Rugby:Munster's match against Ulster in Thomond Park on Saturday (KO: 7.30pm) will be the final time coach Tony McGahan and players Lifeimi Mafi and Tomas O'Leary step onto the home turf. McGahan departs Munster to return to the southern hemisphere, while both Mafi and O'Leary move on to new clubs at the end of the season.
McGahan has made just three changes for his last home match in charge, which is in sharp contrast to Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin, who has made 10 changes to his team for the trip south.
One of McGahan’s changes is positional with Johne Murphy switching to the right wing to allow Ivan Dineen partner Mafi, while the other is in the front row where Wian du Preez replaces Dave Kilcoyne. Dineen gets his chance as Keith Earls injury prevented him taking a full part in training this week. Earls is named on the bench. If Munster win they will face a trip to the Liberty Stadium for a PRO12 Playoff semi final with Ospreys.
With Ulster having only an outside chance of qualifying for the play-offs, and with a Heineken Cup final on the horizon, McLaughlin has decided to rest a raft of players. Captain Johann Muller, Ruan Pienaar, Rory Best and Stevie Ferris are among those getting a well-earned weekend off.
Ireland U20 star Iain Henderson will make his first senior start when he lines out at blindside flanker. The 20 year old made an impressive appearance as a second row replacement against Connacht last month. Academy player Chris Cochrane has also been given a chance to impress after being handed a starting berth on the left wing.
Andrew Trimble, Paddy Jackson, Declan Fitzpatrick, Dan Tuohy and Willie Faloon are the only players who remain in the starting line up from last week. In the backs, Paul Marshall combines with Jackson at half back, Ian Whitten and Nevin Spence come in to form a centre partnership and Adam D’Arcy lines out at fullback. Trimble and Cochrane will look to capitalise on opportunities from the wings.
Up front, Nigel Brady will captain the side from hooker, where he is joined by Fitzpatrick and Paddy McAllister. Lewis Stevenson replaces Muller at lock alongside Tuohy, while Henderson and Faloon are joined by Robbie Diack in the back row.
Chris Henry (ankle), Andi Kyriacou (shoulder) and Neil McComb (neck) have been ruled out by injuries. Kyriacou’s injury means former Ireland U20 captain Niall Annett could have the opportunity to win his second cap from the bench. The hooker is joined by Callum Black, Tom Court, Mike McComish and Ali Birch as forward cover. Blane McIlroy has been named as scrumhalf replacement and the bench is completed by Ian Humphreys and Craig Gilroy.
To seal a play-off spot Ulster must win with a bonus point on Saturday and hope that both Glasgow and Scarlets pick up nothing from their games against Cardiff and Connacht respectively. Brian McLaughlin is realistic about his side’s chances.
“We are reliant on other results but we will approach the game trying to do our job and we will wait to hear other results coming through. Obviously the ideal outcome is to get a semi-final spot but we realise it’s unlikely. We have quite an exciting backline; Spence, Whitten, Trimble, Marshall and D’Arcy are seasoned pros now. In the forwards, Dan (Tuohy) and Lewis (Stevenson) are experienced operators too, as are our front row. We also have some great options on the bench.”
Despite this, the Ulster coach is aware his side face a difficult evening.
“Munster are always tough opponents, particularly at home. But the Heineken Cup quarter-final win down there proved that we can do it. We set the bar very high that day and I expect the boys to go out and defend our reputation,” said McLaughlin.
Ulster:A D'Arcy; A Trimble, N Spence, I Whitten, C Cochrane; P Jackson, P Marshall: P McAllister, N Brady (c), D Fitzpatrick, L Stevenson, D Tuohy, I Henderson, W Faloon, R Diack; Replacements: N Annett, C Black, T Court, M McComish, A Birch, B McIlroy, I Humphreys, C Gilroy
Munster:F Jones; J Murphy, I Dineen, L Mafi, S Zebo; I Keatley, C Murray; W du Preez, M Sherry, BJ Botha; M O'Driscoll, P O'Connell; D Ryan, T O'Donnell, P O'Mahony. Replacements: D Varley, D Kilcoyne, S Archer, D O'Callaghan, P Butler, T O'Leary, S Deasy, K Earls.
