A weekend from the twilight zone.

Jackz

Where home quarter finals will be played isn't a worry for munster or leinster now. Do you think both teams can up their game for the quarter finals?

Diamondmaker

I did not see the game am away in the states. Was following it live online on the ERC website...who got the 2nd Leimsecter try its not show.

Yes some result, im not surprised though. I did call this one.

How did it pan out in the end? ANy details guys?

So leinster finish 6th I think and Munster 7th ( but with more points than Leinster as best 2nd plave !! )

both avoid Biarritz and looks like L:einster Scarlets and Munster Wasps...Leinster get best deal there!! Not too tricky to get over to either!

Sangre

Munster were completely dominated by Leicester imo. Been a long time since they've been pushed around like that. If it was a dry day I could have seen Leicester putting a lot more points on the board.

davyjose

Smith got the second - didn't see the game myself. If Northampton win, then Munster will be eight. But I can't see them beat the French. Chances are Munster will face Scarlets - that's very winnable for them. Leinster possibly meet Wasps or Leicester. Hope it's Wasps.

EdgarAllenPoo

Munster have been pretty much neutured in their last two games, teams have seen that their backs aren't up to scratch and for whatever reason the previously machine like forward have gone rusty.

Leinster, even though they also lost have played far better rugby for the past two weeks than Munster.

I'm starting to have the same doubts about Ian Dowling as I had about Tommy Bowe about a year to eighteen months ago, he just doesn't seem to be up to it despite trying his best, I wouldn't mind seeing Mossie Lawler called up if at all possible as an alternative.

The aspect that I find the most troubling is the errors that have come into Stringer's game in the last few weeks. He has cost Munster more ball an territory than any other player. They need to have backup for him and they need to use it (maybe O'Leary).

thirdmantackle

could be the best thing ever to happen

Irish team won't be so confident going into the 6 nations

both Munster and Leinster will have to eliminate mistakes from their play before the next games

An Tarbh

I think Wasps might be too much of an ask for Leinster, they've still got one of the best defences in the competition and their pack decimated the same Gloucester side that spanked us on Friday over Christmas, so not much confidence for Leinster.

As for Munster I don't think they'll play as bad as they have done in the past 2 games come the quarters, and Scarlets won't have come up against as good a defence as Munster's in this seasons competition. Add to that the Scarlets have not been overly impressive in their home games this season, granted they still won all 3 but look at the quality of the opposition, so a team like Munster could certainly go there and get the win.

phog

There's the small matter of a 6N to be played first, only after this will we know you came through uninjured and who is available for all 4 sides. My own view is that Leinster might have got the easiest route. Llanelli are a difficult team to beat and more so at home. I haven't been impressed with Wasps this year but you can't bet against them, they seem to be able to win the big ones.
I'd be disappointed if one Irish team don't make the SFs.

EdgarAllenPoo

Personally I would have prefered to see Leinster v Llanelli and Munster v Wasps.

davyjose

it depends what Leinster you get. If you get the Leinster that beat Munster, Gloucester and Edinburgh, we'll win. If you get the Leinster that lost to Munster, Gloucester and Edinburgh, we'll lose. Ominously, the wins were at home and the defeats away.
An Tarbh, if Leinster play the way they can, then defensively it doesn't really matter how well you defend. Leinster are the only team I know that consistently score from anywhere inside the 10 metre line. They were written off in Bath and Toulouse last year to the detriment of both those teams.
As for Munster, Scarlets are huge at the moment, but Munster are Munster. I would consider it an upset if they don't win.
My New Years resolution is to be more optimistic so I'm gonna go with two away wins. Incidentally, would that make it another MUN/LEIN semi at "home" to Leinster? I think so.

damnyanks

6nations will probably dictate how the games go. Ireland may collapse and as a result the provinces may not do so well.

But all in all I think the losses this weekend were good. Always good to remember defeat