Brussels Branch: Munster v Cardiff Blues
9th September 2016 By Munster Rugby Supporters Club
After an impressive win against Scarlets last Saturday, marking a strong start to the season for Rassie Erasmus, Irish Independent Park is the venue for Munster’s first home match of the season against Cardiff Blues.
After an impressive win against Scarlets last Saturday, marking a strong start to the season for Rassie Erasmus, Irish Independent Park is the venue for Munster’s first home match of the season against Cardiff Blues.
Cardiff are also fresh from a convincing 34-16 bonus point win over Edinburgh last weekend, where they showed plenty of forward power and attacking intent at Cardiff Arms Park. They have won 11 of their last 15 PRO12 games dating back to December 2015, but lost 35-27 to Munster in Cork in the corresponding fixture last season. With Sam Warburton and Alex Cuthbert selected for the Welsh region, this will be a stiff test for Munster.
Recruiting the likes of Steve Shingler from Scarlets and former Munster player Nick Williams from Ulster, Cardiff's 37-28 victory at the Arms Park in Round 12 last season ended a run of five successive Munster victories in this fixture.
Munster return to Irish Independent Park where they have won their last three PRO12 matches, and historically, have always been strong starters, losing just once in the opening two rounds since 2009. The Munstermen have won their last four home games in both venues (Cork and Limerick), and have been defeated just once at Irish Independent Park in their last fourteen matches, losing 17-21 to Ospreys in February.
Rassie Erasmus has made just two changes from the side that defeated Scarlets for tomorrow night's Guinness PRO12 encounter with Cardiff Blues in Irish Independent Park, Cork. KO 7.35pm. Keeping the pack unchanged, Ian Keatley comes in to partner Duncan Williams, while Andrew Conway makes his first appearance of the season at full back, replacing the injured Simon Zebo (expected to be sidelined for five weeks with a cracked rib).
Returning international CJ Stander, hooker Duncan Casey and academy full back Stephen Fitzgerald are named among the replacements and in line to make their first PRO12 appearances of the season. Tyler Bleyendaal was not available for selection after reporting a mild calf strain.
In other news, Stormers and Western Province centre/fullback Jaco Taute joins Munster on a four month loan. The 25-year-old played for the Springboks on three occasions in 2012 and has made 50 Super Rugby appearances, having also represented the Lions. Erasmus has called on the services of Taute to bolster the options available in midfield, due to injuries to Francis Saili and Sammy Arnold.
Munster fans are invited to watch the match tonight at The Old Hack, 176 Rue Jospeh II (corner of Rue Joseph II and Boulevard Charlemagne, under the Berlaymont building).
Mike Collins.
MRSC Brussels Branch.
Munster XV: Andrew Conway; Darren Sweetnam, Dan Goggin, Rory Scannell, Ronan O'Mahony; Ian Keatley, Duncan Williams; James Cronin, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Dave Foley, Billy Holland – capt.; Dave O'Callaghan, Tommy O'Donnell, Jack O'Donoghue.
Replacements: Duncan Casey, Dave Kilcoyne, Brian Scott, Donnacha Ryan, CJ Stander, Tomás O'Leary, Cian Bohane, Stephen Fitzgerald.