Ruthless Munster machine closing in on the title

MAGNERS LEAGUE:BACK TO mundane domestic fare then? Hardly. More like back to the league that has provided two of the last three European champions, three of the four Heineken Cup semi-finalists, 42 of the 44 players involved in the Six Nations decider and, more recently but not least, 27 of the chosen 37 Lions. Let's hear it for the Magners League then.

The midweek haul represents a staggering 73 per cent of the touring party to South Africa, as against 21 of 44 (or 48 per cent) chosen by Clive Woodward four years ago and provides further evidence that, in its eighth year, the Celtic brotherhood have benefited from the competition between themselves.

Nor are Munster, closing in on their first title since the league’s second year, 2002-03, treating it lightly. Having targeted both the league and Europe in a bid to break new ground this season, they go into this evening’s game with a healthy 11-point lead over their nearest challengers the Ospreys – albeit with a game more played.

Conceivably, Munster could clinch the title over the weekend, were they to pick up a bonus point win this evening and the Ospreys were to lose by more than seven points at home to Edinburgh. A bonus point would put the title mathematically beyond Leinster, although the holders having effectively lost any remaining hold on the trophy with last week’s defeat to Edinburgh.

More likely is that Munster will be able to secure the title in their penultimate game away to in-form Cardiff a fortnight hence, although were they not to then they’d run the risk of the title going down to a last-day shoot-out against the Ospreys at Thomond Park.

So there is still some rugby to be played, starting tonight. In keeping with their ultra-professional, game-by-game, dual assault on both trophies, all European and Lions matters have been pushed to one side. Little or nothing is being kept back in reserve ahead of next weekend’s minor little scuffle in Croke Park – save for the Lion king himself Paul O’Connell.

In what is purely a precautionary measure, the Munster and Lions captain is resting a slightly sore hip, and so Mick O’Driscoll comes into the side and captains them again. However, in a striking statement of intent as well as underlining their strength in depth, the European champions’ other seven Lions will all line-up come kick-off as Tony McGahan recalls eight of Ireland’s Grand Slammers and Lifemi Mafi to the team which started last week’s 25-10 win over Connacht.

Ronan O’Gara, who goes into the game on 496 league points and within distance of yet another landmark, is liable to face up to Stephen Jones at some juncture, though the only other outhalf in the Lions is on the bench, where he will be joined by the Scarlets’ other tourist, Matthew Rees. Other rendered hors de combat include Darren Daniel (leg), Simon Easterby (knee), Gavin Evans (calf), Regan King (hamstring), Kees Meeuws (Achilles), Morgan Stoddart (knee).

Since the defeats in the 2000 and 2002 finals, no loss has been etched on the Munster mindset quite like the quarter-final defeat away to the Scarlets in the quarter-finals as defending European champions two seasons ago. That hurt, and part of the proof is in what has happened since; Munster winning the last six meetings between the two.

They are also on a nine-game winning run dating back to that stunning 11-37 reversal at home to Ulster on January 3rd, whereas the Scarlets have won only once away since September and haven’t won on Munster soil in six years.

The ruthless machine looks of a mind to roll on.

MUNSTER: P Warwick; D Howlett, K Earls, L Mafi, I Dowling; R OGara, T OLeary; M Horan, J Flannery, J Hayes, D OCallaghan, M ODriscoll (capt), A Quinlan, D Wallace, D Leamy. Replacements: D Fogarty, T Buckley, D Ryan, N Ronan, P Stringer, B Murphy, D Hurley.

SCARLETS: D Evans; M Jones (capt), R Higgitt, J Davies, L Williams; R Priestland, M Roberts; I Thomas, M Schwalger, S Roberts, V Cooper, D Day, J Turnbull, R McCusker, D Lyons. Replacements: P John, M Rees, A Shingler, J Edwards, G Cattle, S Jones, C Thomas.

Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU).

Previous meetings: (01-02) q/f Munster 13 Scarlets 6; (02-03) Scarlets 13 Munster 20; (03-04): Munster 12 Scarlets 19; Scarlets 37 Munster 20; (04-05) Munster 19 Scarlets 13; Scarlets 32 Munster 17; (05-06) Munster 14 Scarlets 13; Scarlets 18 Munster 6; (06-07) Scarlets 25 Munster 12; (HC qf) Scarlets 24 Munster 15; Munster 20 Scarlets 0; (07-08) Scarlets 23 Munster 24; (HC) Scarlets 16 Munster 29; (HC) Scarlets 16 Munster 29; Munster 26 Scarlets 16; (08-09) Scarlets 16 Munster 18.

Leading points scorers: Munster: Paul Warwick 83, Ronan O’Gara 56. Scarlets: Stephen Jones 102, Rhys Priestland 41.

Leading try scorers: Munster: Keith Earls, Doug Howlett 7 each, Niall Ronan 5. Scarlets: Deacon Manu, Martin Roberts 4 each.

Betting (Paddy Powers): 1/33 Munster, 50/1 Draw, 10/1 Scarlets. Handicap odds (Scarlets + 21pts) 10/11 Munster, 25/1 Draw, 10/11 Scarlets.

Verdict: Munster to win.