[Otacon]

At the suggerstion of our illustrious mod, toomevara, I would like to open this thread up to Munster fans [and appreciators!] to discuss all things Munster.

Topics for discussion here include team news, transfers, rumours and upcoming matches.

Stand Up and Discuss!

[PhatPiggins]

Is it open for constructive criticism or is it to be more phallus polishing like munsterfans ?

[emmet02]

Topics to discuss
What team do people want lining out in the game against Biarritz?
Do people think that the players will struggle in the heat, as evident in the Biarritz v Ospreys game?
What upcoming talent is there coming through the ranks that the casual fan hasn't heard about yet?

[Otacon]

Originally Posted by PhatPiggins

Is it open for constructive criticism or is it to be more phallus polishing like munsterfans ?

Constructive criticism is welcome. W*nkery can be left to munsterfans.

Originally Posted by emmet02

What team do people want lining out in the game against Biarritz?

For me personally, the only changes I would make would be POC and Hurley coming back. While I think Buckley needs to start, I don't see that happening. I also thought Coughlan had a good game so he should retain his place.

Originally Posted by emmet02

Do people think that the players will struggle in the heat, as evident in the Biarritz v Ospreys game?

The only players I feel this could effect on are Hayes and possibly Quinlan but both have very able replacements in Buckley and Williams so I'm not too worried about it.

Originally Posted by emmet02

What upcoming talent is there coming through the ranks that the casual fan hasn't heard about yet?

That is for someone much more knowledgable than me to say.

[phog]

Scans Today For Dowling & Howlett.
12 April 2010, 3:35 pm By Pat Geraghty

Doug Howlett (hamstring) and Ian Dowling (knee) will both undergo scans this afternoon to determine the full extent of the injuries they picked up against Northampton Saints on Saturday.The results of those scans will be announced tomorrow.

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/7398.php

I hope they both are available for the end of the season, a few tricky games still to be played.

[Risteard]

With the British & Irish Cup semi final less than two weeks away Anthony Foley takes a youthful squad to England on Wednesday to play Esher RFC.


Although they have five games still to play, the London club were crowned National League One Champions this weekend after their 31-12 win over Blaydon coincided with defeat for London Scottish.

The game against Munster will be played at Esher's Molesey Road ground with a provisional 5.45pm kick off.

Munster: Troy Smith (Midleton), Ronan O'Mahony (Garryowen), Mike Kelliher (Richmond), Mossie Lawlor (Shannon), Luke O'Dea (Shannon), Paul Rowley (UL Bohs), Aiden McNulty (UL Bohs), Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohs), Mike Sherry (Garryowen), Pa O'Regan (UL Bohs), Frank McKenna (Garryowen), Fergal Walsh (Shannon), Dave Sherry (Garryowen), Eoghan Grace (Shannon), Paddy Butler (Shannon). Replacements: Duncan Casey (Shannon), James Cronin (Highfield), Darragh Frawley (UL Bohs), Kieran O'Gorman (UL Bohs), Cathal Sheridan (UL Bohs), Johnny Holland (UCC), David Maloney (UL Bohs).

Interesting that Mossie Lawlor is playing though I presume it has to do with injuries to senior squad members and 'A' players being called up.

[Otacon]

Didn't realise Dougie was injured. Hope it isn't serious for either of them.

When is Hurley back?

[outwest]

connacht munster next sunday, does anyone know if munster will be resting any of their big guns. poc will def play it fit, i hope we will see croinin up against flan

[spoon]

I had a fear Howlett was injured, he looked unhappy when scoring his last try, and then he was taken off for Holland and Ronan finished the game on the wing.

We're running out of wingers now! Hope to god some of the guys can come through for the next leg.

[thomond2006]

Good idea for thread. Like the Soccer forum, match discussion should be kept to match threads IMO.

Hard to know the team for Biarritz with all the injuries/doubts at present.

What current academy players are getting full contracts next season?

[subfreq]

Dare I even type it, but POC really shouldn't be an automatic inclusion unless he finds not only form but also keeps the scrum progressing like it is.

He has been way out of form and maybe that is due to playing through an injury until it got to the point it eventually did.

Either way O'Driscoll has really been impressive and it would be hard to sacrifice that just on POC's reputation no matter how good he has been.

I know is almost sacrilege to type it but I think it's a big selection call.

[PhatPiggins]

Originally Posted by subfreq

Dare I even type it, but POC really shouldn't be an automatic inclusion unless he finds not only form but also keeps the scrum progressing like it is.

He has been way out of form and maybe that is due to playing through an injury until it got to the point it eventually did.

Either way O'Driscoll has really been impressive and it would be hard to sacrifice that just on POC's reputation no matter how good he has been.

I know is almost sacrilege to type it but I think it's a big selection call.

Please tell me you dont buy into George Hooks's nonsense theory that the scrum was better because POC wasn't playing?

[UpTheSlashers]

Is there a difference between munster fans and munsterfans?

[thomond2006]

Originally Posted by PhatPiggins

Please tell me you dont buy into George Hooks's nonsense theory that the scrum was better because POC wasn't playing?

Hooky is infamous for making a conclusion about a player after one game (Edit: Actually I was the same re George Nauopu but that's another story ).

Remember after the semi-final last season when he said Stringer and Wallace's careers were "over"?

We learned from the Lions second test that big second rows (Simon Shaw in this case) make an impact at scrumtime, but to suggest that POC is a poor scrummager because the Munster scrum performed well (without him) in one game is laughable.

[PhatPiggins]

Originally Posted by thomond2006

Hooky is infamous for making a conclusion about a player after one game (Edit: Actually I was the same re George Nauopu but that's another story ).

Remember after the semi-final last season when he said Stringer and Wallace's careers were "over"?

We learned from the Lions second test that big second rows (Simon Shaw in this case) make an impact at scrumtime, but to suggest that POC is a poor scrummager because the Munster scrum performed well (without him) in one game is laughable.

That one was up there with "Tommy Bowe is too slow for an international winger" and re Marcus Horan about 8 years ago " Marcus Horans arse is too small for him to ever be a decent prop" . Although we did get the nickname "slim jeans" out of the last quote.