Lay it on red
Carbery will have to be composed if Munster are to make a mark on rivals
THERE was a time when Leinster dreaded trips to Thomond Park. Those days are long gone. Once a graveyard for Leinster teams of yore, Limerick has become something of a happy hunting ground for the four-time European champions.
Since their maiden Heineken Cup triumph in 2009 under Michael Cheika, Leinster have made nine visits to Munster HQ and emerged victorious on five occasions. Not a bad return from a ground long-regarded as a fortress by the locals.
Munster have had to live in Leinster’s shadow ever since that ambush at Croke Park almost a decade ago, and there is little to suggest that the balance will shift in the near future. Leo Cullen’s men are seeking a record-equalling fifth successive victory over their provincial rivals today. Munster, meanwhile, are looking for their first win over Leinster in 24 months, a 29-17 St Stephen’s Day triumph in 2016.
The hosts will be up for this one. The visitors will be fired up, too.
Both sides are going for it. Save for the absent Peter O’Mahony, Devin Toner, Rob Kearney – plus injured midfielders Robbie Henshaw and Chris Farrell – both provinces are fully-loaded for the interprovincial showdown.
This game has been targeted by both sides for quite some time. The frontliners were held back from the main action last weekend with Leinster’s second-string getting the job done against Connacht with that pulsating final-quarter fightback, while a weakened Munster outfit battled to a bonus-point defeat by Ulster at Ravenhill.
With a two-day training camp under Joe Schmidt’s watch at Carton House and a few well-earned days of festive downtime under their belts, the likes of Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray and James Ryan are back in action this evening.
In all, there are 24 personnel changes across both matchday squads.
For Leinster, this is another opportunity to continue their upward trajectory heading into 2019.
The runaway leaders of the Pro14, they are on course to mount a serious defence of their title in the New Year.
An historic fifth European Cup title – eclipsing that of Guy Noves’s awesome Toulouse side – is also well within their grasp. Another win over their archrivals would round off a memorable year nicely. The pre-match team talk writes itself for Munster, in that regard. This is easily the biggest test of their season, thus far. There are positive signs of progress under the stewardship of Johann van Graan – who is celebrating 12 months in the top job having succeeded Rassie Erasmus this time last year. They gave Leinster a good rattle at Lansdowne Road in October before going down 30-22. In fact, if a couple of decisions from referee Ben Whitehouse had gone the visitors’ way, they might have ended a four-wait year for a victory in the capital. Leinster will venture they have improved since that October meeting. They didn’t have Sexton running the show that day either. It’s always a boost when you can bring the best player on the planet back into your plans. Dan Leavy, who played a central role in last weekend’s thriller at the RDS, has been given the weekend off. Leinster will miss his physicality, and yet Cullen can still name a backrow of Rhys Ruddock, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan. When it comes to breakdown impact, O’Mahony’s absence will be keenly felt by the hosts. CJ Stander will need another big showing with his Ireland understudy Conan breathing down his neck. That is just one of the many fascinating subplots dotted throughout today’s battle. It will be a big day for Joey Carbery as his fledgling career in the Munster No10 jersey continues to be a work in progress. Having Conor Murray on his side has been a crucial bonus for the province in recent weeks. A cool character at the best of times, Carbery will need ice in the veins during what is primed to be a full-- blooded opening quarter at Thomond Park.
Munster are still smarting from that ill-tempered loss away to Castres. As is their way, they will have bottled up that resentment and – with a sold-out crowd roaring them on – will be ready to take out their frustrations on the big city boys.
It will be fast and furious, and Carbery will need to keep a cool head.
The New Zealand-born outhalf will have plenty of firepower to call upon across the backline. Keith Earls and Andrew Conway are having excellent seasons while Mike Haley will look to build a promising start in the Munster No15 shirt following his summer move from Sale Sharks.
Haley looks a balanced runner with plenty of pace but his defensive qualities will be under severe scrutiny against Leinster’s allaction back three of Jordan Larmour, the mercurial James Lowe, and Dave Kearney.
The latter is very much the forgotten man of Irish rugby these days.
The 29-year-old has made just three appearances for his country since that 2015 World Cup debacle against Argentina.
This will be rare chance to remind the public, and Joe Schmidt, why he was good enough to earn 17 Test caps.
‘I think every game is a big game but this is a special one not only for Irish rugby but for the people of Munster,’ said Van Graan ear- lier this week.
Never a truer word was said. By 8pm tonight, Munster will know how much progress they have made under the South African’s watch, or how much ground they have left to make up.
A positive start would be most welcome for Munster. That disastrous first half against Leinster last December will have been referenced plenty of times this week.
The home side appeared to be suffering a dreadful Christmas hangover as Leinster surged into a 25-5 lead at the interval.
Stirred from their slumber, Munster staged a second-half comeback – punctuated by Larmour’s wonder try – to salvage some pride.
Leinster would head back up the M7 with a bonus-point, 34-24 win in their back pockets.
That is simply not good enough for the Munster faithful.
For the men in red, it’s time to bring the fear factor back to Thomond Park.
They will be ready to take frustrations out on visitors