Munster find themselves back at square one, and with an altogether tougher task, their memorable odyssey of last season is one for the video shelves and the grandchildren. Newport may be Heineken Cup debutants, but they are an upwardly mobile, polyglot array of internationals and very much the coming force of Welsh rugby. As banana skins go then, more the size of an inflatable one.
Two years ago Newport failed to win one match in the Welsh League and only retained their status because relegation was temporarily scrapped. In stepped the entrepreneur Tony Brown, who had set up an office furniture factory in Newport and is believed to be worth £60-70 million. Wanting to put something back into the community, Brown has ploughed an estimated £2-3 million into the club, utterly transforming Newport on and off the pitch into an ultra professional and commercially viable enterprise.
Runners-up in the Welsh/Scottish League last season, and joint leaders currently, Newport were buoyed by a first win in 14 years at Pontypridd (where Munster lost last season) two weeks ago, and are pretty much at full strength. Between them, their galaxy of 10 internationals have represented eight different countries. "They're as strong as Saracens last year," maintains Declan Kidney in recalling Munster's two one-point wins over their main pool rivals. "Tell me where they're weaker?" he adds, and demonstrates the point by comparing each opposition from one to 15 and highlighting Newport's strong spine.
Despite losing Peter Rogers to Cardiff, they can pack down with a former Springbok and a current Canuck, Adrian Garvey and Rod Snow (who gave John Hayes a tough time in Toronto last summer), either side of the strong scrummaging James Richards. The Fijian lock and captain Simon Raiwalui is an immense presence, and one of their main target runners, alongside a Lions' hopeful in Ian Gough, while Gary Teichmann at number eight and Shane Howarth as a hugely successful convert to the playmaking/outhalf role, have been around the block a few times.
The sense of fear and excitement in Munster is tangible, which is how it should be, for when Munster start assuming victory on days like this is the day they lose games like this. "Last year we got a roll going, but the builder is stationary now," says Kidney. "We have to see if we can get it moving again and it will take a mighty heave, because it's a bit uphill. This is a world-class side and our fellas would do very well to beat them. That's the way I would continue to look at this competition."
Munster have occasionally battled against bigger bulkier packs, and Newport's is big as well as grizzled. A tight, fiercely competitive game seems possible. Munster cannot afford to be bullied a bit in the set-pieces if they're to generate their customary momentum in the loose, and will need to take their chances as well as being at their most obdurate best defensively.
Even so, Newport are newcomers to this unique competition, where home advantage counts that bit more and the Thomond factor especially, where Munster have never been beaten in Euro fare, must count for something. Furthermore, Newport have shown a tendency to start slowly and a big start is probably Munster's best chance. Otherwise, it could be another of those long, hard, nail-biting and titanic days at the Thomond office.
Munster: D Crotty; J Kelly, M Mullins, J Holland, A Horgan; R O'Gara, P Stringer; P Clohessy, F Sheahan, J Hayes, M Galwey (capt), J Langford, A Quinlan, A Foley, D Wallace. Replacements: M Horan, J Blaney, M O'Driscoll, C McMahon, T Tierney, J Staunton, K Keane.
Newport: M Pini; M Mostyn, J Jones-Hughes, A Marinos, B Breeze; S Howarth, D Edwards; R Snow, J Richards, A Garvey, S Raiwalui, I Gough, P Buxton, G Teichmann (capt), J Forster. Replacements: C Jones, P Young, G Taylor, A Popham, J Pritchard, E Lewis, D Burn.
Referee: Jim Fleming (Scotland).
European Cup records: Munster - P 27, W 16, D 1, L 10, for 677, against 631, tries 69-74; Newport - first time in competition.
Leading try scorers: Munster - Mick Galwey 7.
Leading points scorers: Munster - Ronan O'Gara 161. Previous meetings: None.
Results this season: Munster - W W W W W; Newport - L W W W L W W.
Odds (Paddy Powers): 1/3 Munster, 16/1 draw, 12/5 Newport. Handicap odds (= Newport + 8pts) 10/11 Munster, 20/1 draw, 10/11 Newport.
Forecast: Munster to win.
