Kiwis set to monster Munster 'B'
Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:17
New Zealand are likely to face a very depleted Munster team on their year-end tour to Hong Kong and Europe, after the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) on Monday ruled against the province using any of its internationals for the game.
The match commemorates the Irish province's most famous win against the All Blacks 30 years ago, when New Zealand were beaten 12-0 after two dropped goals and a conversion of Chris Cantillon's try by Tony Ward.
Munster, who will likely feature Kiwis Doug Howlett and Rua Tipoki against the All Blacks, are the only Irish team to have ever beaten the All Blacks – a victory that has inspired a play and at least one book.
However, on Monday the IRFU move to clarify its position regarding the availability of Ireland squad players for the game at Thomond Park on November 18.
"Any Munster players who are involved in the Ireland match squads for the Ireland v New Zealand game on November 15 and the Ireland v Argentina game on November 22 will not be made available for selection for the Munster game," the IRFU said in a statement.
"This has been the position since the game was originally agreed with the IRFU and that decision was made bearing in mind both the importance of IRB World Ranking points available for the Ireland team this November and the physical impact on players participating in high level games in such a short space of time."
The news that the Munster players involved in the Ireland internationals would not be available for the eagerly awaited encounter will take some gloss off the fixture.
