.jpg)
Munster fixtures
Saracens (H)
Saracens (A)
Connacht (A)
Leinster (H)
Ulster (A)
Racing (A)
Six games over six weekends, four away and only two at home, that will define Munster's season. How Saracens choose to approach the back to back games will go a long way to deciding Munster's european hopes and with the national player management program in place Munster will require a whole squad effort over the Christmas period to ensure they don't lose ground in the league during the inter-provincial games.
For the opening game of the six, i don't expect huge changes from the Racing game but I do think van Graan will tinker with things slightly to meet the specific challenge of Saracens. I suspect Billy Holland may make a return to the starting XV with the expectation of creating quicker ruck ball for Conor Murray. While Alby Mathewson, was getting so much credit for increasing the tempo when he came off the bench against Racing in Thomond, for the introduction of Holland and Wycherley were also key in achieving that. Racing are masters of creating a messing breakdown, their ability to clog up the cleaning routes at the ruck and lie on or around the ball without getting caught is just fantastic. Holland and Wycherley hit the rucks , moved bodies and made Alby's job a lot easier. a lot fans will look for big carries or offloads but if you want quick ruck ball then someone has to clean out the breakdown and secure it.
If Munster do ask Billy and Jean Kleyn to perform that role on Saturday evening then I think we may start to see Munster play with the increased tempo they did in the last 30 mins against Racing. I also think that having that second row pairing may also help the stability in the scrum and provide a significant lineout threat to Saracens. This makes the backrow combination open to tinkering as well. With POM and CJ certainties the only question is who takes the third spot. Beirne adds to the lineout options and probably puts him in his best position at 6 with POM moving to 7. It also allows Munster better defensive options with POM and Beirne as jackals able to roam across the defensive line choosing when to compete for the ball and challenge Saracens to put extra players into the breakdown to secure their ball and hopefully limit their heavy carrying ability. Van Graan could also look to JOD or TOD depending on his requirements. TOD is very effective as the first up tackler and van Graan seems to prefer him as a midfield carrier. JOD has a fantastic maul defence and has consistently shown up well with ball in hand as the 1 in the 2-3-2-1 pod system. The last option would be to go with Arno Botha in the back row to provide another heavy carrier.
I don't envisage any changes in the backline for Munster although hopefully we will get to see them work with more ball in hand on the front foot. Joey Carbery is still a few weeks away from returning but already I can see possibilities of how he will be used in tandem with JJ. Assuming both stay fit I can see both of them being used on the pitch at the same time similar to ROG and Paul Warwick a number of years ago. With De Allende being signed for next season and one has to assume he will play 12 in the big games Munster will need to squeeze in that second pivot onto the field somehow. Scannell currently fills that role from 12 but De Allende is a different sort of player. If De Allende and Farrell can provide the power, Earls and Conway can provide the speed then perhaps JJ and Joey together can provide the direction. Both of them have experience playing 10 and 15 and it would really open the attacking options for Munster especially from transition ball and open play. It may well be something we see in at some point before the end of the season.
I have written at length about Munster's new attacking style ( https://overthehillprop.wixsite.com/website/post/munster-s-new-hurry-up-no-huddle-offense ) and the challenges that Johann van Graan and the coaching team faced in getting the internationals up to speed. Now however there is no more time to adapt, no buffer, no second chances - THE TIME IS NOW for the team to stand up and show where Munster are going this season.