EPCR Quarter Final Edinburgh V Munster

Edinburgh
v
Munster Rugby


Saturday 30 March 2019 12:45 (GMT)  Champions Cup  Round  Quarter-Finals  BT Murrayfield Stadium  Ref: Pascal Gauzère (France)  Assis Ref 1: Ludovic Cayre (France) Assis Ref 2: Jonathan Dufort (France)  TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)

Teams

Edinburgh



15. Darcy Graham, 14. Damien Hoyland, 13. James Johnstone, 12. Chris Dean, 11. Duhan Van Der Merwe, 10. Jaco van der Walt, 9. Henry Pyrgos, 1. Pierre Schoeman, 2. Stuart McInally (c), 3. WP Nel, 4. Ben Toolis, 5. Grant Gilchrist, 6. John Barclay, 7. Hamish Watson, 8. Viliame Mata.

Replacements:
16. Ross Ford, 17. Allan Dell, 18. Simon Berghan, 19. Magnus Bradbury, 20. Jamie Ritchie, 21. Charlie Shiel, 22. Simon Hickey, 23. Mark Bennett,

Munster



15. Mike Haley, 14. Andrew Conway, 13. Chris Farrell, 12. Rory Scannell, 11. Keith Earls, 10. Joey Carbery, 9. Conor Murray, 1. Dave Kilcoyne, 2. Niall Scannell, 3. John Ryan, 4. Jean Kleyn, 5. Tadhg Beirne, 6. Peter O'Mahony (c), 7. Jack O'Donoghue, 8. CJ Stander.

This look to be a brutal match up - two very physical teams who prefer route one rugby, but have a bit of flair to finish things off too. Munster are heavy favourites at the bookies at 4/9 with Edinburgh 9/5 - bookies don't often get things wrong but that seems very generous odds for Edinburgh given how successful they've been in Europe this season, combined with Munster still trying to get back to their glory days of European heavyweights.

So I think it's fair to say that the back row poses the biggest selection headache for this game! Mata and Watson are guaranteed starters, so that leaves 2 spaces available for 3 players - Ritchie, Bradbury and Barclay, even that's not even considering Luke Crosbie and Luke Hamilton who have had good seasons.

Personally I think he needs to go with Barclay - he is a class act and we looked a lot better with him. It's a big ask physically but he looked good in 70 minutes in a very physical game against Leinster on Friday. It's harsh on Ritchie but I would pick Bradbury on the bench - we need all the physicality we can get against Munster. The choice may be made easier for Cockerill if Ritchie still has his neck injury.

The other interesting debate will be centre, where Matt Scott made a physical return against Leinster. He looks a little sluggish having bulked up a lot (and wasn't exactly small before) but hopefully that's just rustiness. Personally I would start with Dean-Johnson who have excelled in Europe and have Matt Scott off the bench.

Only other concern is Toolis who didn't look in a good way when he came off injured against Leinster - he would be a huge blow.

So here's my team assuming Toolis is injured:

1 Schoeman
2 McInally (C)
3 Nel
4 Mckenzie
5 Gilchrist
6 Barclay
7 Watson
8 Mata

9 Pyrgos
10 VDW
11 VDM (hopefully he actually touches the ball this game!)
12 Dean
13 JJ
14 Graham
15 Fife

Subs - Dell, Ford, Berghan, CHH, Bradbury, Fowles, Hickey, Scott

Despite what the bookies say I think we stand a good chance - Munster have shown that if you can live with their intensity they often lack a plan B. If we can get VDM ball in space and with Graham on such red hot form I fancy us to have the advantage out wide - we just need the forwards to give them the ball!

Just when you thought it was safe to come out from behind the pillow fort!

I'm not too stressed about this one as it's just nice to be here! If we win then great, if we lose we've done very well just to get there - it's not like this is a regular occurrence for us. I very much want to win though.

I know that's a very Scottish view to take but I suspect most Edinburgh fans will feel the same!

I think Edinburgh have a real chance in this game - Munster have the benefit of experience of this level, but that Edinburgh team (pack especially) has quality throughout, and are at home.

RDW wrote:I'm not too stressed about this one as it's just nice to be here! If we win then great, if we lose we've done very well just to get there - it's not like this is a regular occurrence for us. I very much want to win though.

I know that's a very Scottish view to take but I suspect most Edinburgh fans will feel the same!

Oh I want the win too.

Munster have the euro pedigree but it's not like we'll not have a chance, at home, to beat them!

Imagine if we do win. A home semi against either the Weedge (meaning a free pass to the final for Edinburgh) or we'd get a crack at the gym monkies of Sarries.

I'm coming up for this one so definitely want the win!

Such a stupid time for kick off though.

RDW wrote:I'm coming up for this one so definitely want the win!

Such a stupid time for kick off though.

Spread of times to allow the TV folks to show games. Ironically this game is on C4 so it may have an impact on the number of casual fans who may stay in to watch on tele rather than going to HQ to see it live.

Looks like we might fall short of the attendance record - over 30k tickets sold but can't imagine we're going to have 9k walk ups. The raised the prices of the tickets a month ago too which I think was silly - fair enough in the last week or something but the casual fan isn't going to buy their tickets that far in advance.

tigertattie wrote:


Imagine if we do win. A home semi against either the Weedge (meaning a free pass to the final for Edinburgh) or we'd get a crack at the gym monkies of Sarries.

I thought the winner between Sarries and Glasgow have the home semi?

LondonTiger wrote:

tigertattie wrote:


Imagine if we do win. A home semi against either the Weedge (meaning a free pass to the final for Edinburgh) or we'd get a crack at the gym monkies of Sarries.

I thought the winner between Sarries and Glasgow have the home semi?

They do.

If it's Glasgow the game will be at Murrayfield.

Aha, I see.

RDW wrote:Looks like we might fall short of the attendance record - over 30k tickets sold but can't imagine we're going to have 9k walk ups. The raised the prices of the tickets a month ago too which I think was silly - fair enough in the last week or something but the casual fan isn't going to buy their tickets that far in advance.

Will be entirely weather dependant

Nice end or March early spring day and we could get a good number walking up to the stadium on a whim. Sods law though it's dwon as being nice Wed/Thurs with the wind switching to the north over the weekend to result in brass monkey conditions over the weekend. Chance of a wee shower in the morning but should be dry come kick off. Greasy ball then

Agree it's daft that they've increased ticket sales by so much. Sure, give a discount for early bookings, but now it looks like they are trying to cream off more money from fans who dont usually turn out.

I’m going to this as sloppy seconds since I couldn’t make it to London. Anybody got any idea of a good place to watch the proper game on the telly after?

Cockers saying this morning that he pretty much has a fully fit squad which is a big positive - suggests Toolis is fit. I was thinking that if Toolis was injured he'd pick two back rows on the bench with Bradbury and Mata providing emergency lock cover - let's face it he's unlike to sub Gilchrist or McKenzie of for CHH!

He's also talking about the need to have the right balance across his back row options - not sure exactly what that means as whoever he picks to go at 6 and on the bench there will be balance, just a different kind of balance!

I’d largely agree with your team RDW, except I’d probably start Scott and have Dean on the bench, but there’s not a huge amount in it.

Would be good news if Toolis is fit, we need as strong a team as possible and having him and Gilco in the 2nd row would make a big difference.

Muster looking for their third semi final in a row but in the previous two were at home for the quarters

This is the best draw Munster could hope for and should get over the line barely.  As they showed with Exeter they can do the physical side fine.  Also no offence but Munster will have no fear of Edinburgh though they had no fear of Ulster when they lost to them that year.

If Munster haven't started dominating the game physically by 20mins they will lose.  All the games were they have failed to get dominance they lose, parity isn't enough.  If they don't start well phyisicall they general can't dig deep later on.

Munster by 1pt

Brendan, Never underestimate Scottish rugby’s ability to not just shoot itself in the foot but blow its own head clean off. The luvvies have conspired to lose games they should have won against much worse teams than Munster.

Jokes aside, Cockers is in the middle of turning this Edinburgh side into an enormous juggernaut and it will take a brave team to try and dominate the luvvies. Their pack is absolutely enormous these days and they have backs that can score tries if the forwards ever bother giving them the ball.

I think you've got it spot on about Munster Brendan - it's going to be a tough task to try and dominate Edinburgh though as it's a long time since we've been physically dominated! All but one of our pack featured in the 6N too where we held our own against pretty much everyone up front. We've come up against some brutal packs this season in Montpellier and Toulon and come out on top. The difference with Munster compared to those two is intensity - if Munster bring their top intensity to the game we might struggle to keep up.

It is actually a good draw for Edinburgh too - if we can hold our own physically I think we've got more fire power out wide to cause Munster problems, and Munster don't really have a plan B. We would struggle against a team like Racing or Leinster who have excellent attacking games.

Munster are definitely favourites but it's an intriguing match up!

Being this nice about Edinburgh is making me sneeze.

You're only speaking from experience Eejit - Glasgow are well used to being utterly dominated up front by Edinburgh!

RDW wrote:You're only speaking from experience Eejit - Glasgow are well used to being utterly dominated up front by Edinburgh!

Away and engineer yourself a league trophy. Until then its luvvies, always luvvies.

So I've suggested the new Edinburgh home strip for an early birthday present from my parents but they're completely out of stock everywhere.

How shoddy is that from the SRU? Edinburgh's biggest game in years, an opportunity to sell loads of strips, and they don't have any!

RDW wrote:So I've suggested the new Edinburgh home strip for an early birthday present from my parents but they're completely out of stock everywhere.

How shoddy is that from the SRU? Edinburgh's biggest game in years, an opportunity to sell loads of strips, and they don't have any!

Tried Lovell Rugby?

They don't have any in large

I could get you a nice Glasgow jersey out of Greaves Sports if you like.

I called the SRU shop - the SRU haven't made any more as it's near the end of season and a new top is coming out in the summer.

Really, really shoddy!

Eejit wrote:I could get you a nice Glasgow jersey out of Greaves Sports if you like.

Could do with something to use when the post-Brexit toilet roll shortage happens...

In the playoffs last year Munster only won from an Edinburgh error.

Munster have no plan behind the pack so would need a mistake or one off magic to win like they did last year. If you could play the team that travelled to Munster earlier in the season it would be much appreciated.

The closer it gets the less I believe.

On a side note. If Edinburgh end up in the Challage next year surely they would look to actually win the whole thing and be the first Scots Euro Champions

A euro trophy is better than a Pro14 surely

Or is the bread a butter of the club, the other is champagne

it’s certainly an achievement in itself but I think most people would rank it:
1. Champions Cup
2. Pro14
3. Challenge Cup
4. The Premiership

That was a joke. Please don’t send me hatemail.

Pro 14 win is definitely above winning the Challenge Cup.

I've not been able to buy a Scotland or Edinburgh strip since macron were brought on.

Why?

I'm a retired 6ft 4 player and the macron strips dont get big enough to fit me. I'm not even in the beer belly brigade, I'm just broad shouldered like many a rugby player

You'd think that the SRU would tell macron to make the bloomin things in a bigger size!!!

Still, like GLove, I still have my old strips from Canterbury. I've even got an old pringle one but that doesnt fit as I was about 12 stone when that one was purchased!

The beer belly is a source of power. Like Samson’s hair.

Eejit wrote:The beer belly is a source of power. Like Samson’s hair.

jimbo's source of power is his online thesaurus and a 23 page PowerPoint presentation on how to use the v2 quote function!

Chat from the club is we're at 35k now. Can't see another 3-4k rocking up to take it over the attendance record.

I suspect the attendance is going to be fudged to be a new record - I'm sure they'll count all the players, coaches, referees, stewards, bar staff etc to make sure we get the record!

Maybe the record will be set in the semis

RDW wrote:I suspect the attendance is going to be fudged to be a new record - I'm sure they'll count all the players, coaches, referees, stewards, bar staff etc to make sure we get the record!

Very cynical, but aye fair point, they'll count everyone they possibly can. If it comes to it they'll probably be out on lothian road giving tickets away.

Team's up - bit worried about Darcy playing fullback! They've gone for double back row bench as expected.


Edinburgh and Scotland captain Stuart McInally returns to the starting line-up for tomorrow afternoon’s highly anticipated Heineken Champions Cup Quarter-Final against Munster at BT Murrayfield (Saturday 30 March, kick-off 12.45pm).

The inclusion of the 27-times capped hooker is one four changes to the side that defeated Leinster last weekend as fellow Scotland internationalists Grant Gilchrist and Damien Hoyland start at lock and wing respectively, while Chris Dean is named in the centre.

With nearly 35,000 tickets sold for the fixture already, the match is fast-approaching a UK record attendance for the Quarter-Final stages. Tickets can still be purchased at edinburghrugby.org.

Ahead of the fixture – which sees Edinburgh compete in their first Heineken Champions Cup Quarter-Final in seven years - Head Coach Richard Cockerill, said: "We’re going to go full blown into the battle and take them on.

“We're going to enjoy the contest and see if we’re good enough to do it. We’ll try and out-Munster Munster, as we’re two sides that play quite similar rugby.

“If we get it right we’ll beat them - we’ve got to front up in these big games. We’ll be well prepared, have a lot of belief in what we do and we’re coming here to win.”

With Hoyland named on the wing alongside the capital side’s top try-scorer Duhan van der Merwe, Scotland international Darcy Graham shifts to fullback.

Dean returns to the midfield and is partnered by James Johnstone, while scrum-half Henry Pyrgos and Jaco van der Walt continue at half-back.

The inclusion of McInally at hooker is the only alteration to an otherwise unchanged front-row as the skipper packs down alongside WP Nel – a try-scorer in last weekend’s bonus-point win over Leinster – and Pierre Schoeman.

Gilchrist – who is one three players in the matchday squad that faced Toulouse in the capital side’s last Quarter-Final appearance in 2012 - returns at lock alongside fellow club centurion, Ben Toolis.

An unchanged back-row sees Scotland stars John Barclay and Hamish Watson continue at blindside and openside flanker respectively, with Fijian international Viliame Mata once again named at No. 8.



Edinburgh team to face Munster at BT Murrayfield in the Heineken Champions Cup Quarter-Final on Saturday 30 March (kick-off 12.45pm) – live on Channel 4 and BT Sport



15. Darcy Graham (20)



14. Damien Hoyland (60)

13. James Johnstone (39)

12. Chris Dean (84)

11. Duhan van der Merwe (37)



10. Jaco van der Walt (36)

9. Henry Pyrgos (20)



1. Pierre Schoeman (19)

2. Stuart McInally (133) CAPTAIN

3. WP Nel (130)

4. Ben Toolis (106)

5. Grant Gilchrist (133)

6. John Barclay (1)

7. Hamish Watson (96)

8. Viliame Mata (56)



Replacements: 16. Ross Ford (195); 17. Allan Dell (58); 18. Simon Berghan (63); 19. Magnus Bradbury (61); 20. Jamie Ritchie (61); 21. Charlie Shiel (3); 22. Simon Hickey (17); 23. Mark Bennett (16)

EDINBURGH RUGBY


15. Darcy Graham, 14. Damien Hoyland, 13. James Johnstone, 12. Chris Dean, 11. Duhan Van Der Merwe, 10. Jaco van der Walt, 9. Henry Pyrgos, 1. Pierre Schoeman, 2. Stuart McInally (c), 3. WP Nel, 4. Ben Toolis, 5. Grant Gilchrist, 6. John Barclay, 7. Hamish Watson, 8. Viliame Mata.

Replacements:
16. Ross Ford, 17. Allan Dell, 18. Simon Berghan, 19. Magnus Bradbury, 20. Jamie Ritchie, 21. Charlie Shiel, 22. Simon Hickey, 23. Mark Bennett,

MUNSTER RUGBY
15. Mike Haley, 14. Andrew Conway, 13. Chris Farrell, 12. Rory Scannell, 11. Keith Earls, 10. Joey Carbery, 9. Conor Murray, 1. Dave Kilcoyne, 2. Niall Scannell, 3. John Ryan, 4. Jean Kleyn, 5. Tadhg Beirne, 6. Peter O'Mahony (c), 7. Jack O'Donoghue, 8. CJ Stander.

Replacements:
16. Rhys Marshall, 17. Jeremy Loughman, 18. Stephen Archer, 19. Billy Holland, 20. Arno Botha, 21. Alby Mathewson, 22. Tyler Bleyendaal, 23. Dan Goggin,

So as expected a pretty brutal Edinburgh pack but a bit dodgy in the backs

Our back 3 are all great in attack but Munster should really target them with their kicking game - none of them are renowned for that part of the game. Darcy wall want to get involved in everything too so there's a chance we're going to be caught out on turnovers as he won't be there.

I guess the forwards just won't give them the ball again!

Genuinely concerned about the height of our back line. Cardiff tore us to shreds when it was all midgets. They were generally making their tackles but they were all low making it easy for Cardiff to offload.

It's happened a few times this season and we struggle. I'm surprised Cockerill hasn't identified it.

Kicking game could cost us here.

I'm not that worried about Darcy at 15 but I am worried that Durhan is a bit "lazy" on chasing/fetching kicks and Hoyland is a bit of a defensive frailty.

Tell you what though, if we can stay in the game till the 50th minute then we could be in with a shout. Even the most stonch o Munster fans would have to say that our bench is far stronger than theirs with a plethora of capped internationals and Sheil isnt a bad player!

I wonder if Fife is injured - in a choice between Fife at 15 and Graham at 14, or Graham at 15 and Hoyland at 14 the former would win every time.

Duhan VDM is tall. Just not consistent in the air Des.

Excellent starting packs on both sides, but Edinburgh have the better replacements in the forwards. The front row coming on for Edinburgh is better than most starting front rows.

The backs probably shade towards Munster. A rainy, miserable day would probably suit Edinburgh more.

des wrote:Genuinely concerned about the height of our back line. Cardiff tore us to shreds when it was all midgets. They were generally making their tackles but they were all low making it easy for Cardiff to offload.

It's happened a few times this season and we struggle. I'm surprised Cockerill hasn't identified it.

Farrell caused us a lot of problems when we played them away earlier in the season, although to be fair we had a C team out for that game.

Dean and JJ have come up against some beasts in Europe this season and have done well - they're going to have a physical onslaught this weekend though.

Hazel Sapling wrote:Duhan VDM is tall. Just not consistent in the air Des.

Excellent starting packs on both sides, but Edinburgh have the better replacements in the forwards. The front row coming on for Edinburgh is better than most starting front rows.  

The backs probably shade towards Munster. A rainy, miserable day would probably suit Edinburgh more.

It's baffling eh. Our replacement forwards are better than the Glasgow staring ones!

Ok, I'll give them Brown over Ford and his zimmer frame, but otherwise, ouch!

The Glasgow locks and backrow are also utterly average at best. Going to be a long old day out there for Glasgow I think!

I know Duhan's no midget but collectively it's an abnormally small backline.

We definitely struggle when teams go wide. Small mercy's that Munster are not the Blues. Not often you can say that.

tigertattie wrote:

Hazel Sapling wrote:Duhan VDM is tall. Just not consistent in the air Des.

Excellent starting packs on both sides, but Edinburgh have the better replacements in the forwards. The front row coming on for Edinburgh is better than most starting front rows.  

The backs probably shade towards Munster. A rainy, miserable day would probably suit Edinburgh more.

It's baffling eh. Our replacement forwards are better than the Glasgow staring ones!

Ok, I'll give them Brown over Ford and his zimmer frame, but otherwise, ouch!

The Glasgow locks and backrow are also utterly average at best. Going to be a long old day out there for Glasgow I think!

Have you always posted like Donald Trump tweets or is this something you've recently adopted?