Munster v Cardiff Blues:IT'S A fairly healthy state of affairs when a coach can make 10 unenforced changes from a 50-pointer and five of those called back in are multicapped, fully fledged internationals, among them some blokes called O'Gara and O'Connell.
True to his word that he believes in his squad, and that he would rotate his players in the opening few weekends, Tony McGahan has also promoted Denis Hurley for the star turn thus far - last week's hat-trick hero Keith Earls - as well as Rua Tipoki.
There is an entirely new front row featuring John Hayes for the first time this season, with Niall Ronan and Justin Melck promoted to the back row, while another absentee heretofore, Alan Quinlan, is on the bench.
Aside from showing tangible belief in the squad, the policy serves to keep everyone on his toes and maintains a squad spirit while ensuring no one can complain he wasn't given a chance.
It also guards against injuries by ensuring players won't be coming into the side cold.
In a continuation of last season's change in style to a more offloading game, Munster have noticeably upped their work-rate off the ball and are also playing with more width.
"We're trying to play a positive, running brand of rugby," says McGahan. "It suits the players we have and has evolved with the introduction of the young guys we have. We want to create things but when it's down and dirty we can mix it as well."
The vexed ELVs have also reduced the scope for scoring off lineout mauls - previously one of Munster's main attacking weapons - but, says McGahan, increased possibilities off scrums, turnovers and counterattacks, and Munster have responded accordingly.
The forecast for a fine and dry evening ought to help them, though McGahan and Munster are acutely mindful that Cardiff have been a regular source of the blues over the years.
The Blues not only remain the only visiting side ever to win a Heineken European Cup tie at Musgrave Park, but have won the side's last four league meetings - including back-to-back wins in Cork - and nine of 15 competitive meetings to date.
Dai Young has rung the changes too - eight in personnel from the team that fortuitously and nervously edged past Ulster by a point last week for their first win in three attempts - and has left Tom Shanklin, who was out of sorts against Leinster, on the bench.
Without any marquee signings in the summer, they are struggling for form in the absence of Xavier Rush, who has been joined on the casualty list for the next few weeks by the equally influential Martyn Williams.
It's also significant that Munster won back-to-back Heineken Cup matches two seasons ago, the only occasion they've been at full strength against the Blues in recent years.
Indeed, this will be Ronan O'Gara's first league outing against them in four seasons.
MUNSTER:D Hurley; D Howlett, L Mafi, R Tipoki, I Dowling; R O'Gara, P Stringer; T Buckley, J Flannery, J Hayes; P O'Connell (capt), M O'Driscoll; D Ryan, N Ronan, J Melck. Replacements: D Fogarty, F Pucciariello, J O'Sullivan, A Quinlan, M Prendergast, J Manning, B Murphy.
CARDIFF BLUES:B Blair; R Mustoe, J Robinson, J Roberts, G Thomas; C Sweeney, J Spice; G Jenkins, G Williams, T Filise; B Davies, P Tito (capt); M Molitika, R Sowden Taylor, A Powell. Replacements: G Powell, T R Thomas, S Morgan, M Lewis, D Allinson, N Robinson, T Shanklin.
Referee:Peter Allan (SRU).
Previous meetings:(03-04) Munster 31 Cardiff 10 (Musgrave); Cardiff 60 Munster 14 (Arms Park); (04-05) Munster 49 Cardiff 18 (Thomond), Cardiff 30 Munster 20; (05-06) Cardiff 16 Leinster 18 (Arms Park), Munster 37 Cardiff 8 (Thomond); (06-07) Cardiff 22 Munster 13 (Arms Park), Munster 12 Cardiff 19 (Musgrave); (07-08) Munster 17 Cardiff 19 (Musgrave), Cardiff 25 Munster 22 (Arms Park).
Results:Munster - 20-15 v Edinburgh (a); 50-6 v Dragons (h). Cardiff - 16-16 v Leinster (h); 10-32 v Ospreys 9a); 16-15 v Ulster (h).
Leading points scorers:Munster - Warwick 25. Cardiff - Ben Blair 26.
Odds (Paddy Power):2/9 Munster, 22/1 Draw, 3/1 Cardiff. Handicap odds (= Cardiff + 9pts) 10/11 Munster, 22/1 Draw, 10/11 Cardiff.
Forecast:Munster to win.
