Munster and Northampton renew their European rugby rivalry after over a decade
ALMOST 11 years later Munster and Northampton renew their European Cup rugby rivalry this Sunday lunch-time.
This December 18 (1pm) the two sides meet in round two of the Champions Cup. Both lost last weekend in round one - Munster to Toulouse and Northampton to La Rochelle.
Today's key fixture for both sides in the Cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens will be broadcast Llive on BT Sport, beIN Sports, SuperSport and FloRugby.
The teams last met in January 2012 - a 51-36 victory for Munster. Current squad members Keith Earls, Conor Murray, Peter O’Mahony, Stephen Archer and Simon Zebo all featured in that victory almost 11 years ago with Zebo scoring a hat-trick.
Today is the seventh ever meeting of Munster and Northampton. Saints have beaten Munster twice, including of course the 2000 Heineken Cup final.
While The Saints fell to a 46-12 defeat to Ronan O'Gara's champions last weekend, Northampton have won their last six home matches in all competitions.
After today, it's back to the United Rugby Championship on St Stephens Day when Leinster come to Thomond Park for a 7.35pm kick-off on Monday December 26. There is another inter-provincial derby for Munster on New Years Day when Ulster await in Kingspan Stadium at 5.15 on Sunday January 1 in round 11 of the URC.
Northampton: George Furbank; James Ramm, Matt Proctor, Rory Hutchinson, Tommy Freeman; Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell; Alex Waller, Sam Matavesi, Ehren Painter; Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, David Ribbans; Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, Juarno Augustus. Replacements: Mikey Haywood, Emmanuel Iyogun, Alfie Petch, Alex Moon, Angus Scott-Young, Aaron Hinkley, Callum Braley, Fraser Dingwall.
Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Jack Crowley, Keith Earls; Joey Carbery, Conor Murray; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne; Jack O’Donoghue, Peter O’Mahony, Gavin Coombes. Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Dave Kilcoyne, Roman Salanoa, John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen, Craig Casey, Rory Scannell, Shane Daly.