Biarritz v Munster Sunday 3.15pm (Live on Sky Sports 2)
It’s a trip into Basque territory and the beautiful seaside town of San Sebastian for Munster on Sunday afternoon, a fixture deemed so important in this country that the National Hurling league final has been pushed back to the unfamiliar time of 7pm on Sunday evening.
Tony McGahan had named an unchanged side from the one that overcame Northampton at Thomond in the quarters, until the late withdrawals of Doug Howlett and Ian Dowling yesterday evening. Lifemi Mafi and Denis Hurley have plenty of experience at this level but the two wings had been in impressive form, especially Howlett who touched down twice against Northampton.
Munster’s inspirational captain Paul O’Connell will also be absent and although Munster coped admirably without O’Connell against Northampton, the captain’s absence could be felt more keenly on this occasion. Biarritz captain Jerome Thion will certainly be a lot happier not having to face Munster’s on field general.
Imanol Harinordoquy’s inclusion is a huge plus for Biarritz; the French international is a wonderful all round footballer and James Coughlan will have his hands full trying to curtail his influence. Elsewhere, Dimitri Yachvilli will punish any Munster indiscipline with his boot while you only needed to look at Biarritz’s defeat of the Ospreys in the quarter final to realise the threat carried by rugby’s version of Usain Bolt, Takudzwa Ngwenya.
JOE columnist Jerry Flannery reckons he’d fancy himself in a race with Ngwenya, but surely that’s just Flannery’s male bravado coming to the surface.
With Howlett and Dowling missing out, it is a huge plus for Munster to have Keith Earls fit and ready for action. Earls has really come of age this season and he could have a significant part to play as McGahan’s men are likely to need at least a couple of tries if they are going to come away from San Sebastian with a victory.
Mick O’Driscoll is a fine replacement, but with all due respect he is no O’Connell and in the captain’s absence Donncha O’Callaghan, David Wallace, Alan Quinlan and Jerry Flannery are going to have to step up and meet the challenge of the Biarritz pack head on.
The Odds:
Biarritz 11/10, Munster 8/11, Draw 20/1
JOE Prediction: They’re without their general, but if there’s one team that triumphs in adversity, it’s Munster. JOE predicts a famous victory for McGahan’s men in San Sebastian.
