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Rugby

Cian Tracey: "There's no doubt that Munster are in a really good place"

Cian Tracey joined Off the Ball's Saturday Panel to look ahead to Munster's clash with Racing 92 ...



Cian Tracey: "There's...
Rugby

Cian Tracey: "There's no doubt that Munster are in a really good place"

Cian Tracey joined Off the Ball's Saturday Panel to look ahead to Munster's clash with Racing 92 in Bordeaux in the Champions Cup semi-final on Sunday. 

The southern province head into the match having returned from their mini-tour of South Africa with two wins and Tracey believes they are ready to compete at the business end of the season.

"There's no doubt that Munster are in a really good place. I think everyone wondered before they went to South Africa would it be beneficial, would it not be? But, so far, you would have to say it has been," he told Nathan.

"Obviously it will be a different story if they don't win tomorrow but in terms of even just getting away, getting that group even closer - they had two cracking wins, particularly against the Cheetahs.

"They have in Conor Murray, the form player in world rugby arguably right now and there are chinks in this Racing side's armour. It helps that they've played them twice this season. 

"Strangely I think if they were going to play Toulon now - it's more into the unknown and it'd be a bit more nervy. They know what Racing are about. They should have beaten them in Paris, they beat them in Thomond Park.

"I think they'll probably target Chavancy and Vakatawa. Vakatawa plays on the wing for France and defensively - he can be a liability. 

"Munster are missing some big guys in Chris Farrell and Jaco Taute but Sam Arnold and Rory Scannell, who is so underrated, was outstanding against Toulon, against Bastareaud and Nonu who, for me, are a better centre pairing than Chavancy and Vakatawa. 

"So, they're going to be up against it and they're favourites but you wouldn't back against them," he added. 

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