Munster v Leinster

First topic message reminder :

Here we go again.

Travelling in hope but not expectation. Would be great to win this one, but I would settle for a LBP and no (more) injuries.

Apparently there is hope on Mike Ross and Jamie Hagan. No word on White. They usually release an injury update on Mondays at lunchtime.

Don't fancy facing DuPreeyahhh and Botha with Jack McGrath at th. It was a credit to him as a first year LOOSE head prop that he did not get injured in those scrums against some serious experience and power

Munster were always favourites Gibson......... thats why we'll beat them....

Talking about Strings and Sarries (this was posted on munsterfans):

Sarries tv have a really nice tribute to Strings from Sarries. Mark McCall says that if "Carlsberg did loans deals, strings would be it.

http://www.saracens.com/sarriestv/?Referer=&FolderId=&Id=&Section=All&PageLength=10&Desc=&CurrentPage=2

Its Page 2, Reaction: Saracens 18 Northampton 12. (Not Coach's Cut or Team's Up).

The first minute or so on the video and then there is an interview about strings with mark mccall at about the 5 minute mark.

Strings is built like a Poopie brickhouse and Mark McCall comes across very well and he seems to be doing a really good job there.

Next Ireland coach perhaps?

Thats brilliant SIN. He is a class act. Wish he was in his 20's.

Off to Newcastle for a bit now... Must be stashing a few bob.

Gibson wrote:Thats brilliant SIN. He is a class act. Wish he was in his 20's.

Off to Newcastle for a bit now... Must be stashing a few bob.

Yeah cos you wouldnt have lots of people saying he hasnt got a break or isnt physical enough etc etc. Seems to be doing fine in the big bad world of the Premiership...

DOD wrote:

Gibson wrote:Thats brilliant SIN. He is a class act. Wish he was in his 20's.

Off to Newcastle for a bit now... Must be stashing a few bob.

Yeah cos you wouldnt have lots of people saying he hasnt got a break or isnt physical enough etc etc. Seems to be doing fine in the big bad world of the Premiership...

He was always pound for pound the strongest man in Irish Rugby. He can do 50 press ups on his little finger (and probably his mickey)

As for a break. He does one every 5 or 6 years. Ask Serge Betsen.

Thats because everyone except Kidney appreciates that a scrumhalf needs to be able to pass the ball and deliver quick service.... except maybe London Irish that is .

The modern game is perfect for Stringer and hes been discarded too soon.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

DOD wrote:

Gibson wrote:Thats brilliant SIN. He is a class act. Wish he was in his 20's.

Off to Newcastle for a bit now... Must be stashing a few bob.

Yeah cos you wouldnt have lots of people saying he hasnt got a break or isnt physical enough etc etc. Seems to be doing fine in the big bad world of the Premiership...

He was always pound for pound the strongest man in Irish Rugby. He can do 50 press ups on his little finger (and probably his mickey)

As for a break. He does one every 5 or 6 years. Ask Serge Betsen.

Sireli Bobo no?

Mickado wrote:
Sireli Bobo no?

HC Final 06. Most famous break. No winger for Biarritz. Betsen caught flat footed.

roddersm wrote:Thats because everyone except Kidney appreciates that a scrumhalf needs to be able to pass the ball and deliver quick service.... except maybe London Irish that is .

The modern game is perfect for Stringer and hes been discarded too soon.

I dont think he has. He had plenty of chances in the last 3 years in the Magners and was poor in most games he played. Thats why he was dropped.

Theres a bit of a romantic idea going around about him cause he was so good for many years but he didnt deliver when he was given chances. Maybe he has regained his focus again though so lets hope he takes his chances when they arise this time.

On a different matter this weeks game is a bit of a distraction. Its all about next weeks match against Ulster. Cant wait.

No I agree BlueMuff, Strings had a few chances in recent seasons and didn't perform, however if he is playing well then he should be considered because he still has a skill set that is very valuable.

I just think this obsession with physicality at SH that Kidney has is outdated since the law changes in 2010.

Physicality is still an important requirement but its the speed and quality of delivery which is far more important now and getting quick ball away from the rucks. Flanker type SHs who bludgen around the fringes are no use now if they can't get the quick ball away when needed.

Stringers game which became a bit outdated a few seasons ago is now back in vogue with the interpretation changes favouring the attacking team.

Rodders I'm not sure that it is an "obsession". I actually think its a bit silly to say. Kidney is limited to basically O'Leary, Reddan, Boss and Murray. He simply plays the hand he is dealt.

I dont understand how you can say he has an "obsession" especially when you consider that he was Peter Stringers underage coach and started him for half a dozen years.

Personally I think Stringer still has a lot to give, in 09 the game didn't suit him, it does now for sure, I can remember a while ago (a few years) a few of us were crying out for a pairing of

stringer-sexton-wallace

I still think that that would have got the most out of our outside backs.

I was very disappointed to see TOL put in ahead of Stringer and Marshall who represent either experience but suit the modern game or youth with an attacking flair.

It is testement to Philips that he still starts for Wales, there are very few other big scrumhalves anymore. I still believe guys like Genia and Yachvilli reign supreme

Stringer lost a lot after the 2007 World Cup. He got blamed for a lot too. Stringer is a more-than-meets-the-eye topic and perhaps a more-sinned-against-than-sinning player.

Strange topic - Stringer.

What ever about what's happened in the past, or who should be playing and all that - Stringer can teach Conor Murray a massive amount when he returns next season.

I see Murray making huge strides as a result. You just can't buy the kind of experience that a guy like Stringer brings.

It's an oft overused phrase (though not by me) but Stringer is a legend.

red_stag wrote:Rodders I'm not sure that it is an "obsession". I actually think its a bit silly to say. Kidney is limited to basically O'Leary, Reddan, Boss and Murray. He simply plays the hand he is dealt.

I dont understand how you can say he has an "obsession" especially when you consider that he was Peter Stringers underage coach and started him for half a dozen years.

Stag as soon as O'Leary came on the scene he was the clear 1st choice of Kidney. Perfectly suited to Munster and Ireland defense orientated pre 2010 gameplan. However a fish out of water when the IRB changed the interprations.

Reddan,Stringer and even Boss who are all much more suited to the fast paced attacking modern game haven't been favoured and then along comes Murray who has the full skill set and hes now playing just like TOL.

Kidney seems to believe Ireland can bludgeon and defend their way to success and his choice of 9 reflects that.

MMC wrote:What ever about what's happened in the past, or who should be playing and all that - Stringer can teach Conor Murray a massive amount when he returns next season.

I see Murray making huge strides as a result. You just can't buy the kind of experience that a guy like Stringer brings.

It's an oft overused phrase (though not by me) but Stringer is a legend.

+1
Completely agree

Have the teams been named yet? Should be interesting who gets picked, will go a long way to see who is in the frame for the HC start.

What time is this on by the way? Is it on RTE?

Hopefully these two knock a few lumps out of each other and Munster are softened up nicely for next week.....

roddersm wrote:What time is this on by the way? Is it on RTE?

Hopefully these two knock a few lumps out of each other and Munster are softened up nicely for next week.....

You really dont get it do you

We want them to know a few lumps off us so we are battle hardened following a ERC standard match while you lot practice training moves against Aironi.

red_stag wrote:

roddersm wrote:What time is this on by the way? Is it on RTE?

Hopefully these two knock a few lumps out of each other and Munster are softened up nicely for next week.....

You really dont get it do you

We want them to know a few lumps off us so we are battle hardened following a ERC standard match while you lot practice training moves against Aironi.

Yeah...any side with serious intentions about HC know that the inevitable can't be delayed any longer. From here on in the intensity has to rise, the impacts have to be harder, the running stronger, the intent much more beligerent.

This is when the serious sides will seriously test each other.... the smokescreens are done with now. Show your hand, and what have you really got under the bonnet.

roddersm wrote:

red_stag wrote:Rodders I'm not sure that it is an "obsession". I actually think its a bit silly to say. Kidney is limited to basically O'Leary, Reddan, Boss and Murray. He simply plays the hand he is dealt.

I dont understand how you can say he has an "obsession" especially when you consider that he was Peter Stringers underage coach and started him for half a dozen years.

Stag as soon as O'Leary came on the scene he was the clear 1st choice of Kidney. Perfectly suited to Munster and Ireland defense orientated pre 2010 gameplan. However a fish out of water when the IRB changed the interprations.

Reddan,Stringer and even Boss who are all much more suited to the fast paced attacking modern game haven't been favoured and then along comes Murray who has the full skill set and hes now playing just like TOL.

Kidney seems to believe Ireland can bludgeon and defend their way to success and his choice of 9 reflects that.

Jebus wept...TOL was put in to increase our attacking options because it was felt Stringer at the time was not tying in the backrow. He increased our attacking capabilities at the time.

The problem for TOL is that he hasnt been able to regain the form he had in 08/09 consistently.

red_stag wrote:

roddersm wrote:What time is this on by the way? Is it on RTE?

Hopefully these two knock a few lumps out of each other and Munster are softened up nicely for next week.....

You really dont get it do you

We want them to know a few lumps off us so we are battle hardened following a ERC standard match while you lot practice training moves against Aironi.

He's right ya know. This game is a yearly set up, between us and our Munster friends. A game, in which the timing is perfectly planned, to get us both ready for the huge step-up in the intensity levels required for HC knockout rugby. It really is a fix and not many people (outside of Munster & Leinster) seem to kop that coincidence.

Shussssh.

Gibbo's right. It's a total fix.

It's great.

Whoa lads, I love Stringer and yes he still has the best pass in Irish rugby, but the romance of those tap tackles aside, the 'modern' game is most assuradly not for Stringer anymore at Int level. A demonstration of this is Richie Grey's try versus Ireland. He literally ran over Reddan, a superior defensive operator when compared to Strings. Murray and TOL would have made that tackle or been castigated if they didn't, and rightly so. All the speed of pass in world will count for nothing when you dont have the ball.

This is NOT a defence of TOL btw, merely stating one area of the game of his that isnt complete cack at the moment. And credit where it is due, the break for one of Munster's tries v Connachtt by TOL was good to see and well executed by him and the team as a whole.

Still not sorry that he is branching out and I for his and LI's sake that he rediscover's that 2008-2009 pre injury form, law changes aside, he was playing lovely football at that time and read things well.

debaters1 wrote:Whoa lads, I love Stringer and yes he still has the best pass in Irish rugby, but the romance of those tap tackles aside, the 'modern' game is most assuradly not for Stringer anymore at Int level. A demonstration of this is Richie Grey's try versus Ireland. He literally ran over Reddan, a superior defensive operator when compared to Strings. Murray and TOL would have made that tackle or been castigated if they didn't, and rightly so. All the speed of pass in world will count for nothing when you dont have the ball.

This is NOT a defence of TOL btw, merely stating one area of the game of his that isnt complete cack at the moment. And credit where it is due, the break for one of Munster's tries v Connachtt by TOL was good to see and well executed by him and the team as a whole.

Still not sorry that he is branching out and I for his and LI's sake that he rediscover's that 2008-2009 pre injury form, law changes aside, he was playing lovely football at that time and read things well.

Hold on there debaters...this is no place for a logical and reasoned arguement....

Debaters, stop bringing logic to some good old fashioned reminisent dreaming

Dammitt DOD, you beat me to it

Munster:
15. Jones
14. Murphy
13. Earls
12. Mafi
11. Zebo
10. ROG (c)
9. O'Leary

1. Horan
2. Varley
3. Botha
4. DO’C
5. O'Driscoll
6. Dave O'Callaghan
7. O' Mahony
8. Coughlan

Replacements: M Sherry, W du Preez, S Archer; B Holland, T O’Donnell, D Williams, I Keatley, D Barnes

Hurley must be injured. I think they've given up on Wallace being back to full fitness for the 1/4 final (a wise decision IMO).

Huge moment for Dave O'Callaghan. Delighted with that backrow.

Where the hell is David Wallace?

TOL would be brilliant. IF he was a SH. Which he's not. Another one of Deccie's experiments gone badly wrong. Lets be honest here.

Lets hope Murray is steered in the right direction. He has the right stuff.

Thats a decent side. Still think Munster by 5

LEINSTER:

15: Rob Kearney
14: Isa Nacewa
13: Brian O'Driscoll
12: Gordon D'Arcy
11: Luke Fitzgerald
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Eoin Reddan

1: Heinke van der Merwe
2: Sean Cronin
3: Mike Ross
4: Brad Thorn
5: Devin Toner
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Shane Jennings
8: Jamie Heaslip CAPTAIN

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Richardt Strauss
17: Cian Healy
18: Jamie Hagan
19: Leo Cullen
20: Sean O'Brien
21: Isaac Boss
22: Ian Madigan
23: Fergus McFadden

MMC wrote:Munster:
15. Jones
14. Murphy
13. Earls
12. Mafi
11. Zebo
10. ROG (c)
9. O'Leary

1. Horan
2. Varley
3. Botha
4. DO’C
5. O'Driscoll
6. Dave O'Callaghan
7. O' Mahony
8. Coughlan

Replacements: M Sherry, W du Preez, S Archer; B Holland, T O’Donnell, D Williams, I Keatley, D Barnes

Hurley must be injured. I think they've given up on Wallace being back to full fitness for the 1/2 final (a wise decision IMO).

Huge moment for Dave O'Callaghan. Delighted with that backrow.

Great backline. Excellent front-row. Its going to be a long day at the Oriface... But our backrow should muller that one.

Never even heard of DOC2. Is he any good?

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:LEINSTER:

15: Rob Kearney
14: Isa Nacewa
13: Brian O'Driscoll
12: Gordon D'Arcy
11: Luke Fitzgerald
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Eoin Reddan

1: Heinke van der Merwe
2: Sean Cronin
3: Mike Ross
4: Brad Thorn
5: Devin Toner
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Shane Jennings
8: Jamie Heaslip CAPTAIN

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Richardt Strauss
17: Cian Healy
18: Jamie Hagan
19: Leo Cullen
20: Sean O'Brien
21: Isaac Boss
22: Ian Madigan
23: Fergus McFadden

Sweet Mother of Divine... its all coming together at the right time. Good man Joe.

Leinster by 15.

Who let that D'arcy lad in at 12? Wasn't he sent to Skull island as punishment for being a bad man?

I have to say that to keep up appearances for my International critic persona.

If only Leinster had won last week, i would have been so nervous.

Gibson wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:LEINSTER:

15: Rob Kearney
14: Isa Nacewa
13: Brian O'Driscoll
12: Gordon D'Arcy
11: Luke Fitzgerald
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Eoin Reddan

1: Heinke van der Merwe
2: Sean Cronin
3: Mike Ross
4: Brad Thorn
5: Devin Toner
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Shane Jennings
8: Jamie Heaslip CAPTAIN

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Richardt Strauss
17: Cian Healy
18: Jamie Hagan
19: Leo Cullen
20: Sean O'Brien
21: Isaac Boss
22: Ian Madigan
23: Fergus McFadden

Sweet Mother of Divine... its all coming together at the right time. Good man Joe.

Leinster by 15.

Will you ever get off the fence Gibbo?

That's a scary looking Leinster team in fairness. Better than the Munster team on paper. But matches are won on grass, and this grass is located in Thomond Park.

I wouldn't underestimate the Munster backrow. DOC2 has been excellent for Munster every time he's played this season. Of the Irish backrow, Peter O'Mahony was outshone only by Ferris in the 6 Nations. Coughlan is definitely the form No.8 of the two named.

Munster by 6.

So, they are making the non-Tweeting Heaslip, Captain? Time to grow up Jamie. Good call.

Darcy? Ah well he is twice as good (not saying much) with his bud BOD alongside him. Sooo.

That bench, makes me smile an-inner-smile of inner-smugness.

Mclauglin and Jennings are no hopers and Heaslip is off form. Sexton will be all huff and puff and the only thing he seems to aim accurately in kicks out of hand are if they are at Mafi's head.

Who's job is it to help Brad around the pitch....although with BOD on its like the geriatrics association...

MMC wrote:

Gibson wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:LEINSTER:

15: Rob Kearney
14: Isa Nacewa
13: Brian O'Driscoll
12: Gordon D'Arcy
11: Luke Fitzgerald
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Eoin Reddan

1: Heinke van der Merwe
2: Sean Cronin
3: Mike Ross
4: Brad Thorn
5: Devin Toner
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Shane Jennings
8: Jamie Heaslip CAPTAIN

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Richardt Strauss
17: Cian Healy
18: Jamie Hagan
19: Leo Cullen
20: Sean O'Brien
21: Isaac Boss
22: Ian Madigan
23: Fergus McFadden

Sweet Mother of Divine... its all coming together at the right time. Good man Joe.

Leinster by 15.

Will you ever get off the fence Gibbo?

That's a scary looking Leinster team in fairness. Better than the Munster team on paper. But matches are won on grass, and this grass is located in Thomond Park.

I wouldn't underestimate the Munster backrow. DOC2 has been excellent for Munster every time he's played this season. Of the Irish backrow, Peter O'Mahony was outshone only by Ferris in the 6 Nations. Coughlan is definitely the form No.8 of the two named.

Munster by 6.

I know man I know. Just ratcheting it up. Munster a different beast in TP. And specially v Leinster. It will be tight. For the 1st 60 mins anyway...
I honestly believe our bench will win this one though.

Sack Joe Schmidt he continues to play favourites and pick that slow lumbering oaf Gordon Darcy.

DOD wrote:Mclauglin and Jennings are no hopers and Heaslip is off form. Sexton will be all huff and puff and the only thing he seems to aim accurately in kicks out of hand are if they are at Mafi's head.

Who's job is it to help Brad around the pitch....although with BOD on its like the geriatrics association...

Love it.

No Wally? Jenno is going to have his usual field-day and will show POM how its actually done. Be a great education for the lad. Grand.

MMC: "Matches are won on Grass."


Sublime comment of the Month.

Gibson - I think DOCv2 looks a real prospect. He is a hard working flanker, would like to see him carry more though.

Plus I really wish it was SOB at 7 against POM at 7. Would have been interesting.

I believe we should have this one now. I wasn't very confident but with that midfield and backrow of Munster as well as the two locks I feel better.

On paper we are considerably better I think, not trying for a wind up just my opinion.

Looking forward to seeing POM in action again he looks VERY good. Jones as well.

The leinster bench is just far, far superior.

Am exceptionally Pee'd off though that Darcy is back starting

Wow thats one strong looking bench!

Good to see toner and cronin starting but would have liked McFadden at 12

Pete,

Leinster are definitely a stronger team. However we are missing Donnacha Ryan, Paul O'Connell, David Wallace, Doug Howlett, Denis Leamy and Conor Murray.

Some people will say thats an excuse - its just a fact. We are playing reserve players in some positions due to injury.

Fair enough Stag

Can we get fireworks for your next post?