Munster v Ulster

First topic message reminder :

Well what a difference a few days make. Leinster stroll past Munster in Thomond, Ulster cruise past Airioni and now definitely fancy their chances on Sunday and rightly so.

My Munster team if players available would be

1. Wian Du Preez
2. Mike Sheery
3. BJ
4. DOC1
5. POC
6. DR
7. POM
8. Coughlan
9. Murray
10. ROG
11. ZEBO
12. Maifi
13. Earls
14. Hurley
15. Jones

Pretty much picks itself bar hooker and back row. Line out was just so bad that Varley has to pay the price. May not have been all his fault but Sherry has been knocking on the door and deserves a shot at this level.

DOC2 had a solid game but I think the partnership of POC and DOC should stand us well. DR to the back row.

Rodders Ulster team

15 Terblanche
14 Trimble
13 Cave
12 Wallace
11 Gilroy
10 IHumph
9 Pienaar
8 Wannenburg
6 Diack
7 Henry
5 Touhy
4 Muller
3 Afoa
2 Best
1 Court

Great result. Well done Ulster.

Now for the game of the weekend.

Hopefully Saracens can do it.

Congratulations Ulster. First half blitz paid ripe dividends in the end. There'll now be many thousands more extra fans to please for your game against Edinburgh. Not that you should let the extra pressure get to you.... but Do Not Let Us Down!

Munster really need to choose wisely now when they pick a new coach. The game is moving on and their sizeable and renowned punch needs some sweet bite to complete a picture. I wish them good luck in the search but the truth is I'm really not so certain it's the right time for Foley to have the big job

They need a guy who will completely evolve their attack and back play

So Munster out of the Heiny, who would of thought that Munster would of lost at home to Ulster.

And well played Ulster, a great win.

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:They need a guy who will completely evolve their attack and back play

Yep.... its (back play) has to be a much more seamless aspect of their overall plan.

I am actually shaking.. this is such a great result, I am speechless! COME ON ULSTER!

sadly Ulster's backs hardly got the ball - -- for Munster is Howlett injured or just too old ?

Howlett is injured.

Weirdly my raction is very quiet. I think i'm in shock!

I'm a bit "on edge" still. Can't believe what just happened.

Dave, don't think, just go out an enjoy it!

Just happy. The shout that I let out at the end of that.

What now? Get the ferry from North Wales to the semis or hold out for that train ride to London?

SUFTUM!!!

rugbydreamer wrote:Dave, don't think, just go out an enjoy it!

I'm 21 tomorrow! I cracked open the Sholer and 7UP in celebration...

Very special day in Limerick. Munster fans gentlemanly in every sense. Great weekend.

Got to say I was shocked how many random Munster fans came up to shake my hand to congratulate us on the win... Really presented Munster fans in great way!

Still on the way home and desperate to see some highlights!!

I always thought Howlett was the man who gave Munster any real inspiration or direction in the back-line (in attack) (and for how many years?)

My man of the match was Darren "The Flying Wall" Cave

sort of player Ireland could do with v those large Welsh or NZ backs - apart from the fact that he is all class

Cave was pretty immense, as he has been all season. He really is our Conrad Smith.

Well done to Ulster.

Munster came out and played a really stupid game plan. They went 19-0 down and couldn't fully recover although they turned the tide in a big big way.

I am optimistic about what Casey Laulala and JJ Hanrahan (graduating from Academy at end of season) will bring to our midfield although I do hope to see better decision making from our scrumhalves. Conor Murray has still a lot to learn and I am glad to see Stringer coming back next year.

Do you think Hanrahan is going to see a lot of game time with the starting team? I really hope so, he is one for Munster and Ireland.

Rory I think that he will. I think he will get a fair bit of game time from the bench in the Rabo next year. He is a good bench option as he covers both 10 and 12. Not playing every week but a half dozen games or so.

Although he is playing all his rugby for Munster A at centre, I have a funny feeling that he could (will) end up as our long term #10.

Well done Ulster, great win. I bet the team fancies their chances of making another final. I bet Edinburgh also fancy their chances of making that final though . What a game it could be.

Anyone know where I can find highlights online? I'm dying to watch gilroys try again!

gilroy does look like a really good player...has he been playing well all season?

Will any Leinster fans be torn by seeing your team play against the mighty Wagga?

Gilroy has been good this season, is learning defensively and scored a few tries. He hasn't got too much good ball, but is great a shovelling Poopie ball, with his dancing feet.
Hes a very good player and will get alot better over the next couple of years. Bowe will take his spot in H Cup next year, but there will be some very healthy competition for wing spots.

Aye George - Big Nutta Nate looked the biz yesterday- he wasn't played at 6 right enough!

Yesterday was possibly the most brainless display of rugby I have ever seen. First thing you're thought from a young age is you can't have forwards taking ball from the scrum half unless it's secure, 3/4 times we lost ball or slowed it down for ourselves by not protecting it. For a while, ROG has stood too deep and this means if Murray gives a quick pass, there is going to be no room by the time it gets to Mafi. ROG you have been great but it's time to get out of here. Would Madigan fancy coming down south?



It was a very solid defensive display from Ulster but that kind of rugby is easy to defend against, that's not taking anything away, Ulster are obviously an incredibly fit side to keep it up for that long but it was stupid stuff. You would think after the first penalty inside his own half Munster would learn but no. Brainless shoite again. Let's mention the try, the worst defending I have seen in my time from a professional team. When I was an underage player and we gave up a try like that, we would be going sprinting for the night at the next training session. Zebo, hit low and make sure you get him down.


Congrats to the Ulster fans it was a very fine win, you deserved it more. Munster waited for something to happen instead of making it happen. There aren't many better Irish fans who deserve it more.


Also, people talk about how the provinces have a conflicting style of play to the national side, that was a performance straight out of the Declan Kidney book of coaching!

George Carlin wrote:Will any Leinster fans be torn by seeing your team play against the mighty Wagga?

Maybe a little. He'll always be one of our favourite imports.

Thomond wrote:Yesterday was possibly the most brainless display of rugby I have ever seen. First thing you're thought from a young age is you can't have forwards taking ball from the scrum half unless it's secure, 3/4 times we lost ball or slowed it down for ourselves by not protecting it. For a while, ROG has stood too deep and this means if Murray gives a quick pass, there is going to be no room by the time it gets to Mafi. ROG you have been great but it's time to get out of here. Would Madigan fancy coming down south?



It was a very solid defensive display from Ulster but that kind of rugby is easy to defend against, that's not taking anything away, Ulster are obviously an incredibly fit side to keep it up for that long but it was stupid stuff. You would think after the first penalty inside his own half Munster would learn but no. Brainless shoite again. Let's mention the try, the worst defending I have seen in my time from a professional team. When I was an underage player and we gave up a try like that, we would be going sprinting for the night at the next training session. Zebo, hit low and make sure you get him down.


Congrats to the Ulster fans it was a very fine win, you deserved it more. Munster waited for something to happen instead of making it happen. There aren't many better Irish fans who deserve it more.


Also, people talk about how the provinces have a conflicting style of play to the national side, that was a performance straight out of the Declan Kidney book of coaching!

I agree with a lot of what you are saying Thomond.
It wrecks my head seeing Munster attack the way they did yesterday and its not just the midfield thing. It's 1 off runs from either Murray or ROG and then hit and push. There is 0 creativity. There fitness, physicallity and defence are awesome, absolutely top notch but they are so damn predictable and in a way stubborn in how they play with the ball.

If Munster were with 3 points come the end I would have actually backed them to win it I really would have but when they need a try it was just wasn't going to happen especially when Ulster knew that they needed one.

Munster need to re-invent themselves hugely IMO. Their ethos is so proud and strong but they have to let it go to a certain extent. Beating the bejasus out of a team and tucking it up under the jumper doesn't work as well as it used to (even though Munster are without question the masters of it). But they keep playing that archaic game plan of bash it up, bash it up, forward dominance, good kicking 10, solid lineout. It's so 1 dimensional.

They don't just need a change of attack formation they need to re-invent that ethos. You can't just have a team of really strong men and have a cave man's idea (that's harsh) of sure we'll just whack it loads of times and then we'll win.

The most inventive move was done by the second row Donnacha Ryan who sucked in defenders close to the ruck then screen passed it to ROG who fed through the hands (great pass Earls btw) that sort of minute invention is what is needed. You saw Leinster do it for BOD's try Heaslip whipping it behind SOB (a strong man aka a great decoy runner) to Sexton who then had spaces he could pass the ball into as the fringe defenders had been fixed.

It is a good think McGahan is going because if the right guy is chosen (please let it be an attack minded coach to balance the natural hard edge munster ethos of Foley) then Munster IMO will be the best team in the NH again. Right now there is just too much grunt trying to break through walls when you could just open the door.

Others may have to leave too, player wise I think.

Sorry rant over. Just been frustrated by the tunnel vision Neanderthal attack plan and it's not just coming from the coach.
Ok now rant over I promise.

May I also credit the pride and heart to stage what would have been one of the great comebacks of HCup history. Showed a lot of bravery that is typical of Munster players

George Carlin wrote:Will any Leinster fans be torn by seeing your team play against the mighty Wagga?

Was a big concern of mine George, tbh. He is ruthless, tireless, so experienced at high level and powerful. He gives any team he plays for - an obvious edge. And he knows us well too.

Then... along came Brad. Not as concerned now.

Notch wrote:My man of the match was Darren "The Flying Wall" Cave

+1

MUST go to NZ. He is perfect for it. We (Ireland) badly lack what he has to offer.

Woke up this morning with a smile on my face
Still buzzing from that win yesterday

Gibson wrote:

Notch wrote:My man of the match was Darren "The Flying Wall" Cave

+1

MUST go to NZ. He is perfect for it. We (Ireland) badly lack what he has to offer.

+1

Cave has shown he can be invovled in a Deccie style gameplan, very good chance he goes now. I want Madigan to make the trip down south. Or Sexton when Madigan over takes him

Down south meaning Munster or to New Zealand this summer?

Wouldn't mind seeing both, ROG doesn't attack the gainline and Munster won't produce much attacking rugby with him. We won't win unless we score tries.

I'd want to see a lot more of an effort from Munster to play attacking Munster other than signing a Leinster guy. This sounds bad and I'm not trying to have a go but I don't want a Leinster attacking player heading to Munster and being converted into a territory forward and defence orientated player. I'd be scared a young Madigan would be berrated by O'Connell or someone for trying to play too much and others not being on the same wavelength

I'd feel better about Madigan going to ulster because they look to attack more and with more invention.

I think that is a pretty naive comment to be honest. It's not like we're completely terrible in attack, look at the Northampton game, we showed a small bit of invention and creativity there, hell in 2009 we were more creative than Leinster. We score a good amount of triesm yesterday's was a very well worked try through the backs. There is promise there, it just needs to be coached a bit more. Musnter can play ball when they want to, we're not as bad as people say.

Munster don't really attack through creativity though do they? It's more through strength and unity of effort.

Again, I apologise if that seems unfair just my opinion I guess. One rarely see's Munster running decoy lines or have meaningful support lines looking to break the line rather than just gain another few yards.

I'm not saying Munster are bad because everyone knows they are an excellent side just in attack it seems that it is for the most part either hands, or one off runners from 9 or 10

If you look at a lot of tries they are just simple hands, I think 2 of Leinster's ones were. There is potential there, a backs coach would do wonders since Holland has done feck all. You're right in some respects but Munster are not just kick it to the corners really.

Well looking at the yesterday:

1: Was a great dummy line from Strauss out to in leaving the space for Sexton to go through and then a 3 on 1.

2: A switch to Fitz, quick ball saw Darcy break one tackle and make 10+yards. BOD picks from the base and feeds Reddan who goes 40metres. Strauss feeds Kearney at 1st reciever on a on 3 mismatch.

3: Dummy run from SOB, Heaslip feeds Sexton on the screen and then inside to Fitz.

4: Drive close to the line pass out draws to men and pass inside.

That's just 1 game but is a few examples of actual creativity.
I think Munster's attitude to attack needs to change tbh.

The try yesterday was a great pass from Ryan on a type of screen. I'm agreeing with you that change is needed but it's not all doom and gloom.

Yeah I agree there I just think to be a top top team again Munster need to evolve that part of their game because the game has moved on from 09 tactics. They are a very good team but won't be the best until they can evolve there

One point I would like to make - Earls has improved his distribution dramatically. I still think his pace is wasted though.

Highlights

http://origin.ercrugby.com/eng/matchdaytv/index.php/index/index?id=11533&module=

Would someone please tell sky that we actually made the quaters last year too.

MrsP wrote:Would someone please tell sky that we actually made the quaters last year too.

Ye did? Some team eh pal?

Well done again btw. I can imagine what it was like for the Poisson crew yesterday. Magic.

T'was a great day at the end of a great week in the lovely company of Munster fans Gibbo. Even leastenthusiasticaboutrugbyP was starting to see what the rest of us get so excited about!

Just noticed this in a report on the game.


""We got off to a terrific start, with Ruan Pienaar kicking well, but our defence was the difference," said man-of-the-match Stephen Ferris, who lifted the 1999 cup with Ulster and was an injury doubt before the game. "

I knew Fez was some pup but I hadn't realised he had lifted the European Cup aged 13! That has got to be some sort of a record, no?