Munster Must Prepare For A Battle

League positions will count for very little when Munster take on Border Reivers in the Magners League clash in Netherdale

The home side will fancy themselves to create their own piece of history by downing the European champions at the eight time of asking. And they will be encouraged by their visit to Thomond in September when they lost narrowly (9-8) and by home form that includes a victory over a near full stengtth Leinster side.

For their part Munster make nine changes from the side that played The Dragons in the last Magners League game and the changes see a return to action of Alan Quinlan who missed Munster Heineken Cup matches and consequently a chance of inclusion in Eddie O’Sullivan’s Six Nations squad.

Munster: C Cullen; S Payne, B Murphy, L Mafi, I Dowling; J Manning, T O’Leary; D Hurley, F Sheahan, F Pucciariello,; M O’Driscoll, C Wyatt; A Quinlan, T McGann, J Coughlan.
Replacements: T Buckley, J Flannery, Donncha Ryan, M Melbourne, B O’Meara, E Hickey, M Lawlor.

Border Reivers: C McRae; S Moffat, B MacDougall, N De Luca, S Danielli; S Jones, R Chrystle; R Grant, S Scott, E Kalman; O Palepoi, J Dalziel; S Newlands, A Miller, S Gray. Replacements: R Ford, B Douglas, R Vernon, S Forrest, B McKerchar, G Townsend, G Law.