Munster V Ulster Friday 28th Nov

Munster team named;

Munster: JJ Hanrahan, Gerhard van den Heever, Pat Howard, Denis Hurley, Ronan O'Mahony; Ian Keatley, Duncan Williams; John Ryan, Duncan Casey, BJ Botha; Donncha O'Callaghan - capt, Billy Holland; Robin Copeland, Paddy Butler, CJ Stander

Replacements: Kevin O'Byrne, Dave Kilcoyne, Stephen Archer, Tommy O'Donnell, Sean Dougall, Neil Cronin, Andrew Smith, Felix Jones

Weak enough team for a home game against Ulster. Ulster have lots of injuries as well so it will depend on the team they send down. A close one I think could go either way.

Bit disappointed as I would have thought they could have dropped TOD, Killer, Jones and Foley straight back into the team as they haven't been overtaxed for Ireland over the last few weeks.

Cahal Sheridan injured his forearm against Dragons last week.

ULSTER RUGBY
15. Stuart Olding, 14. Louis Ludik, 13. Darren Cave, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 11. Craig Gilroy, 10. Ian Humphreys, 9. Paul Marshall; 1. Callum Black, 2. Rory Best (capt.), 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 4. Alan O’Connor, 5. Franco van der Merwe, 6. Roger Wilson, 7. Sean Reidy, 8. Nick Williams.

16. Rob Herring, 17. Andrew Warwick, 18. Declan Fitzpatrick, 19. Lewis Stevenson, 20. Robbie Diack, 21. Michael Heaney, 22. Michael Allen, 23. Peter Nelson.

MunsterMac wrote:Bit disappointed as I would have thought they could have dropped TOD, Killer, Jones and Foley straight back into the team as they haven't been overtaxed for Ireland over the last few weeks.

Cahal Sheridan injured his forearm against Dragons last week.

Yes...Ulster team that was posted looks too strong for us. Its a pity given where we have got to on the table. We should have as strong a team as possible for our home games.

Not a great fan of Sheridan to be honest (just dont see it in him) so not bothered. Williams has been steady this year.

Delighted to see O'Connor back for Ulster, and Allen and Nelson on the bench. (Bit disrespectful, but also very pleased to see Duncan Williams starting for Munster.)

That Ulster team can win, but I'll be happy with a LBP, which is much more likely. Also entirely possible we come home with nothing. Worried about Nick Williams at eight. Is he fit?

Would love to see Olding get a stretch at 12, and Nelson get a wee run out.

Hat trick for Duncan on Friday then?

Not the strongest Munster team. John Ryan is the biggest concern for me. Ulster should dominate the scrums. Second row isn't great either but decent enough bench.

I wouldnt worry too much about Ryan he is coming on. The game against the O's while he gave ground to Jones a lot once Guinazadou (or whatever) came on instead of Byrne he was a lot better.

It's disappointing that once again Munster seem to be taking unnecessary selection risks for an important home game against a genuine rival for a playoff place in the league in what could be described as an '8-pointer'.

Why not start with your strongest team which would include Jones, Kilcoyne and TOD rather than possibly having to bring them on to try to save the match as has happened in the past?

Why play Copeland and Stander at 6 & 8 respectively when the reverse would be the norm?

Is Foley injured?

The 'we have faith in our squad' attitude is all well and good but they still don't seem to recognize the importance of putting your best foot forward for home games especially as I said against the bigger teams.

Still loads of tickets available and this team isnt going to entice people. Nor the fact its Friday evening and televised.

Wow surprised to see the reation to the Munster team. I actually think its a strong enough team. Front row is solid, Donners and Billy have played well together this season. Would have liked TOD in at 7 but not a bad back row.

Backs are a bit experimental but really excited to see how they go JJ at 15, wings have pace to burn.Centres could be car crash or could be brilliant.

Whatever Munster team goes out should be really fired up for this one.

Based on those teams I'd have Ulster as 4 point favourites (even allowing for it being in Munster). Maybe the defeat at the end of last season might stir a bit of passion into that Munster team. Even with the depleted line-ups, I hope it will be an entertaining match for the neutal fan in front of a gogglebox.

Hard one to call. Think a lot will depend on the scrum and maul, Munster are well organised and could stop our momentum there.

Just a very well respected minutes silence there at Thomond. Good start from Ulster here

Ulster racking up points early from Munster mistakes here, Munster cut these out though and play smarter and they will be very dangerous here

That looks like a nasty bang of heads there for Howard he has went off hope he's ok there. Nick Williams needs to shut his mouth and control himself there and that leads to a try for Munster, absolutely sill boy Nick. Although it was a forward pass at the end. 12- 8 to Ulster with 30 mins gone.

Munster 8-12 Ulster at half time. Ulster got off to a quick start racking up points from pens Munster came much better into it later on with Ulster making mistakes such as Nick Williams being an idiot. Few missed kicks from Keatley means Ulster still lead, plenty of niggle in this one too so we should be set for a good second half here.

Keatley leaving too many points behind with the boot as he has a tendency to do, and has butchered 2 opportunities with ball in hand. Loving the look of Van den Heever though.

Van Der Heever is having a very good game

That's terrible defending off that scrum from us Marshall should have had William's went far too high

Was a nice opportunist try from Williams after our fumbling at the back of the scrum might've created some confusion on both sides. Copeland giving another impressive performance.

Well now if that wasn't a block there from Munster 14 I literally have no idea what is literally was running between the ulster tackler and the ball player directly in line. Munster get the lineout as ref never noticed.

Williams having a stormer

JJ is such a good runner and off loader at pace

neilthom7 wrote:Well now if that wasn't a block there from Munster 14 I literally have no idea what is literally was running between the ulster tackler and the ball player directly in line.  Munster get the lineout as ref never noticed.

The blocker was behind the ball so a penalty would've been harsh I feel. Great positioning though from the supportive runner.

Brennus wrote:Was a nice opportunist try from Williams after our fumbling at the back of the scrum might've created some confusion on both sides. Copeland giving another impressive performance.

Yeah it did create some confussion but Marshall's attempt at a tackle was shoulder high very very poor from him, Munster really cranking up the pressure here

Ulster are all over the place now, they are all at sea and this is now Munsters to lose

VDH is making mince of gilroy

Why the Drop Goal attempt!? Comfortable in possession on their 22. 2 tries already in the bag. No penalty advantage. More than a converted try up. If only Keatley showed a bit more ambition.

Brennus wrote:

neilthom7 wrote:Well now if that wasn't a block there from Munster 14 I literally have no idea what is literally was running between the ulster tackler and the ball player directly in line.  Munster get the lineout as ref never noticed.

The blocker was behind the ball so a penalty would've been harsh I feel. Great positioning though from the supportive runner.

any attempt to stand or move in a position that stops the ball carrier being tackled is a foul and you could argue it is harsh but things go from there that can lead to tries etc when really they shouldn't have scored tries so you still have to give the penalty but it really matters not in the grand scheme because Munster have turned this up and as seems to be Ulster usual these days this a period of the match where they just look all at sea.

Well somehow we are withing a converted try after how poor we have been in the 2nd half. Think we were lucky with the pen because while archer did take out the supporter I didn't think the throw was straight from herring

Casey looks like he wants to play himself out of the first XV when Varley comes back.

Christ what a finish!

Well that was a dramatic end to the game lol, not sure how we managed to even get that close to winning after such a poor second half by us. Well done Munster, deserved the win.
From Ulster point of view, McCloskey always looks dangerous as a runner, we did well at the end to try and get something from the game but we were all at seas for most of that second half and it has been the same in a good few games this year and we need to cut that out if we want to win things.

Well that hit the afterburners at the end! Talk about close, both sides clinging to something at the end. Munster a win, Ulster hope of stealing it.

Don Alfonso wrote:Delighted to see O'Connor back for Ulster, and Allen and Nelson on the bench. (Bit disrespectful, but also very pleased to see Duncan Williams starting for Munster.)

That Ulster team can win, but I'll be happy with a LBP, which is much more likely. Also entirely possible we come home with nothing. Worried about Nick Williams at eight. Is he fit?

Would love to see Olding get a stretch at 12, and Nelson get a wee run out.

Keatley nearly cost Munster that match don't know how many points he left behind Munster comfortably better team but could have lost it at the end

Secondly....Ian Keatley is going to give all of Munster a heart attack. Luckily Ian (quick someon take the ball as I am going to be tackled)Humphries made one mistake. That game should have been done and dusted by the 60th minute.

Well we needed Humph to hold his nerve at the end and he couldn't quite manage it that was a case of cometh the hour and cometh the ruan was needed. See what I did there cos Ruan ryhmes with man? no... I'll be over here then lol

ME-109 wrote:

Don Alfonso wrote:Delighted to see O'Connor back for Ulster, and Allen and Nelson on the bench. (Bit disrespectful, but also very pleased to see Duncan Williams starting for Munster.)

That Ulster team can win, but I'll be happy with a LBP, which is much more likely. Also entirely possible we come home with nothing. Worried about Nick Williams at eight. Is he fit?

Would love to see Olding get a stretch at 12, and Nelson get a wee run out.

                               

Williams my mom

Well, when Ian Humphreys was lining up his kick up at the end I was just thinking we didn't deserve the win after an atrocious end to the first half and start to the second- that it would be an injustice.

Then when he missed I thought... feck injustice, I really wish he had got that actually.

Well done Munster. Ulster- 1000 lines "We must not fall asleep in games".

BlueMuff wrote:

ME-109 wrote:

Don Alfonso wrote:Delighted to see O'Connor back for Ulster, and Allen and Nelson on the bench. (Bit disrespectful, but also very pleased to see Duncan Williams starting for Munster.)

That Ulster team can win, but I'll be happy with a LBP, which is much more likely. Also entirely possible we come home with nothing. Worried about Nick Williams at eight. Is he fit?

Would love to see Olding get a stretch at 12, and Nelson get a wee run out.

                               

Williams my mom

Has had a good year so far. Gets a hard time due to the season before last when he was awful when he came back from injury. When he and Murray were in the AIL with Con and Garryowen Williams was way better at the time. Anyhow he is becoming very good for us at the right time. Made bobblehead look a few divisions below him.

Notch wrote:Well, when Ian Humphreys was lining up his kick up at the end I was just thinking we didn't deserve the win after an atrocious end to the first half and start to the second- that it would be an injustice.

Then when he missed I thought... feck injustice, I really wish he had got that actually.

Well done Munster. Ulster- 1000 lines "We must not fall asleep in games".

Considering it wasnt a try in the first place I dont think so. Good to see Munsters second team do a job on Ulster though...

ME-109 wrote:

Notch wrote:Well, when Ian Humphreys was lining up his kick up at the end I was just thinking we didn't deserve the win after an atrocious end to the first half and start to the second- that it would be an injustice.

Then when he missed I thought... feck injustice, I really wish he had got that actually.

Well done Munster. Ulster- 1000 lines "We must not fall asleep in games".

Considering it wasnt a try in the first place I dont think so. Good to see Munsters second team do a job on Ulster though...

Gracious as ever then. Why do I bother writing a self-deprecating, humorous post congratulating Munster on their win and admitting it would have been an unfair reflection of the game if we had nicked it when thats the reaction I get?

Pathetic stuff.

Notch wrote:

ME-109 wrote:

Notch wrote:Well, when Ian Humphreys was lining up his kick up at the end I was just thinking we didn't deserve the win after an atrocious end to the first half and start to the second- that it would be an injustice.

Then when he missed I thought... feck injustice, I really wish he had got that actually.

Well done Munster. Ulster- 1000 lines "We must not fall asleep in games".

Considering it wasnt a try in the first place I dont think so. Good to see Munsters second team do a job on Ulster though...

Gracious as ever then.

You know me..

/having said that you will of course make it noteworthy my comments when the ulster academy taught us a lesson last year....but then again Notch your filter is of course skewed.

Notch wrote:

ME-109 wrote:

Notch wrote:Well, when Ian Humphreys was lining up his kick up at the end I was just thinking we didn't deserve the win after an atrocious end to the first half and start to the second- that it would be an injustice.

Then when he missed I thought... feck injustice, I really wish he had got that actually.

Well done Munster. Ulster- 1000 lines "We must not fall asleep in games".

Considering it wasnt a try in the first place I dont think so. Good to see Munsters second team do a job on Ulster though...

Gracious as ever then. Why do I bother writing a self-deprecating, humorous post congratulating Munster on their win and admitting it would have been an unfair reflection of the game if we had nicked it when thats the reaction I get?

Pathetic stuff.

Go hug yourself for being so wonderful....

Notch wrote:Well, when Ian Humphreys was lining up his kick up at the end I was just thinking we didn't deserve the win after an atrocious end to the first half and start to the second- that it would be an injustice.

Then when he missed I thought... feck injustice, I really wish he had got that actually.

Well done Munster. Ulster- 1000 lines "We must not fall asleep in games".

I second that Notch

ME-109 wrote:

Notch wrote:

ME-109 wrote:

Notch wrote:Well, when Ian Humphreys was lining up his kick up at the end I was just thinking we didn't deserve the win after an atrocious end to the first half and start to the second- that it would be an injustice.

Then when he missed I thought... feck injustice, I really wish he had got that actually.

Well done Munster. Ulster- 1000 lines "We must not fall asleep in games".

Considering it wasnt a try in the first place I dont think so. Good to see Munsters second team do a job on Ulster though...

Gracious as ever then.

You know me..

/having said that you will of course make it noteworthy my comments when the ulster academy taught us a lesson last year....but then again Notch your filter is of course skewed.

Let's recap what was said to get this reaction.

1) I said Ulster didn't deserve the win regardless of the last kick and that it would have been an injustice based on our performance
2) I joked that after he missed I didn't care
3) I congratulated Munster on their win

And then you come out with that? Thats just sad man.

Beshocked won't be pleased to see Munster try so much intelligent stuff. He prefers their more traditional role as court jesters.
They kinda lost rhythm sometime into the second half but that was an infectious one they had going in the first half.

Lol ah come on a bit of a light hearted jibe no need for that!

Game was a good advert for the league exciting till the end