Exeter go into game at Sandy Park as short odds favourites
(Image: ©INPHO/James Crombie)
Munster have been feeling the heat of late, on and off the pitch.
A brilliant start to the season saw them rack up wins against Scarlets, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leinster and Connacht to top the URC table.
But new boss Clayton McMillan was, all too soon, experiencing the other side of the coin as three wins in the next nine URC outings was matched with failing to qualify for the Champions Cup knockouts.
Seventh in the URC table and rerouted to the Challenge Cup Last 16, their away fixture at Exeter Chiefs is the most difficult task, on paper at least, facing any of the Irish provinces this weekend.
The Reds are, for instance, the only one away from home, a trip made all the more difficult as it comes hard on the heels of two games, both defeats, in South Africa.
Here’s what you need to know about this fixture:
Exeter Team News: Wales star and Chiefs captain Dafydd Jenkins returns having completed his concussion protocols, as does England winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso following a two-month injury lay-off. England centre Henry Slade is back in following the birth of his daughter.
Munster Team News: Skipper Tadhg Beirne returns following not being asked to travel to South Africa and is one of 10 changes from last week. Tom Farrell, Gavin Coombes, Thaakir Abrahams, Jeremy Loughman and Jack O’Donoghue are among those coming back in.
What: European Challenge Cup Round of 16
Where: Sandy Park, Exeter
When: Saturday, April 4th
Kick-off: 12.30pm
Referee: Jeremy Rozier (France)
Table positions: Exeter 4th in English Premier; Munster seventh in URC
Quotes corner
Munster coach Clayton McMillan: “We had a really positive training and there was a lot of player accountability, understanding what could have been done better and for long periods of the game against Bulls I think you saw a much better version of ourselves.
“There were still moments where we lost our way a little bit, we gave up a couple of soft tries and didn’t take a couple ourselves and in the end that made a difference.
“We didn’t quite get across the line but in getting two points there was a lot more to be proud of then being disappointed.”
Exeter Coach Rob Baxter: “I’m expecting a real ferocious contest in most areas of the game this weekend.
“Having watched their most recent European games, where I feel you see the real Munster, they try to drag you into that real kind of European frenzy.
“You have to be careful that you don’t get pulled into an organised chaos type of game, where they’re so competitive in so many areas that you get rattled out of your game-plan and end up in a chaotic environment around the breakdown and the kicking game.”
Did you know? Exeter have been in one Champions cup final, 2019/20, where they beat Racing ’92 31-27 at Ashton Gate, Bristol.
Did you know? Munster have been to four Champions Cup finals losing in 1999/00, 2001/02 and winning in 2005/06 and 2007/08
Betting odds: Exeter 4/11 draw 18/1 Munster 12/5
Popular Bets: Immanuel Faye-Waboso to score first try 7/1; Gavin Coombes to score first try 14/1; Tadhg Beirne to score a try and Munster to win 14/1; each team to score 15-plus points in each half 22/1
What TV channel is it on? Premier Sports / beIN SPORTS / FloRugby / epcrugby.tv
LINE-UPS:
Exeter Chiefs: 15. Olly Woodburn, 14. Paul Brown-Bampoe, 13. Henry Slade, 12. Will Rigg, 11. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 10. Harvey Skinner, 9. Steve Varney, 1. Scott Sio, 2. Jack Yeandle, 3. Jimmy Roots, 4. Dafydd Jenkins (capt ), 5. Andrea Zambonin, 6. Tom Hooper, 7. Ross Vintcent, 8. Greg Fisilau
Replacements: 16. Joseph Dweba, 17. Ethan Burger, 18. Bachuki Tchumbadze, 19. Rus Tuima, 20. Finn Worley-Brady, 21. Tom Cairns, 22. Will Haydon-Wood, 23. Campbell Ridl
Munster: 15. Ben O’Connor, 14. Thaakir Abrahams, 13. Tom Farrell, 12. Alex Nankivell, 11. Diarmuid Kilgallen, 10. Jack Crowley, 9. Craig Casey, 1. Jeremy Loughman, 2. Lee Barron, 3. John Ryan, 4. Edwin Edogbo, 5. Tadhg Beirne (c), 6. Jack O’Donoghue, 7. Alex Kendellen, 8. Gavin Coombes
Replacements: 16. Niall Scannell, 17. Michael Milne, 18. Michael Ala’alatoa, 19. Tom Ahern, 20. Ruadhan Quinn, 21. Ben O’Donovan, 22. Sean O’Brien, 23. John Hodnett