THIS IS GOING TO BE AN OLI GOOD SHOW

V 5pm

OLI JAGER is predicting an exciting clash of styles when his former club Crusaders meet Munster for the first time this evening.

The 28-year-old (above) won seven Super League titles with the Kiwi club juggernaut before moving to the province at the start of December.

The sides are facing off in an historic clash at sold-out Pairc Ui Chaoimh and Jager, who trained with Ireland for the first time in their pre-six Nations camp in Portugal, can’t wait for the encounter even if a minor knock has ruled him out of the action.

“I think it’s going to bring a great game of rugby,” said Jager. “How Crusaders play, it’s flashy, you kind of have to expect anything from anywhere, you don’t know who’s going to carry next.

“And then you have the game with us at Munster, we’re physical up front – we take it to them and see how you guys can take it.

“You have the clash of New

Zealand and Ireland, then you have the whole champion versus champion thing. It’s also the first time I think Crusaders are coming up to play a team from Europe, so that is a big event in itself as well.

“I know from talking to a few friends from down in New Zealand, they’re excited for it and we’re excited for it. It’s going to be a really exciting game of rugby.”

Munster’s victory at Pairc Ui Chaoimh over South Africa A in November 2022 is regarded as the game when things started to click under head coach Graham Rowntree.

And with a last 16 place secured in the Champions Cup this season, Rowntree will hope for another fillip from this occasion.

The clash marks the return to the province of Rob Penney (inset), Munster’s former head coach who has taken over the Crusaders hotseat from the ultra-successful Scott Robertson – now the All Blacks’ coach.

“I think he’s a great guy,” said

Jager of Penney. “He’s going to be a great fit. I think the boys like him, the training’s been pretty good so far from the stories I’ve heard.”