In the United Rugby Championship’s 6th round, the Sharks are set to play against Munster at Kings Park, Durban, on Saturday at 3pm Irish time. Viewers can tune into TG4 or Premier Sports to catch the match live. It’s worth noting that Munster hasn’t lost three league games back-to-back in a season for nearly nine years. Yet, a special performance is needed to avoid this from happening this Saturday against the Sharks, a team brimming with Springboks players.
The upcoming match happens when Munster is still reeling from consecutive defeats against Leinster and the Stormers, and an unexpected loss to Zebre in the second round. If they lose again, it means only two victories out of six games in the URC opening, with wins against Connacht and Ospreys – both at home.
The last time Munster suffered three league losses came towards 2015’s end, which also saw them lose twice to Leicester Tigers in the Champions Cup. That period, marked by a defeat to Connacht at Thomond Park, a 22-6 loss to the Dragons, and eventual fall to Leinster, was finally broken in early January 2016 with a narrow 9-7 victory over Ulster in Belfast.
Graham Rowntree, Munster’s head coach, is preparing for a fierce battle after their close defeat to the Stormers in Cape Town. Rowntree said, “I anticipate this game will be a tough one, much like last week against the Stormers. They performed exceptionally in their first home game. I am expecting an equally intense game this week.” He added that recent bouts with these two opponents, Stormers and Sharks, have familiarised them but dealing with them will be a challenge.
Rowntree has already enforced four changes in the team and several positional shifts due to injuries and unavailability.
In a reshuffle of positions, Craig Casey, after a period of injury, is reclaiming his position as scrumhalf. The vacancy was created by Conor Murray’s return to Ireland for personal circumstances. In addition, Rory Scannell is being inaugurated into the centre and Seán O’Brien is being transferred over to the left wing due to Shane Daly’s leg injury during the 34-19 defeat by the Stormers last weekend.
Also in the aftermath of the match, Jeremy Loughman, is being succeeded by John Ryan, returning to his earlier position from tighthead, allowing for Stephen Archer’s entry at number three.
The starting duo, aged 36, will have two trainees as backups. Kieran Ryan, 22-years of age from Shannon is expected to play for the sixth time, while 21-years old Ronan Foxe from Rahugh, educated at the Midland Warriors club in Moate and Tullamore RFC, is on the cusp of his premiere.
The six-two bench will see the attendance of John Hodnett at openside and Alex Kendellen, reserving Diarmuid Barron, who is available after following the return-to-play protocols. The backline will be defended by Ethan Coughlan and Billy Burns.
After a loss to Connacht, and a win against Dragons, Plumtree’s squad defeated reigning champions Glasgow Warriors 28-24 last weekend, their victory more significant than the scoreline insinuates, as 12 points were garnered by the champions in the last two minutes.
In Plumtree’s alterations, the most standout change is Siya Kolisi’s, the captain of the Springboks’ transition from blindside flanker to number eight. The announcement comes in the wake of a week that saw his divorce from his wife, Rachel dominating the South African media headlines.
“His personal life is of no concern to us”, Plumtree confirmed to reporters in Durban, “He’s fine, he’s trained well, and he’s eager for the weekend.”
The SHARKS A lineup includes Fassi, E Keyter, L Am, A Esterhuizen, M Mapimpi; Jordan Hendrikse, G Williams; O Nche, B Mbonambi, V Koch; E Etzebeth (capt), E van Heerden; J Venter, V Tshituka and S Kolisi.
The substitutes for the game include F Mbatha, N Mchunu, R Dreyer, J Jenkins, P Bhutelezi, Jaden Hendrikse, S Masuku, and F Venter. Munster’s lineup consists of M Haley; C Nash, T Farrell, R Scannell, and S O’Brien; J Crowley, C Casey; J Ryan, N Scannell, and S Archer. The team also includes J Kleyn, T Beirne who’s the captain; T Ahern, J Hodnett, and J O’Donoghue. The replacement players are D Barron, K Ryan, R Foxe, F Wycherley, R Quinn, E Coughlan, B Burns, and A Kendellen. The game’s official is Hollie Davison from Scotland.