Finally, after what felt an eternity Pro12 Rugby is back and with a shiny new sponsor to boot.
Indeed, over the summer break, the League has been rebranded the Guinness Pro 12. Fitting, then, that the competition’s first game under it’s new moniker will take place in the home of Guinness, Ireland.
Munster, under the tutelage of new coach, Anthony Foley, will be hoping to go one better next season and make the final after they were defeated by the Glasgow Warriors in last season’s semi final.
The Thomond Park side invariably start the season well and have won all of their opening fixtures, bar one, since 2006
Edinburgh, on the other hand, will be looking for their first win away in Ireland since they defeated Connacht in 2012.
Despite their abysmal record in Ireland, which stands at one victory in 23 visits, Edinburgh coach Alan Solomons is confident that his charges can ruin Anthony Foley’s first competitive game in charge of the two time European Champions.
“What it’s about is to start out getting our performance right,” he said. “Sides that have been together for a long period will have no problem; sides that haven’t will be a little bit undercooked at the start of the season.
“I know we’re a little bit undercooked but that doesn’t concern me. It’s important we go out and give a good performance against Munster and that’s what we will be focusing on, ” said the South African.
Edinburgh will be boosted by the timely return of veritable try machine Tim Visser, who only made nine Pro12 appearances because of injury last season, and this will only add to Solomon’s conviction that his team can upset the Munster applecart.
The omens are not good for Edinburgh, however, as Munster, who have lost their last two home games, have never in their history lost three consecutive home games.
The men in red have named a strong team, which includes Lions winger Simon Zebo, veteran lock Donnacha O’Callaghan and impressive South African back-row CJ Stander.
Stander, who will be eligible for Ireland via residency next season, is wary of the threat posed by the Scots.
“They are a good team,” he said. “We played them four times last year but we don’t really look back on that.
“It is a new season and it’s a new competition, they have a lot of new staff, we have a lot of new staff and I think they are a very good team and they are exciting. I’m looking forward to it,” said the former Bull.
MATCH DAY SQUADS:
MUNSTER:
Ronan O’Mahony; Andrew Conway, Johne Murphy, Andrew Smith, Simon Zebo; Ian Keatley, Duncan Williams; John Ryan, Kevin O’Byrne, BJ Botha; Donncha O’Callaghan (capt), Billy Holland, CJ Stander, Sean Dougall, Shane Buckley.
MUNSTER REPLACEMENTS:
Duncan Casey, Alan Cotter, Stephen Archer, Dave Foley, Tommy O’Donnell, Cathal Sheridan, Johnny Holland, Ivan Dineen.
EDINBURGH :
Jack Cuthbert; Dougie Fife, Sam Beard, Andries Strauss, Tim Visser; Greig Tonks, Sean Kennedy; Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford (capt), John Andress, Fraser McKenzie, Ollie Atkins, Tomas Leonardi, Hamish Watson, Cornell Du Preez.
EDINBURGH REPLACEMENTS:
James Hilterbrand, Rory Sutherland, W P Nel, Ben Toolis, Mike Coman, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Nick McLennan, Phil Burleigh.
INFORMATION:
KICK OFF: 19:35
BROADCAST ON TG4 & BBC ALBA
REFEREE: LEIGHTON HODGES (WALES)
ASSISTANTS: NIGEL CORRELL & JOHN CARVILL(BOTH IRELAND)
CITING COMMISSIONER: EDDIE WALSH(IRELAND)
TMO: JUDE QUINN(IRELAND)
