Munster v Ospreys Team Selection

First topic message reminder :

Munster:
01 Marcus Horan
02 Damien Varley
03 BJ Botha
04 Donncha O'Callaghan
05 Donnacha Ryan
06 Denis Leamy
07 Niall Ronan
08 Peter O'Mahony (captain)
09 Tomas O'Leary
10 Ian Keatley
11 Simon Zebo
12 Danny Barnes
13 Will Chambers
14 Doug Howlett
15 Denis Hurley

Replacements:
16 Denis Fogarty
17 Wian du Preez
18 Stephen Archer
19 Paul O'Connell
20 James Coughlan
21 Conor Murray
22 Ronan O'Gara
23 Johne Murphy

Ospreys:
01 Duncan Jones
02 Richard Hibbard
03 Aaron Jarvis
04 Ian Gough
05 Jonathan Thomas
06 Tom Smith (Capt)
07 James King
08 Joe Bearman
09 Rhys Webb
10 Matthew Morgan
11 Richard Fussell
12 Ashley Beck
13 Andew Bishop
14 Tommy Bowe
15 Barry Davies

Replacements:
16 Mefin Davies
17 Cai Griffiths
18 Joe Rees
19 George Stowers
20 Sam Lewis
21 Tom Isaacs
22 Sonny Parker
23 Hanno Dirksen

Really pleased with this selection. A great mix of front liners and backup players.

It isn't clear whether its Leamy or Coughlan who gets the nod at 8.

Oh I would say that one is pretty clear.

DOD wrote:It isn't clear whether its Leamy or Coughlan who gets the nod at 8.

Oh I would say that one is pretty clear.

No it isn't - not at all. Unless something happened against Ospreys as I didn't see the game. Leamy has impressed me in both cameos in the HEC. Coughlan is not playing as well as he has done in the past. Based on what I've seen so far this season either could be better than the other. We might have opinions but it is definitely not a clear decision.

Leamy was woeful, gave away penalties, annoyed the ref, was in one of his less controlled moods and didnt help POM or Ronan. Once Coughlan came on and POM moved to 6 the change in control was palpable. Coughlan hasnt been playing well but someone mentioned an illness but he is a better option than Leamy at 8 (and more effective than POM).

You've seen my proposed second and backrow selections. I have Coughlan starting. Just its a narrow margin IMO.

Leamy played very well for last 20 minutes of both games recently. However when he starts as he did on Sat he was poor, particularly giving penalties away.

I would start Coughlan

My backrow would be

6. POM
7. N Ronan - has done very well in recent weeks and again was decent on Sat
8. Coughlan

I definitely think Ronan should start at 7 for you until Wallace gets back (maybe even when he gets back, with Wallace playing 6). He has been very good the past few times I have saw him. I know he is generally disliked by the majority of fans, but you cannot deny he has been good recently.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:I definitely think Ronan should start at 7 for you until Wallace gets back (maybe even when he gets back, with Wallace playing 6). He has been very good the past few times I have saw him. I know he is generally disliked by the majority of fans, but you cannot deny he has been good recently.

I can make my peace with him in the team with Wallace out but you are genuinely suggesting moving David Wallace to 6 to accommodate Niall Ronan?

I am indeed stag! He is very good at the breakdown and offers you a proper 7 at the breakdown. Wallace can play his type of game at 6 with Ronan! I know you are not a fan of Ronan, but he has been great recently! The best of your backrowers over the weekend in fact.

Wouldn't you move Ronan to 6 and have Wallace at 7? I thought 6 was Ronan's natural position.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:I am indeed stag! He is very good at the breakdown and offers you a proper 7 at the breakdown. Wallace can play his type of game at 6 with Ronan! I know you are not a fan of Ronan, but he has been great recently! The best of your backrowers over the weekend in fact.

Sweet Jesus.

Ronans natural position is #19

No no, Ronan is a natural 7, one of the few in Ireland. Wallace can play all 3 backrow positions, and be fantastic no matter which one he plays.

red_stag wrote:Ronans natural position is #19

Whatever you're taking it must be pretty good!

Guys, you may not like him but I am just calling it as I see it. I know he has had some abysmal games, but over the weekend he turned over ball consistently, without giving away penalties. He was a great asset to your team. Leamy/POM gave away a number of penalties between them. Leamy did not play well over the weekend, and POM was not up to his usual standard. I don't think he is ready to captain just yet.

He did play well at the weekend but there is no way Wally moves to 6 or 8 for Niall Ronan. Wally is not that great in the other backrow slots.

I definitely have to disagree about Wallace not playing great in the other backrow positions. Munster supporters have said before that his best position is 8 infact! I have not seen him play there myself though. I think he can play all 3 positions and be just as influential. He is not a "natural" 7, but he is such a good player that you can play him at 6, 7, or 8. Similar to O'Brien now.

But Rory you seem to simply look at one or two games and make these massive sweeping statements.

You talk about how great POM is at 8. He plays at 8 and isn't upto his usual standard.

Wallace does very well for years and years and years at 7. Then we should move him to 6 (where POM is playing really well) to accommodate him.

Ronan is inconsistent. I've no doubt he did well against a depleted Ospreys team but he's fallen short so many times and that can't be ignored.

Who has said that? He hasn't played the other positions since around the Lions tour I think. I personally thought he wasn't playing as well as he can at 8.

red_stag wrote:But Rory you seem to simply look at one or two games and make these massive sweeping statements.

You talk about how great POM is at 8. He plays at 8 and isn't upto his usual standard.

Wallace does very well for years and years and years at 7. Then we should move him to 6 (where POM is playing really well) to accommodate him.

Ronan is inconsistent. I've no doubt he did well against a depleted Ospreys team but he's fallen short so many times and that can't be ignored.

I have watched all Munster games this season thanks to RTE, I am basing it over the course of the season.

POM's best match to date has been at 8. His worst has been at 7 from what I saw, where he wasn't as effective. His downfall over the weekend was his temperament and I think having the captaincy was a burden he didn't need. At 7 he would have made the same mistakes at the breakdown. I believe he is best at either 6 or 8, and that he is not a 7, and still do. That is from what I have seen up until now!

Ronan is inconsistent yes, but over the past few games he has started he has been an asset to the munster team. I realise he is a hard player to like for you, as he has had some shocking games in the past and for Ireland in the warm ups, but if he is starting to possibly find consistency, and he has added to this Munster side, then he should be rewarded with starts. If he continues, I believe Wallace should play 6 where he can still play his type of game.

Thomond wrote:Who has said that? He hasn't played the other positions since around the Lions tour I think. I personally thought he wasn't playing as well as he can at 8.

As a lurker on the old 606 I remember seeing this debated a few times about Wallace and his best position. Many people suggested it was at 8.

Anyway back in the real world and what will work for Munster..

Our most effective 8 is Coughlan, I would still like to see Leamy, POM and Coughlan. As Bluemuff said Ronan hasnt done to bad although, Leamy and Ronan were a bit like headless chickens last Sat and POM was not as effective as he can be. We played a lot better with Coughlan at the base of the scrum.

Coughlan at 8 = Yes

DOD wrote:Anyway back in the real world and what will work for Munster..

Our most effective 8 is Coughlan, I would still like to see Leamy, POM and Coughlan. As Bluemuff said Ronan hasnt done to bad although, Leamy and Ronan were a bit like headless chickens last Sat and POM was not as effective as he can be. We played a lot better with Coughlan at the base of the scrum.

Agree about Leamy but what did Ronan do that made him appear as a "headless chicken"? He didn't give away any penalties and affected a few turnovers and was a real scavenger. POM/Leamy both gave too many penalties away.

Coughlan hasn't been great this season stag.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Coughlan hasn't been great this season stag.

No he hasn't. I was only saying as much to DOD earlier that IMO its a fine line between himself and Leamy but that he is narrowly in the lead.

I won't have a major problem with POM, Coughlan, Ronan against Scarlets but feel there are better options available.

When does Wallace return?

Rory_Gallagher wrote:When does Wallace return?

Not soon enough. I believe its end of Feb or start of March.

That long? Damn..

In that case, up until then you should play the backrow you had over the weekend. Maybe swap in Coughlan for Leamy.

Look fact of the matter is Wally is 34 or 35. Not going to get to much more from him. Ronan has been progressing well and is now hitting a good run of form. I was never a fan of his but you cant just stick to your opinions based on past performances. Be intersesting to see the stats on turnovers he has been responsible for in the last 5 matches

BlueMuff wrote:Look fact of the matter is Wally is 34 or 35. Not going to get to much more from him. Ronan has been progressing well and is now hitting a good run of form. I was never a fan of his but you cant just stick to your opinions based on past performances. Be intersesting to see the stats on turnovers he has been responsible for in the last 5 matches

Agree with this

I just like to have a player I dislike in my team. It used to be Tony Buckley, before that it was Marcus Horan and it was Anthony Horgan before that. Niall Ronan is in good company.

Was watching the breakdown the other day and Neil Francis ( i know, i know) was saying O' Leary was looking for a move away possibly to the top 14. Anyone heard anything about that or is just some of his usual anti munster bias?

There were reports in the paper of a possible move but I think its speculation given his contract is up next summer. Either journalists making things up or possibly his agent leaking stuff. who knows.

Thanks DOD cant imagine Munster would want him leaving considering stringer cant have long left. Apparently all IRFU contracts are been cut by 20-30% though so we might see more players leaving in the future

red_stag wrote:I just like to have a player I dislike in my team. It used to be Tony Buckley, before that it was Marcus Horan and it was Anthony Horgan before that. Niall Ronan is in good company.

It is justified Stag, I have seen him play some horrendous games. However now, he is doing a great job at 7 securing and competing for ball at the breakdown. Until he reverts back to his previous form, he should keep his place.

Golden wrote:Thanks DOD cant imagine Munster would want him leaving considering stringer cant have long left. Apparently all IRFU contracts are been cut by 20-30% though so we might see more players leaving in the future

Quite possible he would do it if he doesnt make the Irish squad for the six nations I think it might be worth it for him to try to get a big money contract in France. He is only 28 and has got a good 3-4 years of top level rugby in him.

When does Felix Jones come back from injury? I am impatiently awaiting his return.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:When does Felix Jones come back from injury? I am impatiently awaiting his return.

+1. And can we have Earls back as well. And also replace Holland as backs coach. That is my wishlist for Christmas

Yeah Dutchy hasnt really delivered.

Gaffney is available isn't he? He did wonders for Ireland!