Focus Switches To Europe

Munster return to European Champions Cup action for the coming fortnight, beginning with an away trip to Saracens at Allianz Park, London on Saturday – KO 1pm.

Following back to back defeats to Clermont Auvergne in December, the path to quarter final qualification for Anthony Foley’s charges doesn’t get any easier this weekend as they face another of the form sides in European Rugby.

Currently third in the Aviva Premiership and second on the Champions Cup Pool 1 table (one place ahead of Munster and with a three point advantage), the Londoners boast a formidable home record this season having lost just once at Allianz Park. However, no shame in that sole defeat as it came at the hands of Premiership toppers and European Pool 5 leaders Northampton Saints.

With Saracens taking the spoils last time out against Munster in London (19-13 in December 2012), the hosts also enter this weekend’s game knowing they have achieved what Munster could not – a home win over Pool 1 toppers Clermont Auvergne. The potency of Saracens was on full display in round 1 as they ran in four tries – 2 apiece from Chris Ashton and David Strettle – and laid down a marker that once again they are serious contenders for European silverware.

While Munster will enter this weekend’s game on the back of a bonus point victory over Zebre in the PRO12, the Englishmen will feel the need to put to bed memories of Friday’s agonising Premiership defeat to Gloucester with European victory this weekend. With the game finely balanced at 21-23, Saracens looked like they had sealed the win when Chris Ashton scored a try in the final play of the game. However he was adjudged to have been offside and that afforded Gloucester’s James Hook the chance to kick the winning penalty from the half way line which he duly did.

Head Coach Anthony Foley spoke with media after the province’s win over Zebre on Saturday and although happy with the win, knows there is a need for further improvement in terms of consistency and intensity across the full 80 minutes heading into this weekend’s clash in London.

“I’m happy with the result, happy with the five points, getting the bonus point against the run of play in the second-half. But I thought we did enough in the first-half to warrant a result. We have come away relatively unscathed in terms of injuries. It is good to get back on the winning ways.

“We wanted to build the game on pace and momentum and we achieved that. We were fortunate enough to get a couple of good scores and maintain momentum on the game. Unfortunately we didn’t do that in the second-half and it became a dour affair to be honest. But it is a win, it is a result and it is something that we will take.

“We are not looking at two weeks. We are looking at Saracens, it is going to be a huge game for us and it is important that we are going over there in the right frame of mind and give ourselves a chance.”

Saturday also saw the welcomed return to action for Keith Earls and James Cronin.

“It was a great opportunity for them to throw their hat in the ring, particularly with next week in mind. And it was great for them to get a good hit-out out there, both of them to get over 20 minutes in the second-half.

“It was good to see Earlsy flying into a few tackles and Jamesie being his robust self out there. It gives the whole squad a massive lift to have quality players coming back of that calibre.”

Saracens v Munster, European Champions Cup Round 5, Saturday January 17^th at Allianz Park, London – KO 1pm.