WORK KEY FOR REDS COACH JP

Munster v Cardiff

Tonight, 7.35pm

BY MICHAEL SCULLY

FOUR points separate second from eighth place in the URC with two regular rounds of fixtures to go.

For Munster, who occupy third position, there is no more room for error.

Tonight’s Musgrave Park clash with Cardiff Blues is a must-win, especially with the final game to come against table-toppers Leinster at the Aviva Stadium on May 21.

With time running out, the condensed nature of the top eight is what made last Friday night’s victory at Kingspan Stadium against Ulster so crucial to the Reds’ cause.

“There’s still a bit to work on, on the defensive side,” said Munster’s defence coach JP Ferreira.

“It’s not just all roses but the boys have done really well, they’ve dug in and taken things on board and they’ve run with it.

“I’m really pleased with where we are defensively and as much as wins can give you the confidence, week in, week out, so can the losses (hurt you). So I’m happy that it’s gone the other way and that the defence is up there.”

Munster supremo Johann van Graan has made eight changes from last week’s line-up as he continues to rotate.

With Toulouse travelling to Thomond Park in eight days’ time for a Champions Cup quarter-final, it makes sense, especially given the calibre of some of the players returning, although Joey Carbery is named on the bench and Damian de Allende is rested.

Skipper Peter O’mahony is in that category of players returning and, with John Hodnett out injured, there is a back row shuffle.

O’mahony will wear the no 6 jersey, Alex Kendellen moves from no 8 to openside and Jack O’donoghue shifts to the back of the scrum.

Simon Zebo also returns to the fray as Keith Earls steps out and Calvin Nash is named on the wing.

Cardiff are without Wales no 9 Tomos Williams (hand), but Lloyd Williams is another Test scrum-half and he is partnered by Jarrod Evans.

Ferreira (top) admitted: “They’re really tough and they always play one of their best attacking games against us.”