Munster looking to consolidate their position

FEW EUROPEAN defeats in modern times rankled with Munster more than the quarter-final beating they were handed by an inspired Scarlets team in the quarter-finals five years ago which sandwiched their 2006 and ’08 successes.

It’s as if they’ve been taking out their frustrations on them ever since.

The sides met for a 13th time since that day in April 2007 last weekend in Parc y Scarlets, and for a 13th time Munster won. It is a remarkable run of victories, four of which have been by less than three points, and the nagging concern for Munster must be that it cannot last for ever.

Munster would also have bitten the hand that offered them pole position with three wins from three at the halfway point in this tough pool, all the more so with Northampton on three defeats from three and out of contention.

Hence, there must be a danger that Munster’s winning run over the Scarlets and in this pool might induce a little complacency which, as the sole Thomond Park defeats in Europe to Leicester (when Munster were already through to the last eight) and to Harlequins last season in the Amlin semi-finals demonstrated, can leave Munster at their most vulnerable.

For a team which traditionally feeds off emotion, be it a desire for vengeance, perceived injustices or, simply, a fear of failure, that’s hardly surprising. The memory of last season’s pool exit and the revived fear of failure is what has rejuvenated their desire for redemption this season.

Although they can hardly have any complaints, it probably won’t help Munster either that Sky and ERC have given Munster the library shift, or Sunday roast shift.

In the circumstances then, it’s no surprise Tony McGahan and the brains trust have shuffled their cards a little.

Recalls for the fit-again Keith Earls, Donncha O’Callaghan and Denis Leamy ought to serve the selection’s primary purpose which, though vindicated by three successive wins, is to refresh the starting XV.

Earls’ recall, after a five-week absence, is a tribute to his powers of recovery, as well as a tacit acknowledgment that Munster need to sharpen their attacking edge in the continuing absence of Doug Howlett, who had been turning water into wine, and Felix Jones.

Will Chambers has carried solidly alongside Lifeimi Mafi, but Earls’ footwork and pace gives Munster another dimension. Stephen Archer is also promoted to the bench ahead of John Hayes.

Having reaped the rewards of promoting Donnacha Ryan and Peter O’Mahony, McGahan might now benefit from recalling a couple of his dogs of war.

They have all been reminded, if even subconsciously, that no one has a divine right to the red jersey, and one imagines that O’Callaghan and Leamy will be suitably galvanised now.

Besides, save for a couple of poor restart receptions, O’Callaghan has been banging on the door with his form off the bench, while Leamy has been positively taking a hammer to the said portal even before Peter O’Mahony (jaw) was ruled out.

To accommodate the return of Stephen Jones, Rhys Priestland also starts where he finished last week, namely at fullback, which is none too surprising given how effectively he made the switch, notably in the way he hit the line.

With Iestyn Thomas (illness) and Aaron Shingler (toe sprain) ruled out, Rhodri Jones comes in at loosehead and Jon Edwards in the backrow, as does lock Lou Reed (seeking a perfect day on his 100th Scarlets’ match).

The flip side of Northampton’s unlikely fall from grace is that the Scarlets are Munster’s only viable challengers.

They have the bonus of a five-point haul in Northampton and hence know that a win would, no less than in Munster’s case, leave them in charge of this group.

Munster are by no means a team of all the talents, not least after being shorn of Jones, the in-form Howlett and, until today, Earls. Given the latter’s rustiness and, for all his pace and running talent if under-developed offloading and passing game, Simon Zebo’s positional and defensive play in Howlett’s absence also leaves them vulnerable to the Scarlets’ cutting edge out wide.

Although Munster have been clinically efficient in closing out games, aside from sluggish starts they have not been ruthless enough in pressing home hard-won advantages on the scoreboard; instead coughing up scores.

Rediscovering that ruthlessness from the off, and working that scoreboard in their favour, especially in the first quarter, would go a considerable way towards taking a stranglehold on this game and this pool.

MUNSTER: D Hurley; J Murphy, K Earls, L Mafi, S Zebo; R O’Gara, C Murray; W du Preez, D Varley, B Botha, D O’Callaghan, P O’Connell (capt), D Leamy, N Ronan, J Coughlan. Replacements: D Fogarty, M Horan, S Archer, D Ryan, T O’Donnell, T O’Leary, I Keatley, D Barnes.

SCARLETS: R Priestland; L Williams, S Williams, J Davies, S Lamont; S Jones, G Davies; R Jones, M Rees (capt), R Thomas, L Reed, D Welch, R McCusker, J Edwards, B Morgan. Replacements: K Owens, P John, D Manu, S Timani, K Murphy, T Knoyle, G Maule, V Iongi.

Referee: Dave Pearson (England).

Previous meetings: (2006-07) q/f Scarlets 24 Munster 15. (07-08) Scarlets 16 Munster 29; Munster 22 Scarlets 13.

Results so far: Munster – 23-21 v Northampton (h); 27-24 v Castres (a); 17-14 v Scarlets (a). Scarlets: 31-23 v Castres (h); 28-23 v Northampton (a); 14-17 v Munster (h).

Leading try scorers: Munster – Doug Howlett 2. Scarlets – Aaron Shingler 2.

Leading points scorers: Munster - Ronan O’Gara 37. Scarlets – Rhys Priestland 27.

Betting (Paddy Powers): Munster, Draw, Scarlets. Handicap odds (Svarlets + pts) 10/11 Munster, Draw, 10/11 Scarlets.

Forecast: Munster to win.