Pro14 QF: Munster vs Edinburgh 05/05

Head Coach Richard Cockerill has made three changes ahead of Edinburgh’s highly anticipated Guinness PRO14 Semi-Final Qualifier against Munster at Thomond Park tomorrow afternoon (Saturday 5 May, kick-off 3.15pm) - live on Sky Sport Action and BBC ALBA.

A revamped midfield sees Chris Dean return to action after missing last weekend’s 1872 Cup victory due to injury alongside Scotland international Mark Bennett who gets the nod at outside centre.

Fullback Blair Kinghorn – a late call-off in last weekend’s win over Glasgow Warriors – recovers from illness and is once again named in the starting XV.

As Edinburgh look to make history in what is their first-ever appearance in the PRO14 Final Series, Cockerill has once again called on his side to shake off the pressure and go into the game with confidence.

"It’s going to be a big day for us and we have earned the right to be there - the league table doesn’t lie,” said the Head Coach.

We can beat them if we get it right. We played a Munster second team in March, so we expect to face a different side tomorrow. They have world class players and are a different force at home. We’re looking forward to it and these are the challenges we want.

“We know if we play at our best, we will give ourselves opportunities to beat Munster. The chances are that they should win, however, they are at home and have just dropped out of Europe, so there is a bit of pressure on them.”

With Kinghorn reinstated at fullback, Dougie Fife returns to the wing alongside South African star Duhan van der Merwe. Jaco van der Walt and scrum-half Sam Hidalgo-Clyne are once again named at half-back.

An unchanged front-row sees props Jordan Lay and Simon Berghan pack down either side of captain Stuart McInally.

Scotland internationalists Ben Toolis and Grant Gilchrist continue in the second-row, whilst Fijian star Bill Mata features alongside Magnus Bradbury and Jamie Ritchie in an unaltered back-row.



Edinburgh team to face Munster in the Guinness PRO14 Semi-Final Qualifier at Thomond Park on Saturday 5 May (kick-off 3.15pm) – live on Sky Sports Action and BBC ALBA.



15. Blair Kinghorn (63)



14. Dougie Fife (106)

13. Mark Bennett (11)

12. Chris Dean (65)

11. Duhan van der Merwe (17)



10. Jaco van der Walt (16)

9. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (107)



1. Jordan Lay (11)

2. Stuart McInally (119) CAPTAIN

3. Simon Berghan (48)

4. Ben Toolis (87)

5. Grant Gilchrist (119)

6. Magnus Bradbury (52)

7. Jamie Ritchie (48)

8. Bill Mata (36)



Replacements: 16. Neil Cochrane (75); 17. Allan Dell (43); 18. WP Nel (115); 19. Lewis Carmichael (32); 20 Cornell du Preez (104); 21. Nathan Fowles (58); 22. Duncan Weir (34); 23. James Johnstone (17)


MUNSTER: Simon Zebo; Andrew Conway, Sammy Arnold, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; JJ Hanrahan, Conor Murray; James Cronin, Rhys Marshall, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Billy Holland; Peter O’Mahony (C), Jack O’Donoghue, CJ Stander. Replacements: Mike Sherry, Dave Kilcoyne, Ciaran Parker, Gerbrandt Grobler, Robin Copeland, James Hart, Ian Keatley, Darren Sweetnam.

Relatively big call to bring Dean and Bennett back in but they are our first choice pairing so please to see them in there. Bennett was a man on a mission last week!

Strong team from Edinburgh.  Interesting that JJ has been dropped to the bench for Bennett, who's possibly not been as good of late.

Don't think it will be strong enough sadly, but at least it should hopefully be competitive.

MUNSTER: Simon Zebo; Andrew Conway, Sammy Arnold, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; JJ Hanrahan, Conor Murray; James Cronin, Rhys Marshall, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Billy Holland; Peter O’Mahony (C), Jack O’Donoghue, CJ Stander. Replacements: Mike Sherry, Dave Kilcoyne, Ciaran Parker, Gerbrandt Grobler, Robin Copeland, James Hart, Ian Keatley, Darren Sweetnam.

I'd have to agree that actually dropping JJ for Bennett is a pretty big call on current form. Bennett undoubtedly has more experience in big games though which may have swung it.

Really looking forward to this, although a massive ask for Edinburgh to actually win it!

That's a hell of a team from Munster

I'm right up for this and I'm sure the Edinburgh boys will be too.

Munster is a nightmare of a place to go to looking for a win but on our day we can beat anyone else in the league. I just hope we're on our day tomorrow.

If we're close with 20 to go I fancy our chances as I personally think our bench (with the exception of scrum half) is stronger than Munster's.

Munster team is:

Simon Zebo; Andrew Conway, Sammy Arnold, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; JJ Hanrahan, Conor Murray; James Cronin, Rhys Marshall, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Billy Holland; Peter O’Mahony (C), Jack O’Donoghue, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Mike Sherry, Dave Kilcoyne, Ciaran Parker, Gerbrandt Grobler, Robin Copeland, James Hart, Ian Keatley, Darren Sweetnam.

I think Munster will simply be too strong for Edinburgh

Bennett has been solid in defence but has been lacking in attack since he's come back. Against Glasgow he carried like a man possessed (like most the rest of the team). Plus he's a big game player - he was star of the World Cup QF against Australia so he is used to big occasions.

Good call I think - JJ offers plenty off the bench.

I thought Bennett had his best game of the season last week, looks like he is coming back into form at just the right time. A good call by Cockers I'd say.

Johnson quite capable of making an impact from the bench later on.

Me and Biggee basically saying the same thing (again!)

RDW_Scotland wrote:Me and Biggee basically saying the same thing (again!)

Uncanny!

I'm going to disagree...just because.

But in fairness, JJ scored a try last weekend and played well, as he has done pretty much everytime he has played.

Yes Bennett had his best game last week, but it was from the bench, why not do that again as it clearly worked?  Start JJ and bring Bennett off the bench to get stuck in like he did against Glasgow.

Also Bennett had his best game against his old club and mates, almost like he was trying to prove a point.  That won't be a factor against Munster.

Not saying Bennett is a bad player or anything like that, as he clearly is very good, but JJ is in form, whereas Bennett hasn't been.

EWT Spoons wrote:Strong team from Edinburgh.  Interesting that JJ has been dropped to the bench for Bennett, who's possibly not been as good of late.

Don't think it will be strong enough sadly, but at least it should hopefully be competitive.

And Keatley is dropped to the bench for JJ.

TJ wrote:I think Munster will simply be too strong for Edinburgh

I'm not too confident. Munster are playing bad lately and Edinburgh are on a good run so who knows. Being at home makes a big difference though.

Lately Ulster had a BP win against a full strength Edinburgh, that they couldn't match against a second string Munster.

I'm going to miss the game unfortunately - gutted I can't watch!

The Great Aukster wrote:Lately Ulster had a BP win against a full strength Edinburgh, that they couldn't match against a second string Munster.

To be fair the team against Munster wasn't as good as the team against Edinburgh.

Munster should win but no certainty.
Half the team are very good players - the other half though are nothing special.
They are a hard nut to crack but not unbeatable

Jamie Ritchie out with injury, means Bradbury is starting at 7, not ideal

Munster seriously lack a 10 of the quality to see them win these tournaments. I think JJ is more dynamic than Keatley but Keatley is more consistent. Bleyendaal is probably more talented than both those 2 but has often had very very off days in big matches.

Bollix to Ulster, Carbery to Munster to team up with Murray

Hoping to see a good game today but think Munster will have too much at home.

TheMildlyFranticLlama wrote:Jamie Ritchie out with injury, means Bradbury is starting at 7, not ideal

Carmicheal starts in the back row and Aly Miller onto the bench. Some debut this may well be for him!

Was Conway lucky there? I would say he was competing but would have awarded a penalty against him for his challenge.

Bradbury lucky there, clearly offside on the chase

What a soft try. Terrible from Edinburgh

Balls, thats not good. Going to be a big challenge now not to let them build on that and get out of sight. Shame for McInally who's been on excellent form recently

Great bit of counter attack there for Embra, shame about the knock on.

Great read by Earls though.

Thats the sort of play we expect from Mark Bennett, good to see him getting his confidence back in attack

7-6 Munster. Edinburgh right back in this one, they are playing well

We’re getting robbed at the breakdown, starting to feel the lack of a proper 7

Munster getting away with a lot of high shots and arms around the neck in the tackle. Nigel seems blind to it. As for Munster kicking the ball out of Edinburgh hands, Nigel needs to be penalising them for it. It's recklass and dangerous. Munster trying to intimidate with cheapshots.

Good first half. Think Edinburgh have looked stronger but thankfully they mess up in the red zone. Don't think Munster have even worked it into the 22 with their hands.

Complete nip and tuck this game, could go either way. Edinburgh should have taken more from that half but are getting tucked up in the breakdown.

I think Edinburgh may have this. They look much better with the ball in hand.

Can this thread last the whole match without a complaint about biased refs, Irish players, PrO’14, why are Munster playing this at home, lying all over the ruck, hometown reffing, etc?

Answers on a postcard to....

eirebilly wrote:I think Edinburgh may have this. They look much better with the ball in hand.

Plenty of teams come to TP looking better ball in hand than Munster, very few of them go away with a win!

Munster cover defence has been outstanding, Earls's in particular. Edinburgh are going to have to crack it to win.

The Cockers interview on Alba right now - there simply isn’t a coach I’d rather have at Edinburgh right now, the man commands so much respect. Such a hardworking and honest bloke, you can already see the effect he’s had on our young players and I believe he can help them get better still

I think he he been coach of the PRO14

BigGee wrote:

eirebilly wrote:I think Edinburgh may have this. They look much better with the ball in hand.

Plenty of teams come to TP looking better ball in hand than Munster, very few of them go away with a win!

Munster cover defence has been outstanding, Earls's in particular. Edinburgh are going to have to crack it to win.

True but Edinburgh do seem to be that bit quicker and hungrier. It will take something big from Munster here in the second half.

And there it is from Zebo to Earls

That was superb play from Zebo

Great try from nothing!

And that is why Earls is Munster's player of the year, great kick and turnover

Munster really on top now

Just running away from Edinburgh now, not started this half with the same intensity as they ended the first.

17-6 Munster, two tries needed, that is a long way back

FFS Fowles already?!

Cockerill always pulls SHC very early in the game. Fowles comes on

TheMildlyFranticLlama wrote:FFS Fowles already?!

Paid off though

and Fowles scores, you could not make this up

Always liked that Fowles chap

So much for Fowler being rubbish

Great comeback by Edinburgh, back to 17-16