Magners League Previews: Week One

Yes, oh yes, saints be praised, the new season starts tonight!  Guinness Premiership matches tomorrow, but tonight the newly-titled Magners League gets underway, and not a second before time.  In fact, picture if you will a lone man crossing a barren desert.  He's on the brink of dehydration, a broken man, with heat exhaustion taking its toll.  Suddenly, he sees a bar in the middle distance.  He can hear Pogues songs belting from the jukebox, sees beautiful red-haired girls dancing on the terrace, and best of all, a sign hangs from the frontage of the pub.  That sign has on it just one word:  Magners.  Or Bulmers if the desert is in Ireland.  Which is unlikely.

Anyway, I digress.  For that man?  That man, dear reader, is me.  That desert is the summer.  And that bar is the new season.  I'm not sure who the girls are, it's frankly not a great metaphor, but then, I'm not a very good writer.  [Paul Kelly]

So here, finally, are our first match previews.

Cardiff Blues vs Munster, Tonight 7.10 pm

Cardiff select a strong side for the first kick-off of the Magners League at the Arms Park this evening.  Munster's announced selection is something of a second-string, captained by John Kelly.  This is due to a four-game recovery period for the Irish internationals after the summer tour, which robs Munster of an entire pack.  The home side features several internationals.  New signings Mosese Luveitasau and Tufa'ao Filise are in the XV, and international half-back partnership Mike Phillips and Nick Robinson start, with Martyn Williams returning in the back row and Tom Shanklin making the bench after ten months out injured.  Munster's XV features a strong back five.  Christian Cullen starts, having recovered from a niggling back injury.  His new, performance related contract is designed to show his intention to repay the faith of Munster's fans.  Regulars Shaun Payne, Ian Dowling and John Kelly join him in the backs, while Frankie Sheahan makes his return from long-term injury at hooker.  New signing Chris Wyatt joins youngster Donnacha Ryan in the second row.

Borders vs Connacht, Tonight 7.30 pm

Connacht play this away game before a run of six at home.  A win tonight, therefore, would put them very much on the right track.  They'll need to work for it, though, as Chris Cusiter returns to action for Borders.  Newbies Craig Hamilton and Stuart Grimes bolster the home lineout, while Brett Wilkinson and Adrian Flavin are Connacht's new blood, both front-rowers.  The Scots will begin as favourites, but Connacht used to make a habit of springing surprises.  If they can get back into that habit, an intriguing season awaits.

Glasgow vs Dragons, Tonight 7.30 pm

Both teams start the season with injury and fitness problems, missing five players each - so whoever wins tonight can be confident that, with players to come back, they can be positive about the season ahead. Rory Lamont, Scott Lawson, John Beattie, Ben Prescott and Colin White miss out for Glasgow, while the Dragons miss Gareth Cooper, Michael Owen, Kevin Morgan, Luke Charteris and Paul Emerick.  Back-row Colin Charvis, meanwhile, must be content with a spot on the bench.  Both sides are still capable of fielding a few internationals though, with Glasgow able to boast an international half-back pairing in Dan Parks and Sam Pinder.  That, along with home advantage, leads me to back Glasgow for this contest.

Ospreys vs Edinburgh, Tomorrow 5.30 pm

New men Lee Byrne, Tal Selley and Justin Marshall all start in an interesting attack for the Ospreys, with Sonny Parker returning from injury to partner Gavin Henson in the centre.  Perhaps the biggest boost for the Welsh side, though, comes with the return of Ryan Jones to the back row.  A phenomenally gifted player, Jones was a big miss for both club and country last season, and if he returns to even 75% of the form he was at before his injury, he'll be a precious asset.  The Gunners are pretty handy in attack themselves, with more than half of Scotland's backs among their starting seven.  Simon Taylor is out through injury, and more shockingly, grass is green.  Ospreys should probably win this, but should and will are different things.

Ulster vs Scarlets, Tomorrow 7.30 pm

Champions Ulster close out the weekend, with a home clash against the Scarlets tomorrow night.  David Humphreys is passed fit to start, which is good news for a home side without their Irish internationals.  So Humphreys partners Keiran Campbell in the half-backs, and Paddy Wallace moves back into the centre in the absence of Andrew Trimble.  Despite Neil Best's absence, the back row still looks handy, with Roger Wilson and Stephen Ferris both very useful, and Keiran Dawson available from the bench.  For the Scarlets, Stephen Jones and Dwayne Peel reprise their ever-popular international partnership, and a debut is given to second-row Lou Reed.  If he scores the winning try, it'll be a Perfect Day for him, ha ha ha ha ha.  What?