Munster v Dragons

First topic message reminder :

Obviously this will be difficult for all the Irish provices due to Nevin Spence's death. I expect to see Sean Dougall excused for this game as he and Nevin were close friends. Same with BJ Botha who played with him at Ulster and probably his U20s team mates from Munster too.

Probable team:

01 Wian du Preez
02 Mike Sherry
03 Stephen Archer
04 Donncha O'Callaghan
05 Dave Foley
06 Billy Holland
07 Niall Ronan
08 James Coughlan
09 Conor Murray
10 Ronan O'Gara
11 Keith Earls
12 JJ Hanrahan
13 Danny Barnes
14 Doug Howlett
15 Denis Hurley

16 Dave Kilcoyne
17 Damien Varley
18 Christy Condon
19 Philip Donellan
20 Barry O'Mahony
21 Peter Stringer
22 Scott Deasy
23 Ivan Dineen

red_stag wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:

red_stag wrote:
I don't want ROG starting for Munster in any must win games this year.

That's crazy. The guy is a game winner. Besides there aren't any strong 10s in the squad, JJ looks good though. Munster's A team fly-half of last season also looked decent.

I think Ian Keatley and JJ Hanrahan are both very good options at 10.

They may not have the experience of ROG but the lad turns 36 years old this season.

You say he is a game winner - however I think that he has not had a single really top class performance since 2011. Lack of gametime hasn't helped him to be fair but I would definitely defintely stick with Ian Keatley as our first choice flyhalf with ROG as a backup option and develop JJ Hanrahan by giving him gametime at 12 for Munster and flyhalf for Munster A.

I think O'Gara still has a lot to offer Munster though. Interesting to see what he'll do with Downey and Lualala in the midfield. I'm not really a fan of Keatley. He does the fly-half basics well enough but there's just something super average about him, I think Deasy looks better from what I've seen. Perhaps JJ should be on the bench as a utility then until he can force Keatley out of the starting team.

Does anyone , apart from ROG , think he will be in the Lions squad ?

Oh , Munster by 10 , if we show up

Hopefully we will hear a few renditions of suftum in Thomond.

munkian wrote:Does anyone , apart from ROG , think he will be in the Lions squad ?

Oh , Munster by 10 , if we show up

No I doubt it. Sexton, Priestland and Farrell would be my choices.

GunsGerms wrote:

munkian wrote:Does anyone , apart from ROG , think he will be in the Lions squad ?

Oh , Munster by 10 , if we show up

No I doubt it. Sexton, Priestland and Farrell would be my choices.

There are more than just 3 Tests to be played. I doubt if Gatland will fancy travelling with 30+ Lions virgins , a lot of whom he will be just meeting for the first time.

Dragons Extended squad.

Backs

Dan Evans, Will Harries, Tom Prydie, Pat Leach, Andy Tuilagi, Adam Hughes, Ash Smith, Steffan Jones, Lewis Robling, Jon Evans, Liam Davies

Forwards

Phil Price, Aaron Coundley, Steve Jones, Sam Parry, Dan Way, TIMMY RYAN, Adam Jones, Ian Nimmo, Dan Lydiate, Hywel Stoddart, Lewi Sevens, NIC CUDD, Toby Faletau, Tom Brown.

That's from memory, so might've missed one or two out.

Nathan Buck's injury means Tim Ryan gets a bench appearance on his return to Munster. Nic Cudd, is in line for his debut.

Dragons have to attack Munster backrow. They have Lydiate and Falatau. We are going to be missing a fair few of our backrows. Treviso slowed the ball down against us you have to too.

Sin é wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

munkian wrote:Does anyone , apart from ROG , think he will be in the Lions squad ?

Oh , Munster by 10 , if we show up

No I doubt it. Sexton, Priestland and Farrell would be my choices.

There are more than just 3 Tests to be played. I doubt if Gatland will fancy travelling with 30+ Lions virgins , a lot of whom he will be just meeting for the first time.

I doubt Gatland will care if none of his outhalves have Lions experience. I'm sure he would rather bring 3 regular International OHs than bit part players.

GunsGerms wrote:

Sin é wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

munkian wrote:Does anyone , apart from ROG , think he will be in the Lions squad ?

Oh , Munster by 10 , if we show up

No I doubt it. Sexton, Priestland and Farrell would be my choices.

There are more than just 3 Tests to be played. I doubt if Gatland will fancy travelling with 30+ Lions virgins , a lot of whom he will be just meeting for the first time.

I doubt Gatland will care if none of his outhalves have Lions experience. I'm sure he would rather bring 3 regular International OHs than bit part players.

Was Flood not the preferred starter to Farrell in their last couple of outings for England? He'd probably be fine against the Rebels anyway, though Cips might be a better call.

Why are you talking about Gatland not caring what what Lions experience the outhalf were. No problem if if they don't. Its just important that you have a few on the tour who have been on a Lions previously because it is such a rare occurence. No international team would want to go to a world cup without a few experienced heads in there and they would have spent months preparing for it. They even want the head coaches to have either played or coached on a tour in the past nowadays. Thats why the likes of Nick Mallett would never get the gig as head coach.

Yes but there are plenty of former lions who are still internationals at the top of their game to choose from.

...in other positions.

Flood for me isn't a big game player. Farrell will be first choice for the 6n again.

red_stag wrote:Dragons have to attack Munster backrow. They have Lydiate and Falatau. We are going to be missing a fair few of our backrows. Treviso slowed the ball down against us you have to too.

Okay, you've convinced me. Dragons to win by 687.

Toby Faletau is on the bench due to a dead leg. Tom Brown starts, but it's not such a loss as Faletau isn't firing at the minute and Brown deserves another run from his good form when Faletau was with the Wakes squad in the 6 Nations.

Brown is really dangerous with the ball. Not many players do as much as Toby but brown will offer some go forward.

I think it's harsh to say Toby's not at his best. We've played 3 games. Hes made a lot of tackles and carried a lot of ball. He can't make 60 yard brakes every week. Did anyone notice when ever he carried ball v the blues it took 2/3 players to take him down - Shame we couldn't exploit the space he creates.

I think it is fair. If he has been hampered by a dead leg, then that's understandable though. I don't expect 60 yard breaks, but I do think he's been playing within himself a bit.

It would also help him no end if he had some clean ball off the back of a scrum.

That's half the problem, dealing with constant poor ball.
I'd love to see him behind a really dominant front 5.
Our backs have been going ok but it will be a long season on the back foot. Not ideal for our young half backs.

It's been the same for years. We have never really replaced Black n Thomas and now with burns retireing we are relying on a 35 year old and a prop convention!

I'm sure there will be a few highlights this season but it's not looking great already.

Munster team announced. Amazingly it has been over one and half years since Stringer and O'Gara have started a match together.

01 Marcus Horan
02 Mike Sherry
03 BJ Botha
04 Donncha O'Callaghan
05 Billy Holland
06 Dave O'Callaghan
07 Niall Ronan
08 Paddy Butler
09 Peter Stringer
10 Ronan O'Gara
11 Simon Zebo
12 James Downey
13 Keith Earls
14 Doug Howlett (capt.)
15 Ian Keatley

16 Damien Varley
17 Wian du Preez
18 Stephen Archer
19 Dave Foley
20 Tommy O'Donnell
21 Conor Murray
22 Danny Barnes
23 JJ Hanrahan

Surprised by this team but overall I really like it.

Edit: Keith Earls is at 13 not Casey Laulala.

GunsGerms wrote:Yes but there are plenty of former lions who are still internationals at the top of their game to choose from.

No, there isn't. I think out of the last Lions tour, Rob Kearney & Mike Phillips would be considered to be on top of their game and available. Most of the rest are either injured, coming back from injury, now in France playing for a team that will more than likely make the French playoffs or retired.

red_stag wrote:Munster team announced. Amazingly it has been over one and half years since Stringer and O'Gara have started a match together.

01 Marcus Horan
02 Mike Sherry
03 BJ Botha
04 Donncha O'Callaghan
05 Billy Holland
06 Dave O'Callaghan
07 Niall Ronan
08 Paddy Butler
09 Peter Stringer
10 Ronan O'Gara
11 Simon Zebo
12 James Downey
13 Keith Earls
14 Doug Howlett (capt.)
15 Ian Keatley

16 Damien Varley
17 Wian du Preez
18 Stephen Archer
19 Dave Foley
20 Tommy O'Donnell
21 Conor Murray
22 Danny Barnes
23 JJ Hanrahan

Surprised by this team but overall I really like it.

Edit: Keith Earls is at 13 not Casey Laulala.

I really like the way Penney is putting youth and experience together. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth from some corners to see Earls at 13 I'd say!

Im a big fan of how Penney is doing it SinÉ.

Laulala needs competition and Earls is the man to provide it.

Did not see the whole second playmaker thing with Keatley at 15.

red_stag wrote:Im a big fan of how Penney is doing it SinÉ.

Laulala needs competition and Earls is the man to provide it.

Did not see the whole second playmaker thing with Keatley at 15.

It doesn't surprise me to see Keatley at 15 - it worked well enough that way with Warwick (except Keatley is a better defender).

With all the changes (rustiness from Strings, ROG & Zebo, Ronan etc.), it won't be a cake walk for Munster.

Anything to please.



Earls at 13????!!! Penney, not you too???!!!!

Did I do that well?

Sin é wrote:

I really like the way Penney is putting youth and experience together. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth from some corners to see Earls at 13 I'd say!

Yeah he seem to be doing a good job of integrating he younger players without overly weakening the team,excited to see just how far he can take Munster.

Heading to Thomond on Saturday.

Looking forward to seeing Butler and Earls especially.

Munster by 12+.

Sin é wrote:

I really like the way Penney is putting youth and experience together. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth from some corners to see Earls at 13 I'd say!

Stringer and O'Gara are a good example of that. Love the way young O'Gara has forced his way back into the team.

Pity. I wanted to see Downey and Lualala in action. That could be the best centre midfield in Europe. Probably Munster's best since Mafi and Tipoki. Where is Duncan Williams? He looked like a little livewire.

Dragons

Dan Evans, Will Harries, Adam Hughes, Ash Smith, Tom Prydie, Lewis Robling, Jon Evans, Phil Price, Steve Jones, Dan Way, Ian Nimmo, Adam Jones, Dan Lydiate, Jevon Groves, Tom Brown

Aaron Coundley, Tim Ryan, Sam Parry, Lewis Evans, Toby Faletau, Liam Davies, Andy Tuilagi, Pat Leach.

Not sure why we have no real ten cover again and why our captain is on the bench? Pretty strong (well not strong like a Munster team obviously) for us. Still think we'll get a thumping.

Just got my tickets for it so excited. Think it will be tight for the first half but munster pull away in the second half. Munster by 15 unless dargons get a late score

I didn't realise you'd signed Liam Davies, he was very good for the Scarlets when we brought him in last season, and is a good signing for you. Apart from the front row I think thats a pretty good side for the Dragons and with the likes of Evans, Toby, Liam D and Tuilagi is a decent bench as well.

Unfortunately with it being away I can't see past a Munster win, but you never know and I think Dragons will create chances.

Does anyone know what station this game is on apart from tg4?

just tg4 according to the Website

Last night had the opition of watching Glasgow v Connacht in Scots or Irish suprisingly i went with the scots as it seemed easier to understand. Not sure how that is possible

Damn, just moved house and don't have my channels sorted yet. Just some free ones. Off to the pub for me then

I maybe alone in this but Peter Stringer is still one of the best crisp and fast passers in the business.

Munster are looking very interesting this season. Penney has them humming nicely. Leinster are going to have their work cut out to get one over them this season. At the moment, based on performances so far, Munster have it.

The Taffs doing there usual when they're crap...start a fight

It's gone all tedious now...

Cúige Mumhan need to get the finger out. They're gonna let the Dragons back into this game if they're not careful.

And another scrum penalty. Dragons strike again.

14-6 at half time.

DOD wrote:The Taffs doing there usual when they're crap...start a fight

Lot of fights lasting 80 mins this year.

Munster should be up by more, their halfbacks are causing them all types of trouble. Stringer is leaving the ball in the ruck for far too long, he still has a great pass but the rest of his game isn't up to the standard. Rog has lost all distance on his kicking yet still continues to use it as his first option. I don't think either of them are suited to the way Penney wants to set up a team. Besides Keatley, the outside backs are playing well.

What was the yellow card for? I managed to miss it.

Mon Dragons! Believe.

This link is miles behind. Its at 14-6 still. 26-6 in realtime..

Sexshy rugby at Munster? It will all end in a veil of tears.

Earls and Zebo sublime...dont need the opposition yellow cards to score...

Great snipe by Murray. Time warp in NL.

DOD wrote:Earls and Zebo sublime...dont need the opposition yellow cards to score...

Ha! Its true. Those kids have been set free from the shackles of the Kidney/McGahan era. Its great to see them run at teams.

Its also good - if not weird, to see ye lot kopping on to the The Leinster Way at last. Admirable in its humility and in its respect.

Earls motm...has been excellent in the OC position. Casey and Earls look like a combination worth looking at for Penny

He looks free DOD. As does Zebo. This will be good for Ireland too.

33-13 in real time. 26-6 stream time.

dissapointed to see JJ only got 6-7 mins. why are we so protective of our young stars.

Earls isn't up to it.......................

Macken will eclipse Earls. As will O Malley.

Everyone knows that.