Guinness PRO12: What Lies Ahead
11th March 2016 By Munster Rugby
In consolidating their Champions Cup qualification spot against Dragons at the weekend, Munster enjoy a game free weekend before commencing their final two blocks of regular season games away to Cardiff Blues on March 18th.
Based on the current standings, Anthony Foley's men face three of the top-six sides between now and May as they bid to cement a place in Europe's top-flight competition next season and reach the play-offs of the current Guinness PRO12 campaign.
The journey begins on the 4G surface at Cardiff Arms Park for the rescheduled Round 12 fixture against Cardiff Blues on Friday week at 7.15pm. Never an easy place to play, it took a 77th minute try from Paddy Butler and conversion from Johnny Holland to secure a last gasp victory for Munster in the Welsh capital last season, while in this season, Blues have defeated table toppers Connacht, fourth placed Ulster and lost by just one point to second placed Leinster on home soil.
The Welshmen currently trail Scarlets – the top placed Welsh side – by 19 points so will target nothing short of a win as they bid to keep their Champions Cup ambitions alive.
European Cup qualification will again be to the fore a week later when Munster welcome Zebre to Thomond Park on Good Friday, March 25th at 7pm. A recent string of defeats to each one of the Irish provinces since January, coupled with a revival from Treviso, has seen the Zebre’s Italian counterparts close in on their Champions Cup spot with just three points now separating the sides.
Back in January, just one point separated the sides by the 71 minute mark and it took an Ian Keatley drop-goal to give Munster a modicum of breathing room before the full-time whistle.
The following Saturday, April 2nd at 5.30pm, Munster make the journey to the Aviva Stadium for the first time since October 2014 when Anthony Foley’s men ended Leinster’s 13-game unbeaten run at Irish Rugby HQ. The victory also laid the foundation for Munster’s first season double over Leinster since the 2008/09 season.
Like Munster, second placed Leinster hold a game in hand over the remainder of the league’s top-6 and having already defeated their southern counterparts at Thomond Park in December, will look to return the ‘season double’ favour to Munster, particularly in Dublin where they have remained undefeated in the league all season.
After what will undoubtedly be a highly attractional affair, Munster will have a welcome and necessary weekend’s respite, especially as their task doesn’t get any easier on Saturday April 16th when they travel to the Sportsground to face table toppers Connacht at 7.15pm.
Well on course for Champions Cup qualification for the first time since Season 2013/14, the western province will have fond memories of their comprehensive 24-16 victory over Munster in Galway last season, but perhaps even sweeter in the memory will be their 12-18 scalp at Thomond Park in the current campaign – Connacht’s first away victory over Munster in 29 years.
Munster will draw confidence from a subsequent interprovincial win at the Kingspan Stadium where they handed Ulster their first home PRO12 defeat of the season. Incidentally, the Ulstermen are the only travelling league side to win at the Sportsground this season.
There’s every likelihood that Round 21’s action between Munster and Edinburgh on Friday April 29th at Irish Independent Park – kick-off 7.35pm – will play pivotal role in the Champions Cup ambitions of both sides. Munster’s objectives aside, Edinburgh currently find themselves level on points and just one place (6th) ahead of their Scottish counterparts Glasgow Warriors.
The regular season will come to a close for Munster when they welcome Scarlets to Thomond Park on Saturday May 7th at 3pm. Ill-discipline cost Foley’s charges dearly in Parc y Scarlets back in October as Steven Shingler landed two late penalties to hand Munster their first defeat of the season. With just one home loss this season, the top placed Welsh side have also impressed on the road with notable wins over Warriors and Ulster.
Next home game:
Munster's next home game is against Zebre at Thomond Park on Good Friday, March 25th – KO 7pm.
Ticket from €;15 and €;30 for families can be purchased online here, from the Munster Rugby Ticket Offices at Irish Independent Park and Thomond Park, or by calling 0818 719 300.
Gates and Bars open from 5pm.
