- ‘Saints’ relegated, Newcastle West can yet lift the MJL1 title
- AIL defeats for Shannon, ‘Munsters’, Bruff and Thomond
- Terrific wins for UL Bohemian and Old Crescent tonight in AIL2A
- Bonus point win as Munster prove too strong for the Southern Kings in Cork
- Kings will need to be in regal form to deprive Munster of home victory
- Important games for Limerick clubs as the AIL resumes action this week-end
- Tension mounts as local clubs feature in second last fence of Munster Junior League 1
- Ireland’s rising injury list would comfortably fill a few hospital corridor trollies
- Impressive win for Clonmel on UL pitch keeps them on title target
- Retention of Six Nations back on track
- Ireland will be desperate to retain interest in another Six Nations title
- Richmond can do Newcastle West a favour on the UL 4G surface
- Will Joe Schmidt ring the changes for the Scottish game?
- Cancellations a-plenty as Munster Junior Cup gathers momentum
- Henshaw at full-back not really a gamble as Ireland name their team
- Ian excited about exploring new horizons as he plans two moves
- Nine local clubs in Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup action this week-end
- UL Bohemian and Thomond advance in the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup
- Abbeyfeale lift the Transfield Cup for the first time since 1977
- Young Munster facing battle to avoid the drop
- Munster fight hard for victory in Rodney Parade
- Bonus point for Garryowen as Shannon fail to build on recent form
- Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals guaranteed to thrill the fans
- Transfield and Munster Junior cups take centre stage on Sunday
- Injuries to Tadhg Beirne and Andrew Conway are reported this morning
- Speculation regarding home country advantage in the semi-finals
- Newcastle West are back in the race for the junior league title
- Munster fans will be preparing for visit to Scottish capital
- AIL: Shannon win, Young Munster and Garryowen lose today in 1A
- AIL wins tonight for Old Crescent in 2A and Thomond in 2C
- John Ryan for Archer the only change on the Munster team
- Key Euro games for referees Neville, Clancy, Brace and Lacey
- Frank Quinn’s review of the final pools games of Heineken Cup
- Decent Munster representation on Ireland Six Nations squad
- English clubs’ wretched record at Thomond Park: 21 defeats, 2 wins
- A Newcastle view as their side fails to get winning bonus point
- Is the Transfield Cup final to take place in the Markets Field?
- Defeat for Richmond today dents their junior league title hopes
- Brave Garryowen’s late strike gives them ticket to Bateman decider
- Munster march on towards another home Heineken Cup quarter final
- Munster and Gloucester announce their teams for to-morrow night’s game
- All to play for as Munster Junior League division one hots up
- Garryowen keen to avoid their third successive cup defeat
- Munster’s Ian Keatley seems set to join Benetton Treviso
- Leinster are still the favourites to retain the Champions Cup
- Thomond and Bruff advance in cup: Newcastle drop league points
- Munster superb as they hold on for bonus point victory
- Munster’s away form will again be tested in the Showgrounds
- Munster Senior Cup retains its magic as Garryowen seek more glory
- Leinster’s winger James Lowe is suspended for two weeks
Johann expects a tough encounter as Cheetahs come to town
- Updated: 31/08/2018
(Photo: Key man JJ Hanrahan starts at out-half)
MUNSTER head coach Johann van Graan has reason to expect a real hard test from South African side Toyota Cheetahs tomorrow at Thomond Park.
Heading into their second season in the Guinness PRO14, he expressed the view this week that the visitors will have benefited from that experience and they will be out to impress in their opening game of the championship.
Cheetah coach Franco Smith, who put his duties as Springbok Attack Coach aside to focus fully on this side, is confident of a good performance by his charges: “We are excited to be involved in the Guinness PRO14 again. We have a huge task ahead of us with new players who joined the squad and we want to make South Africa and Guinness PRO14 proud.
“Tomorrow is the beginning of a new season. We are realistic. We will have to stick to the process and try to adapt as quick as possible to the required tempo and intensity.”
The two sides have met twice before with Munster winning both encounters and Munster boss van Graan spoke about narrow margins ahead in this competition: “Last season we lost games by one point and we want to keep that in mind. We want to take points from every game this season and we are focusing on that. All the teams are starting this week-end on zero points in this league so it is all to play for.”
Coach Franco Smith has announced his team for the match.
Oupa Mohoje will be leading the side for the season.
A number of players will be making their Guinness PRO14 debuts: Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Tian Schoeman, Luan de Bruin, JP du Preez, Walt Steenkamp, Aidon Davis and Ryno Eksteen.
The team will be travelling to Wales on Sunday for the second match where they will be facing Ospreys in Swansea on Saturday, 8 September at 18:30 (SA time) before they return to Bloemfontein.
Toyota Cheetahs: Malcolm Jaer; Rabz Maxwane, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Nico Lee, William Small-Smith; Tian Schoeman, Shaun Venter; Ox Nche, Jacques du Toit, Luan de Bruin; Justin Basson, JP du Preez, Junior Pokomela, Oupa Mohoje, Jasper Wiese.
Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Charles Marais, 18 Aranos Coetzee, 19 Walt Steenkamp, 20 Aidon Davis, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Ernst Stapelberg, 23 Ryno Eksteen.
The referee for the match is Dan Jones (WRU, 15th competition game). He will be assisted by Craig Evans and Mark Patton. The TMO is Simon McDowell.
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