Preview: Biarritz v Munster

Rewind back to 2006 and the Heineken Cup Final in Cardiff and you would see a joyous Munster group nearby a heartbroken Biarritz.

Rewind back to 2006 and the Heineken Cup Final in Cardiff and you would see a joyous (if relieved) Munster nearby a heartbroken Biarritz.

At the third time of asking, the men from Limerick had finally got their hands on the coveted club silverware thanks to a gritty 23-19 success.

But this Sunday is the Basques' shot at payback as the home of soccer team Real Sociedad will once again be used against Celtic opposition. Whether the 16 men of Munster (the travelling army of fans, not a sneaky extra tighthead) can do what the Ospreys tried and just failed is the big question although if anyone can, they can.

The Irish were the side billed as unlucky not to have held aloft the European prize before that Millennium Stadium fixture, having lost out in 2000 and 2002. But they finally achieved that feat thanks to the likes of Trevor Halstead, John Kelly and Anthony Foley putting in impressive showings.

Yet the man who floored BO on that day was the smallest on the field, Peter Stringer, who will be on the bench four years on in what could be his last season in the red jersey. Ireland's veteran scrum-half, if you can remember, scooted down the blindside from an attacking scrum on the half-hour to find no one standing in his path – it was arguably that moment which made the possible probable for Declan Kidney.

Looking even closer at that year and there is a large sense of déjà vu attached to 2010. (A) Munster lost their first Pool game, (B) A direct Saffer is at number twelve, (C) It is an English official in the middle. Coincidence? Who knows? But a Paris final against either Leinster or Toulouse awaits as Ireland and France go at each other hammer and tongs this weekend.

If Munster are to make the Stade de France showpiece they will need to do it without their captain as Paul O'Connell failed to recover from injury in time. Therefore, Ronan O'Gara will once again lead the team in a line-up that shows no changes from the one that beat Saints.

“Doug and Ian came through Wednesday's session well and we'll see how they go later on in the Captain's Run,” said Head Coach Tony McGahan.

“Obviously we're happy that both have managed to get themselves ready in time. It's a tribute to their hard work and professionalism and also to the Munster medics and fitness staff that they are in the side.

“Players of their experience are crucial in games like this and this is a game that is going to require that and a lot more to win.”

Meanwhile, the hosts will play an Englishman in the aforementioned Traille's jersey as Ayoola Erinle starts alongside Arnaud Mignardi while their other centre starter against the Ospreys, Karmichael Hunt, has been shifted to a slightly unfamiliar ten slot.

Hunt takes the place of a benched Julien Peyrelongue while USA quarter-final sensation Takudzwa Ngwenya forms the back-three with Jean-Baptiste Gobelet and Iain Balshaw.

The playmaking selection does seem a rather strange one from coaches Jack Isaac and Jean-Michel Gonzalez, particularly as they have two recognised and comfortable options sitting on their bench in Valentin Courrent and Peyrelongue.

But whether it turns out to be a masterstroke or a boo-boo remains to be seen, with Biarritz and Munster now just two days away from renewing old acquaintances from that Cardiff day in 2006. Hold onto and bring your hats, it is going to be a hot one in Northern Spain.

Head-to-head: Two battles jumped out from the team-sheets and they are at numbers twelve and four. And I have plumped for the latter as Jérôme Thion v Donncha O'Callaghan will be one to savour. Munster will need their comical character to 'stand up and fight' as they say in Limerick and he will have his work cut out against this hugely powerful Frenchman.

Prediction: Munster will have just about enough to squeeze their way to Paris on May 22. The visitors by 8 points!

The teams:

Biarritz: 15 Iain Balshaw, 14 Takudzwa Ngwenya, 13 Arnaud Mignardi, 12 Ayoola Erinle, 11 Jean-Baptiste Gobelet, 10 Karmichael Hunt, 9 Dimitri Yachvili, 8 Imanol Harinordoquy, 7 Wenceslas Lauret, 6 Magnus Lund, 5 Trevor Hall, 4 Jérôme Thion, 3 Campbell Johnstone, 2 Benoit August, 1 Eduard Coetzee.
Replacements: 16 Romain Terrain, 17 Fabien Barcella, 18 Rémy Hugues, 19 Manuel Carizza, 20 Florian Faure, 21 Valentin Courrent, 22 Julien Peyrelongue, 23 Philippe Bidabe.

Munster (revised): 15 Paul Warwick, 14 Lifeimi Mafi, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Denis Hurley, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Tomas O'Leary, 8 James Coughlan, 7 David Wallace, 6 Alan Quinlan, 5 Mick O'Driscoll, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 John Hayes, 2 Jerry Flannery, 1 Marcus Horan.
Replacements: 16 Damien Varley, 17 Julien Brugnaut, 18 Tony Buckley, 19 Nick Williams, 20 Niall Ronan, 21 Peter Stringer, 22 Tom Gleeson , 23 Scott Deasy.

Date: Sunday, May 2
Kick-off: 16:15 (14:15 GMT)
Venue: Estadio Anoeta, San Sebastian
Referee: Dave Pearson (England)
Assistant referees: Chris White (England), Stuart Terheege (England)
Television match official: Daniel Irazoqui (France), Graham Hughes (England)

By Adam Kyriacou