Preview & Pics | Munster v Connacht
5th January 2018 By sean geary
Simon Zebo in action against Connacht at the Sportsground
Munster are back in Interpro derby action on Saturday night as Connacht visit Thomond Park (7.45pm).
Check out the best pics from training this week here.
CJ Stander captains a strong Munster side as the province aim for their first interpro victory of the campaign.
The men in red have lost all four interprovincial clashes in the Guinness PRO14 so far this season including away to Connacht in the reverse fixture.
Kieran Keane’s team have improving over the past six weeks and they will draw inspiration from their 2015 victory at Thomond.
Stander was Munster captain that day and is hoping his team can improve on their recent form on Saturday night. “I think we were disappointed with the last few weeks, especially when you are playing interpros, you want to win all of them really,” said the Ireland international.
“The last few weeks, we played two halves really. It’s something we talked about, and something we need to fix going into the next few games.
“I’ve played them [Connacht] a good few times now. I was the captain in Thomond Park when they beat us there for the first time in 29 years. They’ve a team that pitches up in Thomond Park with no fear of coming here. They know they can beat us here. It’s going to be interesting. We lost the last interpro game against them, and I think we have to look deep into ourselves and perform well to make sure we get a result.”
Connacht were edged out 21-18 by Leinster on New Year’s Day with Head Coach Keane saying afterwards: “We’re all pretty disappointed we didn’t get the result, but it was a very brave performance. A lot of character within the team was shown tonight again so we could construe it as one that got away, yeah.”
For their part, Connacht have also named a strong side with John Muldoon, Jarrad Butler and Quinn Roux among the forwards along with ex-Munster man Peter McCabe.
A very dangerous back three of Tiernan O’Halloran, Niyi Adeolokun and Matt Healy will also be looking to cause serious problems to the Munster defence and Johann van Graan’s side will have to be at their best if they are to get back to winning ways.
Guinness PRO14: Munster v Connacht, Thomond Park, Saturday, January 6 (7.45pm)
Tickets available online, from the ticket office in Thomond Park from 9am on match day, or by calling 061 421103.
CJ Stander and Munster were on the losing side when we last faced Connacht and the Ireland international is eager to reverse that result on Saturday night at Thomond Park.#MUNvCON #SUAF pic.twitter.com/EhBio4V0fa
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) January 4, 2018
