Current Magners League champions, Munster, visit the home of last season’s runners up, Edinburgh tonight (kick off 8pm) and it promises to be an epic battle, especially up front.
To listen to Edinburgh’s front row talk about the challenge click here. To watch Ross Ford and Mike Blair speak to Edinburgh Rugby TV about the task ahead click here. Highlights will be shown on STV Rugby on Sunday (25 October, starts 5.05pm) - to watch online click here.
To download a FREE teamsheet that you can print off and take to the game click here. Remember that AnyGame vouchers are not available to either buy or collect today (Friday), so ticket prices will be as follows: Adults: £20, Concessions (students, concessions): £10, Juniors: £5. Visit the Scottish Rugby Ticket Centre (situated off Roseburn Street) which is open Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm.
Munster possess one of the most celebrated packs in world club rugby and the front five contains British and Irish Lions’ second row pairing of Paul O’Connell and Donncha O’Callaghan.
Make no mistake, whether in the red of Munster or the green of Ireland they remain the best second row pairing in Europe and possibly the world.
It will be an exciting challenge for Scott MacLeod – now back in the Scotland squad – and Steve Turnbull, recently back from a long-term injury lay-off.
In the front row, Munster have selected Darragh Hurley alongside hooker Denis Fogarty and French prop, Julien Brugnaut, who has only recorded 71 minutes of Magners League rugby.
The star name in Munster’s back row is openside David Wallace while Ireland internationalist Denis Leamy occupies the No8 slot and Niall Ronan is at blindside.
Like Mike Blair and Phil Godman, Munster’s half-back pairing of Tomas O’Leary and Ronan O’Gara have taken their domestic form onto the Test stage with Ireland.
In terms of kicking from hand, O’Gara is arguably the best in the business and his tactical kicking game could lead to proving line-outs in key areas.
Peter Stringer is on the bench, but on his last trip to Murrayfield he made a huge impact as a replacement for Ireland against Scotland.
Munster’s centre pairing consists of two exotic imports, Jean de Villiers and Lifeimi Mafi and they will provide pace, power and guile to the province’s back line.
In the back three, Doug Howlett is out with a hamstring strain, but wingers Ian Dowling and Keith Earls are potent threats while Paul Warwick has a good boot and an eye for an opening.
