Crucial Clash In Cardiff

16th March 2016 By Munster Rugby

On Friday night Munster travel to the Welsh capital to face Cardiff Blues knowing that victory could lift the visitors back into contention for a PRO12 play-off spot or at the very least aid their challenge for Champions Cup qualification.

Also on Friday night, the Munstermen will be keeping a keen eye on results from Scotstoun as Glasgow Warriors – who face Leinster – are just four points behind them on the league table.

Never an easy place to play, it took a 77^th minute try from Paddy Butler and a conversion from Johnny Holland to secure a last gasp victory for Munster in the Welsh capital last season, while in the current campaign, Blues have defeated table toppers Connacht and 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.

Munster have won their last two PRO12 matches at Treviso and at home to Newport Gwent Dragons, and away from home in the competition have been defeated just once since the turn of the New Year – 24-27 to Warriors in Kilmarnock on February 19^th.

In previewing this weekend’s game, centre Rory Scannell said, “Cardiff have some very dangerous players and have had some big wins at home this season. They beat Ulster recently and were very unlucky against Glasgow and Leinster and are a team that don’t lie down after 60 minutes. They play right to the end and got a few late tries against Glasgow. They also have one of the best counter attacking stats in the league and will be a constant threat all game.”

Back row Dave O’Callaghan added, “We’re expecting a high intensity game with a lot of width to their play and they’ll have a very abrasive pack also. We will have to work very hard for everything and, with the speed of the 4G pitch, the game will be a test of our fitness.”

Cardiff Blues v Munster, Guinness PRO12 Round 12 (re-fixture), Friday March 18^th at Cardiff Arms Park – KO 7.15pm.

Please note this game will not be televised. For live updates follow @munsterrugby #CarVMun on Twitter.

Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU 40^th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Ian Davies, Gwyn Morris (both WRU)
Citing Commissioner: John Charles (WRU)

Head To Head – Recent Guinness PRO12 Meetings
*Date*	*Venue*	C	M	*Cardiff Blues scorers*	*Munster scorers*
Sat 5 Jan 13	Irish Independent Park	17	6	Rhys Patchell(2C/P) Owen Williams(T) Robin Copeland(T)	Ronan O'Gara(2P)
Sat 23 Nov 13	BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park	10	31	Kristian Dacey(T) Simon Humberstone(C/P)	James Cronin(T) Andrew Conway(T) JJ Hanrahan(4C/P) Felix Jones(T) Damien Varley(T)
Sat 8 Feb 14	Thomond Park	13	54	Gareth Davies(C/2P) Owen Williams(T)	CJ Stander(T) Dave Kilcoyne(T) Andrew Conway(T) JJ Hanrahan(6C/4P) Penalty Try(T) Gerhard van den Heever(T) Simon Zebo(T)
Sat 1 Nov 14	BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park	24	28	Rhys Patchell(3P) Gareth Davies(C/P) Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino(T) Manoa Vosawai(T)	Johnny Holland(C) Paddy Butler(T) JJ Hanrahan(7P)
Sat 14 Feb 15	Irish Independent Park	16	33	Rhys Patchell(C/3P) Josh Navidi(T)	Jack O'Donoghue(T) Ronan O'Mahony(T) JJ Hanrahan(3C/4P) Denis Hurley(T)
Sat 17 Oct 15	Irish Independent Park	27	35	Rhys Patchell(3C/2P) Richard Smith(T) Tavis Knoyle(T) Tom Isaacs(T)	Andrew Conway(T) Jordan Coghlan(T) Mike Sherry(2T) Ian Keatley(T/5C)