Depleted Munster wary of speedy Cheetahs
PRO14 SPOTLIGHT: Munster, minus 24 frontline players, will face a vastly improved Cheetahs team in Bloemfontein on Sunday.
Munster's South African coach Johann van Graan admitted that his team is facing a massive challenge in their Round Eight encounter.
"We are pretty thin at this stage," Van Graan said, after arriving in South Africa, adding: "[We have] nine players with the Irish national team, 14 players injured and Billy Holland did not travel to South Africa due to personal reasons.
"Despite not having 24 guys not available, it is very exciting for us to come to South Africa with a very young squad."
The Cheetahs, still at the bottom Conference A, will be playing in their third game in eight days.
However, they are coming off two impressive wins - having beaten the 21-10 in Bloemfontein last Saturday and followed that up with a comprehensive 36-5 demolition of the SWD Eagles in a Currie Cup promotion-relegation match in Bloemfontein this past Tuesday.
"The Cheetahs have been playing very well over the last few weeks, "Van Graan said.
"It was really tough for the Cheetahs at the start of the Pro14, when they played in two competitions. It put a lot of pressure on their resources.
"They are back to one group and one coaching staff now," the Munster coach said, adding: "Just look at the way they put Cardiff Blues away last week.
"Also in the Currie Cup promotion-relegation game [earlier this week], they played most of their starters and easily put away the SWD Eagles.
"Playing them at altitude on Sunday will be a real challenge for us."
Van Graan said the Cheetahs have "real speed" out wide and possibly some of the quickest guys in the competition - which will test the visitors' defence.
The coach revealed that New Zealander Tyler Bleyendaal, back in the squad after a lengthy injury lay-off, will captain the side on Sunday.
He featured for Munster A in the Celtic Cup earlier this month, after completing his rehabilitation from neck surgery last March.
Commenting on Bleyendaal's return van Graan said: "It's brilliant to have him back. He played 30 minutes for the A team against Leinster a few weeks ago and we have been monitoring him the whole time, he is itching to go.
"He will start this weekend and he will also be the captain, something he has done before for Munster.
"It's great to have him back in a leadership role and it's great to have a quality player back who has been out for a really long time."
On the rehabilitation front, Sammy Arnold who was removed from the Glasgow game for an HIA is following the return to play protocols.
Dan Goggin has seen a specialist and will continue his rehab under the guidance of the medical department for the next number of weeks, while Tommy O'Donnell and Rhys Marshall are being treated for respective medium-term ankle and hamstring injuries.
The following players are progressing with rehabilitation: Jaco Taute (knee), Stephen Fitzgerald (foot), Liam O'Connor (knee), Conor Oliver (toe), Jack O'Donoghue (knee), Dave O' Callaghan (foot), Conor Murray (neck), James Hart (knee), Chris Farrell (knee), Ronan O'Mahony (ankle), Calvin Nash (ankle).
Munster squad: James Cronin, Jeremy Loughman, Ciaran Parker, John Ryan, Stephen Archer, Kevin O'Byrne, Mike Sherry, Darren O'Shea, Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley, Sean O'Connor, Arno Botha, Chris Cloete, Gavin Coombes, Neil Cronin, Alby Mathewson, Duncan Williams, Tyler Bleyendaal, JJ Hanrahan, Bill Johnston, Ian Keatley, Sammy Arnold, Shane Daly, Rory Scannell, Alex Wootton, Liam Coombes, Mike Haley.