Leinster v Munster - ERC Heineken Cup Semi Final

LegacyUser

Leinster v Munster
Lansdowne Road, Dublin
Sunday 23rd April 2006, 15:00


Might as well start a new thread on what is going to be one of the biggest occasions in Irish Rugby history.

Fixtures have been announced, with the Biarritz - Bath game on the Saturday in San Sebastian

Trampas

The backs of Leinster vs forwards of Munster.

Who do people think has a better chance of winning the title??

daveirl

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Crash

Granted from a biased point of view, but Munster really werent on form at the weekend. If leinster can keep up the pressure that they had the previous match, they can do it nicely.

thats not to say its gonna be an easy one at all at all at all - with the beastly performances from O'Connell and Donncha O'Callaghan on saturday, i'm worried. just not terrified

also, i gotta say, i really think the leinster pack has really put itself up for it as of late - stellar performances from a few forward players.

(yes, i have been stuck browsing boards all day, and yes, i have spent a fair bit of it on the rugby forum :P)

LostinBlanch

Hmmm the Leinster front 5 is a bit under rated IMO. Mind you Munsters aren't bad either!!

I'd love to have seen two full strength sides going at each other i.e. Munster with Murphy in midfield, that would have evened it up a bit.

Anyway so Leinster and Munster only have 20,000 tickets each. Who has the rest, any going spare? :rolleyes:

daveirl

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daveirl

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Crash

daveirl wrote:

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Well i think most of my main issues were actually with positions where your lot really werent playing with a full deck of cards - the centre play was horrific to watch at times - it was seriously unfortunate that murphy was injured and the swapping around that had to be done.

they are a great team alright - actually just watching the Perp try on youtube at the moment - your link there has got me stuck in college for at least another half hour now

Nukem

What struck me about Leinster was the way the backs moved - under ROg its more of a forward go forward movement nut with Contepomi he's willing to try anything once and with those backs *shudder*
Munster need to set there defence rightly against the backs.

On the other hand Leinsters forwards looked great and really put up with the big Toulouse forwards but i have to say that Munster are a differnt pack altogether and have the type of players to go route 1 or with the back row make it into a running game.

Key i reckon is goin to be the lineout and the outhalfs. ROG kicks the corners and DOC and POC putting Blaney off a few throws and could caus some major issues with the driving maul and just mill them

Contepomi gets the Leinster backs moving at depth and they cut cut Munster in 2in the backline.

Goin to be game of the season i reckon!!!!!

daveirl

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daveirl

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daveirl

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Diamondmaker

Thanks for them Dave!!

Really made my night!

Crash

Thats my lecture watching for tomorrow - cheers Dave

LegacyUser

Just realised yesterday evening that I backed Leinster to win the HC in January at 18/1; only threw €6 on it, would still be nice

mollser

bruachain wrote:

Just realised yesterday evening that I backed Leinster to win the HC in January at 18/1; only threw €6 on it, would still be nice

very short odds there - I got them the friday night before the Bath match in January at 66:1, threw €50 on. If Munster fock this up.....

daveirl

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LegacyUser

mollser wrote:

very short odds there - I got them the friday night before the Bath match in January at 66:1, threw €50 on. If Munster fock this up.....

DAYUM! :eek:

I just checked online and I backed them after the Bath game, so they had already been drawn against ST. they're great odds, fair play, I'm already happy enough that there's an Irish team in the final

Hermione*

Thanks so much for posting the tries. Match attendance forced me to miss the second half. They're also great for procrastination

mollser

daveirl wrote:

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Never thought of doing that - hmmm, tempting, but I might stay in for the ride, makes it more exciting

I heard those odds on Ger Gilroy's show that week, I couldn't believe it. Victor Costello actually got it at 85:1 a few days before me! :eek:

TabulaRasa22

daveirl wrote:

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Cheers Dave, nice one

daveirl

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LegacyUser

Referee for Leinster-Munster is Joel Jutge. Alain Rolland is in charge of the Biarritz-Bath game.

More news from the camps...

Former Irish international scrumhalf turned referee Alain Rolland will adjudicate on the other semi-final between Biarritz and Bath on Saturday, April 22nd at Estadio Anoeta in San Sebastian. Rolland refereed the 2004 final between Toulouse and London Wasps.

It became apparent over the weekend that Ronan O'Gara spent several days in hospital after a gashed knee, sustained in the win over Perpignan, became infected.

O'Gara - who also has a hamstring complaint - and replacement outhalf Jeremy Manning, Christian Cullen and Denis Leamy are all rated doubtful for Saturday's Celtic League encounter against Edinburgh Gunners at Thomond Park.

Manning was stretchered off with a head injury during the 23-17 defeat to the Dragons on Friday, but was subsequently cleared of concussion. Cullen (thigh) and Leamy (ankle) may not be risked in Munster's final game before the first ever European Cup meeting with Leinster.

Encouragingly, all four players took some part in yesterday's training session. Marcus Horan, however, did not. The international loosehead prop will be excluded from tomorrow's squad as he endeavours to recover from a calf strain.

With Barry Murphy a long-term casualty, the race for the number 13 jersey remains Munster's other significant selection issue. Tomás O'Leary is the incumbent, although Mike Mullins made a timely return to action as a 48th-minute replacement against the Dragons.

Leinster face Llanelli Scarlets on Friday night at Lansdowne Road. A "Family Day" has been organised from 5.30pm - kick-off 7.10pm - in an attempt to break their Celtic League record attendance of 14,135, set when Munster came to the RDS on New Year's Eve. Gordon D'Arcy and Reggie Corrigan are expected to return after sitting out the one-point victory over Border Reivers for precautionary reasons.

Scarlets captain Simon Easterby is unlikely to feature after swallowing his tongue during Sunday's Anglo-Welsh Cup final defeat to London Wasps.

Despite Friday's error-strewn performance, Leinster still went top of the Celtic League table and are nicely poised to widen a two-point gap on second-placed Ulster, who must travel to Glasgow on Saturday.

LegacyUser

Each day rugby analyst Matt Williams will look at a key head-to-head confrontation in Sunday's match. Today he looks at the two men at number 10

HEAD TO HEAD: The Outhalves
Ronan O'Gara Vs Felipe Contepomi

PUNTING: Ronan O'Gara is arguably the best out-of-hand kicking 10 on the planet. Can pin you in your own 22 which leads to frustration and error on the opposition team.This is crucial to Munster rugby as position is number one. They get position through kicking and apply pressure by physical dominance.

Felipe Contepomi is an excellent tactical kicker although can have poor days. He is not the "sixpence landing" kicker that O'Gara is but is solid enough.

PLACE-KICKING: O'Gara is world class for most of the season. Has a history of missing some of the more simple ones especially in big games. Like a true champion he bounces back But he has his demons. Contepomi has developed over the years from a part-time to a great place kicker. He had some poor days early for the Pumas but these are few and far between. It is essential he is on form as this game is going to won by inches not yards.

DISTRIBUTION: It is an area where I hoped Al Gaffney would have had O'Gara functioning at a level that would have propelled him into the elite of the elite class.When he takes it to the line he is very tough to handle but sadly he is not doing it often enough. Content to sit in the pocket, this means his inside centre has two or three defenders to deal with as he is not a threat.

Contepomi is head and shoulders above all in Europe. A running threat, his passing is excellent and he supports the ball carrier. He is the reason why Leinster's outside backs have so much space. The backrow and inside backs MUST hold for Contepomi or they will be under their own posts talking about how fast he is.

TACKLING: In O'Gara's case courage is not the question; technique is though.

Ronan sits before contact and while this is a common problem with many rugby men, it leads to missed tackles. He needs the support of his back row and inside backs.

Contepomi is a fine international inside centre and a person who enjoys the physicality. David Wallace, David Lyons or Lewis Moody hold no fears.

O'Gara should have a go but I see no gaps.

DECISION-MAKING: No player is perfect but those people who underestimate O'Gara will pay a price. At Heineken European Cup level, he is a master of his trade who has proved time and time again he has all the attributes required to be considered among the best in that position. His decision-making is generally beyond reproach. Contepomi would give any coach grey hairs but he is the epitome of playing the game with a heads-up attitude. Fantastic vision, he's a superb reader of the game and if Munster turn over ball then he'll make them pay big time.

LegacyUser

Mat Williams again...

HEAD TO HEAD: The Hookers

BRIAN BLANEY vs JERRY FLANNERY

THROWING: Neither is great. The saying "couldn't hit an elephant's backside with the wrong end of a banjo" comes to mind. Both teams place massive emphasis on defensive lineouts, so accuracy is vital. The hooker that has a good day will provide his team with that vital edge. Munster will try to get after young Blaney to negate the impact of the Leinster backs by denying them possession. Leinster have three big men of their own to cause Munster problems.

BALL CARRYING: Both are excellent in this regard. Flannery likes to roam farther from traditional forward channels and is thoroughly comfortable in that context. He's dynamic and isn't afraid of the wide-open spaces. Blaney opts for the more traditional areas of the pitch, looking for work to carry ball on the fringes, and is adept in that respect.

TACKLING: Given their mobility and athleticism this is a facet of the game in which both excel. Flannery is slightly smaller in stature than many of his international contemporaries so he is not going to be a punishing tackler in terms of big hits. Blaney is in his first season as a full-time professional, has a big frame and is going to continue developing physically. He occasionally displays a tendency to go high and drag down rather than go for the more orthodox method.

IN THE LOOSE: In many respects they are excellent players without being world class in terms of their specialist roles as hookers. When Munster look to catch and drive at lineout time, Flannery protects the ball at the back and is last man and ball carrier. It's the same thing for Blaney, who fulfils the exact identical role. Flannery is probably more at home when taken outside the traditional environment of hooking duties.

WORK-RATE: Once again it is impossible to cavil with either, as their appetites are voracious. Flannery is the epitome of perpetual motion, whether with the ball or in defence. Blaney is a little more considered and dutiful to the slog at the coalface.

The player that provides the best manifestation of the specialist hooker role will give his team the edge. Blaney's talent is indisputable but he is almost a rookie as a starting European player. The challenge for him will be to banish self-doubt. Flannery will benefit from the Test experience he has had. A pretty even tussle, with lineout throws by Blaney the key.

LegacyUser

Leinster squad has been announced...

Backs:
Guy Easterby, Brian O'Riordan, Felipe Contepomi, Girvan Dempsey, Brian O'Driscoll, Kieran Lewis, Shane Horgan, Denis Hickie, Gordon D'Arcy, Rob Kearney

Forwards:
Will Green, Reggie Corrigan, Ronan McCormack, Emmett Byrne, David Blaney, Brian Blaney, Malcolm O'Kelly, Bryce Williams, Cameron Jowitt, Niall Ronan, Keith Gleeson, Jamie Heaslip, Eric Miller



(Sorry just realised Dan was already ahead of me!)

Downtime

I hear (from a source) that Marcus Horan is looking unlikely to be fit, a pity.

LegacyUser

Downtime wrote:

I hear (from a source) that Marcus Horan is looking unlikely to be fit, a pity.

That is a pity if it's true...Ideally both teams would be at 100% full strength.

Although there's some spin coming out of the camps that Alastair Campbell would be proud of!!!

PowerHouseDan

Marcus is almost def not playing...

Crash

Ah ****. i like marcus. this italian fella just doesnt have the same horan-esque beauty to him...

Hermione*

&#231 wrote: »

Ah ****. i like marcus. this italian fella just doesnt have the same horan-esque beauty to him...

What a lovely sentiment

LegacyUser

Munster Squad:

P Burke, C Cullen, I Dowling, J Flannery, D Fogarty, A Foley, T Halstead, J Hayes, R Henderson, T Hogan, M Horan, A Horgan, J Kelly, S Keogh, D Leamy, J Manning, E McGovern, M Mullins, D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell, M O'Driscoll, R O'Gara, T O'Leary, J O'Sullivan, S Payne, M Prendergast, F Pucciariello, F Roche, P Stringer, D Wallace.

LegacyUser

Rugby analyst Matt Williams looks at the strengths and weaknesses of the two main lineout jumpers

HEADTOHEAD: The Secondrows

MALCOLM O'KELLY vs PAUL O'CONNELL

LINEOUT ABILITY: Two Colossuses but in contrasting fashion with O'Connell all elbows and knees while O'Kelly is fast, dynamic and spring-heeled. Both read the opposition well and take great pride on their lineout performance. They are leaders for their respective lineouts and on the opposition throw they will be calling the shots. A battle for the technically minded to rejoice in and one, knowing the players in question, that they will be loathe to lose.

LEADERSHIP: O'Connell is the talker, the inspiration, the motivator and the tactician. His team look to him for inspiration. This sometimes sees him overplay his hand as on the Lions tour of NZ, but at Munster level he is without peer. O'Kelly is a true leader by example. A workaholic on the field with the mind that had earned two masters degrees, he is publicly relaxed but rugbywise he is cutting edge. A quiet word is sometimes more effective than a loud one and example is the best form of leadership. Malcolm will match Paul in this area.

WORK-RATE: Both world class. Two dynamic locks who play like open sides.

They are tough, competitive, technically excellent at the tackle. They take on huge work loads during the game in terms of ball carrying, O'Connell with his powerful driving style while O'Kelly is more loose limbed but no less effective. They both tend to take on a great deal of ball often within the same phase of play, pooping up on two or three occasions. Not a cigarette paper between them.

ATHLETICISM: O'Kelly has the edge in pure terms but only because he is so freakishly brilliant. O'Connell is still a player that comes along once in a generation. His appetite and work ethic are voracious. They are so different and complement each other for Ireland. For Leinster and Munster they would love to get the upper hand over each other.

IMPACT: What a battle. Two all-time great players yet totally different with O'Connell the hard Munster abrasive Lion, the other the laid back double Masters degree, Marlboro-smoking gentleman. O'Kelly is an athletically gifted genius while O'Connell is a perfect example of the modern day second row.

LegacyUser

Rugby analyst Matt Williams looks at the strengths and weaknesses of the two openside flankers.

HEAD TO HEAD: The Flankers

DAVID WALLACE vs KEITH GLEESON

ON THE DECK: It's a hands-down verdict for Gleeson. This is no disgrace to Wallace; his Leinster rival is one of the best at this facet of the game. How he is not in the Ireland team should be a matter for another tribunal. Wallace should not be on the ground because he is so good on top of it. There is no point in having him buried under a pile of bodies just because of the number on his back.

AROUND THE PARK: David Wallace is one of the game's best runners, broken-field or otherwise. Fast, powerful and eager, he has the facility to get past people, whether backs or forwards, and is actually underused by Munster in this area. I would like to see more short-lineout running plays designed to bring this talent to the fore. Gleeson is a fine runner but is in his element on the ground, and Wallace is the man when it comes to this aspect of the position.

TACKLING: Both are powerful, eager and keen as well as being technically and tactically excellent. Their running lines from lineouts and scrums are excellent but both can over-commit and be done on the inside shoulder, though experience has helped them to greatly curb this tendency. Wallace excels at ripping away ball from an upright carrier, while Gleeson is equally adept at stripping a prone figure.

SUPPORT PLAY: Very contrasting. Gleeson is the king of the inside support line. Gordon D'Arcy, Shane Horgan and Brian O'Driscoll know "the Gleese" will be there. Wallace tends to pop up outside a runner or from the base of a ruck. The Munster man is a power runner while the Leinster man is a wonderful linkman and is able to facilitate those strike runners Leinster have in the back line. Wallace can burst a game wide open, breaking tackles in the process. That's why these two should be in the same Ireland team.

DECISION MAKING: Both are highly experienced, tend to be good leaders and decision makers with or without the ball and pride themselves on leading by deed. Pressure, though, can do strange things to players, and even the most experienced flankers are nowadays under huge pressure at the breakdown, where a referee's interpretation can become the difference between success and a bad day at the office.

istep

&#231 wrote: »

Ah ****. i like marcus. this italian fella just doesnt have the same horan-esque beauty to him...

Just put a euro on will green th score for leinster at 33-1 ... worth a shot !

[Jackass]

THE LINE-UPS:

LEINSTER:

15: Girvan Dempsey
14: Shane Horgan
13: Brian O’Driscoll CAPTAIN
12: Gordon D’Arcy
11: Denis Hickie
10: Felipe Contepomi
9: Guy Easterby

1: Reggie Corrigan
2: Brian Blaney
3: Will Green
4: Bryce Williams
5: Malcolm O’Kelly
6: Cameron Jowitt
7: Keith Gleeson
8: Jamie Heaslip

Replacements: David Blaney, Ronan McCormack, Emmett Byrne, Niall Ronan, Eric Miller, Brian O’Riordan, Kieran Lewis, Rob KearneY

MUNSTER:

15. S Payne
14. A Horgan
13. J Kelly
12. T Halstead
11. I Dowling
10. R O'Gara
9. P Stringer

1. F Pucciariello
2. J Flannery
3. J Hayes
4. D O'Callaghan
5. P O'Connell
6. D Leamy
7. D Wallace
8. A Foley - CAPTAIN

Replacements: D Fogarty, F Roche, M O'Driscoll, S Keogh, J Manning, R Henderson, T O'Leary

[Jackass]

More interesting to see the munster line-up really....Leamy and O'Gara in, but will they be 100% fit? Or match rusty?

Kelly stays in the centre, I wonder how that pairing will cope against D'Arcy & O'Driscoll...

Some other great pairings too...Flannery Vs Blaney, Wallace Vs Gleeson, O'Kelly Vs O'Connoll, O'Gara vs Contepomi....

I hope Leinsters pack can hold back the force of that Munster side, and i think they'll do the most damage through the centre with the class finishing of Hickie and Horgan out wide....

I think Munsters biggest threat in the backs is Dowlings pace and O'Gara's pin-point kicking....Contepomi will need a great out-of-hand game or Munster will hold all the teretory.

I don't think the Munster backs will spread it around much, I think the backline will be very defensive and conservitive, playing for position through O'Gara and using powerull drives through the pack...should pick up a handful of penaltys around the Leinster half...I reckon a trade mark rolling mall try in the game too! :eek:

Leinster will look to play exactly as they did against Toulouse...competing in the pack and keeping ball in hand and running the ball more than kick it...

It's nice to have the option if contepomi isn't finding his touches...it'll be interesting to see which tactic they'll adopt more for getting out of their half...in the munster half no question they'll run every ball...

Man, this is gonna be a cracker!

Prediction:
Leinster 36 - Munster 24

istep

Horgan out wide for munster .... man I can see a target on his chest .... seriously tho I think he doesn't merit a place .... not that munster will ever spread the ball that wide .... he'll probably spend 95% of the game tucking in his jersey or looking at hickies arse heading for the try line

zAbbo

Kick off soon.

Leinster by 3

youcancallmeal

here we go!!!

I must say im quite surprised to see munster winning.

mike65

Why? They are playing Leinster off the field. Cracking start had the 'home' side on the back foot and they have only shown themselves in fits and starts.

Mike.

zAbbo

Another cracking 40mins to go. Next score is all important

hullaballoo

That's some gap. Do you reckon it can be closed?

My predicted scoreline of 13-18 is out the window anyway!

evilhomer

16-6 Can't believe they went for the posts there. No good to Leinster at this stage.

Leinster are not imposing themselves upfront at all.

evilhomer

And thats the end of that!

mike65

Ah the lady boys got squashed.

Mike.

Chong

Its been some game , Come On Munster.

30-6 . Bye bye Leinster and goes to prove the best province is the red one.

hullaballoo

Some result for Munster. Ah, it's a shame to see Leinster lose by such a huge margin. The game was hyped up for a lot more. I've a few friends who will be choking down some bitter pints in the Horse Show House now!

Better luck next year Leinster, and fair play to Munster - hope they do well in the Final!

evilhomer

The Funny thing is that Leinster would have had a better chance to beat Biarritz then Munster will.

Anyway Go on The Munster you better win it now!

Limerick Dude

its guna be 3rd time lucky for us! this is the year that we will do it!
COME ON THE RED ARMY!