- Jack O’Donoghue is top turnover king after round two
- ‘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
- Impressive win for Clonmel on UL pitch keeps them on title target
- 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
- 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
- Local referees are included in Guinness PRO14 week-end fixtures list
- St Mary’s, Thomond, Newcastle West, Bruff in league and cup action
- Brilliant Earls try seals victory over Leinster
- Young Munster romp home with comfortable Charity Cup win
- 12 changes as Munster prepare for another Thomond Park epic
- Frank Murphy to referee Munster v Leinster PRO14 fixture
- Full house for Munster and Leinster showdown at Thomond Park
- Christmas 2018 marks a record year for Limerick Rugby website
- Ulster happy with home win while Munster settle for single point
English clubs’ wretched record at Thomond Park: 21 defeats, 2 wins
- Updated: 15/01/2019
(Pictured, Shannon’s Tom Hayes in action when playing with Exeter)
By Aidan Corr
WHEN it comes to hosting English Premiership clubs at Limerick’s Thomond Park, Munster have always been welcoming but ferociously unyielding and Exeter will have to be at their very best on Saturday if they are to buck the trend.
The southern province takes particular delight in lowering the colours of any English visitors and including their first win against Wasps at the famous ground in Heineken Cup 1997, they have been victorious on 21 occasions. Only Leicester (6-13) in 2007 and Leicester again in 2016 (19-31) have succeeded in leaving Mayorstone in triumphant mood.
The full break-down of English Premiership sides visiting Limerick in European Heineken Cup pool games reads: 1997 Munster 49, Wasps 22; 1998, Munster 23, Harlequins 16; 2000, Munster 31, Saracens 30; 2001, Munster 31, Bath 9; 2002, Munster 51, Harlequins 17; 2003, Munster 33, Gloucester 6; 2004, Munster 35, Gloucester 14; 2005, Munster 15, Harlequins 9; 2006, Munster 31, Sale 9; 2007, Munster 6, Leicester 13; 2008, Munster 19, Wasps 3; 2009, Munster 37, Sale 14; 2010, Munster 12, Northampton 9; 2010, (Quarter final) Munster 33, Northampton 19; 2011, Munster 28, London Irish 14; 2012, Munster 23, Northampton 21; 2013, Munster 15, Saracens 9; 2014, Munster 26, Gloucester 10; 2015, Munster 14, Saracens 3; 2016, Munster 19, Leicester 31; 2017, Munster 38, Leicester 0; 2018, Munster 33, Leicester 10; 2019, Munster 36, Gloucester 22.
Earlier this week Exeter have been having a bit of a moan about the limited time they have been given to prepare for this most important game of pool 2, Munster playing on Friday night and Exeter having a shorter turn-around after their game against Castres last Sunday. When the tie kicks-off on Saturday at 5.30, that little inconvenience will mean as little as the referee’s first puff of his whistle.
What is different about this fixture is that Exeter showed against Castres last week-end that they are serious about progressing in this competition. It will be their first visit to Thomond Park, they will be determined to make an impression and if they can be within touching distance into the second half, well, anything could happen. Munster, on the other hand, are on a roll after three impressives wins over Leinster, Connacht and Gloucester. They look like a side that, not alone is rock solid in every position on the field, but can tog out eight replacements of equal quality. That is a bonus that Munster seldom enjoyed in the past and could make the difference at the end of the 80 minutes.
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