Munster boss Penney wary of Edinburgh

Edinburgh RUGBY have been warned not to expect to catch Munster off guard when the two losing teams on the opening weekend of Heineken European Cup pool one action clash in Limerick on Sunday.

The Capital outfit’s task is to make history by winning on Irish soil for the first time in the competition – they have had draws in Ulster and Leinster – and may feel Munster might underestimate their resolve after a 45-0 thrashing by 
Saracens at Murrayfield.

But Rob Penney, Munster’s Kiwi coach, said of Edinburgh: “We are certainly being as 
diligent as we would for any one of the other games. There are two sides hurting so there could be fireworks.”

Only twice before, in 1997 and ten years later, have Munster lost two European pool games, and, counting the league they have lost three in games in a row which might explain why ticket sales for the lunchtime kick-off are slow.

That won’t concern Edinburgh as the prospect of a less hostile Thomond Park can only help them on a day when Lions backs Ronan O’Gara and Keith Earls are out injured. Paul O’Connell is also still feeling his way back to fitness as he 
returns from injury.