WE’LL HAVE TO BE PERFECT
MUNSTER will require a near-perfect performance to beat Saracens at their Allianz Park fortress – but Johann van Graan fears that is still a way off.
The Reds achieved one of their start of season goals by beating Sarries at Thomond Park on Saturday, their first win over the Premiership champions since 2014.
But it came with the caveat that Mark Mccall left most of his big hitters in reserve for this week.
And with holders Sarries in critical need of a home win – and having only lost back-to-back Champions Cup games on two previous occasions – Munster have it all to do.
“The players that went to the World Cup, this is their fifth week back,” said Reds boss van Graan. “Two new coaches are in as well and, like I said at the beginning of the season, you wish that you were already a year down the track.
“There’s still a long way to go in terms of perfection and I agree that to beat Saracens away you need close to the perfect performance.
“They’ve played something like 20 games in Europe in Allianz Park and only lost once, against Clermont in 2017, when they were on a six-game losing streak. They just don’t lose there.
“They’re a fantastic rugby team. If you want to beat to European champions away you’re going to have to be at your very best, otherwise you’ll come second.”
With no sign of returns for Joey
Carbery or Tyler
Bleyend aal , flanker
Chris
Cloete is ready to return to action which is a boost.
However, fellow South African back row Arno Botha must attend a disciplinary hearing in London today after he was red-carded in additional time last weekend for leading with his forearm into the neck of Sarries’ Nick Tompkins.
Meanwhile, with Johnny Sexton expected to miss the first fortnight of the Six Nations Munster skipper Peter O’mahony is favourite to be appointed new Ireland captain. “Pete has developed tremendously as a captain and as a player over the last two years and is playing very good rugby,” said van Graan.
“A lot of the time he’s a silent leader. His actions a lot of times speak louder than words.
“Last year he went off with a rib injury against Gloucester and a week later he played 80 minutes against Exeter, leading this team from the front. “He turns up every Saturday and when he speaks the team listens.
“If he gets selected as Ireland captain he’ll do a great job but luckily that’s Andy Farrell’s job and not mine.”
A KNEE injury means Connacht have to plan without player of the year Colby Fianga’a for the Champions Cup return with Gloucester and next week’s derby against Munster.
Former Brumbies and Rebels openside flanker Fianga’a, 28, suffered a repeat of a medial ligament injury early in the defeat to Gloucester at Kingsholm last weekend.
“He is probably not as bad as we first thought which is good but he is certainly not available for this week and is a doubt for next week too,” said head coach Andy Friend.
“It is the same injury he did last time but he is a quick healer.”
Friend will also be without Tiernan O’halloran (leg) and Kieran Marmion (back) for the two pre-christmas games as well.
Matt Healy, a late withdrawal last week due to a quad injury, will return along with Tom Farrell, Darragh Leader, Stephen Fitzgerald and Paddy Mcallister some time around the new year.
Friend added: “Our medical staff and our athletic performance staff have been brilliant, they really have. The speed at which they are getting these men back, virtually every player we are seeing two or three weeks off their original return to play date.”