PREVIEWS: Glasgow Warriors v Munster: AS OPENING defences go, Friday nights in Firhill constitute something of a litmus test for the reigning champions against opponents who completed a rare double over Munster four seasons ago.
Munster have actually won seven, drawn one and lost four of their dozen league meetings with Glasgow, although prior to last season, they’d won just one of their previous six clashes. Hence, the games with Glasgow were two of the six targeted last season as a platform for greater consistency and winning the league, and the double was duly achieved.
However, this looks a tricky opener – and the reigning champions have lost on the opening weekend for the last two years. Not alone are Munster missing what might be considered 10 front-liners, but Glasgow coach Sean Lineen hands competitive debuts to the all-Scottish trio of scrum-half Chris Cusiter, centre Peter Murchie and wing Rob Dewey, as well as young prop Jon Welsh.
Also in their line-up is points machine Dan Parks – the league’s all-time leading scorer – and Thom Evans, the league’s leading try scorers last season.
Against that, Munster do welcome back three Kiwis in Jeremy Manning, Doug Howlett and Lifeimi Mafi, as well as Tony Buckley, all of whom were late withdrawals from the narrow late defeat in Leicester last weekend.
Felix Jones scored another virtuoso try in that game and retains the full-back slot, while two-try scorer in Leicester, Denis Hurley, also retains his place on the wing, with young Danny Barnes making way for Howlett on the other flank.
Were Munster to win this, it would be throwing down something of a marker already.
GLASGOW: B Stortoni; R Dewey, P Murchie, G Morrison, T Evans; D Parks, C Cusiter; J Welsh, D Hall, M Low, T Barker, A Kellock (capt), K Brown, J Barclay, J Beattie. Replacements: P MacArthur, K Tkachuk, D Turner, R Vernon, M McMillan, R Jackson, C Shaw.
MUNSTER: F Jones; D Howlett, T Gleeson, L Mafi, D Hurley; J Manning, P Stringer; M Horan, D Fogarty, T Buckley; M O'Driscoll capt, D Ryan; B Holland, N Ronan, D Leamy. Replacements: D Varley, J Brugnaut, T O'Donnell, J Coughlan, T Morland, S Deasy, B Murphy.
Referee:James Jones (WRU).
Last three seasons: (06-07) Glasgow 24 Munster 13 (Hughendon); Munster 38, Glasgow 20 (Musgrave Park); (07-08) Glasgow 11 Munster 11 (Firhill Arena); Munster 18 Glasgow 21 (Musgrave Park); (08-09) Munster 25 Glasgow 17 (Thomond Park); Glasgow 13 Munster 26 (Firhill Arena).
Last season's leading try scorers: Glasgow – Thom Evans 9, Lome Fa'atau 5. Munster – Keith Earls 8, Doug Howlett 7, Niall Ronan 5, Denis Leamy, David Wallace 4 each.
Last season's leading points scorers: Glasgow – Dan Parks 117. Munster – Paul Warwick 88, Ronan O'Gara 76.
Betting: 11/8 Glasgow, 20/1 Draw, 4/7 Munster. Handicap betting (= Glasgow +4pts) 10/11 Glasgow, 20/1 Draw, 10/11 Munster.
Forecast:Munster to win.
