Biarritz Olympique vs Munster,Sunday 2 May 3:15pm SS2.*Mod Warning Post #1*

thomond2006

http://www.rugby365.com/tournaments/heineken/news/2385700.htm

The second semifinal in this year's Heineken Cup is also a France-Ireland affair, but this match is being played in San Sebastian, Spain!

The match is a repeat of the 2006 final, where Munster were able to narrowly beat 23-19 at the Millennium Stadium.

Having finished seventh in a disappointing season in the Top 14, Biarritz seem to have played much of their best rugby in the Heineken Cup, with an outstanding display to beat a strong Ospreys team 29-28 in the quarterfinals. With nothing else left to play for the French club will go all out for the victory on Sunday.

Biarritz are also the only of the three semifinalist who are yet to lift the trophy and will be relying on the massive Basque support they enjoy in San Sebastian.

Biarritz captain Jerome Thion is under no illusions about how tough Munster are going to be to beat, but feels his side will be more than ready for anything the Irish throw at them.

"Their main goal is to win the Heineken Cup and our encounters are always huge battles involving a very intense and physical contest. They are used to these major showpiece occasions and have been crowned European champions twice, so we are certainly up against one of the top European squads," Thion said.

"But there is absolutely no feeling of an inferiority complex on our part and we have beaten them in the past, even though it was five years ago. So now we have the chance to meet them again and we know we can do as well as them in our quest for the Heineken Cup - the game promises to be a massive clash."

Former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio has Munster as the favourites for the match given their strong lineup and history of being able to win away from home.

"I think they [Biarritz] can count themselves a little bit fortunate to still be in the competition, they are not in great form in the Top 14. You just feel that Ospreys had an opportunity to really beat them, but they didn't take it, Dallaglio said.

"Munster have all the pedigree, they have been here and done it so many times before. They [Munster] don't seem to worry too much about where they play."

One of the major talking points leading into the game is that both sides have suffered a major set back, with the hero of the quarterfinal Damien Traille missing through injury for Biarritz, and stalwart captain Paul O'Connell who hasn't recovered from a groin strain absent from the Munster ranks.

Biarritz will be breathing a sigh of relief that No.8 Imanol Harinordoquy has recovered from injury in time to be considered for the match as he plays such a big role from the back of the scrum and is always a menace on attack.

Date: Sunday, May 2
Venue: Estadio Anoeta, San Sebastian
Kick-off: 16.15 (14.15 GMT)
Referee: Dave Pearson (England)
Assistant referees: Chris White (England), Stuart Terheege (England)
TMO: Daniel Irazoqui (France), Graham Hughes (England)

I'm confident that Munster can win this game. Against Ospreys, Biarritz's midfield defence looked tame and Traille is a massive loss.

Hopefully Iain Balshaw will retain his spot at fullback. No prizes for guessing what ROG is going to do then. He's definitely a weaklink that Munster can exploit.

Whoever is opposite this lad on the wing will have fun:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBHjSnPfEyY

The likes of Barcella, Harinordoquy, Yachvili and Ngwenya scare me but I think Munster have enough quality to do the business. Munster by less than 7.

I'd like to see:

Horan
Flannery
Hayes
DOC
MOD
Quinlan
Wallace
Williams (Tough on Coughlan, but Williams' performances have been so good when he had a run of games, brilliant link-up player. Won't happen though.)
TOL (please oh please some consistency)
ROG
Mafi
JdV
Earls
Howlett
Warwick

Varley
Buckley
Brugnaut
Holland
Coughlan
Stringer
Deasy
Hurley