Glasgow Warriors versus Munster
Glasgow Warriors take on Magners League leaders Munster on Friday at the Firhill stadium in Glasgow.
Munster will be slight favourites, but head coach Tony McGahan will be wary of the Warriors who have beaten Leinster. Home advantage could be key, and if the Glasgow front five can cope with Munster’s physical pack, the likes of Ruaridh Jackson may be able
to dictate the game.
Glasgow will be looking to improve on their last performance against Irish province Connaught. The Scottish side let an eight-point lead slip and eventually lost the game 19-17. Ruaridh Jackson scored a penalty and Graeme Morrison scored a try as Glasgow
piled on the pressure in the early part of the match.
Connaught replied with a try of their own by Fionn Carr, and Ian Keatley’s penalties kept the Irish side in the lead. Jackson’s penalties closed the gap, but a missed drop goal by the home side in injury time gave Connaught a famous win for the team who
have not won away from home in two years.
The Warriors will be disappointed that they have not picked up more points after an impressive victory over one of the favourites Leinster in their opening game. Since then they have lost to Welsh side Gwent Dragons and Connaught, who are two of the weaker
sides in the competition.
Glasgow will be under pressure to produce a better display against Munster, but the league leaders are in fine form and have picked up 13 points from their opening three games.
Munster go into this match brim-full of confidence having beaten the Magners League Champion’s, the Ospreys, 22-10 at Thomond Park. Ronan O’Gara scored 17 points in the win and New Zealander Doug Howlett scored a try. Munster have also beaten Edinburgh 16-13
away from home, and in the opening game of the season they won convincingly at home to Italian side Aironi Rugby.
Ominously for Glasgow, they have won their opening games without key players like Paul O’Connell, Keith Earls, Jerry Flannery and David Wallace.
Tony Buckley has been key to Munster’s success this season and has added some needed bulk to the pack. He has also provided cover for veteran John Hayes. The strength and depth in the Munster squad may well be the difference and O’Gara has been the form
kicker in the league so far.
The back-row will be one of the many interesting battles on the field, but with the likes of Niall Ronan, Alan Quinlan and Captain Denis Leamy, Munster will expect to have the edge.
Munster will also expect to dominate the lineout with the experience of Donnacha O’Callaghan, and Glasgow will have to play at their best if they are to match Munster.
However, McGahan will know that the Warriors are always a difficult side to beat at Fir Park. The betting odds show Munster to be slight favourites, but Glasgow are a team that play their best rugby when they are written off. A five-point win by an experienced
Munster side will be the expected outcome.
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