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Munster go in search of revenge over Toulouse

Munster go in search of revenge over Toulouse
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Munster head coach Graeme Rowntree will name his team to face Toulouse this lunchtime.

The Red Army host the French side in Thomond Park on Sunday for the opening round of the Heineken Champions Cup having faced each other last season in the same competition.

Extra time and penalty kicks were needed to separate the sides at the Aviva Stadium back in May with 24 points each on the board at the full-time whistle.

In the cruelest circumstances (or fairest, depending on how you look at it) three kickers were put forward from each side to decide the tie. Ben Healy, Conor Murray and Joey Carbery stood at the kicking tee with Healy missing both and Murray missing one of his kicks. The French side meanwhile landed four of their six kicks thanks to Antoine Dupont (two), Thomas Ramos and Romain Ntamack.

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The result marked another quarter-final exit from Europe for Munster, and also heralded the end of Johan Van Graan's tenure as head coach.

Since then, Rowntree has taken up the mantle but the province have struggled for form in the league so far where they sit just inside the top ten. With nine games played in the United Rugby Championship Munster have only won four outings. Surprising losses to Cardiff and Dragons made for worrying watching in the opening two weeks but big wins have been notched since then. A massive 31-17 win over last year's runners-up the Bulls at Thomond Park was somewhat of a statement win for the province.

In the last two weeks, Rowntree's side has managed back-to-back wins for the first time when they beat Connacht and Edinburgh.

These next two weeks though will prove pivotal. Toulouse top the French league and they continue to be one of the tournament favorites owing to their history in the competition. This is the acid test that will show whether or not real improvements have been made since the season began.

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There will be little time for rest once the battle of Thomond Park is over as they have a tight seven-day turnaround until the trip to Northampton.

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