Photo (Getty Images)
By Jake Jones
Munster‘s quarter final sees the return of Keith Earls to the right wing as Andrew Conway switches to full-back.
The second of the weekend’s semi-finals brings the top two from Pool Four back together after both successfully negotiated their French respective quarter-final opponents, Toulon and Clermont Auvergne. A close encounter against Toulon decided late on thanks to an Andrew Conway try securing victory late on 20-19.
In response to whether fatigue could be an issue for his side following their recent tour to South Africa to play the Cheetahs and Southern Kings in the PRO14, Munster head coach Johann van Graan maintained his side will take the jetlag in their stride.
“It’s not being something we can control and we’ll embrace it and use it as a positive,” the South African said, as Munster now head to the south of France.
“We know it is a Champions Cup semi-final week, but we treat every week the same.”
“It’s important to not play the game before its actually been played and to make sure that we are ready to go at a quarter past 4 on Sunday.”
Racing 92 v Munster, Stade Chaban-Delmas (Sun 15:15)
Munster: 15 Conway, 14 Earls, 13 Arnold, 12 R.Scannell, 11 Wootton, 10 Keatley, 9 Murray; 1 Kilcoyne, 2 N.Scannell, 3 Archer, 4 Kleyn, 5 Holland, 6 O’Mahony (Capt), 7 O’Donoghue, 8 Stander
Replacements: 16 Marshall, 17 Cronin, 18 J.Ryan, 19 Grobler, 20 Copeland, 21 Hart, 22 Hanrahan, 23 Zebo
Racing 92: 15 Dupichot, 14 Thomas, 13 Vakatawa, 12 Chavancy, 11 Andreu, 10 Lambie, 9 Machenaud (Capt); 1 Ben Arous, 2 Chat, 3 Gomes Sa, 4 D Ryan, 5 Nakarawa, 6 Lauret, 7 Le Roux, 8 Nyanga
Replacements: 16 Szarzewski, 17 Kakovin, 18 Afatia, 19 Claassen, 20 Chouzenoux, 21 Iribaren, 22 Carter, 23 Rokocoko
