| Rugby Focus - Dragons unlikely to trouble Munster |
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| Written by Donagh O'Herlihy | |
| Thursday, 11 September 2008 | |
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This weekend Munster will play their first competitive home game since winning the Heineken Cup last May. Newport/Gwent Dragons will provide the opposition on Sunday evening as the Welsh side make the short trip across the Irish Sea to Cork. This is the first of two games in-a-row at Musgrave Park as the Cardiff Blues will be in town just six days later. It’s a pivotal week for new coach Tony McGahan and his squad, with two victories a must if Magners League aspirations are to be kept alive. While the Blues can be expected to provide stern opposition on Saturday week, this weekend’s game should be that bit more manageable. Even at this early stage of the season, the Dragons look odds on to be fighting it out at the wrong end of the table.
Last weekend Doug Howlett replaced the unfortunate Denis Hurley at full-back. That extra yard of space found while playing number fifteen, allowed Howlett to torment the home side on numerous occasions. His searing pace and speed of thought led directly to the opening try for Keith Earls. Whether or not McGahan decides to persist with the Kiwi at full-back remains to be seen. Hurley’s exclusion from the starting fifteen was a surprise to say the least, but the young-full back may be paying the price for a less than convincing display under the high-ball in last season’s Heineken Cup Final. This weekend’s clash would offer the coach the perfect opportunity to allow the Cork Con man to regain his place. However should Hurley be restored to the starting line-up then only two wing berths will remain between Doug Howlett, Keith Earls and Ian Dowling. An embarrassment of riches is an understatement. The Dragons have had a less than convincing start to their Magners League campaign. Beaten at home by Glasgow last weekend, coach Paul Turner is under no illusions as to the size of the task that lies in front of them. Despite enjoying sustained periods of possession, the Dragons were unable to unlock the Scottish defence. An apparent lack of strike runners up-front prevented Turners side from breaking the gain line. An inexperienced back-row partnership of Joe Bearman, Richard Parks and Lewis Evans will struggle to gain parity this season when faced with oppositions such as Munster, Leinster and the Ospreys. Half of the side which started the game for the Dragons last weekend were only signed to the club that summer and this lack of familiarity led directly to their downfall. Munster should have little difficulty when negotiating their way through their first home game of the season. Paul O’Connell and his charges will look to replicate the intensity levels produced during their opening round win over Edinburgh. The province have vowed to improve their overall performance levels in this season’s Magners League and Sunday’s opening home fixture offers the perfect opportunity to start things off on a positive note. With fellow title chasers, Cardiff Blues, looming large on the horizon it’s imperative that Munster overcome the Dragons and record a second successive league victory. |
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