Munster's Injuries

Amazotheamazing

Is anyone else sick to their stomach becuase of all of Munster's injuries? I mean losing Sheehan, Quinlain, Mullins, Murphy, Cullen would be considered fairly disatrous for any side, but now O'Gara reportedly spent most of last week in hospital, Leamy is struggling with an ankle injury, Manning was knocked out last friday and it's still not clear if he's concussed or not. And terrifyingly, Horan is struggling with a calf injury.

It's fair to say Flannery has done very well since coming on, but to lose Sheehan's experience is a massive blow, how many times did we see Frankie talking to the team with 20 minutes to go, making sure everything would be alright? Quinlain has been a big loss, Leamy has played better for Ireland than he has for Munster this season, and Munster need a lineout option in the backrow, something Quinlain excelled at.

Murphy and Mullins, their loss has left us fielding a scrumhalf at second centre, words can't describe the damage Leinster will do here.

Cullen, just when he was showing some form he gets a year long injury, whats more, his game was far more suited to the way Halstead, Dowling and Murphy play.

How much bad luck can one team have? And to make matters worse, there's no sign our luck's about to change.

Crash

just to clarify a few of those things - iirc O'Gara spent a bit of the weekend in - though if the infection clears up then that shouldnt be too bad. Manning's been cleared of concussion iirc as well, so hopefully should be ok. as for the others, theres nothing much i can say other than its ****e!

Amazotheamazing

Hmm, you don't think the fact that Munster's outhalf spent time in hospital merits some concern, as well as his hamstring problem?

Not to mention Manning was just coming back from a broken arm so he hasn't played much rugby this season, even if he is cleared for the semi.

frankly I think both injuries are enough to cuase concern among Munsterfans, and indeed, Leinsterfans who want to see 2 full strenght sides play out the semi.

Crash

I'm saying they are bad but at LEAST manning was found not to be concussed and that O'Gara should be alright on the infection side of things - just trying to make things seem not so bad man

Amazotheamazing

I'll be honest Trash, if Horan, Sheehan, Quinlain, O'Gara, Murphy and Cullen were playing I'd rate Munster quite highly to have a chance the semi, but chances are at least 4 of them aren't so I'm just incredibly annoyed. I know every team has to allow for injuries but to lose both Quinlain and then Leamy, or to lose Mullins and then Murphy just seems like fate is playing tricks with us.

Teg Veece

I'm actually starting to believe that Munster are destined not to win the HC. They are probably the unluckiest team I can think of in terms of injuries. If Munster had they're full team, they'd be favourites going into the semi and the final. Now, they don't even have a backline worthy of the celtic league.

Snickers Man

Teg Veece wrote:

I'm actually starting to believe that Munster are destined not to win the HC.

This is quite true. They will never win it. Well, maybe in about 50 years time. When nobody will care any more.

There are loads of teams in every sport who have great players, fanatical fans, great support but just can't win things.

eg
Soccer: Newcastle United--the North East of England has produced many of England's greatest ever players--Bobby Charlton, Bryan Robson, Peter Beardsley, Alan Shearer, Paul Gascoigne etc etc to name but five and the Geordies are football fanatics but when did they last win anything?

Baseball: Boston Red Sox--afflicted by the Curse of the Bambino after they sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees in (I think 1919). Never won the World Series for another 80 years. Got to the final a few times and lost in very unlucky circumstances. C'est la vie.

Gaelic Football: Mayo--fanatical support, I mean what the **** else is there to do in Mayo?--and some fine players but they will never win the All Ireland.

Rugby: Munster--all of the above.

It's fate.

You're not going to win.

Loike. You so oren't.

Hermione*

Teg Veece wrote:

I'm actually starting to believe that Munster are destined not to win the HC.

This is my secret fear. Don't say it out loud!! Fate doesn't need any more temptation to strike against us :eek:

zAbbo

I'm pretty sure Mayo have at least 3 All-Irelands

Crash

Hermione* wrote:

This is my secret fear. Don't say it out loud!! Fate doesn't need any more temptation to strike against us :eek:

Heheheheh... :P

anonymous_joe

Were I neutral I would rue the lack of a full-strength Munster team, missing some of their Herculean heroes.

But I'm not.

Snickers Man

zabbo wrote:

I'm pretty sure Mayo have at least 3 All-Irelands

Yeah. From 50 years ago. When most of today's Mayo fans weren't born.

Hippo

Teg Veece wrote:

If Munster had they're full team, they'd be favourites going into the semi and the final. Now, they don't even have a backline worthy of the celtic league.

Not at all sure that this would be the case. Even fully fit the backline is a disaster area, whatever about their perceived superiority in the pack. Just look at how the Leinster backs work with FC at outhalf compared to the Irish backs with ROG at the helm.
Anyway, as a Leinster supporter I wish we could play against a full Munster team in the semi. But maybe these are foolhardy words which will come back to haunt me....

Amazotheamazing

Hippo wrote:

Not at all sure that this would be the case. Even fully fit the backline is a disaster area, whatever about their perceived superiority in the pack. Just look at how the Leinster backs work with FC at outhalf compared to the Irish backs with ROG at the helm.
Anyway, as a Leinster supporter I wish we could play against a full Munster team in the semi. But maybe these are foolhardy words which will come back to haunt me....

I don't know if disaster area is really fair, a fully fit Cullen or a fully fit Murphy would be addititons to most teams. People seem to think Murphy just appeared from nowhere, but Alan Gaffney had included him in squads over 2 years ago, he's just (like Munster) been incredibly unlucky with injuries, he missed last season and now half of this one due to different injuries. Sad really, but everyone who followed club rugby would have heard of him and hoped he'd come through.

A backline of Dowling, Halstead, Murphy, Kelly/Payne, Cullen is far better than the one we're currently left with.

Hippo

You're right amazo, 'disaster area' is really overstating it!

My point was really that even with a full backline Munster don't have the same bullets behind the scrum that Leinster possess, and the familiar sight of them repeatedly crabbing across the pitch all season didn't inspire much fear...I was just pointing out that even with a full team I don't think Munster are favourites. I yield to no-one in my admiration of Cullen in his prime, but he's been nowhere near that for the last 3 years, and Murphy can't carry it all on his own. And I still think ROG is a major problem apart from the kicking...
anyway, may the best team win-I can't wait for the game!

Amazotheamazing

Can now add O'Leary to the injured list, Hamstring strain, Leinster v Munster Reserves next week then?

daveirl

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[Jackass]

Ah lads, it's not like you'd win with a full squad either anyway

It's a damn shame all these players are out, but some people are talking like Leinster are going to steam role through Munster, but if you ask me, you could just about pick 15 people at random out of thomond park and no one would steam role through them...No matter who Munster have it's going to be a massive challange to beat them...But having said all that, I'd be confident of Leinster beating Munster (Or anybody) with a full squad or not.

As long as Leinster keep the injuries down (and O'Driscoll stops acting the bollix at the break down) I think we will do it...infact I'd be confident of us beating anyone in Europe at the moment with how Contepomi, Hickie, O'Driscoll, Dempsey, D'Arcy and Horgan to mention a few are playing and a pack that has finaly got a back bone. (Hardly a pack to write home about, but at least they are capable of competeing at the top level now and give the backs a chance.)

On a side note, worrying how poor Leinster played in the CL this weekend? Didn't look like the same team that beat toulouse...except it (pretty much) was.

Hippo

daveirl wrote:

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Ahh the famous munster hubris...you gotta love it!

Amazotheamazing

Hippo wrote:

Ahh the famous munster hubris...you gotta love it!

Hubris; Overbearing pride or presumption; arrogance.

I don't think you can really apply that to Daveirl's post, afterall "if we manage to beat them" is hardly an arrogant statement, if anything, it's highlighting how hard it will be.

daveirl

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Hippo

Amazotheamazing wrote:

Hubris; Overbearing pride or presumption; arrogance.

I don't think you can really apply that to Daveirl's post, afterall "if we manage to beat them" is hardly an arrogant statement, if anything, it's highlighting how hard it will be.

You're quite right, we should all suspend our sense of humour for the duration of this thread, it's a very serious matter. Dave, if you really think Halstead is just goiing to crush D'Arcy....well we'll see.

daveirl

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Amazotheamazing

Sorry I ever doubted them, finished the game with our 5th choice 2nd centre but still scored 2 tries when down to 14 men. Apologies all round.

jstokes

What a performance from Munster. Best team won even if the scoreline was harsh on Leinster. As the Munster slogan goes "to the brave and faithful, nothing is impossible"!

Hippo

Great performance from Munster, some of our guys will hopefully have learned a lesson, especially Contepomi. Any chance ROG can turn in a show like that for Ireland someday?