News
Preview: Munster v Montauban
October 09 2008
Munster coach Tony McGahan has named a full strength side for the opening game of the 2008/09 Heineken Cup campaign, as they play host to Montauban at Thomond Park.
With a new coach, a clutch of new players, and a new stadium Munster, the defending champions, will be looking to kick-start their defence in fine style.
They take on French minnows Montauban, whom many have predicted to be the whipping boys of the pool, and with Clermont and Sale also in the mix you can see why.
McGahan names a side featuring ten internationals, nine of whom are Irish. Having played second fiddle for much of last season Peter Stringer resumes his partnership with Ronan O'Gara at half-back, whilst All Black Doug Howlett starts on the right wing.
The centre berths are occupied by the formidable pairing of Rua Tipoki and Lifeimi Mafi - a partnership that was a feature of Munster's success last season.
In the pack it is an all-Irish affair, number eight Justin Melck aside, as Paul O'Connell leads from the second row along side Donnacha O'Callaghan.
Montauban are less fortunate in terms of having endless internationals at their disposal, although they do boast Scotland second row Scott Murray and Romanian prop Bogdan Balan.
Their captain, Marc Raynaud, provides the bulk of European experience, having previously played 47 games in the Challenge Cup and three in the Heineken Cup.
Form: Munster come into this game having won five from five in the Magners League, and will be confident of making it six wins in a row. They rightly sit atop the Magners League table and have not lost in the Heineken Cup since a 26-19 reversal against Clermont on 13 January 2008. Montauban meanwhile have lost four of their opening seven Top 14 fixtures, leaving them tenth on the table.
Prediction: Unless Munster have a nightmare they should win this one at a canter. With no disrespect to Montauban they will not be able to cope with Munster's class. Munster by 20.
The Teams:
Munster: 15 Keith Earls, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Rua Tipoki, 12 Lifeimi Mafi, 11 Ian Dowling, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Peter Stringer, 8 Justin Melck, 7 David Wallace, 6 Alan Quinlan, 5 Paul O'Connell (c), 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 John Hayes, 2 Jerry Flannery, 1 Marcus Horan.
Replacements: 16 Denis Fogarty, 17 Frederico Pucciariello, 18 Donnacha Ryan, 19 John O'Sullivan, 20 Mike Prendergast, 21 Paul Warwick, 22 Barry Murphy.
Montauban: 15 Johan Dalla Riva, 14 Sylvain Jonnet, 13 Jean-Philippe Viard, 12 Rida Jahouer, 11 Jean Emmanuel Cassin, 10 Régis Lespinas, 9 Petre Mitu, 8 Matthew Clarkin, 7 Marc Raynaud (c) 6 Yannick Caballero, 5 Rowan Frost, 4 Scott Murray, 3 Nick Adams, 2 Brice Mach, 1 Bogdan Balan.
Replacements: 16 Camille Traversa, 17 Laurent del Boulbes, 18 Silviu Florea, 19 Karim Ghezal, 20 Antoine Battut, 21 Fabien Fortassin, 22 Julien Laharrague.
Date: Friday 10 October, 2008
Kick-off: 20:00 BST (19:00 GMT)
Venue: Thomond Park
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assessor: Chris White (England) , Robin Goodliffe (England)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)