Pro12 FINAL - Glasgow Warriors v Munster Rugby, 30 May

by **George Carlin** Sun May 24, 2015 8:11 am

First topic message reminder :

Pro12 FINAL - Glasgow Warriors v Munster Rugby, 30 May - Page 4 Glasgo14

Pro12 FINAL - Glasgow Warriors v Munster Rugby, 30 May - Page 4 Munste13

31 GLASGOW WARRIORS v MUNSTER RUGBY 13
Saturday 30 May 2015
KO: 18:30
Ravenhill, Belfast

Live on Sky Sports/TG4/BBC Sport Scotland

Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU, 127th competition game)
Assistant Referees: 1) Ian Davies, 2) Sean Brickell, 4) Gwyn Morris, 5) Wayne Davies (all WRU )
Citing Commissioner: Stefano Marrama (FIR)
TMO: Derek Bevan (WRU)

A. Head to Head - Aggregate

25 Played 25
9 Wins 15
15 Losses 9
1 Draws 1
46 Tries 63
36 Conversions 42
64 Penalties 54
1 Drop Goals 1
491 Points 564
25 Avg. Age 27

B. Head to Head - Recently

Sat 28 Feb 2015 - Munster Rugby 22 - 10 Glasgow Warriors

Sat 20 Dec 2014 - Glasgow Warriors 21 - 18 Munster Rugby

Fri 16 May 2014 (PO) - Glasgow Warriors 16 - 15 Munster Rugby

Sat 12 Apr 2014 - Munster Rugby 5 - 22 Glasgow Warriors

Fri 25 Oct 2013 - Glasgow Warriors 6 - 13 Munster Rugby

C. Run-In

Glasgow Warriors

22/05/15 - Glasgow 16 - 14 Ulster

16/05/15 Glasgow 32 - 10 Ulster

08/05/15 Ospreys 21 - 10 Glasgow

Munster Rugby

23/05/15 Munster 21 - 18 Ospreys

16/05/15 Munster 50 - 27 Dragons

09/05/15 Ulster 23 - 23 Munster

D. Teams

Glasgow Warriors
Pro12 FINAL - Glasgow Warriors v Munster Rugby, 30 May - Page 4 Kirsty10

Pro12 FINAL - Glasgow Warriors v Munster Rugby, 30 May - Page 4 Kirsty10

Stuart Hogg, Tommy Seymour, Richie Vernon, Peter Horne, DTH van der Merwe, Finn Russell, Henry Pyrgos, Gordon Reid, Dougie Hall, Rossouw de Klerk, Leone Nakarawa, Jonny Gray, Rob Harley, Ryan Wilson, Josh Strauss (captain).

Replacements: Fraser Brown, Jerry Yanuyanutawa, Jon Welsh, Al Kellock, Chris Fusaro, Niko Matawalu, Duncan Weir, Sean Lamont.

Munster Rugby
Pro12 FINAL - Glasgow Warriors v Munster Rugby, 30 May - Page 4 Michel11

Pro12 FINAL - Glasgow Warriors v Munster Rugby, 30 May - Page 4 Michel11

Felix Jones; Keith Earls, Andrew Smith, Denis Hurley (captain), Simon Zebo; Ian Keatley, Duncan Williams; Dave Kilcoyne, Eusebio Guinazu, BJ Botha; Billy Holland, Paul O'Connell; Donnacha Ryan, Paddy Butler, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Duncan Casey, James Cronin, Stephen Archer, Sean Dougall, Jack O'Donoghue, Cathal Sheridan, JJ Hanrahan, Ronan O'Mahony.

by **George Carlin** Fri May 29, 2015 8:09 pm

You can see the method behind this particular turn of the Toonie tombola.

- Harley has been on the naughty step for a while now, although I actually believe his problem was that he'd been overplayed throughout the season. He is clearly back to be the Stander Stopper which makes sense and I am expecting an enormous game from him.

- The loose forward trio of Harley-Fozzy-Strauss is a major reason why Glasgow are contesting a final right now and I think that he would rather Fozzy started, but there are clearly concerns about his health/fitness.

- As such, without a true openside, you just pick your fastest loose forward - that's certainly Wilson and to that end, his selection make perfect sense. RW has been playing like a man possessed since coming back from the ban and deserves this slot. What you need against Munster is dynamism and he certainly has that.

- Have no problem with Kellock on the bench. Swinson is listed in the match notes as injured and in the absence of Ryder et all if you cannot have an impact lock replacement in terms of being a fearsome unit, you might as well have a leader who can keep everyone calm in the last quarter. I think that Al may well have an important part to play in this final.

- Chopping and changing that front row has been a worry all season, but we dodgers of the soap should be used to it by now. Reid in for Grant is a no brainer and will make a big difference. I also trust Grandpappy Hall in nervy big occasions like this and it's amazing to see Fraz back on the bench. If Toonie thinks that De Klerk is the man for the job on the tighthead side, then so be it. It's a fair bet that he knows his fellow Saffer countrymen well.

- This final feels different for Glasgow this year. It feels more controlled and more importantly, feels like unfinished business from last year.

Best of luck to both sides.

by ME-109 Fri May 29, 2015 10:54 pm

Rory_Gallagher wrote:
George Carlin wrote:POM and Murray out - definitely a blow for POC's mighty maroon mazongas:

Felix Jones; Keith Earls, Andrew Smith, Denis Hurley - capt., Simon Zebo; Ian Keatley, Duncan Williams; Dave Kilcoyne, Eusebio Guinazu, BJ Botha; Billy Holland, Paul O'Connell; Donnacha Ryan, Paddy Butler, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Duncan Casey, James Cronin, Stephen Archer, Sean Dougall, Jack O'Donoghue, Cathal Sheridan, JJ Hanrahan, Ronan O'Mahony.

Two very big players to be missing that would leave most teams crippled. Munster are a great team though, and despite missing a few key individuals, the whole is certainly greater than its parts when it comes to Munster. However, if Keatley/Williams have one of their off days, then it is most certainly game over and Glasgow will win.

Does that mean that POM wasn't fully fit for the Ospreys game?

POM hasn't been fully fit for a few weeks.

by IanBru Sat May 30, 2015 12:15 am

GC, you're right about this year being different. Obviously this could all blow up in my face at 8:30 Saturday evening, but...

Glasgow put so much into winning that semi-final last year, they drained themselves of every last drop of effort (I'll never forget the sight of big Tim Swinson putting in a colossal hit in defence, then back on his feet to put in another, and then another... in those crucial final minutes), and had played for nine weeks straight without a break (the European weekends being used to play the two postponed matches from December), so much so that they simply ran out of gas at half time at the R D Esh in the final.

This year, it's different. They're in a final, but they've been there before. The boys are rested, and while they're not playing their best rugby, you can see they have several gears left to use when they need to.

The only thing stopping me from being quietly confident is the injuries to our centres. Don't get me wrong, I love Hornee furra Linee and Mr V8 like I love my yet-to-be-conceived firstborn (Alastair Kellock Bru for a boy, and Kelly Brown Bru for a girl, since you asked), but there are few partnerships in club rugby as potentially devastating as Dunbar and Bennett can be. If they'd been playing, I'd be expecting a solid win.

Since they're not, it could even be close. :p

(post script: did you ever see one of those 'Scottish Resistance' clowns using 'they're/there/their' correctly? I'm just saying.)

by **LondonTiger** Sat May 30, 2015 8:14 am

so, POC's last game for Munster before joining Toulon.

by **George Carlin** Sat May 30, 2015 8:55 am

That's right, Tiger - basically it means that if you read the Irish press (Times and Independent in particular) what you get is 10 stories about O'Connell's career, 8 stories about how awesome Munster are, 6 articles about how the other Irish provinces are recruiting for next year, 4 articles about how awesome Joe Schmidt is, 2 pieces about how Leinster need a southern hemisphere coach and a 6 line summary about how Glasgow's season has been.

by **LondonTiger** Sat May 30, 2015 9:02 am

Sounds about right Run

by **George Carlin** Sat May 30, 2015 9:52 am

I've tidied up a few recent posts on this thread.

Let's just been clear, because sadly the message has not sunk in with some of you - any pejorative, graceless, unconstructive, facile or otherwise pointless jibes at any other posters - particularly those centred around cliche or nationalistic stereotypes will be stripped from this thread quickly. None of these comments relate to any of the above posts, but it should be obvious to regular posters which way the wind has been whistling lately.

As an aside, the mods genuinely cannot be arsed with this particular line of posting/bickering any more.
Bans will flow like champagne at FES' Stockbridge mansion today if this isn't adhered to.

Your collective assistance is appreciated.

by TJ Sat May 30, 2015 10:03 am

Oooooooooooh somebody been naughty? Was it batman or the giant crayon?

As for the game - really looking forward to this. I want to see a real showpiece game of good rugby. Over to you chaps - good luck to both sides

by Chunky Norwich Sat May 30, 2015 10:25 am

Would love to see a Glasgow win, but the tie was over once the referee was named I fear. O'wens has no idea at scrum time and lets the breakdown go as he wishes. I'd love to see the % of Munster wins when he referees.

Anyway good luck Glasgow, you'll need it.

by Majestic83 Sat May 30, 2015 10:28 am

Huge day of rugby, nice little warm up with the English final then onto the main attraction.
What's the weather looking like for Belfast?

by IanBru Sat May 30, 2015 10:35 am

It's looking like light rain from 5ish, turning heavier by 8pm.

Dear Lord, please let Nakarawa take the ball into contact - some of those crazy offloads are killing me.

by 123456789 Sat May 30, 2015 11:02 am

Every time Nakarawa gets the ball I have a mini heart attack

by Eejit Sat May 30, 2015 11:19 am

Hope everyone has a great day. I'll be watching in London wishing I was in Belfast. Mon the Warriors!

by jimbopip Sat May 30, 2015 11:32 am

George Carlin wrote:I've tidied up a few recent posts on this thread.

Let's just been clear, because sadly the message has not sunk in with some of you - any pejorative, graceless, unconstructive, facile or otherwise pointless jibes at any other posters - particularly those centred around cliche or nationalistic stereotypes will be stripped from this thread quickly. None of these comments relate to any of the above posts, but it should be obvious to regular posters which way the wind has been whistling lately.

As an aside, the mods genuinely cannot be arsed with this particular line of posting/bickering any more.
Bans will flow like champagne at FES' Stockbridge mansion today if this isn't adhered to.

Your collective assistance is appreciated.

Was it RDW mocking my pasting skills what peed you off George?

by TJ Sat May 30, 2015 11:34 am

123456789 wrote:Every time Nakarawa gets the ball I have a mini heart attack

Like this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pea261Hb-E8

or this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yheW95Nr35A

by jimbopip Sat May 30, 2015 11:38 am

Eejit wrote:Hope everyone has a great day. I'll be watching in London wishing I was in Belfast. Mon the Warriors!

Eejit, you took the words out of my mouth.

Slightly concerned about the bench. With the exception of Big Al who is only there because he's the only second row who is anywhere near fit, all the forwards are mobile, fast and keen on taking the ball on. Yes, Jerry and Angela are props but do like trundling with the ball in hand. Now this is either (a) Toonie reckons it will be close and in the last twenty Munster's pack are knackered and we run rings around them OR (b) Toonie fears that by the last twenty plan A is shot and we are chasing the game so it's all or nothing. It certainly isn't a bench to close a game out. Especially once you bring on MadMata at 9.

by SecretFly Sat May 30, 2015 11:50 am

The Glasgow V Munster thread gets a Red Ink Warning???

Shocked

What have you ruff shower been saying to each other???

I can think of a number of threads that could be doing with a Red Pen Threat more than this one Wink

Not that I'd be involved in any of it mind you..... Whistle

by **RDW** Sat May 30, 2015 11:52 am

TJ wrote:
123456789 wrote:Every time Nakarawa gets the ball I have a mini heart attack

Like this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pea261Hb-E8

or this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yheW95Nr35A

The problem is though for each of those sublime examples there are 10 ridiculous offloads.

It is a shame because he's an incredibly good ball carrier when he just sticks his head down!

by SecretFly Sat May 30, 2015 12:01 pm

I think Offloading can be very very attractive and very very effective.

But...and this is just a general point, not concerning any specific player... I really can't get turned on by the over-done shock'n'awe commentary and repeat showings of the 'skill' itself.

I think it's simply a reasonable skill - holding a ball in one hand and not dropping it being the biggest one! - but the timing and the action isn't really anything I ever get too animated about. What transpires after it in a try scoring event is great but the offload technique itself to me is something that should be a Basic skill of any Professional rugby player in either of the three big European Leagues.

I guess I'm saying the slow mo repeats of these events kinda always makes me smile bemusedly. And I think the Catcher generally loses out on the publicity of his absolute essential roll in turning an offload into a moment of glory and not an embarrassing flop.

by **George Carlin** Sat May 30, 2015 12:04 pm

2014-15 #ChampionsCup
Most offloads in this season's competition:
1 - Nakarawa (25)
2 - Mermoz (15)
3 - Ranger, Smith (14)
5 - Hughes, Easter (12)

Probably lucky for Big Naka that there isn't a stat for how many times he threw the ball into opposition hands.

But that's our Fijian brothers. High risk, high return.

by TJ Sat May 30, 2015 12:14 pm

When he waves the ball around in one hand it don't half get the heart racing

by GLove39 Sat May 30, 2015 12:28 pm

Ahhh NAKAWARA, the complete opposite of Denton!
But yeah, hopefully he'll reign it in a bit today.

by GLove39 Sat May 30, 2015 12:32 pm

And as for later, no pressure glasgow, but Buddha on a bike does Scottish rugby need this! Been starved of success for far too long, especially my generation.

Mon Glasgow!

by ME-109 Sat May 30, 2015 1:54 pm

SecretFly wrote:The Glasgow V Munster thread gets a Red Ink Warning???

What have you ruff shower been saying to each other???

I can think of a number of threads that could be doing with a Red Pen Threat more than this one Not that I'd be involved in any of it mind you.....

Its the Scottish fighting with each other

by 123456789 Sat May 30, 2015 1:56 pm

Nakarawa clearly met a British youth coach who told him that SBW was a pillock and always carry the ball into contact away from the tackler and with your head low to get the hard yards and build up phase play and his response was to do the opposite. My issue with Nakarawa is that players build up 5 to 6 phases of measured patient play and then he charges in tries something that isn't on and knocks it on, admittedly this season he's curbed that and seems to carry better. Having said that I'd rather he be on than Matawalu, at least if he's in the second row he isn't getting the ball every phase and therefore we can play a more structured game sometimes whereas Matawalu seems to feel the need to get a try every time he gets the ball. That won't work in the Premiership next year given the way the forwards play having said that the idea of him on form with Burgess, Watson, Ford, Joseph and Watson running off him is almost as scary as him with Struass, Nakarawa, Dunbar and Bennett.

by **George Carlin** Sat May 30, 2015 1:56 pm

ME-109 wrote:
SecretFly wrote:The Glasgow V Munster thread gets a Red Ink Warning???

What have you ruff shower been saying to each other???

I can think of a number of threads that could be doing with a Red Pen Threat more than this one Not that I'd be involved in any of it mind you.....

Its the Scottish fighting with each other

Pro12 FINAL - Glasgow Warriors v Munster Rugby, 30 May - Page 4 Glasgo13

by 123456789 Sat May 30, 2015 1:59 pm

ME-109 wrote:
SecretFly wrote:The Glasgow V Munster thread gets a Red Ink Warning???

What have you ruff shower been saying to each other???

I can think of a number of threads that could be doing with a Red Pen Threat more than this one Not that I'd be involved in any of it mind you.....

Its the Scottish fighting with each other

I think it's been very pleasant, maybe it's just a warning for the game. Maybe we should all agree in advance not to criticise the referee and accept the result with good grace. Although I can't promise I won't pull a Salmond and do otherwise in a fit of slightly drunken rage should things not go Glasgow's way.

by Chunky Norwich Sat May 30, 2015 2:15 pm

Apparently on the Glasgow message board, someone has just posted that Nigel Owens is staying in the same hotel as the Munster players! Very Happy

by 123456789 Sat May 30, 2015 2:25 pm

Chunky Norwich wrote:Apparently on the Glasgow message board, someone has just posted that Nigel Owens is staying in the same hotel as the Munster players!

I think perhaps accusing a referee of bias before the game has kicked off is a bit far fetched, in the highly unlikely situation that he blatantly cheats during this evening's game there's an issue but let's accept that's unlikely. There's been a lot of talk of limited accommodation in Belfast so it's no surprise they're staying in the same hotel. But I think the Munster players are a bit too busy this weekend to socialise with the other guests at their hotel. Please stop looking for controversy three hours before the game.

Forget Owens, today is about one man. A man who has lead country and club with distinction, a man who revolutionised second row play. Today is about Al Kellock.

by IanBru Sat May 30, 2015 3:41 pm

Well said, Numbers, spot on.

#AllezGlasgow

by **George Carlin** Sat May 30, 2015 3:43 pm

Chunky Norwich wrote:Apparently on the Glasgow message board, someone has just posted that Nigel Owens is staying in the same hotel as the Munster players!

So Gregor Townsend's fruit basket made it to the right place.

Rumours about Nigel's surprise upgrade to the presidential suite are unconfirmed. chin

by ME-109 Sat May 30, 2015 4:16 pm

George Carlin wrote:
Chunky Norwich wrote:Apparently on the Glasgow message board, someone has just posted that Nigel Owens is staying in the same hotel as the Munster players!
So Gregor Townsend's fruit basket made it to the right place.

Rumours about Nigel's surprise upgrade to the presidential suite are unconfirmed.

The basket was originally for POC but Nigel nicked it

by **George Carlin** Sat May 30, 2015 4:29 pm

Are there just more Pro12 fans on these boards then Jeff ones?

I ask because the Jeff final has just finished and already this thread has more posts than the Aviva final thread. After that game has finished. And this one hasn't started yet. Or are we just better at talking a lot of rubbish than everyone else?

Discuss.

by ME-109 Sat May 30, 2015 5:36 pm

Its Fly...can't keep away from the keyboard

by Chunky Norwich Sat May 30, 2015 5:52 pm

123456789 wrote:There's been a lot of talk of limited accommodation in Belfast

There has. Probably not great organisation from the pro12 scheduling it on the same weekend as a major golf tournament.

Any road, Glasgow are going to have to do something special to win this. I hope they don't waver to far from their normal tactics. Could be a decent contest this.

by VinceWLB Sat May 30, 2015 6:04 pm

I think it will depend how Glasgow deals with the Munster forwards, if they can get parity and get decent balls to their backs they should win imo.

Anyway lets hope for a great match.

by Chunky Norwich Sat May 30, 2015 6:07 pm

VinceWLB wrote:I think it will depend how Glasgow deals with the Munster forwards, if they can get parity and get decent balls to their backs they should win imo..

That's what the Ospreys thought, and they did get parity in the scrum but Owens totally reffed them out of the game at scrum time. Lets hope the star of the show this weekend is a player and not the referee.

by VinceWLB Sat May 30, 2015 6:14 pm

For what its worth Chunky i thought Ospreys were the superior side in the semi but home advantage proved to be the difference in the end. Anyway, as you said lets hope for a fair contest with no controversy.

by GLove39 Sat May 30, 2015 6:28 pm

Nice of BBC Scotland to have gardeners world on instead of pre match buildup...

by VinceWLB Sat May 30, 2015 6:34 pm

Stander will have nightmares of this Strauss charge!

by Chunky Norwich Sat May 30, 2015 6:35 pm

Are you allowed to roll the ball forward now?

by VinceWLB Sat May 30, 2015 6:36 pm

Really hate to say it guys but already some signs of Owens favouritism here..

by Cardiff Dave Sat May 30, 2015 6:37 pm

On the BBC red button.
Springwatch taking a break.

by GLove39 Sat May 30, 2015 6:38 pm

I hate tap tackles!

by Chunky Norwich Sat May 30, 2015 6:40 pm

GET IN WEEGIES. Beat these 16 men.

by GLove39 Sat May 30, 2015 6:43 pm

Never been prouder to be ginger!

by 123456789 Sat May 30, 2015 6:43 pm

Glasgow need to calm things down a wee bit

by **RDW** Sat May 30, 2015 6:44 pm

Breathless stuff!

by Rory_Gallagher Sat May 30, 2015 6:44 pm

What do people think of Nakarawa and his stupid offloads now? thumbsup

by 123456789 Sat May 30, 2015 6:46 pm

Apparently he can run before he can walk

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