Magners League preview: Depleted Munster should be too good for the Scarlets
The Scarlets will face a tough challenge as they prepare to visit Munster in the Magners League on Sunday 21 November.
Munster are brimming with confidence after they beat Australia 15-6 earlier this week and Scarlets coach Nigel Davies knows his team are in for a fierce test. Speaking to journalists, Davies said, "We know it's going to be a difficult place to go, they've
had a massive result this week beating Australia, but this will be no bigger game than last week and we came through that against a strong London Irish side.
The Scarlets are in good form and have won eight of their Magners League matches this season and are unbeaten in their last four games.
This includes an impressive 16-25 win in their last game against London Irish in the LV=Cup. “That was something I was so encouraged by in our performance last week, we had a young team on the park last weekend and we out muscled a strong, experienced London
Irish side [in the LV= Cup]," said Davies.
The Scarlets coach is expecting a similar challenge on Sunday against Munster. "They'll bring huge intensity, they fight on every inch of the field and they will look to disrupt our game. They will be hard and very physical and we will have to match them
and front up, in order to be competitive in this game.”
The Scarlets are missing their international contingent, which includes Stephen Jones, George North and hooker Matthew Rees.
Morgan Stoddart, Regan King and Rhys Priestland all return for the Welsh club, while captain David Lyons is still out with a long-term injury.
Centre Scott Williams, who was released by Wales, will start on the Scarlets bench along with Welsh scrum-half Tavis Knoyle.
Munster are also missing a large number of internationals who are preparing for their Test with New Zealand.
Influential scrum-half Peter Stringer and out-half Ronan O’Gara are away with the Irish team, as are British and Irish Lions Keith Earls, David Wallace, Donnacha O’Callaghan and John Hayes.
Lock Mick O’Driscoll, flanker and Munster captain Denis Leamy and hooker Damien Varley are all included in the Irish squad to face the All Blacks and will not be available for Munster coach Tony McGahan.
Munster will field a similar side to the one that beat Australia and James Coughlan will lead the side out in the absence of Leamy and Paul O’Connell, who is out with a long-term injury.
Munster has not lost to the Scarlets since 2007 and has won the last seven games against the Welsh side. Despite missing all of their first choice forward players, the Irish province will expect to maintain their record against the Scarlets.
A lot of pressure will be put on the Scarlets out-half Priestland and he will need to be accurate with his kicks.
Paul Warwick kicked all of Munster’s points in the win over Australia and he will be a serious threat to the Scarlets.
Munster at home should be too good for the Scarlets and the Irish province will aim to extend their lead at the top of the Magners League table.
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