Home Advantage To Swing It For Foley’s Side ?

Anthony Foley will be hoping that the home advantage of Waterford Regional Sports Ground will help to tip the balance his side’s way in tonight’s British & Irish Cup opening game against Llanelli (7.30pm)

Munster, who reached the final of the competition last year, make no secret of their ambition to atone for the disappointment of that final defeat and it was at the Regional Sports Ground where they produced one of their many impressive performances in their run to the decider.

“We were delighted to come back here to play this game.” Foley says. “We had a great reception last year when we played Nottingham here. It's a smashing facility and last time around the crowd created a brilliant atmosphere that transferred to the boys on the pitch.We'll be looking for more of that tonight.”

Foley waits on Tony McGahan's selection for the Toulon game before he can finalise his side, a vacancy left in the backs that could be filled by Danny Barnes should he not be required for duty on Saturday.

It's a much changed backline from the one that saw off Ulster last time out but it might be recalled that the likes of Lifeimi Mafi, Denis Hurley and Scott Deasy were involved that day in Nenagh that day and now are involved, Mafi excepted, with the senior side, while Declan Cusack returns from injury to the number 10 berth.

Foley admitted that he and his backroom team were a little undercooked in terms of info on the opposition but says. “You always have a fair idea of what you're going to get when you play Llanelli. They are a proud club with a wonderful tradition and great passion. It'll be fast. It'll be physical and they'll play through the 80 minutes.

“We haven't managed to get much on them. Some highlight packages. They've a young side like us. They like to play rugby. So do we. But in the end, from our point of view, we have to concentrate on ourselves and the way we want to play. See where that gets us.”

Munster: Sean Scanlon; AN Other, Ivan Dineen, Troy Smith, Simon Zebo; Declan Cusack, Conor Murray; Dave Ryan, Sean Henry, Darragh Hurley; Dave Foley capt, Ian Nagle; Billy Holland, Tommy O'Donnell, Peter O'Mahony. Replacements: Mike Sherry, Stephen Archer, Dave O'Callaghan, Paddy Butler, Paul Rowley, Gareth Quinn McDonagh, Ronan O'Mahoney.

Llanelli: Dan Newton; Jonny Lewis, Nic Reynolds, Chris Keenan, Justin James; Steve Shingler, Gareth Davies; Matthew Monaghan, Rhys Lawrence, Aled Hopkins; Adam Powell capt, Aaron Shingler; Matt Gilbert, Nic Cudd, Ben Morgan. Replacements: Simon Gardiner, Craig Hawkins, Allan Powell, Duane Eager, Aled Davies, Owen Williams, Liam Williams.