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Munster Rugby have decided not to risk skipper Peter O'Mahony in their opening Heineken Cup game in Pool 6 following his head knock in the win over arch-rivals Leinster last weekend - 08/10/2013 10:53
Munster Rugby have decided not to risk skipper Peter O’Mahony in their opening Heineken Cup game in Pool 6 following his head knock in the win over arch-rivals Leinster last weekend
Even though the Irish international back row man was not diagnosed with concussion, Munster coach Rob Penney has decided to rest his skipper ahead of the home clash with Gloucester in Limerick next weekend.
“Peter has been integrated back into training this week following on from his half-time replacement against Leinster last Saturday,” said a Munster statement.
“All protocol re return to play has been followed and Peter has progressed normally in this regard. However, due to the heavy schedule in the upcoming weeks, including Rabo, Heineken and possible international involvement, a decision to omit Peter has been made.”
Edinburgh must turn the form table completely on its head when they face the former two-time European champions at Murrayfield. The Scottish outfit have won just one of their opening four league matches and lie rock-bottom of the Pro 12 while their Irish opponents lie second in the table.
Edinburgh have already lost once to the Red Army, who gained a 34-23 win on the first weekend of the new season last month. And head coach Alan Solomons, in his first season in charge, admits his side must do better than last year’s season to forget as they lost all six pool games including two victories for Munster.
Solomons said: “The goal is to get Edinburgh back on track and earn respect from our opponents, supporters and the general rugby public. “We can only do that through performances and we want to perform in such a way that we earn respect. If we perform well then the results will come. That’s important for us.”
Edinburgh had a storming campaign in this competition two years ago when they reached the semi-finals only to lose out against Ulster, but pulled off a shock result by defeating Toulouse. And they will need to rediscover that form pretty quickly when Munster arrive in Scotland’s capital city.
The twice-finalists warmed up for their trip to Edinburgh by securing bragging rights in the 19-15 league win over Leinster last weekend, inspired by Keith Earls’ try.
Match News
Saturday, 12 October 2013; 13:35, Murrayfield, Sky Sports
Referee: JP Doyle (Eng)
Assistant Ref: David Rose (Eng) Assistant Ref: Roy Maybank (Eng)
TMO: Trevor Fisher (Eng) Citing Commissioner: Yann Le Dore (Fra)
- The two sides faced each other for the first time in the Heineken Cup during the pool stage of last season’s tournament with Munster claiming wins home and away.
- Edinburgh have won four and drawn two of 14 Heineken Cup fixtures against Irish opposition (L8).
- The Scottish outfit have lost their last four against Irish provinces, including a 22-19 defeat at the hands of eventual champions Ulster in the semi-final stage of the 2011/12 edition.
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Despite playing 130 Heineken Cup matches, Munster’s two meetings with Edinburgh last season were the first time they had faced a side from Scotland in this competition.
Head coach Rob Penney believes Edinburgh are now an even greater threat than when they defeated his Munster team in the opening round of the Heineken Cup. - 17/01/2014 23:24
Tim Visser’s try and the boot of Grieg Laidlaw saw Edinburgh stun Munster at Murrayfield.
Prolific wing Visser stormed over 11 minutes from time for Edinburgh's second try after Matt Scott's first-half score.
But it was the remarkable kicking of scrum-half Laidlaw – who ended with 19 points – that steered the hosts to a memorable win.
Casey Laulala and Mike Sherry both hit back for Munster and Ian Keatley kicked 13 points but the former champions had to settle for a losing bonus point.
These teams may lie at opposite ends of the PRO12 but Edinburgh turned the form book on its head with a blistering start.
Scott was in the thick of it and, after Jack Cuthbert went close on the right, the centre picked his line between Sherry and Laulala for the opening try inside six minutes.
Laidlaw converted and added a penalty for an early 10-0 lead that galvanised Munster into action.
Donnacha Ryan charged down Laidlaw's clearance and Dave Kilcoyne went close before Laulala stretched out to score.
Keatley kicked the conversion and a penalty to level the scores on 19 minutes only to hand Laidlaw an immediate chance to regain the lead that he took with ease.
Munster made amends when Conor Murray caught Edinburgh off-guard with a quickly taken penalty, James Coughlan and Butler powered on before Sherry drove over from close range.
However, Laidlaw continued to punish Munster ill-discipline as Edinburgh led 19-17 at the break.
Keatley had on off-day kicking out of hand but was on form in front of goal as two penalties put Munster 23-19 ahead mid-way through the second half.
But replacement JJ Hanrahan was guilty of a wayward kick in midfield and, when Grant Gilchrist, released Visser from 30 metres out, there was no stopping the tall Scotland wing.
Laidlaw converted and kicked a fifth penalty and, although a late effort rebounded off the crossbar, Edinburgh held out for a famous win.
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