Munster vs Saracens - European Rugby Champions Cup: Semi Final 1

First topic message reminder :

V



When:
Saturday 22nd April - 15:15

Where:
Aviva stadium, Lansdowne Rd, Dublin 4, Ireland




TV:
BT Sport / beIN Sports / Sky Italia

Officials:
Referee - Romain Poite (France)
Touch Judge 1 - Pascal Gauzere (France)
Touch Judge 2 - Alexandre Ruiz (France)
TMO - Philippe Bonhoure (France)
Citing Commissioner - Jeff Mark (Wales)


Previous Meetings:
17/1/15 Saracens 33 - 10 Munster Rugby
24/10/14 Munster Rugby 14 - 3 Saracens
16/12/12 Saracens 19 - 13 Munster Rugby




MUNSTER



ERC Form: Played 7, Won 6, Lost 1
Pro12 Form: Played 20, Won 17, Lost 3

Lineup:

15 Simon Zebo
14 Andrew Conway
13 Jaco Taute
12 Rory Scannell
11 Keith Earls
10 Tyler Bleyendaal
9 Duncan Williams
1 Dave Kilcoyne
2 Niall Scannell
3 John Ryan
4 Donnacha Ryan
5 Billy Holland
6 Peter O'Mahony (capt)
7 Tommy O'Donnell
8 CJ Stander

16 Rhys Marshall
17 James Cronin
18 Stephen Archer
19 Dave O'Callaghan
20 Jean Deysel
21 Ian Keatley
22 Francis Saili
23 Darren Sweetnam


Saracens



ERC Form: Played 7, Won 6, Drawn 1
AP Form: Played 20, Won 15, Drawn 1, Lost 4

Lineup:

15 Alex Goode (226)
14 Chris Ashton (114)
13 Marcelo Bosch (93)
12 Brad Barritt (c) (193)
11 Sean Maitland (19)
10 Owen Farrell (148)
9 Richard Wigglesworth (182)

1 Mako Vunipola (116)
2 Jamie George (168)
3 Vincent Koch (11)
4 Maro Itoje (71)
5 George Kruis (132)
6 Michael Rhodes (53)
7 Jackson Wray (169)
8 Billy Vunipola (74)

16 Schalk Brits (198)
17 Titi Lamositele (42)
18 Petrus Du Plessis (154)
19 Jim Hamilton (71)
20 Schalk Burger (21)
21 Ben Spencer (97)
22 Alex Lozowski (27)
23 Chris Wyles (222)

Underdogs + 40,000+ people behind them + getting back the winning habit this season = reasons to be optimistic.

profitius wrote:Underdogs + 40,000+ people behind them + getting back the winning habit this season = reasons to be optimistic.

I do find it strange that Munster are supposedly the underdogs.

I think Munster are well suited to cause Saracens a lot of problems.

Saracens enjoy playing against teams that have porous defences and allow Saracens to control the breakdown - I don't think Munster will allow either.

beshocked wrote:

profitius wrote:Underdogs + 40,000+ people behind them + getting back the winning habit this season = reasons to be optimistic.

I do find it strange that Munster are supposedly the underdogs.

I think Munster are well suited to cause Saracens a lot of problems.

Saracens enjoy playing against teams that have porous defences and allow Saracens to control the breakdown - I don't think Munster will allow either.

Saracens are Champs.  You gotta live with the titles and the favouritism that comes with it.  And in Saracen's case, the favouritism seems well placed in the game they bring.

Munster have past glories and pretty decent form but it's the side that has to reprove itself as capable of getting to the top.  One game away.  Should be a Meaty encounter.

SecretFly wrote:With all the gloom, I think my feelings are going up again!  Munster always do something when everybody thinks they won't.  

Maybe but it's one of those games that is very hard to call for Munster . While the team have been winning (mostly) they haven't been at all convincing.

SecretFly wrote:

beshocked wrote:

profitius wrote:Underdogs + 40,000+ people behind them + getting back the winning habit this season = reasons to be optimistic.

I do find it strange that Munster are supposedly the underdogs.

I think Munster are well suited to cause Saracens a lot of problems.

Saracens enjoy playing against teams that have porous defences and allow Saracens to control the breakdown - I don't think Munster will allow either.

Saracens are Champs.  You gotta live with the titles and the favouritism that comes with it.  And in Saracen's case, the favouritism seems well placed in the game they bring.

Munster have past glories and pretty decent form but it's the side that has to reprove itself as capable of getting to the top.  One game away.  Should be a Meaty encounter.

I just think Munster will pose similar challenges that Ireland did and Saracens won't find it easy. Especially as the game is in Ireland and there will be a lot of emotion from the Munster camp for obvious reasons.

Sure the Aviva isn't Thomond Park but just means more Irish can fit into the stadium.

I do think Saracens are capable of causing an upset and will field a strong side but Munster are as I keep saying one of the sides best suited to causing Saracens issues.

Travelling to Ireland isn't easy as England and Wasps have found this year.

Geen sport voor watjes wrote:

SecretFly wrote:With all the gloom, I think my feelings are going up again!  Munster always do something when everybody thinks they won't.  

Maybe but it's one of those games that is very hard to call for Munster . While the team have been winning (mostly) they haven't been at all convincing.

I agree in a way. Very dicey game to say what might happen. But if they can bring mental heat as a team to the encounter - that bit of controlled sustained rage..... it might be a good day.

SecretFly wrote:

Geen sport voor watjes wrote:

SecretFly wrote:With all the gloom, I think my feelings are going up again!  Munster always do something when everybody thinks they won't.  

Maybe but it's one of those games that is very hard to call for Munster . While the team have been winning (mostly) they haven't been at all convincing.

I agree in a way.  Very dicey game to say what might happen.  But if they can bring mental heat as a team to the encounter - that bit of controlled sustained rage..... it might be a good day.

Here's hoping. An All Ireland final would be nice (savage but nice)

beshocked wrote:I do think Saracens are capable of causing an upset and will field a strong side but Munster are as I keep saying one of the sides best suited to causing Saracens issues.

It would not be an upset if Saracens win. They are the champions and Europe's best team with five Lions in their pack.

Geen sport voor watjes wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

Geen sport voor watjes wrote:

SecretFly wrote:With all the gloom, I think my feelings are going up again!  Munster always do something when everybody thinks they won't.  

Maybe but it's one of those games that is very hard to call for Munster . While the team have been winning (mostly) they haven't been at all convincing.

I agree in a way.  Very dicey game to say what might happen.  But if they can bring mental heat as a team to the encounter - that bit of controlled sustained rage..... it might be a good day.

Here's hoping. An All Ireland final would be nice (savage but nice)

As a neutral I like Munster they are full of passion and commitment, hard as nails. I admire that. Always enjoy their games with Tigers. At the same time part of me wants to see a Sarries vs Leinster final. Can Leinster cut open that Sarries defence, can that Leinster backrow cut off the supply to the Sarries machine. Plus Farrell vs Sexton.

formerly known as Sam wrote: At the same time part of me wants to see a Sarries vs Leinster final. Can Leinster cut open that Sarries defence, can that Leinster backrow cut off the supply to the Sarries machine. Plus Farrell vs Sexton.

Shut it, Sam! Can Leinster get to a Goddamned final in the first place! Don't be setting us up for a fall!

Munster A won the British & Irish Cup tonight, beating Jersey 29-28

https://twitter.com/Munsterrugby/status/855526136926830593

Sin é wrote:Munster A won the British & Irish Cup tonight, beating Jersey 29-28

https://twitter.com/Munsterrugby/status/855526136926830593

I'd expect some late Lions wildcard entries for Jersey as a result.

SecretFly wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote: At the same time part of me wants to see a Sarries vs Leinster final. Can Leinster cut open that Sarries defence, can that Leinster backrow cut off the supply to the Sarries machine. Plus Farrell vs Sexton.

Shut it, Sam!  Can Leinster get to a Goddamned final in the first place!  Don't be setting us up for a fall!

You should be fine. Clermont are good but they aren't a classic side. A bruising encounter but I think Leinster will have to many attacking options.

Right Munster.

Today you go out there and man shame them fancy pants salary cap cheating sons of guns.

Thanks in advance.

Saracens are carrying the premiership flag today (plus might I add the promise of England and the dream of the Lions), so there's no to much expectation.
Having said that this Saracens squad is the best I have seen in England in over a decade and are coached by probably one of the greats of the modern game anywhere.
Absolutely fascinating.

kingelderfield wrote:Saracens are carrying the premiership flag today (plus might I add the promise of England and the dream of the Lions), so there's no to much expectation.
Having said that this Saracens squad is the best I have seen in England in over a decade and are coached by probably one of the greats of the modern game anywhere.
Absolutely fascinating.

Yes the top man is Irish isn't he

Sin é wrote:Munster A won the British & Irish Cup tonight, beating Jersey 29-28

https://twitter.com/Munsterrugby/status/855526136926830593

Did you watch? Cracking second half of rugby. Munster A down 0-18 before a try before half time and then just outplayed Jersey in the second half. Was a great game.

carpet baboon wrote:

kingelderfield wrote:Saracens are carrying the premiership flag today (plus might I add the promise of England and the dream of the Lions), so there's no to much expectation.
Having said that this Saracens squad is the best I have seen in England in over a decade and are coached by probably one of the greats of the modern game anywhere.
Absolutely fascinating.

Yes the top man is Irish isn't he

He hasn't spoken with me today, however I understand he doesn't go in for nationality as a rule. More of omnipresent sort of thing. You know?

Nerves have kicked in big time. Herself has just gone shopping (stocked up the fridge first which is brilliant) as she cannot stand to be near me. May have to have a very early pint to calm the nerves

My pre game pints will be at outside the pub on the canal. Could be worse.

Here is too a good game lads, may the better team win

Com on you Munster. You big farming barstewards. Destroy them

Mon the turnips!!!!

Come on Munster! Make this your year!

Hate to see players being held up around the neck

Some start from Munster. Munster Abu

nathan wrote:Hate to see players being held up around the neck

Yeah that was a pen. Intensity from Munster.

Jaysus Sarries are good when they spread the ball...

eirebilly wrote:Jaysus Sarries are good when they spread the ball...

Very nearly a lovely try. Makes a mockery of people who say they are one dimensional.

Scottrf wrote:

eirebilly wrote:Jaysus Sarries are good when they spread the ball...

Very nearly a lovely try. Makes a mockery of people who say they are one dimensional.

Never one dimensional, a quality team.

That was a penalty to Munster.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:That was a penalty to Munster.

Yeah, thought Ashton played on after being tackled myself...

Doesn't matter, you win some you lose some.

Nothing in that, the crowd won that penalty

Good refereeing, neither was a yellow but I think the next one will be.

TightHEAD wrote:Nothing in that, the crowd won that penalty

? You're drunk. Obvious pen but no more

Hmm, not liking the raised foot either.

I don't drink, and his foot as down

Nothing in that either. The crowd has lost the plot and the Ref is buying it

Not a yellow card for the tackle but far too many incidents from Sarries.

Have to say that is a load of rubbish

First contact with the head should be yellow. But it doesn't seem it's often reffed like that since the first week of the new rule.

Savage defence from Sarries.

Scottrf wrote:First contact with the head should be yellow. But it doesn't seem it's often reffed like that since the first week of the new rule.

I don't think has either. I'm not sure how players can react so fast when a player slips 3 inches in front of them.

Sarries are soaking up The pressure

nathan wrote:

Scottrf wrote:First contact with the head should be yellow. But it doesn't seem it's often reffed like that since the first week of the new rule.

I don't think has either. I'm not sure how players can react so fast when a player slips 3 inches in front of them.

I agree but that's not supposed to be relevant according to everything I heard when the new law was introduced.

And when it happens to Hartley it's like he committed murder.

Come on Munster. That's rubbish.

Fed up with the play acting from Munster, it's like watching football.

TightHEAD wrote:Fed up with the play acting from Munster, it's like watching football.

Tight really is the wrong word in your username.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:Fed up with the play acting from Munster, it's like watching football.

Tight really is the wrong word in your username.

Pay no attention to him Rory

Farrell just takes advantage of every opportunity.