Sky Live Champions Cup preview: Munster v Toulon
Watch live on Sky Sports Action from 2.30pm on Saturday
By Robert Mulhern
Last Updated: 31/03/18 2:29pm
Injury-weakened Munster host a resurgent Toulon favoured by many, but the history of the Champions Cup competition demonstrates this is a challenge they have overcome in the past.
The temperature around Munster has cooled somewhat since their 48-3 January win at home to Castres in their final pool contest. Back then, Saturday's hosts had cause to look forward with relish to this quarter-final fixture, live on Sky Sports Action from 2.30pm. However, injuries and a recent return to form from Toulon has stiffened Munster's challenge.
Sky Sports Rugby previews Saturday's fixture...
Form
Munster: WLWLW
Munster have been boosted by the return from injury of Simon Zebo and Andrew Conway. The pair are among six changes to Johann van Graan's side with Stephen Archer and Grand Slam winners Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray and CJ Stander also returning.
The hosts have suffered some big losses however and they are without Tommy O'Donnell, Keith Earls, Chris Cloete, Chris Farrell, among others.
But the Irish province enjoy home advantage, a reality made more potent for Toulon by the fact that home is Thomond Park.
The unique challenge posed by the three-time champions suggests passage to the semi-final will need to be carefully managed and clinically executed by half-back pairing Conor Murray and Ian Keatley.
Toulon: WLWLW
Toulon enter this tie with the same chequered form as the hosts, yet buoyed by a stunning win against Top 14 heavyweights Clermont last weekend and the impressive form of centre Mathieu Bastareaud in addition to the try-scoring form of full-back Chris Ashton.
If Munster's back-line has been weakened by injury then the opposite is true for Toulon who have brought in former All Black centre Malakai Fekitoa to partner Bastareaud. Across key areas - like midfield - the French have an aura of strength that on paper at least, Munster will struggle to match.
Most recent outing:
Munster 19-7 Scarlets
In their first meeting since last season's PRO12 final, Scarlets dominated the opening 25 minutes but only had one try to show for it scored by Aled Davies.
Munster grew into the game thereafter and took control during the second period, with their forwards well on top at the set-piece and breakdown.
The victory was all the more impressive after a couple of bizarre referee and TMO decisions went the way of Scarlets as James Davies avoided a sin-binning for tripping Sammy Arnold and James Cronin had a try ruled out for an apparent double movement.
Toulon 49-0 Clermont
English winger Chris Ashton equalled the record for tries scored in a French Top 14 season when he registered his 21st of the campaign in Toulon's 49-0 rout of Clermont on Sunday.
Ashton, who will turn 31 on Thursday, matched the record of Fiji's Napolioni Nalaga, set in 2008-2009 while playing for Clermont.
He reached the mark in the 19th minute of Sunday's game as Toulon ran in seven tries, which condemned defending champions Clermont to missing out on the play-offs this season.
Despite being on a run of three successive wins in March and welcomimg back scrum-half Morgan Parra (out since January) and fly-half Camille Lopez (injured in October), Clermont were ripped to shreds by the three-time European champions.
Last meeting:
Toulon 24-16 Munster
Wilkinson and opposite number Ian Keatley waged a kicking duel in the first-half, the pair both landing three penalties apiece as defences stood firm.
While Munster managed the only try of the contest through Simon Zebo, Wilkinson kept Toulon's noses in front with a steady tick of three-pointers that secured Toulon's passage to a final they won after defeating Saracens.
Key player:
Munster: Ian Keatley. The injuries suffered by Munster and the loss of leaders like Keith Earls as well as an obvious weakness in the centre with Chris Farrell and Jaco Taute out, has significantly weakened the Munster backline and by doing so, heaped more pressure on the need for Ian Keatley and Conor Murray to deliver big performances.
If Munster are to win, then Keatley will need to produce something close to the kind of performance, both from the tee and out of hand, that became the stamp of Ronan O'Gara in years past.
Toulon - Mathieu Bastareaud. So often picked as the key man, but with even more reason as the heavyweight centre has added another dimension of off-load play to his bulldozing style. He's also proved impressive over the ball at the breakdown and with Munster particularly light in midfield minus the bulk of Farrell, turnovers in this area could prove key.
Pre-match thoughts
Peter O'Mahony - Munster: "If you can't enjoy weeks like this, why are you in the game. You want it, that's why you are in the game. You want it, that's why we train. You want this pressure, and hopefully we can come through it.
"Any side that beats Clermont 49-0 is quality. Just look at the tries they scored, some of their broken field attack, their maul, and their scrum. In some scrums they went just right through the opposition. They have star players everywhere. We'll have to be at our very best to get a result on Saturday.
"I've been lucky enough to play with this club all my life. We are obviously back into a European quarter-final. You've regrets from some years, and fond memories of big wins. Some of it stands with you for a long time, and you have to remember those lows and the highs, and try to balance that with training, and take all of those memories into Saturday."
Team news:
Munster:15 Simon Zebo, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Sammy Arnold, 12 Rory Scannell, 11 Alex Wootton,10 Ian Keatley, 9 Conor Murray, 1 Dave Kilcoyne, 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 Niall Scannell, 17 James Cronin, 18 John Ryan, 19 Gerbrandt Grobler, 20 Robin Copeland, 21 James Hart, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Darren Sweetnam
Toulon: 15 Chris Ashton, 14 Josua Tuisova, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Semi Radradra, 10 Francois Trinh-Duc, 9 Eric Escande, 1 Florian Fresia, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 3 Marcel Van Der Merwe, 4 Juandre Kruger, 5 Dave Attwood, 6 Raphael Lakafia, 7 Facundo Isa, 8 Duane Vermeulen
Replacements: 16. Anthony Etrillard, 17 Xavier Chiocci, 18 Emerick Setiano, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Anthony Belleau, 21 Malakai Fekitoa, 22 Alby Mathewson, 23 Samu Manoa
