Rugby Union / Cormac O'Keeffe / 21 August 2008 / 1 Comments

Munster travel to the States for the Setanta Challenge Cup and Cormac O'Keeffe warns punters not to expect a comfortable victory from the Heineken Cup champions.

Munster travel to Connecticut to take on the USA Eagles in the Setanta Challenge Cup on Saturday, August 23rd. under new coach Tony McGahan, the man given the tough task of filling the boots of Declan Kidney. However, it shouldn't take McGahan long to settle in as he has been Munster's defence coach for the past three years.

This match should prove to be a useful run-out for the men in red before they commence the defence of their Heineken Cup and the mouth-watering meeting with the All Blacks in Thomond Park in November which will mark the 30th anniversary of the province's historic 12-0 victory over an erstwhile unbeaten All Blacks side. This match should also get Munster ready for their Magner's League opener away to Edinburgh on September 5th.

In the Heineken Cup Munster, who attempt to become only the second team to retain the trophy (after Leicester), have been drawn in a group with Clermont Auvergne, Sale Sharks and Heineken Cup debutants Montauban. As well as getting out of this tough group, Munster will hope for a greater level of consistency in the Magner's League.

Although on paper Munster should have too much for the Eagles, don't expect them to win too easily. The two sides met in Chicago before last year's World Cup and Munster struggled to a 10-6 victory. It is expected that the Munster side will resemble more of a Magner's League type line-up rather than the stronger team that usually line out for the Heineken Cup with many of Ireland's established internationals rested. It is likely that up-and-coming stars like Keith Earls and Denis Hurley, who starred for Ireland A in the Churchill Cup, will be given their chance to once more impress and forge their way into the plans of McGahan as well as those of their former coach Declan Kidney.

With 24 hours to go before kick-off, none of the firms have priced up the game and Betfair's market is lightly traded but if the handicap line is anything more than 17 points then I'd recommend backing the Eagles. This USA team gave England a real fright in the World Cup and have improved vastly over the last five years. In fact the Eagles are only the same number of world ranking points behind Ireland as Ireland are behind New Zealand and the gap between the sides has dropped in recent years. A full-strength Irish side may only beat them by 20 points so an under-strength Munster side will struggle to win by more than ten.

However, Munster should win and start their season off with a piece of silverware, albeit a pretty meaningless one.

Munster Squad: Buckley Tony; Carney Brian; Dowling Ian; Earls Keith; Flannery Jerry; Fogarty, Denis; Holland Billy; Horgan Anthony; Hurley Denis; Hurley Darragh; Hayes John; Horan Marcus; Howlett Doug; Lewis Kieran; Mafi Lifeimi; Manning Jeremy; Melbourne Mark; Murphy Barry; O'Callaghan Donncha; O'Connell Paul; O'Donnell Tommy; O'Driscoll Mick; O'Gara Ronan; O'Leary Tomas; O'Sullivan John; Pucciariello Federico; Prendergast Mike; Quinlan Alan; Ronan Niall, Ryan Donncha; Sheahan Frank; Stringer Peter; Tipoki Rua; Warwick Paul.

Tags: Henieken Cup, Irish Rugby betting, Rugby Union Betting, Ulster, USA Eagles