Racing preview

Rugby, like all professional sports, is a results based game and that's why James Cronin's try with the last play of the game on Saturday night was so important. The attitude and morale of the team and supporters coming into the Racing game would be completely different if Munster had only come away from Swansea with 4 match day points

As I wrote in my article in The Examiner (if you are playing the OTHP drinking game its time to down your pint) Munster's main difficulty in this years Champions Cup is getting all the international players up to speed with the new style of play. As well as only having one game before the competition started to get them up to speed, Johann van Graan mentioned in his post match BT Sports interview that some of those players have had to have their training regimes managed to even get them onto the pitch. I tweeted before the Ospreys game that I was disappointed with the selection of the 23. Its not that I wanted wholesale changes to the team its that i thought the team and particularly the bench could have use a few more players who were more familiar with the new style. Players like Wycherley, Daly and JOD were the ones I believed are good enough to play European rugby, are fully up to speed with Larkhams requirements and are in good form. Either way its irrelevant as Cronin's try got maximum points and now the players have had more time to get used to the system.

While the attack is shaping up, its the scrum that continues to be a worry. Rowntree needs to get down to the root of the penalty and scrum problems quickly. Against Ulster it was James Cronin who was penalized consistently despite looking to be on top in the scrum against Marty Moore. Despite being on top in the physical battle and Moore using a short bind and dropping the elbow, Cronin and Munster were unable to paint enough of a picture to change the refs mind. Against the Ospreys Munster were under pressure through out the match and it seemed like most of it came through from the Ospreys loosehead side. Rowntree not only needs to fix it technically but also enough to paint the picture to allow the ref to recognize it. The lineout is still a huge strength but the return of Donnacha Ryan to Thomond Park will put a huge pressure on Munster. JJ Hanrahan's fitness is probably the biggest single factor in whether Munster can or will win the game on Saturday. Munster need to have that running threat from 10 to make the attack tick. Also if he's fully fit then it affords van Graan the option to go with a 6/2 split on the bench which could be needed against Racing.

My guess at the team for Saturday

Cronin, Scannell, Ryan, Kleyn, Beirne, POM, TOD, Stander, Murray, Hanrahan, Earls, Scannell, Farrell, Conway, Haley

Subs: O'Byrne, Loughman, Archer, Holland, JOD, Mathewson, Goggin, Botha.

This all assumes JJ is fit but I'd bring Cronin in to solidify the scrum. Beirne and POM together make up for the lack of a jackal at openside. TOD offers the midfield carry option and is in possession of the jersey. Botha has to be there to increase our heavy carry options from the bench and Goggin cover 11-14 in the back line. Conway is full back cover.