Munster must beat Racing Métro with a bonus point at Thomond Park on Sunday if they hope to book a place in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals.
The two-time champions, who will be without suspended fly-half Ronan O'Gara, are second in their Pool and three points behind leaders Saracens, who are expected to beat Edinburgh on Saturday.
Munster failed to really impress at Murrayfield last week and will need to improve for the visit of the Parisians, who are aiming for a place in the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals.
The Irish lost 22-17 in the French capital when they two teams met in the opening pool game at the Stade de France back in October.
Munster have won their Round 6 tie for the past five seasons and have lost just two home pool games in the history of the Heineken Cup.
20 French clubs have played on Munster soil in the Heineken Cup with no wins to show.
Racing Metro grabbed three tries in the first 20 minutes against Saracens but failed to secure a try bonus point. Alongside Montpellier, Munster have missed fewer tackles than any other club in this tournament, averaging 7.4 misses per game.
Racing have made 13 changes to their starting XV and are without suspended French international hooker Dimitri Szarzewski as well as centre Fabrice Estebanez. Playmaker Juan-Martin Hernandez, wing Juan Imhoff centre Henry Chavancy have been rested. Former Bath pivot Olly Barkley starts at ten.
For Munster, Ian Keatley takes over from O'Gara and Mike Sherry starts ahead of Damien Varley in an otherwise unchanged starting XV. JJ Hanrahan comes onto the bench.
Munster (revised): 15 Felix Jones, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Keith Earls, 12 James Downey, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Conor Murray, 8 James Coughlan, 7 Tommy O'Donnell, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 5 Donnacha Ryan, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Mike Sherry, 1 Dave Kilcoyne.
Replacements: 16 Damien Varley, 17 Wian du Preez, 18 John Ryan, 19 Billy Holland, 20 Paddy Butler, 21 Duncan Williams, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Casey Laulala,
Racing Metro: 15 Gaetan Germain, 14 Julien Jane, 13 Guillaume Bousses, 12 Alexandre Dumoulin, 11 Sereli Bobo, 10 Olly Barkley, 9 Mathieu Belie, 8 Jacques Cronje, 7 Bernard Le Roux, 6 Antoine Batut, 5 Fabrice METZ, 4 Karim Ghezal, 3 Benjamin Sa, 2 Benjamin Noirot, 1 Julien Brugnaut.
Replacements: 16 Thomas Bianchin, 17 Andrea Lo Cicero, 18 Juan Pablo Orlandi, 19 Jone Qovu Nailiko, 20 Benjamin Fall, 21 Santiago Dellape, 22 Sebastien Descons, 23 Masi Matadigo,
Date: Sunday, 20 January
Venue: Thomond Park
Kick-off: 12:45 GMT
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: JP Doyle, (England) Robin Goodliffe (England)
Television match official: David Grashoff (England)
Comments
Sincero says...
Froggy, I never gloat, and I'm not whinging. You're ill-informed about Pro XII qualification, and your point made no sense. Glasgow, already qualified for next year, had nothing to play for. Nor did Exeter. That had decency and pride... you, I'm afraid, wouldn't get that, froggy. I'm simply pointing out a flaw in the character of some French clubs/people (you). It's not news to anyone. Clermont and Toulouse deserve their spots... that is all. You should get two, or at a push three. And, BTW, you're a troll, and trolls get no respect.
@Toulousain, they sent a joke team down and Lorenzetti said before the game that his boys would do nothing to upset Munster. It's not sport- there is no honour in that. Sure, their full team put it up to the mercenaries away from home in the league, but apparently they give a toss about the league and not about disgracing themselves in the cup, and unfortunately confirming a national stereotype in the process.
Posted 13:58 20th January 2013
froggy73 says...
@Sincero: Glasgow play on the "easy rugby training ground" PRO12 when there is nothing lose.
Racing Metro, as it stands, on the Top14 are not qualifying for next year HCup. I am sure you are intelligent enough to understand that keeping their players for the crucial games of the top14 is vital for them.
Hopefully in 2 years, the Pro12 will become more "Pro"and only 6 teams will be allowed to qualify. You will maybe understand then what is means to be standing 7th or 8th in the league.
Posted 08:08 20th January 2013
Toulousain says...
i hear you sincero. and glasgow scoring in the 82 minute vs saints means that biarritz (and not saints) will now play in the amlin QFs. so glasgow will be welcomed in all the basque restaurants and bars this spring!
since racing can also still qualify for the amlin, there is in fact a chance they "turn up" tomorrow. perhaps we should all wait and see before crying foul? and remember, toulon were kept tryless at mayol by racing only 2 weeks ago. hardly cowardly or spineless....
(p.s. i've promised myself not get into the whole "who knows best" about pro12 vs t14 hcup debate again. it is what it is. as a patriot, i am proud that the french teams have mostly played well this hcup season. but as a toulouse supporter, i only really care about the tigers game tomorrow.)
Posted 23:16 19th January 2013
froggy73 says...
@12Counties, and Sincero: you are typically Leinster fans. Gloating when you are winning, whinging and moaning when things go against you.
Come on Munster... score 4 tries and get the job done.
Posted 20:03 19th January 2013
Sincero says...
Toulousain... Glasgow had 'nothing to play for', and are one of only a couple of teams that do auto-qualify, as you put it (you're entirely ill-informed if you think that's the case for all Pro XII sides- it's only the case for the Italians and Scots)....
Yet Glasgow fielded their best team, like all Pro XII squads will have by the end of round 6, and scalped the Saints. It's called having some blanking pride.
Only Toulouse and ASM have recently been taking this competition seriously. There's a very good case to be made in taking berths away from the French, while ironically you loudly demand more.
Posted 17:15 19th January 2013
Sincero says...
There should be sanctions taken against Racing for fielding a joke team in the world's premier rugby competition. The showed they had no spine against Sarries last week (actually we knew that years ago), and they confirm they have no honour this week. Certainly do not deserve a place in the competition. Cowards.
Posted 16:13 19th January 2013
melkdave says...
I was hoping Racing would send a strong team against Munster and at least make a fist of it.Expected Munster to be victorious ,but without the vital bonus point,now i feel they will get the bonus point aswell..Very disappointed in Racing tbh,and as @12counties has said smacks a little of contempt for the HC,now they cant progress.
Posted 12:11 19th January 2013
Toulousain says...
easy there 12Counties. what do you expect them to do? it is entirely logical. they cant go through to hcup quarters this year. the only way for them to play more hcup games is by finishing 6th (or perhaps 7th if a french team wins hcup this year) in t14. if they could auto-qualify, like pro12 sides, then yes, i would agree with you, it would show contempt for the hcup to send the b team to thomond. but, as it is, it shows massive respect imo. they are saving their players this weekend in order to make a big push in t14 to qualify for hcup next season.
p.s. what is dodgy is that they can also have an impact on leinster, toulouse, saints, montpellier etc which is a shame. but hard to see how that can be avoided. after all, this compo is far from equitable. seedings and pools are a historic joke. reffing is highly inconsistent. weather plays a part in getting or not getting bonus points, as does teams fielding weakened sides or resting players ahead of big games etc etc. it is what it is!!
Posted 19:11 18th January 2013
Rosbif says...
Racing send B team (or is it in fact the C team?). Shocker.
Posted 18:58 18th January 2013
jmehrtens says...
There is a good chance that by Sunday munster one needs a win. with no bonuspoint wins for either Biarritz N'hampton and Leinster and zero points for Montpellier. But If N'hampton or Montpelier do get to 19 points for it is nice that Racing sent their B team
However I would think a Racing B team or Toulon B would be stronger than Glasgow.
Posted 14:32 18th January 2013
GCP_jones says...
Disappointed the rumours were untrue about switching Zebo to Full Back( I just cannot see any merit in having Felix Jones on the pitch) and Earls to the wing, with Lualua in the centre.
At least Keatly shows some attacking intent, unlike O'Gara who stands so far back he ends up on the terrace.
Having said all that they have a great chance playing against that Racing selection, if they don't secure the bonus point they should hand this week's wages back.
Posted 13:56 18th January 2013
pantreac says...
Whilst Barkley will improve the side, unfortunately it is not as strong a side as could have been selected.
I was shocked to see so many 'fat' players turn-out for Racing last week surely players carrying so much weight cannot be 'match' fit!
Posted 12:47 18th January 2013
12Counties says...
French treating the competition with contempt again. What sort of line up is this? Great for Munster, they've pretty much booked their place in the quarters now, but this is a non-event of a match now because of Racing team selection. waiting for Toulon line up, and my expectations are low...... Yeah sure you deserve more money and more teams in the competition, sure. All Rabo teams will have full first teams out, regardless of where they are in their group.....
Posted 12:41 18th January 2013