European Champions Cup: Munster v Saracens preview
Last Updated: 24/10/14 10:25am
Munster take on Saracens in a mouthwatering European Champions Cup Round Two meeting at Thomond Park on Friday night.
Ian Keatley's dramatic stoppage time drop-goal helped the Irish province snatch a dramatic 27-26 win over Sale in their opening match last weekend while Sarries secured a bonus-point win over Clermont in an enthralling match at Allianz Park.
Munster boss Anthony Foley is looking for an improvement from his side this weekend in what should be an intriguing contest against the Aviva Premiership outfit.
We need to use that ball better, we need to get into better positions and we need to restrict the opposition - we can't allow opposition so much easy ball.
Munster boss Anthony Foley
"We've analysed the game and we were five per cent below where we needed to be," said Foley. "We were actually below where we were against the Ospreys and we lost that game. In terms of analysis Sale was the first game we've won at that percentage.
"We know we need to get those percentages back and we know where it's gonna come from. We need to use that ball better, we need to get into better positions and we need to restrict the opposition - we can't allow opposition so much easy ball."
Peter O'Mahony has plenty of respect for Friday's opponents, even likening them to the Munster of old.
"They've been very impressive. There's a bit of "old Munster" about them," said O'Mahony.
"They've been knocking on the door of Europe for the last few years, and we know they are hungry for success. That's not to say that we won't be hungry for success as well on Friday night. It's a big game for us, and we will probably be going in as underdogs and as I said, we need to improve big time. They are a fairly complete side.
"They can attack from all areas, with dangerous players all over the place. If we carry on like we did for 30 minutes of the first half then I don't think we'll have much of a hope."
Team news
Munster make two changes in the front row as James Cronin and BJ Botha come in at loosehead and tighthead respectively while Duncan Casey remains at hooker.
Following his debut inclusion in Joe Schmidt's Ireland squad for the upcoming November Tests, Dave Foley will start alongside Paul O'Connell in the second row.
In the back row Peter O'Mahony captains the side from six with Tommy O'Donnell at seven, and another man of the match performance last weekend sees CJ Stander continue at number eight.
Conor Murray and Ian Keatley remain at half-back as do Denis Hurley and Andrew Smith in the centre, while Simon Zebo, Andrew Conway and Felix Jones once again make up the back three.
Meanwhile, Owen Farrell returns to side at fly-half, to partner Neil de Kock in the halves, as Mark McCall chooses to rotate his half-backs for the trip to Limerick.
Marcelo Bosch replaces Chris Wyles at outside centre to partner Brad Barritt in the midfield, with Chris Ashton, David Strettle and Alex Goode named in the back three.
Up front, Richard Barrington, Jamie George and Petrus Du Plessis continue in the front row.
Alistair Hargreaves is ruled out of the game with a slight knock, so Jim Hamilton comes into the side to join George Kruis at lock.
In the back-row, Will Fraser starts at openside flanker, with Kelly Brown and Billy Vunipola named at blindside flanker and number eight respectively.
Munster: 15 Felix Jones, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 Denis Hurley, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Conor Murray; 1 James Cronin, 2 Dave Casey, 3 BJ Botha, 4 Dave Foley, 5 Paul O'Connell, 6 Peter O'Mahony (c), 7 Tommy O'Donnell, 8 CJ Stander.
Replacements: 16 Eusebio Guinazu, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Billy Holland, 20 Robin Copeland, 21 Duncan Williams, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Gerhard van den Heever.
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Marlcelo Bosch, 12 Brad Barritt (c), 11 David Strettle, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Neil de Kock; 1 Richard Barrington, 2 Jamie George, 3 Petrus du Plessis, 4 George Kruis, 5 Jim Hamilton, 6 Kelly Brown, 7 Will Fraser, 8 Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Scott Spurling, 17 Rhys Gill, 18 James Johnston, 19 Mouritz Botha, 20 Jackson Wray, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Charlie Hodgson, 23 Duncan Taylor.