Munster v Edinburgh: Sky Live PRO14 Semi-final Qualifier preview
Watch the match live on Saturday on Sky Sports Action & Main Event from 3pm
By Sky Sports Rugby
Last Updated: 05/05/18 5:25pm
Munster play host to Edinburgh at Thomond Park in a PRO14 Semi-Final Qualifier on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Action & Main Event from 3pm.
A place in the semi-finals and a date with Leinster at the RDS Arena on May 19 awaits the winner of this intriguing clash.
These are uncharted waters for Edinburgh but they have good reason to be bullish having secured a Conference-leading 15 victories this season including wins against all four Irish provinces.
By contrast, Munster have won the title three times but not since 2010/11 and they appear to be wobbling since their Champions Cup semi-final exit at the hands of Racing 92.
Form
Munster: WWWDL
Munster enter this clash fresh from a battling display against Irish rivals Ulster at Thomond Park where the much-changed hosts came back from a 24-14 half-time deficit to snatch a share of the spoils.
Prior to that clash they tasted Champions Cup semi-final heartache at the hands of French rivals Racing 92 in Bordeaux.
However, they are unbeaten in their last four PRO14 clashes - a run of form that carried them to a second-place finish in Conference A behind Glasgow Warriors.
Edinburgh: WLLWW
Edinburgh capped off a superb PRO14 season with a 24-19 victory over Scottish rivals Glasgow Warriors last time out and with it secured the 1872 Cup, Champions Cup qualification and more importantly a place in the play-offs for the first time.
That win followed an emphatic victory over an under-strength Scarlets that contributed to a Conference B-leading total of 15 wins in the regular season.
Last meeting
Edinburgh 12-6 Munster, PRO14, March 16 2018
The last time these two sides met, Edinburgh edged out their Irish rivals 12-6 in a scrappy contest at Murrayfield.
They were victorious despite being reduced to 14 men during the second half when Jason Harries was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle.
Two tries from Duhan van der Merwe did most of the damage for the visitors in a game short on highlights with the boot of JJ Hanrahan providing their only points.
Key players
Munster - JJ Hanrahan. For essentially the first time this season in his comeback year, Hanrahan has been picked ahead of Ian Keatley at fly-half for a game of critical importance.
Keatley's performance for Munster in their Champions Cup semi-final defeat to Racing was not to the required level the province demands, but by the same token, Hanrahan has largely failed to take the opportunities he has been given in the 10 shirt within the PRO14.
As such, Saturday's semi-final qualifier is of critical importance for the Tipperary native, and for his province. Thrive and the shirt will be his for the meantime, flunk and Munster may have to start thinking of looking into the transfer market for a fly-half in the continued injury-absence of Tyler Bleyendaal.
Edinburgh - Sam Hidalgo-Clyne. The scrum-half may be leaving Edinburgh to join Scarlets at the end of the season, and fallen out of favour in terms of selection midway through this season, but his current form is some of the best of his career so far.
Hidalgo-Clyne's classy kicking game and lethal sniping has been at its dangerous best in recent months as Edinburgh secured a place in the top three within Conference B. He could be the man to unlock Munster in Limerick...
Pre-match thoughts
Johann Van Graan - Munster: "Certainly, we've got a plan and we'll try and execute that as best we can. All we're focused on is Saturday at 3.15pm.
"They've got a quality coach, I think he's one of the best coaches in the world. They've got a lot of belief and they've got a very simple plan, so I think they'll come here with nothing to lose.
"They've come, from my perception, I won't say from nowhere, but nobody has seen them coming and a lot of guys still don't see them but they are a red-hot team, playing some fantastic rugby."
Richard Cockerill - Edinburgh: "It's going to be a big day for us and we have earned the right to be there - the league table doesn't lie.
"We can beat them if we get it right. We played a Munster second team in March, so we expect to face a different side tomorrow. They have world-class players and are a different force at home. We're looking forward to it and these are the challenges we want.
"We know if we play at our best, we will give ourselves opportunities to beat Munster. The chances are they should win, however, they are at home and have just dropped out of Europe, so there is a bit of pressure on them."
Team News
Munster: 15 Simon Zebo, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Sammy Arnold, 12 Rory Scannell, 11 Keith Earls, 10 JJ Hanrahan, 9 Conor Murray; 1 James Cronin, 2 Rhys Marshall, 3 Stephen Archer, 4 Jean Kleyn, 5 Billy Holland, 6 Peter O'Mahony (c), 7 Jack O'Donoghue, 8 CJ Stander.
Replacements: 16 Mike Sherry, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Ciaran Parker, 19 Gerbrandt Grobler, 20 Robin Copeland, 21 James Hart, 22 Ian Keatley, 23 Darren Sweetnam.
Edinburgh: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Dougie Fife, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Chris Dean, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne; 1 Jordan Lay, 2 Stuart McInally (c), 3 Simon Berghan, 4 Ben Toolis, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 6 Magnus Bradbury, 7 Jamie Ritchie, 8 Bill Mata.
Replacements: 16 Neil Cochrane, 17 Allan Dell, 18 WP Nel, 19 Lewis Carmichael, 20 Cornell du Preez, 21 Nathan Fowles, 22 Duncan Weir, 23 James Johnstone.
