Amid novelty of occasion, Munster and Connacht face grave implications of MacHale defeat
LEARNING THE CODE: Connacht Rugby Captain’s Run, Elvery's MacHale Park, Castlebar, Mayo on Friday. Pic: INPHO/James Crombie
Whatever about the sense of occasion which Saturday’s Connacht-Munster URC derby clash creates in front of more than 26,000 supporters at MacHale Park, the importance of leaving Castlebar with the lion’s share of match points outweighs any history being made on Mayo GAA turf.
The sight of returning Ireland internationals on both provinces' teamsheets following their post-Six Nations breaks certainly ups the ante as the URC’s self-described Race to the Eight enters its final straight. Just five rounds of the regular season remain before play-off berths are allocated. With 13 matches already in the books, neither side can afford any slip-ups between now and the end of May.
The URC helpfully provided a chart of play-off probabilities for each side this week, suggesting fifth-placed Munster’s chances (84 per cent) are far healthier than its 12th-placed hosts (23 per cent) yet neither camp needed an algorithm to tell them what is staring both in the face – a loss this weekend will deliver a potentially fatal blow to their respective post-season ambitions.
The addition of international quality, with Mack Hansen, Bundee Aki, Finlay Bealham and captain Cian Prendergast all returning for Connacht, and a Munster quartet of Jack Crowley, Calvin Nash, Conor Murray and skipper Tadhg Beirne is welcome given both teams narrowly lost on the road last time out in their absence. Munster’s defeat at Glasgow Warriors made it back-to-back losses following a home beating by Edinburgh but they are further bolstered by returns from long-term injury of scrum-half Craig Casey and lock Jean Kleyn while Oli Jager and Niall Scannell are also fit enough to make the matchday 23.
Munster interim head coach Ian Costello has made five changes and two positional switches to the side that started at Scotstoun eight days ago. Crowley is reunited in the half-backs with a fit-again Casey, back after three months out with a meniscus injury, while Nash returns on the right wing in a back three which sees Sean O’Brien move to the opposite edge. Tom Ahern moves from second row to blindside flanker to make way for captain Beirne while Jager’s return from a foot injury sustained on Ireland A duty a month ago sees him start at tighthead prop.
Murray returns from his 125th and final cap as an Ireland international for his 200th Munster appearance and is one of two backline replacements alongside Rory Scannell. Double World Cup winner Kleyn is on standby for his first appearance since October as one of six forwards on the away bench as Niall Scannell takes the covering hooker role having missed the trip to Glasgow.
Connacht, under the temporary charge of Cullie Tucker in the absence of head coach Pete Wilkins on sick leave, have named Hansen at full-back, while Aki returns at inside centre in partnership with Hugh Gavin and Bealham starts at tighthead prop in a front row.
Currently sitting two points adrift of the play-off places that also bring Champions Cup rugby for next season, and with their two-game South African tour to the Stormers and Lions up next, Tucker underlined why the MacHale Park game was significant on two fronts.
“The history and importance of this game is not lost on us,” the temporary boss said. “We appreciate and recognise what this fixture means to the people of Mayo and the wider province, and all the players and management feel extremely fortunate to be involved in the day in some way.
“Inside the camp we’re also aware of just how important this game is in the context of our overall season. If we can pick it up the win against strong opposition, we'll be in a good spot in a very tight league before heading to South Africa next month.
“It’s our job from top to bottom to deliver a performance befitting of the occasion, and with over 20,000 Connacht fans cheering the boys on, I know they will do everything in their power to back that up.”
Nor is the sense of occasion lost on Lawler, who returned to Munster from Connacht two summers ago after eight years in the west.
“Connacht is a real community club, with massive buy-in from their supporters all over the province,” Lawler said. “So, to get an opportunity to move the game away from the Sportsground, which is only holding 3-4,000 at the amount, to go to a stadium to play against Munster where you’re going to get the bones of 26,000 is a no-brainer, I think.
“It buys into that community spirit, which they’re massive on. The occasion is just going to be huge for the province as a whole.”
M Hansen; C Mullins, H Gavin, B Aki, F Treacy; J Ioane, C Blade; J Duggan, D Heffernan, F Bealham; J Joyce, D Murray; C Prendergast - captain, S Hurley-Langton, S Jansen.
D Tierney-Martin, D Buckley, J Aungier, J Murphy, P Boyle, M Devine, JJ Hanrahan, S Cordero.
B O'Connor; C Nash, T Farrell, A Nankivell, S O'Brien; J Crowley, C Casey; J Loughman, D Barron, O Jager; F Wycherley, T Beirne – captain; T Ahern, J Hodnett, G Coombes.
N Scannell, J Wycherley, S Archer, J Kleyn, R Quinn, C Murray, R Scannell, A Kendellen.
Craig Evans (Wales)
