Munster should have Pool Six sown up when they board tonight’s charter back to Shannon. All that then remains to ensure Rob Penney’s men have a home quarter-final is enough focus to obliterate Edinburgh at Thomond Park in eight days time.
After October’s stumble in Murrayfield that seems a certainty. They travelled across the water yesterday in fine fettle, following the rapid return of Conor Murray at scrumhalf and Damien Varley’s remarkable recovery from what seemed a serious heel injury.
After a 12-week lay-up, Simon Zebo makes the bench but didn’t show enough in training to dislodge the always lively Johne Murphy.
Dave Foley and CJ Stander have muscled their way into the match day 23 with Foley starting ahead of Donncha O’Callaghan, as Donnacha Ryan is injured again, while the South African finally makes a European squad.
Stander has looked the part in patches but it will take some cameo to dislodge the current backrow. He will probably relieve James Coughlan in the second half.
This is Foley’s first European run out with the Tipperary native, in true Munster fashion, having earned the right to lock alongside Paul O’Connell.
James Downey is another back in, as a battering ram to be aimed directly at the potentially susceptible Billy Twelvetrees – the best example being some fragile defending against Australia's Matt Toomua last November.
Creative footballer
Twelvetrees is a creative footballer but the absence of Mike Tindall's grizzled frame in midfield hardly bodes well for the hosts. The 35-year-old 2003 World Cup winner's creaking body denies him a part in this latest Anglo-Irish play.
It gets worse for the struggling English club as they are without their All Black scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan.
Not listed as injured, not benched, just removed by Nigel Davies for an unexplained reason.
Also, England number eight Ben Morgan’s abductor strain means he’s only among the reserves. The wonder is where their forward momentum will come from.
They are at a particularly low ebb following the 29-8 home defeat to Saracens as Davies sends out an under-strength platoon to defend the crumbling Kingsholm fortress. Wounded animal or broken steed? We shall soon find out.
Last week's humiliation did have mitigating circumstances. Cowan was sin-binned early and before they found any rhythm Sarries were 16 points clear. That leaves them languishing ninth in the Premiership with four wins from 12 outings.
An Irish angle
Gloucester offered an Irish angle in their team selection missive. Those who caught Shane Monahan's early progress from the youths system to 2007 Grand Slam winning under-20s winger into a tremendously effective force for Blackrock in the AIL will have expected greater strides by 2014.
This evening marks his Heineken Cup debut and only second start of the season. That he is marking former Ireland under-20s team-mate Keith Earls could make for some spiky interactions. Monahan can out sprint the average player but he also has a 16st plus frame to power through the tackler. He will test Earls bruised shoulder at the first opportunity.
“We are a bit light in our back line and the injuries we have so Shane was an obvious choice,” said Davies.
In the meantime, a lot depends on Freddie Burns’ ability to dictate the tempo. Overlooked by England this week, the outhalf must direct his pack with accuracy, especially without Cowan’s experience inside him.
That brings us neatly to Ian Keatley. He does have the advantage of Cowan version 2.0 in Murray to relieve pressure but a repeat of the Ravenhill place-kicking return – missing six of eight – and JJ Hanrahan will be handed the conch.
The incumbent Munster outhalf should always be, at the very least, pushing for inclusion in the extended Six Nations squad.
It’s not too late. One injury to Paddy Jackson, Ian Madigan or, God forbid, Johnny Sexton and Joe Schmidt will be making his feelings known on the Keatley/Hanrahan debate.
