Munster fortitude to earn its just reward

Pool Five: Munster v Clermont Auvergne Tomorrow Thomond Pk, 1.0 On TV: Sky Sports 2:It doesn't really matter why ASM Clermont Auvergne have made 14 changes from the side that thumped Llanelli 48-21, the mere fact they have done so ratchets up the pressure on Munster tomorrow.

The Irish province are even stronger favourites - confirmed by the bookmakers who lengthened the points spread when the French side was announced - to secure their first victory in this season's European Cup having come tantalisingly close in defeat last weekend at the Ricoh stadium in Coventry.

Munster's 24-23 loss to Wasps illustrated a perennial facility in this tournament to thrive in adversity. It will have infused renewed belief into a squad that hadn't quite reached the standards this season they demand of themselves.

Coach Declan Kidney has opted to make one change to the team from the Wasps match, recalling Ian Dowling to the left wing in place of Anthony Horgan. Tomás O'Leary's bout of pneumonia means Gerry Hurley is promoted to the bench.

John Hayes has recovered from a neck injury, so Tony Buckley who proved an able deputy when introduced during the game, will start in a tracksuit.

There were many aspects of Munster's performance to admire from their set-piece excellence to the control and intelligent direction of stand-in captain Ronan O'Gara.

Alan Quinlan was wonderfully abrasive, while the New Zealand midfield axis of Lifeimi Mafi and Rua Tipoki offered uncompromising, straight line running. They key for the home side tomorrow will be to cut down on the individual errors that undermined them the last day.

They'll also need to guarantee a more uniform defensive structure as they offered Wasps several dog-leg alignments, situations that proved costly. There's no problem with the line coming up aggressively, but it must be a gambit into which everyone buys.

Clermont's Julien Malzieu is the only player retained from the Scarlets win and even he shifts from wing to fullback. But it would be a mistake to completely disregard the French side's chances of becoming only the second side in the history of the tournament, following Leicester last season, to win at Thomond Park. Clermont boast an interesting blend of streetwise nous in the shape of a couple of South Africans, former Ulster player Grant Esterhuizen and one time Springbok Marius Joubert, with the cutting edge provided by Fijians Vilimoni Delasu and Seremaia Bai.

Munster supporters will be familiar with Georgian pillars Goderzi Shvelidze and Davit Zirakashvili from the Rugby World Cup while squeezed in between them is the man who raised the William Webb Ellis trophy in France, John Smit.

It is really in the back five where their aptitude for what will be a physically intense and uncompromising battle seems questionable. The second row pairing of Christophe Samson and Pierre Vigouroux are just 23 and 24 years of age respectively.

Flanker Fabien Alexandre is even younger at 22 and it's only their captain for the day in the absence of Aurelien Rougerie, New Zealander Sam Broomhall (31), who sports the battle scars of experience.

A slight decrease in the capacity because of the renovation work to about 12,900 is negligible and Munster's faithful will be keen to erase memories of their last European match at the venue when the Tigers stole not alone the points but their coveted, unbeaten home record.

Munster need to win this match first and foremost and then address the issue of a bonus point. The traditional virtues that they bring to these occasions should suffice.

MUNSTER: S Payne; B Carney, R Tipoki, L Mafi, I Dowling; R O'Gara (capt), P Stringer; M Horan, J Flannery, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll; A Quinlan, D Wallace, D Leamy. Replacements: F Sheahan, T Buckley, A Foley, J Paringatai, G Hurley, P Warwick, K Lewis.

ASM CLERMONT AUVERGNE: J Malzieu; G Esterhuizen, M Joubert, R Chanal, V Delasau; S Bai, A Pic; G Shvelidze, J Smit, D Zirakashvili; C Samson, P Vigouroux; F Alexandre, E Etien, S Broomhall (capt). Replacements: M Lozupone, T Domingo, T Privat, A Audebert, A King, P-Manuel Garcia, N Vonowale Nalaga.

Referee: N Owens (Wales).

Results so far(HC 2006-2007): Munster - lost to Wasps (a) 24-23. ASM Clermont Auvergne - bt Llanelli (h) 48-21.

Previous meetings: None.

Leading points scorers: Munster- Ronan O'Gara 13. ASM Clermont Auvergne- Brock James 16. Leading try scorers: Munster- R Tipoki, S Payne 1 each. ASM Clermont Auvergne- Aurelien Rougerie 3.

Odds(courtesy of Paddy Powers): Munster 2/7, Clermont 12/5, Draw 25/1. Handicap: Munster (-10pts) 10/11, Clermont (+10) 10/11, Draw 20/1.

Verdict: Munster to win.