Munster's away form still rankles

Rugby:IT WAS Munster's form away from home last season that cost coach Tony McGahan so much heartache. It's not really Munster's thing to be seen to have such a glaring weakness and it doesn't sit easily with the squad. With two wins from nine matches, McGahan needs to break the trend and tonight a stronger side, but one still without several key players, takes to Edinburgh.

Paul O’Connell, Keith Earls, Jerry Flannery, David Wallace and Lifeimi Mafi remain sidelined.

McGahan brings in the experienced Alan Quinlan to the backrow with Donnacha Ryan switching from blindside flanker to the secondrow, where he partners Mick O’Driscoll. It’s largely an act of faith from the coach after last week’s opening win against Italian franchise Aironi.

McGahan’s player rotations ensures Ronan O’Gara, Donncha O’Callaghan, John Hayes and Tomas O’Leary will make the trip but start the match as spectators with the ever-impressive Paul Warwick and Peter Stringer behind the scrum and Tony Buckley starting at tighthead prop. Like O’Gara and O’Leary, O’Callaghan too will, at some point, make an appearance in the secondrow for Ryan or O’Driscoll.

“Our form away from home last season was poor, no question about that,” admitted McGahan. “As this competition has evolved, it’s become harder and harder to win away from home. Last year I think the best away form was that of the Ospreys, who won three, two of those coming at the back end against ourselves and Ulster. Leinster won twice on the road.

“You look at sides, who don’t finish at the top, they’re still very difficult to turn over in their own ground. To that end you need a strong focus. So this weekend’s game is about addressing that.”

It’s Edinburgh’s first competitive home game of the season and they make four changes to the side that lost to Cardiff last week in Wales. Argentina lock Esteban Lozada makes his debut having recovered from a back complaint and he will partner Scott McLeod. Mark Robertson on the wing, backrows Scott Newlands and Ross Rennie all make their first starts of the season too.

EDINBURGH:C Paterson; M Robertson, B Cairns, A Grove, T Visser; P Godman, M Blair; A Jacobsen, R Ford, G Cross, E Lozada, S McLeod, S Newlands, N Talei, R Rennie. Replacements: A Kelly, K Traynor, J Gilding, F McKenzie, S McInally, G Laidlaw, D Blair, J Houston.

MUNSTER:F Jones; D Howlett, J Murphy, S Tuitupou, I Dowling; P Warwick, P Stringer; W du Preez, D Varley, T Buckley; D Ryan, M O'Driscoll; A Quinlan, N Ronan, D Leamy (capt). Replacements: D Fogarty, M Horan, J Hayes, D O'Callaghan, P O'Mahony, T O'Leary, R O'Gara, D Barnes.

Referee:J Jones (WRU).

Betting:Edinburgh 4/6; Munster 11/10. Draw 19/1.

Verdict:Edinburgh win.