REDS NEED TOU BE ON IT TODAY

MUNSTER need to upset the form book if they are to avoid a disappointing early Champions Cup exit this afternoon.

These heavyweights have met four times in Europe to date and, with both teams winning two games at home, the Reds have it all to do at the formidable Stade de Mayol.

At least the URC champions are able to welcome back talisman Peter O’mahony (above) into the line-up, along with centre Alex Nankivell and hooker Niall Scannell.

Joey Carbery is also available to provide back-up to Jack Crowley at out-half or Simon Zebo at full-back if required.

“It’s a big one, they’re a good side,” said Reds attack guru Mike Prendergast, who spent nine years coaching with French clubs before rejoining his own province last year.

“They were beaten at the weekend but before that they were third in a very competitive Top 14.”

Toulon squandered leads in their previous pool games and so too did

Munster who are still kicking themselves for not putting Bayonne to the sword in their opening draw at Thomond Park.

“It’s like every game, you want to win it,” said Prendergast of this latest test, with Munster praying their run without a victory doesn’t stretch to five games.

“We’ll park the URC for a minute. You look at our two European Cup games, I thought for 50 minutes or 60 minutes in both games against Bayonne and especially against Exeter we played some really good rugby.

“As we spoke about at the start of the week, we go back to that competition, and what do we need to get better at? We need to get better at finishing out games, the last 20 minutes.

“At this level of rugby, if you come up short in moments you’ll be short. Against Toulon, with the X-factor and the players they have, we need to be on it for the 80-plus minutes.”

Munster: S Zebo, C Nash, A Frisch, A Nankivell, S Daly, J Crowley, C Casey; J Loughman, N Scannell, J Ryan, T Ahern, T Beirne, P O’mahony, J Hodnett, G Coombes.