MAGNERS LEAGUE:AS ANTICIPATED, the Connacht-Dragons and Ulster-Ospreys Magners League games scheduled for tomorrow evening were both postponed yesterday due to the big chill. This leaves Connacht, especially, with something of a fixture logjam while given the state of the Sportsground and Ravenhill pitches, along with the long-term weather forecast, there must also be a doubt over their respective European matches at home to Montpellier and Edinburgh tomorrow week.
The postponement of a second match in succession means Connacht won’t have played for 21 days, dating back to their defeat to Munster on St Stephen’s Day with an under-strength side when meeting Montpellier. They must also find dates in the calendar to rearrange both their cancelled home games against Leinster and the Dragons.
The weekend before the Six Nations and the five weekends of the championship itself are all blank in the Magners League, but the Dragons and the Ospreys both have matches in the LD (Anglo-Welsh) Cup on the last weekend in January and the first weekend of February. Furthermore, the semi-finals and final of the LD Cup are scheduled for rounds four and five of the Six Nations in March.
Thus, the second and third rounds of the Six Nations, ie February 12th/13th/14th and 25th/26th/27th, seem the most plausible for rearranging the latest two casualties of the weather, with Ulster sources indicating their game against the Ospreys could be rescheduled for a Thursday, ie February 11th or 25th. In both instances, tickets purchased already for either tomorrow’s postponed games will be valid for the rearranged date.
The Sportsground has been covered since last Thursday and since then heaters and another cover have been applied, but the decision to cancel the game was prompted by a combination of the Dragons having difficulty travelling from Wales and doubts over whether the surface at the Sportsground would be playable come tomorrow evening.
Connacht CEO Gerry Kelly said that all options were considered, including moving the game to an afternoon start on Saturday as well as looking at other venues.
“The Dragons were due to fly from Luton to Galway on Thursday but they told us they would have difficulty getting to the airport, especially following the overnight deterioration of the weather in the UK, and even then there would be no guarantee that flights would be operating.
“The difficulty our supporters might have trying to get to the venue was also a factor,” he added.
“We want to apologise to supporters, especially as the Leinster game was also postponed, but the safety of everyone has to be the number one priority.”
A pitch inspection was undertaken at Ravenhill yesterday by the IRFU Referees’ department, and based on the current condition of the playing surface and the weather forecast for the next few days, it was deemed unplayable for tomorrow’s game.
Meanwhile, Munster have confirmed that contingency plans are in place for Sunday’s scheduled game against the Scarlets at Musgrave Park, with Thomond Park the back-up venue for this game subject to it being passed as playable. Protective covers were laid at both grounds yesterday and IRFU pitch inspections will go ahead at both venues tomorrow and on Saturday afternoon.
If the game is moved, tickets purchased for Musgrave Park will remain valid or can be refunded, and a further update will be posted on the Munster website at 3pm tomorrow.
Munster yesterday announced a strong 26-man squad for the game, minus John Hayes – who sits out this game – and Jerry Flannery, with a return likely during their final two Heineken Cup pool games away to Brive and at home to Northampton.
The League champions trained in the UL gym yesterday morning before switching their afternoon session to the “not quite all-weather soccer pitch beside the Bowl, half of which was frozen under a light covering of snow”.
They plan to have another training session in Cork tomorrow and indications from ground staff in Musgrave Park is that the game will go ahead.
MUNSTER (Squad): D Hurley, I Dowling, D Howlett, T Gleeson, J de Villiers, K Earls, L Mafi, P Warwick, R O’Gara, D Williams, T O’Leary, P Stringer, W du Preez, S Archer, T Buckley, D Fogarty, D Varley, P O’Connell, D Ryan, D O’Callaghan, M O’Driscoll, A Quinlan, N Ronan, B Holland, D Wallace, J Coughlan.
