Leinster v Munster 8th October

SATURDAY 8TH OCTOBER 2016, KO 14:05
AVIVA STADIUM, DUBLIN

Leinster


Munster

I'm borrowing this intro from Leinsterfans.

'Feva in the Aviva.'
'El Clasico.'
'The Derby.'
'That game before Europe starts that's normally dour, ill tempered and decided by scrum penalties.'

Call it what you will, but it should be interesting.


There should be some good clashes in this game.Leinster have an Irish front row but the Munster scrum as a unit has looked more impressive.The backrow battle should be immense almost no matter who lines out.

Many subplots to look forward to in this match. Backrow battle, scrums, individual performances, tactical battle etc. Should be a decent game.

Team as posted on website
15. Rob Kearney (178)
14. Rory O'Loughlin (3)
13. Garry Ringrose (26)
12. Robbie Henshaw (0)
11. Isa Nacewa (151) CAPTAIN
10. Johnny Sexton (128)
9. Luke McGrath (54)
1. Cian Healy (157)
2. Sean Cronin (117)
3. Tadhg Furlong (54)
4. Devin Toner (184)
5. Ian Nagle (1)
6. Rhys Ruddock (115)
7. Jordi Murphy (84)
8. Jamie Heaslip (220)

16. James Tracy (20)
17. Jack McGrath (98)
18. Mike Ross (139)
19. Ross Molony (27)
20. Dan Leavy (18)
21. Jamison Gibson-Park (5)
22. Joey Carbery (5)
23. Noel Reid (64)

At Aviva Stadium, 2.05pm. Live on Sky Sports and TG4

Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU, 45th competition game)

Munster XV:
Simon Zebo;
Darren Sweetnam, Keith Earls, Rory Scannell, Ronan O'Mahony;
Tyler Bleyendaal, Conor Murray;
Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, John Ryan;
Donnacha Ryan, Billy Holland;
Peter O'Mahony - capt., Tommy O'Donnell, CJ Stander.


Replacements: Duncan Casey, James Cronin, Stephen Archer, Robin Copeland, Jack O'Donoghue, Duncan Williams, Ian Keatley, Jaco Taute.


POM gets his first start, Rory Scannell is back, Copeland on the bench, Kilcoyne starts.

Interesting that there's no place for VDF for Leinster, and no place for Kleyn for Munster - Holland is a bit small for lock.

Interesting team,O'Loughlin is a centre but is quick and we're pretty much out of wingers at the minute because of injuries.Henshaw gets his long awaited debut and Nagle gets his 2nd start against his old team,our scrum could be in for a tough time with that 2nd row.
No van der Flier in the squad and Murphy at 7 are not decisions I'd really be happy with but other than that it's a pretty decent team.

Kleyn is injured.

Should be interesting to see how the Henshaw Ringrose partnership goes. Great for Munster that Scannell is back.


Bit too early to expect much from POM but he makes up for Holland in the lineout.


Leinster have a better bench and that might decide it.

asoreleftshoulder wrote:Interesting team,O'Loughlin is a centre but is quick and we're pretty much out of wingers at the minute because of injuries.Henshaw gets his long awaited debut and Nagle gets his 2nd start against his old team,our scrum could be in for a tough time with that 2nd row.
No van der Flier in the squad and Murphy at 7 are not decisions I'd really be happy with but other than that it's a pretty decent team.

Honestly the team selections look as if they may have a touch of Schmidt involved. Murphy over JvdF (or even Leavy) just seems strange from a Leinster perspective. Having Henshaw immediately brought into the starting 12 shirt is also unusual.

I was looking at it and I'd say it is a touch of rotation with the next few weeks in mind,Murphy only has 2 starts this season while van der Flier has 4 and a game off the bench.Leavy has big numbers too.

I think Reid took a knock against Cardiff so we're pretty light at 12.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

asoreleftshoulder wrote:Interesting team,O'Loughlin is a centre but is quick and we're pretty much out of wingers at the minute because of injuries.Henshaw gets his long awaited debut and Nagle gets his 2nd start against his old team,our scrum could be in for a tough time with that 2nd row.
No van der Flier in the squad and Murphy at 7 are not decisions I'd really be happy with but other than that it's a pretty decent team.

Honestly the team selections look as if they may have a touch of Schmidt involved. Murphy over JvdF (or even Leavy) just seems strange from a Leinster perspective. Having Henshaw immediately brought into the starting 12 shirt is also unusual.

Leo must feel that he has to give Henshaw and Ringrose minutes in advance of the european games because starting a new centre partnership for the first time in a euro game would be highly criticised. I still think bench at most for Henshaw for this game.

This Leinster centre partnership needs one of the mashup names in the media. Will it be Henrose or Ringshaw?

How did Ringrose not get that try?

Bad mistake but decent game so far from Leinster,disappointed not to have 2 tries,our scrum and defense are on top.If we keep this up we should get the right result.

McGrath, Sexton and Nacewa combine on blind side and ISA over.

11-7 to Leinster. 3 mins to half time

Sweetnam looks a very good player. Combative, quick and good in the air.

Yeah he's been really impressive this season,there are international caps in his future.

Its been a predictable match so far. Leinster looking comfortable although they're only 4 points ahead.

That disallowed try felt harsh.

Looked a fine try, but guess it's all down to interpretation.

McGrath and Ringrose having fine games,we're well on top and to be fair getting the rub of the green from the ref.

Ringrose and Henshall look very good together

Good second half. Munster unlucky not get anything from the game, but Leinster deserved winners.

Must admit that I thought the game would be much closer in final result, higher skill level and more tries by both teams..

Very good result for Leinster, Munster have looked a much tougher challenge in their previous games.

To sum up Munsters attack, at the start of the second have with the ball laying there from a ruck, Connor Murray was literally strolling over to it.

So just one point separating Ulster, Leinster and Ospreys at the top of the table going into the break.

Notch wrote:So just one point separating Ulster, Leinster and Ospreys at the top of the table going into the break.

Four points between five teams after six rounds.

Let's see what Dragons, Scarlets, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Connacht can do to get in the mix.

This could be an interesting season

profitius wrote:To sum up Munsters attack, at the start of the second have with the ball laying there from a ruck, Connor Murray was literally strolling over to it.

Oh Dear.  Up to his old tricks?

Munster easing up on effort before Europe?

maestegmafia wrote:

Notch wrote:So just one point separating Ulster, Leinster and Ospreys at the top of the table going into the break.

Four points between five teams after six rounds.

Let's see what Dragons, Scarlets, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Connacht can do to get in the mix.

This could be an interesting season

Yeah it's a strange thing to think that if Ulster win their next game we could consolidate our hold on top spot- if we lose we might be out of the playoff places.

Notch wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

Notch wrote:So just one point separating Ulster, Leinster and Ospreys at the top of the table going into the break.

Four points between five teams after six rounds.

Let's see what Dragons, Scarlets, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Connacht can do to get in the mix.

This could be an interesting season

Yeah it's a strange thing to think that if Ulster win their next game we could consolidate our hold on top spot- if we lose we might be out of the playoff places.

Still early doors, plenty of other opportunities to drop out of the top six mate...! Just look at Scarlets last year.

Cardiff are sixth with 18 points. Ulster and Leinster are on 22.

Very tight in top 6 at this early stage. And Scarlets, Edinburgh and Connacht are not far off 6th spot.

Another Big Weekend of derbies again in the next round with three matches in particular that could shake things up further. Leinster v Connacht, Ulster v Munster and Cardiff v Scarlets.

Thoughts on the game;

How did Ringrose butcher that try chance? It was very poor form.
Thought Henshaw was relatively quiet, he'll need to up his performance.
Earls cut a desperate figure. Usually I like his passion and getting stuck in. There was a lack of focus or control to him in the game.
Jordi, Ruddock and Heaslip were too a like for me. Leinster needed a VDF or Leavy on the field.
Healy played well (it's a long long time since I've said that).
Furlong looks like he is now ahead of Ross.
Why do Leinster use Toner as a decoy in the lineout? If you just lift Toner and throw the ball, now one can intercept it. The throw-in calling has gone too far and is out-thinking itself.
Murray pulled up after one box kick towards the end of the game. Didn't like it appeared ankle related, hopes it's not the start of something.



Nice touch before the game for the minutes silence. Hadn't heard it during the week. Well respected by all as always.
http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/news/15331.php#.V_toa9LrtkA

thebandwagonsociety wrote:
Why do Leinster use Toner as a decoy in the lineout? If you just lift Toner and throw the ball, now one can intercept it.  The throw-in calling has gone too far and is out-thinking itself.

I think the idea of keeping the opposition on their toes about the placement of the ball is always advantageous.  It's not so much about ensuring Leinster get the ball as in trying to confuse the intended opposition team response when Leinster do get it.  The melee for dominance after the throw-in (i.e., which players are where) is as important as getting the ball in the first place.

thebandwagonsociety wrote:Thoughts on the game;

How did Ringrose butcher that try chance? It was very poor form.
Thought Henshaw was relatively quiet, he'll need to up his performance.
Earls cut a desperate figure.  Usually I like his passion and getting stuck in.  There was a lack of focus or control to him in the game.
Jordi, Ruddock and Heaslip were too a like for me.  Leinster needed a VDF or Leavy on the field.
Healy played well (it's a long long time since I've said that).
Furlong looks like he is now ahead of Ross.
Why do Leinster use Toner as a decoy in the lineout? If you just lift Toner and throw the ball, now one can intercept it.  The throw-in calling has gone too far and is out-thinking itself.
Murray pulled up after one box kick towards the end of the game.  Didn't like it appeared ankle related, hopes it's not the start of something.



Nice touch before the game for the minutes silence.  Hadn't heard it during the week.  Well respected by all as always.
http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/news/15331.php#.V_toa9LrtkA

It was a poor miss from Ringrose but otherwise he was excellent,that's the first time I've seen him really spark in an attacking sense..Henshaw was in his first game back from injury and his first ever game for Leinster.Given that I though he was excellent defensively and while he didn't do a massive amount himself in attack I really think his presence gave Ringrose that little bit of extra time and space he needed to sparkle.

Healy has been doing well so far this season,nothing spectacular but solid improvement and I really liked how he dominated Ryan who was looking ver strong before this.We used his dominance really well for the first try where he just nudged the scrum forward enough that the Munster backrow had no chance to help cover the attack.

Furlong does look like he should be starting,the only issue I have is that Ross is a pretty terrible sub,he doesn't have any impact around the pitch and for some reason he doesn't seem able to be as good in the scrum when coming off the bench.He's usually rock solid there when starting  but I have seen a lot of instances where he's come on and the scrum has gotten worse.Maybe that's down to the other players in the scrum with him,I don't know.

The news about Triggs' daughter is unbelievably sad,I have a 3 year old girl and the thought of what he's going through gives me a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach.He played for the Leinster A's at the weekend.

Its been mentioned in a number of reports that this fixture has lost a bit of its appeal or spark.

Do people think that its because Munster are no longer the top or 2nd province?
Has Leinster V Ulster returned as the biggest derby for Leinster fans?

Or is it that both are struggling a little in Europe now, and at its peak it was two of the best teams in Europe?

Kingshu wrote:Its been mentioned in a number of reports that this fixture has lost a bit of its appeal or spark.

Do people think that its because Munster are no longer the top or 2nd province?
Has Leinster V Ulster returned as the biggest derby for Leinster fans?

Or is it that both are struggling a little in Europe now, and at its peak it was two of the best teams in Europe?

I'd say your last bit might be the most accurate reading.  I think all Provinces are simply too busy trying to get a foundation in place that might see them compete better in both Pro12 AND Europe.  Provinces are too self-absorbed in processes at the moment and therefore the idea of Big Emotional Fights between each other are on the back-burner for a while.
But then again, the Leinster posh/Ladyboy(Dublin) v the raw, culchie, rustic Munster is a delicious double cliché that will always sell well in Ireland.  I don't think Leinster v Ulster would ever have that narrative of the decent common man against the affected asswhole!

Looks like SOB could be fit for this weekend. Surely he wont be included right away though?

McFadden to be out for about a month.

No mention of the Cronin stamp or the non-award of the try?

PhilBB wrote:No mention of the Cronin stamp or the non-award of the try?

Phil, I don't think you should comment on threads that aren't explicitly related to Welsh Rugby. You tend to derail threads and make people, you know, enjoy reading them much less.

Yeah, I can see that. Fair comment. Best to not mention the stamp and how Leinster have benefitted two weeks running from the calls of the officials.

Still, Cronin has at least been cited.

PhilBB wrote:Yeah, I can see that. Fair comment. Best to not mention the stamp and how Leinster have benefitted two weeks running from the calls of the officials.

Still, Cronin has at least been cited.

Well I didn't watch the game so I actually have no idea about that. I'm just making the point that as much as you have the right to post on here, posters have the right to have at least some threads where they don't have to directly deal with you.

I bet Cardiff have never ever in there history benefited from a refs decision. And if they did they would have asked for the result not to stand. As we all know they are the shining lights of virtue.

SecretFly wrote:I don't think Leinster v Ulster would ever have that narrative of the decent common man against the affected asswhole!

More like the decent common man against a bunch of Protestants amiright?

For the disallowed try you can see the ball carrier using his knee to propel himself forward after he's tackled so that looks a fair call. The last try looked like a forward pass to me that would be the call Munster fans could complain about most.

There's not much to say about the stamp it was nasty and he'll get a decent ban,nobody is defending him that I've seen.

I'd say Phil would whinge that Munster got the calls if they went the other way,it's just a pity there's no way two Irish teams could have lost the match.