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Sale Sharks face an acid test on their European Rugby Champions Cup debut on Saturday as they welcome Munster to Salford. - 17/10/2014 09:23
Sale Sharks face an acid test on their European Rugby Champions Cup debut on Saturday as they welcome Munster to Salford.
The Pool One opener at the AJ Bell Stadium will be the fifth time the pair have met in European competition. It was the Englishmen who drew first blood with a win at Edgeley Park in 2005, with Munster fighting back and taking the spoils on the last three occasions – most recently at Thomond Park in January ’09 when the Munstermen triumphed 37-14.
The hosts have been slow out of the traps in the Aviva Premiership this season, with their two wins from six matches leaving them languished in 10th place.
A Tom Arscott hattrick gave them lift-off in their third outing of the season against London Welsh. The full-back was the scourge of the side he left in 2013, with his three scores adding to tries by Luke Mclean, Tom Brady and Vadim Cobilas.
They were thumped 40-19 against Saracens before they showed their mettle with a hard-fought 25-14 triumph over in-form Wasps. But consistency was again lacking in their 43-10 defeat to table-topping Northampton.
Munster have also got off to an indifferent start to their PRO12 campaign. Their 13-14 reversal against Edinburgh gave them the wake-up call they needed and they went on to do an Italian double against Zebre and Treviso before tehy were toppled at Thomond against the Ospreys.
Steve Diamonds men conquered the Challenge Cup twice in 2002 and 2005 but are yet to mount a serious assault on the top tier competition.
But Munster are knockout stage regulars and are looking to recapture the success that saw them win European titles in 2006 and 2008.
Sale Director of Rugby Steve Diamond said: “Munster will be looking at us as the whipping boys and that’s exactly how I want it. In these first six league games, we have lost to Gloucester at Kingsholm and away at Saracens and Northampton and there are some big sides with huge budgets.
“And Sarries and Northampton both beat us comprehensively because we handed it to them in a lot of ways. So that’s the area we are working on.”
Munster Head Coach Anthony Foley said: “If you go through the history book you'll see that Munster were never great before heading into a Champions Cup game and that's often the case for other sides.
“Sale are due a due a big performance and that's what we're going to get. We've watched more than just last weekend's game against Northampton and we know they've got an ability to turn teams over and score some very impressive tries.”
Match Facts
- 2010/11 was the only occasion that Munster failed to make it out of the Heineken Cup pool stage since the turn of the century.
- These two teams have met four times in the Heineken Cup, with Munster winning three and Sale coming out on top in their first clash.
- Munster won a higher percentage of their rucks and mauls (97%) than any other side in the Heineken Cup last season.
- Munster averaged the most turnovers won in the Heineken Cup last season (11.9).
- Conor Murray amassed the most try assists in the Heineken Cup in 2013/14 (5).
Ian Keatley took over Ronan O'Gara's mantle as the drop goal king of Munster as he planted a 40 metre kick through the Sale Sharks posts to clinch a 27-26 victory at the AJ Bell Stadium. - 18/10/2014 16:02
Ian Keatley took over Ronan O’Gara’s mantle as the drop goal king of Munster as he planted a 40 metre kick through the Sale Sharks posts to clinch a 27-26 victory at the AJ Bell Stadium.
The clock was showing 80 minutes, 54 seconds when the Munster outside half slipped back into the pocket, called for the ball and put his practice into action to win the game with the final kick of the match.
As the Sale players, who had put their team into a thoroughly deserved 23-7 interval lead, slumped to the ground with their heads in their hands, the Munster players jumped for joy and celebrated another ‘get out of jail’ card played on the European stage.
The home side went into the game as underdogs against a team that had reached the semi-finals in the last two seasons, but responded brilliantly to an early set back when Dave Kilcoyne ploughed over for a try for the visitors.
But with Danny Cipriani relishing his chance on the big stage, Sale caused havoc with the Munster midfield defence, they put their scrum under pressure and conjured up tries for Magnus Lund and Jonny Leota. Cipriani added 13 points to those two scores and the Sharks were in full control at 23-7.
But the wind, and a half-time roasting from head coach Anthony Foley, turned Munster into a totally different side in the second half and they dominated possession and territory so much that at one stage they were enjoyed 95% of the ball.
Two changes in the front row four minutes after the break had the desired effect at scrum time for Munster and slowly but surely, they worked their way back into the contest. Andrew Conway weaved his way over for a try and then Conor Murray dabbed down in the right corner.
Keatley converted both as the gap was reduced to two points and then swapped penalties with Cipriani. Then came the coup de gras from the Munster outside half – and a hell of a post game party for the fans!
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