As is always the case with the European Champions Cup, round six of the pool stages brings with it a whole host of tantalising match-ups as qualification reaches its conclusion. Tonight’s fixture between Edinburgh and Montpellier promises to be a belter and Glasgow Warriors’ trip to Saracens offers plenty of intrigue, but Munster’s battle against English side Exeter is our game of the week. What’s at stake There is an argument to be made that Pool Two of the Champions Cup has been the most competitive, with all of the four sides having won at least two games. Now we are at round six though it is only Munster and Exeter who remain with a shot at qualification and Saturday’s tea-time clash will decide who tops the group. The Irish province have the advantage, sitting top on 17 points, four ahead of Exeter. The Chiefs though will clinch the pool if they can win and prevent Munster earning a bonus point – not an easy thing to do at Thomond Park. Form so far Exeter have won two of their five pool matches so far, against Gloucester at Kingsholm and at home to Castres last weekend. That match against Castres could not have provided a much better warm-up for this fixture, with six different try-scorers going over in the 34-12 victory. Whatever Exeter can do though Munster can match, and perhaps more impressively as they won 41-15 on the road at Gloucester last weekend. Here is your Munster team to face Exeter Chiefs at Thomond Park in the Champions Cup tomorrow (5.30pm).Full details > > https://t.co/M4wMv4bCdD#MUNvEXE #SUAF 🔴 pic.twitter.com/pOOuamR8fu— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) January 18, 2019 Joey Carbery notched up 26 points with the help of two tries, with Rory Scannell, Keith Earls and Andrew Conway also going over and CJ Stander rampaging at will. Last meeting In a monstrous clash which contributes to the excitement around their meeting on Saturday, Munster and Exeter last met in October in a thrilling 10-10 draw. The English side are famed for dominating possession at Sandy Park but the Irish province proved insurmountable, with both packs of forwards thundering into each other for 80 minutes. England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie went over early for Exeter but Stander replied in the second half, with the hosts unable to gain any points from a gruelling final assault before the whistle. What they said: Munster head coach Johann van Graan: “I believe they will come over the same as any other top team does all around the world, they’ll back themselves to come away with a win. “They’ll stick to what they do well. Very good kicking game at nine and ten, fantastic centres in terms of their work rate and two wings that cause us havoc, add that to Jack Nowell at 15 too. “I’m under no illusions to what awaits us on Saturday afternoon. I think the same as the previous time we went down to Sandy Park, I think it will be a titanic battle, it might come down to the last play of the game like it did the previous time.” Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter: “Undoubtedly, if we were to win and get through to the quarter-finals, it would probably rank as our best moment in the competition so far. “That’s not to say we haven’t won some big games in the past, both home and away.”
