Rugby Celtic Cup Previews/Munster v Edinburgh: Tonight could mark the end of Alan Gaffney as Munster coach, but as he moves to the Australian national set-up, another potential Southern Hemisphere diamond arrives in the shape of teenage Kiwi outhalf Jeremy Manning. If he draws anything close to the praise Gaffney received from the Leinster and Munster backlines the future is glaringly bright. What's more, in two seasons' time he becomes an Irishman.
That's all for the future as Manning still plays second fiddle to Ronan O'Gara's understudy Paul Burke, but he will get a run if Munster pull clear.
Apart from the recuperating O'Gara, all the elements are in place for Munster to progress.
The pack is the same unit that has been gallivanting around Europe since the first Declan Kidney era.
David Wallace continues the tug of war for the number seven shirt with Denis Leamy and despite Leamy's two tries against Edinburgh on April 16th, in a 30-20 win, Wallace gets the nod.
Others, particularly Alan Quinlan, will want to lay down a marker ahead of the 26-man squad announcement to tour Japan on May 16th.
Also, considering the recent injuries to Lions props, Marcus Horan may yet be promoted to the ultimate touring party.
Munster are unbeaten in nine matches at Thomond Park and are coming off the back of four Celtic League victories. In contrast, Edinburgh are a disastrous one from seven on the road.
Still, Edinburgh coach Frank Hadden was made interim Scottish head coach yesterday and is tipped to take on the role permanently.
The formidable visiting backrow of Todd Blackadder, Allister Hogg and Simon Taylor will though ensure a contest, while secondrows Nathan Hines, en route to Perpignan, and Scott Murray may seek to incite the Munster pair that beat them to Lions selection. Music no doubt to the ears of Donncha O'Callaghan and Paul O'Connell.
That will up the temperature; not that the Shannon faithful, who are expected to stick around after the AIL semi-final earlier in the day, will need much motivation in sending off the highly respected Gaffney.
The swansong theme should tip the scales.
MUNSTER: S Payne; J Kelly, M Mullins, R Henderson, A Horgan; P Burke, P Stringer; M Horan, F Sheahan, J Hayes; P O'Connell, D O'Callaghan; A Quinlan, D Wallace, A Foley. Replacements: E McGovern, J Flannery, D Leamy, T Hogan, M Prendergast, P Devlin, J Manning.
EDINBURGH: H Southwell; C Patterson, M Di Rollo, B Laney, S Webster; P Godman, M Blair; A Jacobsen, D Hall, C Smith; N Hines, S Murray; T Blackadder, A Hogg, S Taylor. Replacements: A Kelly, A Dickenson, A Kellock, S Cross, R Lawson, B MacDougall, M Pyke.
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU).
Verdict: Munster win.
Munster v Edinburgh, Thomond Park, 7.30 (Setanta)
