Match Preview: Munster

Match Preview: Munster

Get the latest ahead of Saturday's trip to face Munster in Round 2 of the Guinness PRO14 with this week's Match Preview.

HOW TO WATCH

The match is live on Premier Sports 1 (kick-off 7.35pm). You can also follow all the action via our live match centre.


MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU, 185th competition game)

Assistant Referees: Sean Gallagher, Peter Martin (both IRFU)

TMO: Joy Neville (IRFU)

Citing Commissioner: Ciaran Scally (IRFU)


OVERALL PRO14 RECORD

Played 34, Munster won 26, Edinburgh won 8.

STORY OF THE MATCH

Replacement Ben Healy was the hero for Munster in the opening round as he came off the bench to strike the winning penalty for the 14-man Red Army in a 30-27 triumph at Scarlets.

And while Johann van Graan will be pleased by the spirit of his team, who trailed right up until Healy’s decisive penalty, he will be hoping for a less nerve-shredding display against Edinburgh.

Munster have a formidable record at Thomond Park, but Edinburgh were victorious when the two sides last met in Cork last November, with Richard Cockerill’s men prevailing 18-16.

Following their defeat to Ospreys last time out, Edinburgh are on a run of three consecutive Guinness PRO14 defeats – a stat they will want to put to bed when they visit Limerick.


LAST TIME OUT

Edinburgh claimed a valuable away victory when they last travelled to face Munster, winning 16-18 at Irish Independent Park, signalling their first win in Cork since 2004. Watch the full highlights below:

RECENT MEETINGS

Date

Venue

M

E

Munster scorers

Edinburgh Rugby scorers

Sat 24 Sep 16

Thomond Park

28

14

Conor Murray(2T) Tyler Bleyendaal(4C) Dave O'Callaghan(T) Conor Oliver(T)

Duncan Weir(C) Chris Dean(T) Blair Kinghorn(C) John Hardie(T)

Fri 3 Feb 17

Myreside

10

9

Tyler Bleyendaal(C/P) Ronan O'Mahony(T)

Jason Tovey(3P)

Fri 16 Mar 18

BT Murrayfield

6

12

JJ Hanrahan(2P)

Duhan van der Merwe(2T) Jaco van der Walt(C)

Sat 5 May 18

Thomond Park

20

16

Rhys Marshall(T) Keith Earls(T) JJ Hanrahan(2C/2P)

Nathan Fowles(T) Jaco van der Walt(C) Sam Hidalgo-Clyne(3P)

Fri 30 Nov 18

Irish Independent Park

44

14

Chris Farrell(2T) Andrew Conway(2T) Tyler Bleyendaal(T) Keith Earls(3T) JJ Hanrahan(2C)

Duhan van der Merwe(2T) Jaco van der Walt(C) Jason Baggott(C)

Fri 29 Nov 19

Irish Independent Park

16

18

Ben Healy(C/3P) Tommy O'Donnell(T)

Jaco van der Walt(C/P) Matt Scott(T) Simon Hickey(P) Eroni Sau(T)


KEY STATS

Munster Rugby’s record since the return of Guinness PRO14 rugby is won two, lost two.

The Munstermen’s most recent defeat at Thomond Park was 6-13 to Leinster on 28 December.

Edinburgh have won five of their last eight away games in all tournaments.

Edinburgh beat Munster 18-16 in Cork last November and have only achieved back-to back victories over the Irishmen once before, in April 2004.

Edinburgh have won just twice at Thomond Park in October 2006 and September 2014.

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