Munster hopes the return of Simon Zebo can help the Irish province end a decade-long wait for a trophy as they prepare to face the Cell C Sharks in their United Rugby Championship opener tonight @ 20h35 in Limerick.
Munster have won eight of their nine encounters against South African teams while the last non-Irish side to beat them in the championship were Scarlets in 2017.
The Irish heavyweights have only been beaten once by a South African team in the championship but they will come up against a side in good shape.
After finishing runners-up to Leinster in last season’s PRO14, they were also second behind Benetton in the northern section of the Rainbow Cup.
The Sharks were beaten 44-10 by the Vodacom Bulls in the Currie Cup final in Pretoria earlier this month having come third in the Rainbow Cup SA.
Eight of Munster’s Ireland internationals who featured in the Vodafone Summer Series start the game as Peter O’Mahony captains the side.
The province’s record try-scorer Simon Zebo starts on the wing after returning home to Munster over the summer.
Rugby World Cup winner RG Snyman is set to make his Thomond Park debut off the bench on his second appearance for the province having missed last season through injury.
Mike Haley is named at full-back with Zebo and Andrew Conway on either flank.
Craig Casey and Joey Carbery start together in the half-backs as Rory Scannell and Dan Goggin form the centre partnership.
Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell and John Ryan pack down in the front row with Jean Kleyn and Fineen Wycherley in the engine room.
O’Mahony, Jack O’Donoghue and last season’s Player of the Year Gavin Coombes complete the starting XV.
Along with fellow replacement Snyman, new addition Rowan Osborne is also set to play his first game for Munster at Thomond Park on his competitive debut for the province.
Chris Farrell said, “The belief is really there from a personal point of view that Munster can have a strong season but that's also shared in the group."
“There's an unbelievable buzz around the place, we've got such a good squad and great coaches."
“Last season we were really competitive, got to the final and lost to Leinster and lost to eventual winners Toulouse in the Heineken Champions Cup."
“So we're only a step away from clicking and really competing. I think we're just really close. I don't think we need to change very much, we just need to keep believing.”
Cell C Sharks head coach Sean Everitt has stuck with the same pack of forwards that lined up against the Vodacom Bulls in the Carling Currie Cup Final, while Ruan Pienaar, on loan from Toyota Cheetahs, marks his return to the Cell C Sharks after an 11 year absence from the team where his senior career began, and blossomed.
The only other change to the starting XV sees Boeta Chamberlain named at flyhalf after the departure of Lionel Cronje following his short-term stint with the Durban side during the course of the Currie Cup.
There is a welcome return for the lock duo of Hyron Andrews and Ruben van Heerden, the pair have been named on a forward-dominated, 6-2 split bench.
Prop Thomas du Toit is expecting a huge onslaught from the Irish team, but warns that his side won’t be holding back either, with both sides looking to impose themselves physically.
“They’re a physical side, all Irish sides are, but that doesn’t that South African sides are not as physical, it’s definitely going to be a tough game of rugby with physicality at the front and centre. We as South Africans don’t want to disappoint as far as physicality goes.”
With their Bulls connection via coach Johann van Graan, du Toit admits that there are going to be similarities between Munster and the local Pretoria team but explains their well-roundedness makes them a very dangerous opponent.
“Munster have a good kicking game and will look to play in the right areas of the field, but when they need to put the ball through phases, they can do that. So the big challenge for us is going to be stopping their momentum throughout the game.”
Munster: 15. Mike Haley, 14. Andrew Conway, 13.Dan Goggin, 12. Rory Scannell, 11. Simon Zebo, 10. Joey Carbery, 9. Craig Casey, 8. Gavin Coombes, 7. Jack O’Donoghue, 6. Peter O’Mahony (c), 5. Fineen Wycherley, 4. Jean Kleyn, 3. John Ryan, 2. Niall Scannell, 1. Dave Kilcoyne. Replacements: 16. Diarmuid Barron, 17. Jeremy Loughman, 18. Keynan Knox, 19. RG Snyman, 20. Thomas Ahern, 21. Rowan Osborne, 22. Ben Healy, 23. Chris Cloete.
Cell C Sharks: 15. Curwin Bosch, 14. Yaw Penxe, 13. Werner Kok, 12. Marius Louw, 11. Thaakir Abrahams, 10. Boeta Chamberlain, 9. Ruan Pienaar, 8. Phepsi Buthelezi (c), 7. Henco Venter, 6. Dylan Richardson, 5. Gerbrandt Grobler, 4. Le Roux Roets, 3. Thomas du Toit, 2. Kerron van Vuuren, 1. Khwezi Mona. Replacements: 16. Fez Mbatha, 17. Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18. Khutha Mchunu, 19. Hyron Andrews, 20. Ruben van Heerden, 21. Mpilo Gumede, 22. Sanele Nohamba, 23. Jeremy Ward.