URC: Sharks v Munster, Kings Park Stadium, Saturday, 5.30pm, TG4 & Premier Sports 1
Munster are likely to be in the same state of mind in Durban as Scarlets are travelling to Dublin. Heads will be filled with hope mixed with visceral excitement and the challenge of being the underdog.
And it is significant as the Irish side face into a Sharks side laced with Springboks including double World Cup winners Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi in the pack.
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Munster will try to use every tool at their disposal and that includes the emotional surge of prolonging the careers of Peter O’Mahony and Stephen Archer, who are named in the pack, for one more knockout game before their retirements.
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Conor Murray is also leaving the club at the end of the season, and although he is on the bench with Jack Crowley in the starting XV alongside Craig Treacy, there will be an emotional push if the scrumhalf comes into play too.
Munster have a strong reputation for channelling emotional energy especially when they are outgunned as they will be in Kings Park. But they have become used to big, fast, physical battles in heat and earlier this week Calvin Nash and Alex Nankivell both noted that Limerick was a pleasantly warm weather venue for all of a week before they travelled south.
Sharks head coach John Plumtree has made five changes to the side (including Kolisi who took a Springbok-enforced rest), that defeated Scarlets in the final week of regular season action, bringing in some key players to do battle against the respected tourists, while Munster are unchanged from last time out.
“They’re a quality side and it’s probably going to come down to discipline on the day and who has the better goal-kicker,” said Sharks captain Etzebeth. “It’s going to be a very close game.”
O’Mahony will also be looked on to lead the side along with Tadhg Beirne, both veterans of big knockout games and volatile environments. Kings Park will have more than 50,000 spectators.
“Tadhg and Pete have been great over the last few weeks. Like I said, from a personal point of view I just narrowed my game down but I think that’s what the lads are trying to do as well,” said Nash this week.
“At the end of the day it’s a simple game. If you’re physical, if you’re going forward, a lot of the time you tend to win. So, I think we’ve just tried to narrow our focus during the week is probably one of the main things, like if we train well we tend to play well at the weekend.
“So, it’s just being concentrated throughout the week and holding each other accountable, I suppose, things that we’re developing ourselves – players holding each other accountable and our habits in training is probably a big work on for us.”
Sharks finished third in the league phase of the championship with Munster finishing sixth, which all eight teams still in the competition dismiss as of little importance facing into a one-off game. Munster were champions in 2023 when they beat South African side Stormers, while Sharks have not yet made it to a URC final.
Munster doubtlessly have a serious challenge and, on the day, everything will need to go exactly as Nash says, getting physical and going forward.
Sharks: A Fassi; E Hooker, L Am, A Esterhuizen, M Mapimpi; Jordan Hendrikse, Jaden Hendrikse; O Nche, B Mbonambi, V Koch; E Etzebeth (capt), J Jenkins; J Venter, V Tshituka, S Kolisi. Replacements: F Mbatha, N Mchunu, H Jacobs, E Van Heerden, P Buthelezi, B Davids, F Venter, Y Penxe.
Munster Rugby: T Abrahams; C Nash, T Farrell, A Nankivell, D Kilgallen; J Crowley, C Casey; M Milne, N Scannell, S Archer; J Kleyn, T Beirne (capt); P O’Mahony, J Hodnett, G Coombes. Replacements: D Barron, J Wycherley, J Ryan, T Ahern, A Kendellen, C Murray, R Scannell, M Haley.
Referee: M Adamson (Scotland)
