Sherratt calls for Cardiff best against Munster

BBC News

24-04-2025

United Rugby Championship: Cardiff v MunsterVenue: Arms Park, Cardiff Date: Friday, 25 April Kick off: 19:35 BSTCoverage: Scrum V Live, BBC Two Wales, iPlayer and BBC Sport website and app. Highlights on the BBC Sport website and app.
Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt says his side need their most complete performance of the season to defeat United Rugby Championship (URC) play-off rivals Munster on Friday night.Cardiff host the Irish province in their final home match of the season at the Arms Park.Sherratt's side are in contention for a top-eight spot despite the shock news earlier this month Cardiff had been placed into temporary administration before being taken over by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU)."Friday night has to be our best performance this season and I have said this to the players," said Sherratt."It's a game with a lot riding on it, in a league that's incredibly tight and against a brilliant team full of internationals, with massive history."
Fond farewells
Cardiff will also bid farewell to some players who will be playing their final game at the Arms Park before moving on.Thomas Young, Tinus de Beer and Seb Davies are heading to Dragons, while there are doubts over the future of number eight Taulupe Faletau.Sherratt has also been linked with a permanent move to the Wales coaching set-up, although he said earlier this week it would take a lot to make him leave Cardiff."I think that always adds a little bit of extra emotion in terms of it's the last time the fans get to see the players close up for a couple of months," said Sherratt."It's probably some players' last game together as well. For every reason being the last game and some boys last game is huge."
How they stand
Cardiff and Munster both go into round 16 of league fixtures occupying one of the top-eight play-off berths with just four points covering seven teams from fifth to 11th.The Welsh side are sixth on 41 points, while their visitors are one place and one point below them."Munster are a good team, and them being a point behind us in the table as well has probably sharpened their senses in terms of having something to play for," said Sherratt.Munster have lost three of their last four league matches but have won three of their last four away games in URC.The Irish side have also won their last 10 matches against Welsh regions, while their only loss in their last eight encounters with Cardiff was a 20-13 defeat on their most recent visit to the Arms Park in September 2022.Cardiff have won two of their last three URC matches and have lost only one of their last five league home games.
How they line-up
Cardiff have made three changes to the side that defeated Ospreys with prop Danny Southworth, lock Josh McNally and flanker Thomas Young coming in for Corey Domachowski, Ben Donnell and Alex Mann.Domachowski and Donnell drop to the replacements bench, while Mann, who scored two tries against Ospreys, is not included in the 23-man squad. Munster have made seven changes to the side that lost to Bulls at Thomond Park last week.Michael Milne will make his debut with Mike Haley, Calvin Nash, Craig Casey and Gavin Coombes all returning from injury or illness.Veteran flanker Peter O'Mahony is again missing as he recovers from a tight hamstring, while Tom Ahern, Stephen Archer, Conor Murray, Josh Wycherley and John Hodnett are also unavailable.Cardiff: Cam Winnett; Josh Adams, Harri Millard, Ben Thomas, Gabriel Hamer-Webb; Callum Sheedy, Johan Mulder; Danny Southworth, Liam Belcher (capt), Keiron Assiratti, Josh McNally, Teddy Williams, James Botham, Thomas Young, Taulupe Faletau.Replacements: Evan Lloyd, Corey Domachowski, Rhys Litterick, Rory Thornton, Alun Lawrence, Ben Donnell, Aled Davies, Tinus de Beer.Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Thaakir Abrahams; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Michael Milne, Niall Scannell, John Ryan, Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (capt), Jack O'Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes.Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Mark Donnelly, Ronan Foxe, Jean Kleyn, Ruadhán Quinn, Paddy Patterson, Tony Butler, Seán O'Brien.Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)Assistant referees: Mike English & Aaron Parry (WRU)TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR).