Heineken Cup Preview - Harlequins v Munster

Generically, the only way the 'new kid on the block' can prove themselves is by taking on the old grizzled veteran in a scrap and earning their respect – so long as they don't take a complete hiding.  The clubs in the English Premiership already hold Harlequins in the highest regard as they completed their resurgence under Conor O'Shea to dominate the league last season and defeat the grumpy old ex-champions, Leicester, at Twickenham, with a team of young whippersnappers to boot.  But have they earned the respect of their continental counterparts?  It's arguable that they haven't, having not challenged for honours yet or fully banished the memories of (sorry for the 'B' word) Bloodgate on the European stage.  To the average Frenchman or Irishman, who doesn't watch much of the English Premiership, he probably still views Harlequins as – to put it nicely – a bunch of Will Carlings (or was that worse?).  Of course, this is far from the truth – Quins now play a game that is the envy of their peers with breathtaking ambition, precision and power that not only wins matches but entertains as well, with the unflashy Chris Robshaw and Mike Brown leading the way.  But now they have to prove this on the big European stage.  And who better to do it against than one of the big daddies of European rugby – Munster.

Harlequins have been at the top of the English game, realistically, for the last year and a half, but they've suffered their first little hiccup under Conor O'Shea as the reigning Premiership champions suffered 3 league defeats on the bounce (although they did win the LV= Cup in between).  I don't think anyone believes the bubble has burst, but Quins fans will be praying that O'Shea hasn't let any self-doubt worm its way into the minds of his exciting young side.  The London side will be aware of their need to play their high tempo game and not get dragged into the kind of dog fight that the Munster pack might relish, and to do that they need to ensure that they have a solid platform in the set piece.  The selection of Rob Buchanan over Joe Gray is a surprising one, but the hooker's physicality will be important and, if he hits his lineouts, will prove to be a smart move.  But it is the back row with most important jobs – breaking the gainline and securing the kind of quick ball that makes Danny Care a nightmare to defend against.

Munster have qualified for the Heineken Cup quarter finals for the 14th time in 15 seasons as they look to continue their love affair with Europe's premier competition, but their joy here hasn't been matched by the same level of success on the domestic circuit, where they lie 11 points adrift of the play-off places in the obscurity of mid table.  The traditional Munster side has had a gargantuan pack fuelled with aggression, and minimal flair outside – unless you count the cultured boot of Ronan O'Gara.  But that's changed recently, with the pack losing a bit of its outright grunt, despite the return of Paul O'Connell, and the backline getting some genuine X-Factor in the shape of Simon Zebo to complement the power and directness of Casey Lualala and James Downey.  Ronan O'Gara may have looked about as solid as a damp twig during Ireland's Six Nations campaign but the veteran is still a big time player and he'll realise the need to get the ball to the likes of Zebo in space if Munster are to genuinely threaten the hosts – and it's up to the Munster pack to earn that front foot ball.

And so, on Sunday, the new kid on the block has a chance to show what they're made of.  And the old grizzled veteran can't wait to find out.

Harlequins Team News

English champions Harlequins welcome back England captain Chris Robshaw after he was rested for last weekend's defeat by Gloucester.  Quins, who have lost three games in a row, have Danny Care and Nick Evans in the 9-10 slots while England men Mike Brown and Joe Marler also start.

Starting Line up: Brown; Williams, Lowe, Casson, Monye; Evans, Care; Marler, Buchanan, Johnston, Kohn, Robson, Fa'asavalu, Robshaw, Easter.
Subs: Gray, Lambert, Collier, Matthews, Guest, Dickson, Botica, Hooper.

Key Player

Chris Robshaw.  The England and Harlequins captain had a superb Six Nations on a personal level, even in the defeat against Wales, but he did look tired and laboured by his standards on his club return against Saracens.  Hopefully the week off will have done him the world of good and he can get back to doing what he does best – everything.  Topping the carrying, tackling, offloading and turnover charts on a regular basis, if he performs like we know he can then he can simply outwork and outrun his opposition off the park.

 

Munster Team News

Two-time champions Munster welcome back Ireland wing Simon Zebo after injury.  Lock Paul O'Connell is another recent returnee from injury and will captain the side in Doug Howlett's absence.

Starting Line up: Jones; Hurley, Laulala, Downey, Zebo; O'Gara, Murray; Kilcoyne, Sherry, Botha; Ryan, O'Connell (capt); O'Mahony, O'Donnell, Coughlan.
Subs: Varley, Du Preez, Archer, O'Callaghan, Butler, Sheridan, Keatley, Dineen.

Key Player

Paul O'Connell.  He's been out so long that we seem to have forgotten that, on his day, he's one of the finest locks in Europe.  He's a veteran of 2 Lions tours and trying to get back enough fitness and form to force his way into the reckoning for a third, so he'll have that extra 1% of motivation on a personal level to push his beloved Munster into the semi-finals so he has another chance to showcase his abilities.  He will have identified the lineout as a potentially fragile area for the hosts and so he will be wanting to get stuck in to disrupt the Quins set piece as much as possible, starving them of a decent platform.

Key Battle

Danny Care v Conor Murray.  Two players with Lions squad ambitions will go head to head in a match up that may determine who gets the last spot on the plane, with Mike Phillips and Ben Youngs seemingly assured of a place.  Care is certainly the sharper operator around the fringes of the two, with his electric acceleration keeping the fringe defences honest, but Murray seems to have the better service and game-management.  The key will be who has the best day at the office in getting their dangerous outside backs good, clean, front foot ball, so both 9s will have to be on top of their game on Sunday.

Prediction

Quins are going through a bit of a sticky patch in the Premiership at the moment but Munster aren't exactly setting the world alight either.  The Irish province have a fantastic European pedigree but I feel that the Stoop is a tough place to win and this Harlequins side just has too much class in their ranks.  Quins by 8.