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OPPOSITION
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Limerick flyer Keith Earls returned to Munster in November after Ireland’s
World Cup campaign, where he started in all representative games. Playing
on the wing and in the centre the 28-year-old was in scintillating form and
went on to become Ireland’s leading World Cup try scorer with eight tries
between 2011 and 2015.
A Munster Rugby academy graduate, Earls is playing in his 10th season
with the province and has made 116 appearances since making his debut
against Ospreys in April 2007. The utility back went on to make his European
debut against Montauban in October 2008 in Thomond Park.
A former Ireland Schools and Ireland U20s Grand Slam winner, he made
his Ireland debut, and scored a try, against Canada in Thomond Park
in November 2008. Later that season he went on to win a league medal
with Munster, before joining the Lions tour to South Africa as the youngest
travelling member at 21 years of age, in 2009.
Earls was part of the Munster team that historically beat Australia 15–6 in
November 2010 in Thomond Park and he also helped Munster to victory in
the 2011 league final, scoring a try against Leinster.
Side-lined for 21 months, Sherry returned to Munster action after an
extended period of rehabilitation and recovery due to injuries that
ruled him out until the start of season 2015/16.
The hooker has made 78 appearance for the province and this season
has played in seven games, scoring three tries.
The 27-year-old made his debut against Connacht in December 2009
as an academy player and after two years in the academy programme
secured a senior contract at the start of the 2011/12 season.
He made his European Cup debut in January 2011 against Toulon at
Stade Mayol and was drafted into the Ireland World Cup squad in 2011
as an injury call up and went on to make his debut against USA on the
summer tour of 2013.
South African back-row CJ Stander joined Munster at the start of the
2013/14 season. With 70 caps to-date he has been involved in the first
ten rounds of the season, scoring four tries.
In the absence of squad captain Peter O’Mahony the 25-year-old
captained Munster for the first time in the PRO12 in September,
leading the side out against Treviso in Irish Independent Park where
he picked up his first man of the match award of the season.
Last season’s impressive run with the province saw him deservedly
claim seven man of the match awards and score nine tries in 26
appearances. He went on to become the first ever overseas player to
be awarded Munster Rugby Player of the Year at the annual awards in
May 2015.
* Player stats pre EPCR round 4
MIKE SHERRY
KEITH EARLS
CJ STANDER