Derby Clash Awaits
28th October 2015 By Munster Rugby
Check out the form guide and get the pre-match thoughts of Ian Keatley as Munster prepare for their first Interprovincial of the season at home to Ulster at Thomond Park this Friday evening in Round 6 of the Guinness PRO12 – KO 6pm.
Munster’s perfect start to the new Guinness PRO12 season ended with their 22-25 defeat away to Scarlets on Friday. The Munstermen will look to bounce back this weekend, especially as they have not lost back-to-back regular season fixtures in the same campaign since April 2013. Munster have won their last 11 home matches in all tournaments since losing out to Clermont Auvergne in the European Cup in Limerick in December.
Ulster’s last seven matches in the Guinness PRO12 have all been won by the home side on the day, whilst the Ulstermen’s most recent success on the road came when they visited Connacht in April. However, Neil Doak’s men travel to Limerick this weekend knowing that little separates the sides. With the provincial rivals playing out a riveting 23-all draw in Belfast last May as they both battled for a home semi-final spot in last season’s competition, the previous November it was the Ulstermen who felt they should have taken the spoils at Thomond Park – Ian Humphreys just wide with a last minute conversion and letting Munster off the hook with a one point victory.
Anthony Foley’s men will also be mindful of the fact that it’s the northern province, along with Edinburgh, who hold the best defensive record in the league this season – conceding just 4 tries – while in terms of attack, only Connacht and Cardiff (19) have scored more tries than Ulster (18).
A mere two points currently separates Munster and Ulster on the Guinness PRO12 table who lie in third and fifth respectively.
One man who featured in both of the most recent clashes between sides – and kicked a combined total of 29 points from the boot – was Ian Keatley. The Munster playmaker expects just as big a spectacle for supporters this weekend for what will be the first Interprovincial of the season for both teams.
“Derbies are huge for the fans, huge for the bragging rights and, most importantly this week, if they win they get ahead of us in the table but if we win we put a bit of daylight between us and them. I know it’s only early in the season but towards the end of the season you’re always looking for an extra point or two to get you into that top four.
“Ulster’s style and the way they play is kind of catered for whichever out-half plays. Peter Nelson’s been doing a good job while Paddy Jackson was away. They’re a very good team, they’ve got a lot of flexibility and variety in their game and they got us with one or two plays when we played them up in Ravenhill last year.
“So we’ll be looking out for those trick plays and making sure we’re on the ball for Friday night.”
| Head to Head – Recent Guinness PRO12 Meetings | |||||
| Date | Venue | M | U | Munster scorers | Ulster scorers |
| Fri 14 Sep 12 | Kingspan Stadium | 19 | 20 | Keith Earls(T) Ian Keatley(C/2D/2P) | Paddy Jackson(5P) Jared Payne(T) |
| Sat 29 Dec 12 | Thomond Park | 24 | 10 | Peter O'Mahony(T) Ian Keatley(3C/P) Penalty Try(T) Simon Zebo(T) | Ali Birch(T) Stuart Olding(C) Niall O'Connor(P) |
| Fri 3 Jan 14 | Kingspan Stadium | 19 | 29 | Dave Kilcoyne(T) Ivan Dineen(T) James Coughlan(T) Ian Keatley(2C) | Darren Cave(T) Jared Payne(T) Ruan Pienaar(2C/5P) |
| Sat 10 May 14 | Thomond Park | 17 | 19 | Sean Dougall(T) Ian Keatley(2C/P) Duncan Williams(T) | Michael Heaney(T) James McKinney(C/4P) |
| Fri 28 Nov 14 | Thomond Park | 21 | 20 | Robin Copeland(T) Ian Keatley(C/3P) Duncan Williams(T) | Ian Humphreys(5P) Nick Williams(T) |
| Sat 9 May 15 | Kingspan Stadium | 23 | 23 | Keith Earls(T) Ian Keatley(6P) | Paddy Jackson(2C/3P) Tommy Bowe(T) Paul Marshall(T) |
Officials:
Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR, 42nd competition game)
Assistant Referees: Gary Conway, Nigel Correll (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Eddie Wigglesworth (IRFU)
TMO: Alan Rogan (IRFU)
Munster v Ulster, Guinness PRO12 Round 6, Friday October 30th at Thomond Park – KO 6pm.
Ticket & Event Information
Family terrace packs for €;40 and general tickets can be bought online here, from the Munster Rugby Ticket Offices in Thomond Park and Irish Independent Park or by calling 0818 719 300.
Night of the Living Red
With the school midt-term break we're getting into the spooky spirit of things with a free Halloween Fancy Dress party prior to kick-off in The Dugout Bar and Fanzone Plaza.
The party is free and open to all children under the age of 16 years and the Munster Rugby Supporters Club will be on hand with plenty of prizes up for grabs for best dressed and more.
This is sure to be a great night for all the family so make sure to get dressed up and join us at The Dugout Bar and Fanzone Plaza for our Night of the Living Red on October 30th!
