All Eyes On Edinburgh

As the battle for play-off qualification continues, we check the stats and get the pre-match thoughts of second row Billy Holland as Munster prepare for the trip to Edinburgh in Round 19 of the Guinness PRO12 this Saturday – KO 7:30pm.

Munster enter this weekend’s action placed third on the PRO12 table, yet, to emphasise just how tight things are at the top of the table, should results go the way of fourth placed Ospreys, the Welshmen could end the weekend ahead of table toppers Glasgow as just four points separate first from fourth. Glasgow and Ospreys open this weekend’s PRO12 proceedings on Friday night at 7:35pm.

Ulster (second) and Munster both travel away to play teams competing for a place in the top tier of next season’s European competition, Connacht and Edinburgh respectively. With points difference (2 points) currently the only way of separating Ulster and Munster on the league table, each game between now and the end of the season will be vital to their play-off ambitions.

Edinburgh enter this weekend’s game buoyed by victories in their last three matches in all tournaments, most recently defeating London Irish away in the quarter final of the European Challenge Cup on Sunday. Impressive form this season has seen the Scotsmen previously run up a tally of eight successive victories in all competitions, only to be halted by Ulster on their PRO12 visit to Murrayfield in February.

Munster for their part have lost just one of their last six PRO12 matches, however, Anthony Foley’s charges will enter this weekend’s action wary of their host’s ability and ambitions for a top 6 finish, especially as it was Edinburgh that took the spoils when the sides previously met in the campaign – handing Munster a 13-14 home defeat at Thomond Park in the opening game of the season.

Munster’s Billy Holland spoke with media following yesterday’s training session at CIT.

“We’re looking forward to this weekend. It’s a big game for us but it’s equally just as big a game for them. They’ve had some great wins lately – London Irish last weekend and they brought to an end Scarlets' 15 month unbeaten run at home which was a great achievement.

“Last time out in Thomond Park they blew us away. They were more physical and accurate than us. We felt that we left ourselves down on that day and we’ll be looking to rectify that on Saturday.

“Our S&C staff took advantage of no game last weekend so they trained us hard – Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday they got their pound of flesh and a good few of the lads played in an ‘A’ game against Connacht Eagles last Thursday. With that hard work put in we’re looking forward to the challenge of this weekend.”

Edinburgh v Munster, Guinness PRO12 Round 19, Saturday April 11^th at Murrayfield Stadium – KO 7:30pm.