Munster Face High-Stakes Clash with Galvanised Cardiff at Arms Park

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Munster Eyes Crucial Road Win Against Cardiff Amidst Welsh Club’s Turmoil

Cardiff, Wales – Munster is set to face a highly motivated Cardiff side at the Cardiff Arms Park on Friday night, as the Irish province fights to secure a spot in the URC play-offs. Cardiff, currently sixth in the standings, needs a victory to maintain its top-eight position.

Munster back-rower Jack O’Donoghue believes that Cardiff will be galvanised by the recent turmoil that saw the Welsh capital club being taken over by the home union after entering administration. O’Donoghue draws parallels to the way Munster responded to adversity in the past.

O’Donoghue said this week:

“I think we can relate, we didn’t go into administration but we went through a bit of turmoil with Graham (Rowntree) leaving during the season. Personally, went through Anthony Foley passing away, so it does bring the group closer together. You know, you go back to that Anthony Foley game against Glasgow (a day after their head coach’s funeral) and how close we were as a team. It was really special and that’s exactly what they’re doing. Their backs are against the wall, it’s going back to ‘this is our club, this is our community’ and everyone’s rowing in behind them. It’s galvanised them so I think they’re going to be tough to beat.”

Munster is coming off successive defeats, making the task in Cardiff even more challenging.

O’Donoghue said:

“We can’t be feeling sorry for ourselves, there’s too much at stake for that. We have aspirations to win the trophy and we’re chasing a knockout spot and that’s exactly what we need to do. With three games left, I know it’s a cliché but we’re treating every game as if it’s a cup final. With the team’s we’re playing, there’s going to be massive shifts amongst those play-off spots and we can just control what we can control, and that’s Friday night.”

Munster has made seven changes to the team beaten by the Bulls.

Here are the starting lineups for both teams:

CARDIFF: C Winnett; J Adams, H Millard, B Thomas; G Hamer-Webb; C Sheedy, J Mulder; D Southworth, L Belcher – captain, K Assiratti; J McNally, T Williams; J Botham, T Young, T Faletau.

MUNSTER: M Haley; C Nash, T Farrell, A Nankivell, T Abrahams; J Crowley, C Casey; M Milne, N Scannell, J Ryan; F Wycherley, T Beirne – captain; J O’Donoghue, A Kendellen, G Coombes.