The big freeze, which has gripped the country in recent weeks forced the postponement of the Musgrave Park clash and leaves up to half of Munster’s front line players without a competitive game since December 20.
Munster had included all their match-fit internationals, with the exception of John Hayes, for the scheduled Magners League clash with the Scarlets. However, their lack of match fitness as a result of the postponement, will be a cause for some concern for coach Tony McGahan ahead of the trip to the Stadio Communale di Monigo this weekend.
Munster’s starting line-up for Saturday’s round five Heineken Cup pool match against Treviso is likely to be very similar to that which faced USAP Perpignan in the previous round at the Stade Aime Giral. Then, Munster produced their most outstanding display of the season to record a 37-14 bonus-point victory. That victory leaves Munster at the top of pool one in the Heineken Cup on 15 points, two more than the Northampton Saints.
The winner of the pool is likely to be decided on Friday, January 22 when Munster host the Northampton Saints at Thomond Park in a final round clash (8pm).
Following a 10am inspection by officials from Munster Rugby and David McHugh from the IRFU Referee Department on Saturday it was decided to postpone the scheduled meeting of Munster and the Scarlets.
Tickets purchased for the Musgrave Park game will be valid for the re-fixture.
Details of the new date and kick-off time will be communicated once the game has been re-fixed.
The cancellation of the weekend’s planned AIB All-Ireland League fixtures came as a blow to Marcus Horan’s comeback hopes.
Horan, who has been sidelined since Munster’s Heineken Cup clash with Benetton Treviso at Thomond Park in October after undergoing a routine procedure, was due to feature for Shannon in their AIL Division 1A clash with St. Mary’s College.
However, that game and all others across four divisions fell victim to the adverse weather conditions.
The IRFU decided, as a result of the continuing cold snap, to cancel all games in the AIL ‘in the interests of player and spectator safety’.
The scheduled games will be re-fixed for an alternate date and the new dates will be announced this week.
The planned fixture list for Limerick clubs at the weekend included two home games in Division 1A with Garryowen due to host Blackrock College at Dooradoyle and UL Bohemian at home to Cork Constitution in Annacotty.
Holders Shannon were due to travel to Templeville Road to face St. Mary’s College.
In Division 1B second-placed Young Munster were due to host Dungannon at Clifford Park.
In Division 2 Old Crescent were scheduled to meet League leaders Lansdowne at Rosbrien while Thomond were due to host Old Wesley at Fitzgerald Park and Bruff were set to host Malone at Kilballyowen Park.
Meanwhile it has been confirmed that Connacht’s Limerick-born international hooker Sean Cronin is to remain on at the Sportsground for a further season. Twenty-three-year-old Cronin, who earned his first full cap against Fiji in November, has signed a one-year extension to his existing contract with Connacht.
Cronin is currently in his second season with the Western province having spent a couple of seasons in the Munster Academy prior to his move to the Sportsground.
COLM KINSELLA
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment