Gloucester V Munster...oh Lordy bring it on!!

toomevara

As the game of the year;), in the planets premier club competition looms large on the horizon, its time to discuss whether or not the men of Munster can topple the leaders of the prem'ship in what will doubtless be another titanic struggle worthy of the Munster legacy...(i.e. here goes another 5 years off my life)

Many shades of past glories...Can Munster take Dean Ryan's Cherry and Whites in their own, not un-Thomond like, back yard? Whats the game plan? Who should take the field in the red Jersey? Why do I care so much more about the HC than the 6n, ML and RWC all rolled together..any answers?

Tim Robbins

toomevara wrote: »

As the game of the year;), in the planets premier club competition looms large on the horizon, its time to discuss whether or not the men of Munster can topple the leaders of the prem'ship in what will doubtless be another titanic struggle worthy of the Munster legacy...(i.e. here goes another 5 years off my life)

Many shades of past glories...Can Munster take Dean Ryan's Cherry and Whites in their own, not un-Thomond like, back yard? Whats the game plan? Who should take the field in the red Jersey?

Hopefully. I think they play possesion rugby. Wingers and full back will rarely see the ball. forwards will try to control it work it through the phases. Expect loads and loads of one pass - take hit - set it up. That and O'Gara tactical kissing.

Why do I care so much more about the HC than the 6n, ML and RWC all rolled together..any answers?

I would imagine you're a Munster fan. Munster's style suits this competition.

crackedactor

Tim Robbins wrote: »

That and O'Gara tactical kissing.


If O'Gara is on form with his tactical "kissing" I can really see that causing Gloucester problems.:)

Stev_o

Gloucester dont have much of a chance. They have the worst Hooker in the GP and much to light weight forward pack. And they have Balshaw at FB so thats a certain try or 3 points there. As long as Munster dont get forced to start playing it wide all the time they should be fine

jdivision

Gloucester at home have a formidable record. I think much will depend on whether Tipoki's fit enough to play. It'll be close but hopefully Munster will pull it out

toomevara

jdivision wrote: »

Gloucester at home have a formidable record.

Yep, its a worry, although they went down soft to 2nd from bottom Worcester at the weekend...Hope we don't suffer a backlash...

Peter B

Very nervous and excited about this match. No doubt about it, its gonna be a big one.

Gloucester are a team full of pride and passion. Like Munster their collective unit is stronger than all their individual parts put together.

Erin Go Brath

Another big day out for Munster in the HC. I think Munster have a good chance of winning because they are a better all round team, especially in the pack. I hope we see a lot of power Munster forward play from the start, and a major effort to unsettle them.

Not being dismissive of Glos, they could easily take us if we dont perform, or they play really good stuff themselves, but theres too much at stake for Munster here to let it slip through the fingers. We're probably one of the most streetwise teams in Europe at this stage and wont be phased by this tricky away trip, especially after coming through the group of death.

theKramer

Lets hope Kidney starts Buckley and Hayes in the front row. That would be some sight, those two boys packing down together.

Apparently that pairing worked well against Connacht (admittedly a weaker team).

Just reading this post is making me nervous. Damn ye

Al_Fernz

The main interest for me is to see if Kidney goes for O'Connell or O'Driscoll. I think O'Driscoll has been outstanding this season. O'Connell is still recovering and has yet to get back to his brilliant best.

All of this is clouded by the fact that O'Driscoll is carrying a knock. This one is too close to call for me.

bleg

o connell will start, the locks' performance will be assessed and mick o driscoll will come on if necessary, he might not come on at all.

monaghanbiffo

toomevara wrote: »

As the game of the year;), Can Munster take Dean Ryan's Cherry

Now Thats going to be interesting

toomevara

monaghanbiffo wrote: »

Now Thats going to be interesting

My, my what a filthy little mind, and thanks a bunch for a mental image I'll never shake free!!!

Getting back to the game, looks like HRH Mike Tindall may be back for Gloucester....

bleg

Horan, Fla, Bull, POC, DOC, Quinnie, Wallie, Leamy, TOL, ROG, Tipoki, Mafi, Howlett, Dowling & Hurley Bench: Buckley, Frankie, MOD, Foley, Stringer, Warwick & Lewis

toomevara

bleg wrote: »

Horan, Fla, Bull, POC, DOC, Quinnie, Wallie, Leamy, TOL, ROG, Tipoki, Mafi, Howlett, Dowling & Hurley Bench: Buckley, Frankie, MOD, Foley, Stringer, Warwick & Lewis

Sorry bleg, but that the actual team or your preferred...?

monaghanbiffo

i really hope munster do the business on saturday.

is lamb at 10 OR PATTERSON?

if tindal is back thats a big plus for glous, the man is seriously big and unbelievably quick.

i think douggy is capable of exposing "the volcano" as the damp squib he is

come on munster

Stev_o

If Tindall is in then it might be a slightly different story that man is just brilliant

bleg

toomevara wrote: »

Sorry bleg, but that the actual team or your preferred...?

apparently the team for the weekend. i'd have stringer in there.

toomevara

Re: Lamb, he usually starts at ten, Patterson tends to appear in the last 20.

[Jackass]

I think it'll be a tough one for Munster, but I think, as someone already said, after coming out of that group and also the experience these guys have, I think Munster will be able to control the game. They are street wise enough to handle this massive occasion, plus I think are a better all round team.

There'll be a one try in it, going to Munster, probably from the back row, Leamy or Foley or Wallace or whoever starts it's so tight back there and I think the rest will be picking up penaltys playing the ball tight all around the Gloucster half. I think Munster will dominate terretory as they are much better up front imo and only need to get hold of the ball in the gloucester half amd will pick off the points. I'm going for Munster by more than 7 (just slightly more).

I think this is Munsters year, I've no doubt about it, I can feel it in me waters!!

And I'm a Leinster fan

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

RuggieBear

Munster won in Kingsholm in 1986.:)

If Gloucester play to thier best they should win but i reckon Munster will just grind them down. Gloucester have too many young players

Bubbling

Does anyone know if RTE or BBc are showing the game live - cant find any info on their websites. I know it is deffo on sky sports.

Thanks,

COME ON MUNSTER, DO US PROUD.................................

Podge_irl

Bubbling wrote: »

Does anyone know if RTE or BBc are showing the game live

Nope, neither have the rights to show it live.

Ulstermell0

they're on sky - if that helps?

barnesd

Official announcement tomorrow, but unofficially the team will apparently be:

Horan, Fla, Bull, POC, DOC, Quinnie, Wallie, Leamy, TOL, ROG, Tipoki, Mafi, Howlett, Dowling & Hurley

Bench: Buckley, Frankie, MOD, Foley, Stringer, Warwick & Lewis


Edit - To the person who was asking about RTE, they show highlights of HEC games in the evenings after games so look out for that. Usually on about 10ish. If you don't have Sky then plenty of pubs will be showing it!

[Jackass]

O'Leary?? Nice, thought he has been excellent in the magners league and thought to myself "another scrum-half better than stringer"...would be pleasantly shocked if that was true!

barnesd

There's actually be conflicting reports as to who'll play SH, so don't count on that being 100%.

bleg

so you get the same unofficial source as me on munsterfans?


(posted that exact line up yesterday)

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

barnesd

bleg wrote: »

so you get the same unofficial source as me on munsterfans?


(posted that exact line up yesterday)

Yep, that's where I got it from.

toomevara

daveirl wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Oh jaysis wouldn' it be sweet...to paraphrase Caoimhin O Keegan "I would LOVE it", if we got the Ospreys in the semis....someone needs to put manners on them welsh upstarts, bleedin' sick of listenin' to 'em....

bleg

Grapevine has Quinlan, O'Leary in XV

Gerry Thornley on Munster's selection options

EUROPEAN CUP QUARTER-FINAL: NEVER HAS there been so much speculation about a Munster selection and never has the rumour mill been so far into overdrive.

The bowl in the University of Limerick is hardly conducive to extreme secrecy, and fuelled by the way Munster lined out in training there earlier in the week, the word on the street in Limerick is that the brains trust may today unveil a couple of surprises in the selection of the team and replacements to play Gloucester at Kingsholm in tomorrow's Heineken Cup quarter-final.

One website run by Munster fans, whether by good fortune, the accessibility of UL or insider information, has had a pretty accurate advance read thus far this season and is among those speculating that Tomás O'Leary and Denis Hurley are set to start ahead of Peter Stringer and Shaun Payne.

Furthermore, there is speculation that besides Paul O'Connell and Alan Quinlan returning to the starting line-up ahead of Mick O'Driscoll and Anthony Foley, another change from the team that kicked off the pool-deciding 19-3 win at home to Wasps will see the return of Ian Dowling ahead of Brian Carney on the wing.

It is, however, the positions scrumhalf and fullback that are causing most debate.

Only Foley and John Hayes have made more Heineken Cup appearances for Munster than Stringer (74) and only Hayes has started all of their previous nine quarter-finals.

Admittedly O'Leary, who has started three Cup matches when Stringer has been injured as well as putting in 10 appearances off the bench, is one of the most improved players on the provincial circuit in the last year or so, sharpening his pass considerably to augment his strength and fast break.

All of this was in evidence in a starring role in the 42-6 win over Ulster last Saturday week.

Hurley also impressed in that game, and significantly started the last outing against Connacht as well, whereas the 36-year-old Payne played 80 minutes for UL Bohemian.

escobar

Munster against the currently top ranked english team .. It'll be a tough match but Munster will go in as favourites and I would expect them to win. I predict Howlett to shine and score a brace:)

Crash

Depends on the kind of game they go for - he might not even see the ball if its a tight forwards match on munsters part. Can have fun tackling Vanikolo though.

bleg

According to ercrugby.com



Saturday 5th April 2008, Kick-off 17:30
15. Olly Morgan, 14. Chris Paterson, 13. James Simpson-Daniel, 12. Anthony Allen, 11. Lesley Vainikolo, 10. Ryan Lamb, 9. Rory Lawson, 1. Nick Wood, 2. Andy Titterrell, 3. Carlos Nieto, 4. Marco Bortolami (capt), 5. Alex Brown, 6. Peter Buxton, 7. Andy Hazell, 8. Luke Narraway,
16. Jeremy Paul, 17. Alasdair Dickinson, 18. Will James, 19. Gareth Delve, 20. Gareth Cooper, 21. Willie Walker, 22. Mike Tindall,
15. Darragh Hurley, 14. Doug Howlett, 13. Rua Tipoki, 12. Lifeimi Mafi, 11. Ian Dowling, 10. Ronan O\'Gara, 9. Tomas O\'Leary, 1. Marcus Horan, 2. Jerry Flannery, 3. John Hayes, 4. Donncha O\'Callaghan, 5. Paul O\'Connell (capt), 6. Alan Quinlan, 7. David Wallace, 8. Denis Leamy,
16. Frankie Sheahan, 17. Tony Buckley, 18. Mick O\'Driscoll, 19. Anthony Foley, 20. Peter Stringer, 21. Paul Warwick, 22. Kieran Lewis,

Brianb8802

Yeah tis official, its up on the munster website

Munster have named their team for their Quarter Final clash with Gloucester in Kingsholm tomorrow, (ko 5.30pm).Making his Heineken Cup debut, Denis Hurley starts at fullback, Tomás O' Leary completes the half back partnership with Ronan O' Gara, and Denis Leamy anchors the scrum at number eight.

The team arrived in Gloucester in the last hour and went straight to their hotel, before heading to Kingsholm for a walk around this evening.

15. Denis Hurley 14. Doug Howlett 13. Rua Tipoki 12. Lifeimi Mafi 11. Ian Dowling 10. Ronan O' Gara 9. Tomás O'Leary

1. Marcus Horan 2. Jerry Flannery 3. John Hayes 4. Donncha O' Callaghan 5. Paul O'Connell (Capt.) 6. Alan Quinlan 7. David Wallace 8. Denis Leamy

Replacements: Frankie Sheahan, Tony Buckley, Mick O'Driscoll, Anthony Foley, Peter Stringer, Paul Warwick, Kieran Lewis.

Malmedicine

Denis Hurley starting XV in Heiniken cup, the lad from Meath did good.

Sherifu

*remembers miracle match* This should be good.

bleg

getting nervous about the match already

Podge_irl

I find it odd that Kidney persisted with Payne for so long, even in the ML, and then starts Hurley in the QF with only a couple ML games behind him. Was Hurley injured?

bleg

yup

marco_polo

Podge_irl wrote: »

I find it out that Kidney persisted with Payne for so long, even in the ML, and then starts Hurley in the QF with only a couple ML games behind him. Was Hurley injured?

Payne hasn't played since the Wasp game to the best of my knowledge, and word is he is wants to step into his backroom role fulltime, and is pushing Hurley to step up to the mark now.

I think it is a brave call but also the right one, clever also in that if that if Glouchester were to employ a kicking game that is totally alien to them in an bid to unsettle Hurley, then there is a good chance that Kidney has already won the tactical battle.

I am feeling good about tommorrow, time will tell though

bleg

played in the blues match 5 weeks ago

marco_polo

bleg wrote: »

played in the blues match 5 weeks ago

Indeed you are correct sir Still a pretty big gap without gametime for such a big game. I have no doubts whatsoever about Hurleys ability, but of course there is always a question mark over about any young players big game temprement until he plays in a game of this magnitude.

Fingers crossed it all goes well for him.

Oilrig

Excellent selection.

Good luck guys, get the job done.

toomevara

Got no major issues with the team selection...good team, no major weaknesses...lets take 'em on up front, shut lamb down and maybe play some rugby, oh and please tipoki/mafi..dont shoot up out of defence too quick...!

chris85

Any channel showing this game other than Sky Sports or online somewhere?

Cool_CM

http://www.ercrugby.ie/eng/121_73.php

Stev_o

Any predictions? I say Munster by 3

bazzman

http://livefooty.doctor-serv.com/sat5.4/Gloucester_Munster.html

looks like a good link to....