t win tonight it would be difficult to se how even these arch negotiators of the pool stages and renowned escapologists can progress to the knock-out stages for a 12th year in a row.

The two-time Heineken Cup champions haven’t exactly been themselves this season, a prime example being in midfield. Ultimately, coach Tony McGahan has taken the view that something had to give and has broken up the Jean de Villiers-Lifeimi Mafi partnership after seven successive if often frustrating outings together.

In opting to omit de Villiers, his expensive Springbok summer recruit, McGahan has made a courageous call.

There looked to be a better attacking balance there when Keith Earls switched to outside centre after the introduction of Ian Dowling in the end game to Munster’s round one defeat to Northampton, and McGahan has opted to revert Earls there after seven consecutive games on the wing for province and country.

Mafi might just as easily have made way, one ventures, but he ought to be happier back at inside centre, where he was magnificent last season, and Earls provides more gas and inventiveness.

McGahan will also be relieved to welcome Paul O’Connell, David Wallace and Denis Leamy to his pack, but against that there will be no Jerry Flannery. The Ireland hooker has been ruled out by what the management describe as “a slight Achilles problem”.

The absence of Marcus Horan provides a Euro debut for Springboks prop Wian du Preez.

There remain other caveats, for another utterly dependable source of strength in trying times has always been Ronan O’Gara’s kicking. His ratio is down to a scarcely believable 42 per cent this season, but you’d still expect him to have ironed out the glitches and, come the big occasion deliver, as he has invariably done.

Perpignan are clearly coming on a mission. Compared to the team which beat Montpellier 29-3 at home last week, there are five changes. Winger Farid Sid returns from injury, as centre David Marty, English loosehead Perry Freshwater and backrowers Yoann Vivalda and Yannick Parent all return to the starting line-up.

However, they are still without the injured first-choice backrow that started the win over Northampton in round two, namely Gerrie Britz, Jean-Pierre Perez and their influential, ball-carrying number eight Henry Tuilagi, as well as outhalf Nicolas Laharrague and winger Julien Candelon.

Even so, on paper it looks as strong a side as they could have selected. They’ve struggled for tries both in the French top 14 this season and in Europe, barely averaging one per game. They don’t play an awful lot of rugby but, true to type, their set-pieces and their maul have been especially potent in grinding teams down, while the Maxime Mermoz-David Marty combination is probably the form midfield pairing in France.

Good French judges reckon the Catalans to be the most spirited side in France, and their first Bouclier de Brennuslast season in over half a century appears to have imbued them with a self-belief previously lacking.

But while their home form is again sensational, in seven games on the road they’ve won only twice. In a recent defeat to bottom-placed Albi they appeared scarcely interested.

Admittedly, their wins have been in Paris, against Racing and Stade Français, who they overcame brilliantly in front of 80,000 people at Stade de France. That performance suggests they are a big-occasion team.

“They’re a massive scrimmaging side and they’re very big maulers,” admits Paul O’Connell. “They maul most of the ball they get and they’re very good at it. They kick a lot from their own half of the pitch, but when they get into your half they just play like a very typical French side – play with a lot of pace and width once they’re in your half. It’s going to be a very difficult challenge – they’re a bit like Clermont in that they challenge you both ways.

“Clermont showed up with all guns blazing here last year and we were lucky to get away with a win,” adds the Munster captain. “The final is on in Paris this year. Perpignan were French champions last year and they’re a real strong force in French rugby. I’ve no doubt that they’ll be here with a strong team on Friday night.

“Last time we played them we had an unbelievably tough game in Lansdowne in the quarter-final (four seasons ago). We barely won. It’s going to be a very tough game.”

The Munster pack is going to have to front up, but presuming Denis Fogarty’s darts and O’Gara’s radar are on the money, then history has taught us the home side will rise to the occasion. This is the Heineken Cup, this is Thomond Park, this is a moment of truth and, most of all, this is Munster.

MUNSTER:P Warwick; D Howlett, K Earls, L Mafi, D Hurley; R O'Gara, T O'Leary; W du Preez, D Fogarty, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell (capt); A Quinlan, D Wallace, D Leamy. Replacements: D Varley, D Hurley, T Buckley, M O'Driscoll, D Ryan, N Ronan, P Stringer, J de Villiers.

PERPIGNAN:J Porical; F Sid, D Marty, M Mermoz, C Manas; G Hume, N Durand; P Freshwater, G Guirado, N Mas (capt), O Olibeau, R Tchale Watchou, Y Vivalda, B Guiry, Y Parent. Replacements: M Tincu, J Schuster, K Pulu, C Geli, D Mele, J Grandclaude, P Burger, R Alvarez Kairelis.

Referee:Wayne Barnes (England).

Previous meetings:(1998-99) Perpignan 41 Munster 24; Munster 13 Perpignan 5; (2002-03) Munster 30 Perpignan 21; Perpignan 23 Munster 8; (2005-06) q-f Munster 19 Perpignan 10 (Lansdowne Road).

Results so far:Munster: 27-31 v Northampton (a); 41-10 v Treviso (h). Perpignan: 8-9 v Treviso (a); 29-13 v Northampton (h).

Leading points scorers:Munster: R O'Gara 20. Perpignan: J Porical 27.

Leading try scorers:Munster: D Wallace, I Dowling two each. Perpignan: Porical, D Marty one each.

Forecast:Munster to win.