Munster V Edinburgh
Team News:
Munster begin their Rabo Pro12 season with a home game against fellow Heineken Cup pool 6 side, Edinburgh in Musgrave Park. Prop James Cronin is handed his first ever competitive start and plays in a front row made up of three Munster academy graduates - Stephen Archer and Mike Sherry. Cronin made two substitute appearences at the back end of last season and has impressed Rob Penney in both his preseason games and in last season's A games.
Donnacha O'Callaghan will provide plenty of quality and experience alongside Dave Foley in the second row while James Coughlan captains the side from the tail of the scrum. Munster fans will have been slightly perplexed at the exclusion of CJ Stander from the match day squad. Whispers doing the rounds is that he picked up a slight strain in training midweek.
Duncan Williams is given the nod ahead of Cathal Sheridan at scrum half and he partners Ian Keatley at half back. Ronan O'Mahony has been in terrific preseason form after bagging a hat trick against London Irish last weekend. He is a bolter to keep your eye on for the coming season.
Edinburgh boast a strong looking front row with Ross Ford named alongside WP Nel and Alasdair Dickinson. Sean Cox will captain the side in the second row while the evasive David Denton at number 8 will be hoping for a better season after a poor showing last year.
Club captain Greig Laidlaw misses out with a knee injury and is replaced at scrum half by Sean Kennedy. Ben Atiga who is a former Super Rugby player, capped by New Zealand starts at inside centre alongside Scotland's Nick De Luca. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne is an exciting Sevens player and starts on the bench. Another to keep your eye on if he gets a chance to showcase his skills.
Pre Season Form:
Munster come into their opening league game on the back of a 100% record in their preseason. A comfortable win over Gloucester at Thomond Park was followed a week later with an impressive late fight back against London Irish at Musgrave Park. Rob Penney has made full use of his squad during preseason and Munster go into tomorrow night's game looking very sharp.
Edinburgh suffered a heavy 24-6 loss in their first preseason game at the hands of Northampton in what was a hugely competitive clash. The Scottish side bounced back a week later and picked up a ten point win over another Premiership side, Newcastle Falcons. Head coach Alan Solomons was full of praise for his side and after two tough games, will be hoping his side can kick on in their opener tomorrow night.
Prediction:
Munster.
Teams:
Munster: 15 Denis Hurley, 14 Ronan O'Mahony, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Ivan Dineen, 11 Johne Murphy, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Duncan Williams, 8 James Coughlan (capt), 7 Sean Dougall, 6 Dave O'Callaghan, 5 Donncha O'Callaghan, 4 Dave Foley, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Mike Sherry, 1 James Cronin.
Replacements: 16 Damien Varley, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 John Ryan, 19 Billy Holland, 20 Tommy O'Donnell, 21 Cathal Sheridan, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Cian Bohane.
Edinburgh: 15 Greig Tonks, 14 Dougie Fife, 13 Nick De Luca, 12 Ben Atiga, 11 Lee Jones, 10 Piers Francis, 9 Sean Kennedy, 8 David Denton, 7 Roddy Grant, 6 Sean Cox (capt), 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Grant Gilchrist, 3 WP Nel, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Alasdair Dickinson.
Replacements: 16 Aleki Lutui, 17 Geoff Cross, 18 Lewis Niven, 19 Ollie Atkins, 20 Hamish Watson, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 Harry Leonard, 23 Jack Cuthbert.
Kick off is 19:15 on Saturday evening and the game is live on TG4
Connacht V Zebre
Team News:
Fionn Carr starts Connacht's opener against Zebre following the wingers return from a spell with Leinster. The Westies will be delighted to see their most prolific try scorer back in the side and he makes up an exciting looking back three with Matt Healy and Robbie Henshaw.
Plenty is expected of exile Kieran Marmion this season and he will be hoping to build on his summer spent on Tour with Ireland. The exciting scrum half partners the vastly experienced Dan Parks at half back. New signing Craig Ronaldson starts on the bench. The Lansdowne fly half was an integral part of of his side's AIL league success last season and is another fine advocate for the league.
Pam Lam has named Michael Swift as his side's captain for their opener at the Showgrounds. Connacht's most capped player is joined by Andrew Browne in the second row. George Naoupu will win his 50th cap and he is part of an experienced back row that also includes John Muldoon and Willie Faloon.
Zebre will be boosted by their returning skipper Marco Bortolami who missed their previous two preseason games. South African Andries Van Schalkwyk has plenty of Currie and Vodacom cup experience in the back row.
Giovanbattista Venditti switches from full back to his preferred right wing. New Zealander Dion Berryman who tested positive for a banned substance last year starts at full back. After 7 seasons with Saracens, Fijian Kameli Ratuvou makes his debut at outside centre.
Pre Season Form:
Connacht lost all three of their preseason games. They opened with a 42-31 defeat away to Castres but put in a fine performance. A 31-7 home defeat to Wasps was less than impressive while a 13 point defeat away to Newcastle won't have pleased new coach, Pam Lam.
Zebre were unbeaten in their preseason. A tour of France that included a 17-12 win against Aurillac followed by two wins over smaller French regional sides. Wins against Italian sides Mogliano (28-5) before an impressive 40-14 demolition of Calvisano. Zebre will take huge confidence into tomorrow night's clash in Galway.
Prediction:
Connacht.
Teams:
Connacht: 15.Robbie Henshaw 14.Fionn Carr 13.Danie Poolman 12.Eoin Griffin 11.Matt Healy 10.Dan Parks 9.Kieran Marmion 1.Brett Wilkinson 2.Jason Harris-Wright 3.Nathan White 4.Michael Swift (captain) 5.Andrew Browne 6.John Muldoon 7.Willie Faloon 8.George Naoupu
Replacements: 16.Sean Henry 17.Rodney Ah You 18.Ronan Loughney 19.Aly Muldowney 20.Jake Heenan 21.Frank Murphy 22.Craig Ronaldson 23.Tiernan O’Halloran
Zebre: 15. Dion BERRYMAN 14. Giovanbattista VENDITTI 13. Kameli RATUVOU 12. Gonzalo GARCIA 11. Giulio TONIOLATTI 10. Luciano ORQUERA 9. Brendon LEONARD 8. Samuela VUNISA 7. Andries VAN SCHALKWYK 6. Mauro BERGAMASCO 5. Marco BORTOLAMI (cap) 4. Quintin GELDENHUYS 3. Dario CHISTOLINI 2. Davide GIAZZON 1. Matias AGUERO
Replacements: 16. Andrea MANICI 17. Luca REDOLFINI 18. Salvatore PERUGINI 19. George BIAGI 20. Filippo FERRARINI 21. Alberto CHILLON 22. Tommaso IANNONE 23. Matteo PRATICHETTI.
Kick off is Saturday at 17:00.
Cian Tracey is a freelance sports journalist currently writing for The Irish Independent, Examiner, The Sun and Balls.ie.
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