Zebre Challenge Awaits

Pre-match stats and the thoughts of Assistant Coach Ian Costello and back-row Jack O’Donoghue as Munster return to Guinness PRO12 action this Saturday. The province travel to Italy for the second time in as many weekends and face Zebre in Round 13 of the competition.

Currently enjoying a rich vein of form, Zebre enter the second half of the regular season having already recorded back-to-back wins over Aviva Premiership outfit Worcester Warriors in the Challenge Cup and home wins over Edinburgh and Cardiff in the league.
 
A four game winning run in all tournaments came to an end with their 11-14 loss at home to Gloucester in Challenge Cup, but it took a 75^th minute penalty for Gloucester to just about edge the result in their favour.  Ulrich Beyers had a long range chance to level matters but dragged his attempt wide – the Italians almost putting paid to Gloucester’s 15^th straight tournament win.
 
Zebre won the back to back fixtures against Treviso over the holiday period and will look to make it three Guinness PRO12 wins in succession for the first time in their history this weekend.
 
Following a tough December, Munster’s only loss in their last four matches was 27-7 away to Stade Français in the Champions Cup on January 9^th.  The province will hope to capitalise on the momentum built in wins over Stade Francais and Treviso in the past fortnight as they, like Zebre, now set their initial sights on qualification for next season’s Champions Cup.
 
In previewing this weekend’s clash, Assistant Coach Ian Costello said, “It will be interesting to see how many of their players will not be released from Italy camp and I’m sure they are wondering the same about us. 
 
“Zebre are a very physical side and have some key players in key positions who are involved with Italy and both side’s strength in depth will be tested in the coming weeks.  Last year we did particularly well at this time where we tested our squad depth and recently we’ve had a number of testing A games so the guys that need to step up are now rugby ready, fresh and set to go.
 
“We are taking the rest of the season step by step and the sole focus this weekend is to end this current block of games on a high by putting in a good performance and hopefully getting the win.  That would build more confidence and momentum going forward.”
 
Having made his PRO12 debut against Zebre in Thomond Park last season, back row Jack O’Donoghue added, “Zebre play a great brand of heads up rugby at times.  Any gap they get they tend to take it so we need to be switched on for the full 80 and can’t afford any lapses in concentration. 
 
“They are the in-form Italian side at the moment and are really pushing for the Italian Champions Cup spot.  They had an excellent Challenge Cup campaign with back to back wins over Worcester and they were unlucky to lose to Gloucester so they will be really hard to beat.
 
“We’ll have to come at them up-front, and out the back make sure that passes stick and be more clinical.”
 
Zebre v Munster, Guinness PRO12 Round 12, Saturday January 30th at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi – KO 2pm (Irish).
 

Referee: Dudley Phillips (IRFU, 56th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Elia Rizzo, Filippo Bertelli (both FIR)
Citing Commissioner: Marco Cordelli (FIR)