munster-v-saracens

kev_s88

one of the best sports headlines ive ever seen....

http://www.planet-rugby.com/0,18257,3552,00.html

seen any funny rugby ones apart from this??

chris85

kev_s88 wrote: »

one of the best sports headlines ive ever seen....

http://www.planet-rugby.com/0,18257,3552,00.html

seen any funny rugby ones apart from this??

Thats a good one alright.

Whats the predictions for the games guys? I am thinking Munster by a tight margin, possibly a try in it and will go right to the end.

redmca

This match looks like a potntial banana skin. Munster are streets better than Sarecens. Gloucester hammered them the week after the QF's. There is no way they should lose.

Munster if they are clinical (and I believe they will be) will win by a comfortable (10 points+) margin.

toomevara

chris85 wrote: »

Whats the predictions for the games guys? I am thinking Munster by a tight margin, possibly a try in it and will go right to the end.

Let's look at it logically. In the last two rounds of the GP, Saracens have been trolleyed by Gloucester and Wasps. Wasps took them apart at home 29:40, while Gloucester, a team which Munster beat well took them at a canter, 39:15.

They're eighth in the table and have been relatively mediocre (odd blip aside) all season...They've nothing like the HC tradition or experience Munster have. So I'm predicting a comfortable Munster win. Having said that this could be a game that Munster can conspire to make difficult for themselves...but tbh I'm not worried (famous last words to be printed on my tombstone if we lose)

dub_skav

Maybe Saracens hae been distracted in the League by the heineken Cup - not unlike Munster.
League form counts for nothing in a 1 off match. I hope it will be a great match.

Podge_irl

I honestly can't see past a convincing Munster win. Saracens have been cack of late, and Ospreys were either desperately unlucky or desperately inept to lose to them. The scoreline from the previous game between the two is a better indication of the two teams in my view.
Munster will be in the final, and probably against Toulouse (though its by no means beyond LI to beat an injury depleted Toulouse at home).

[Jackass]

kev_s88 wrote: »

one of the best sports headlines ive ever seen....

http://www.planet-rugby.com/0,18257,3552,00.html

seen any funny rugby ones apart from this??

What about the one beneath that?

"Struggling Blues give Toeava a bum deal"

marco_polo

Munster squad for Sundays game announced.

Forwards: M Horan, F Pucciariello, J Hayes, T Buckley,F Sheahan, J Flannery, P O'Connell, D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll, D Ryan, D Wallace, A Quinlan, D Leamy, A Foley, N Ronan.

Backs: P Stringer, T O'Leary, R O'Gara, P Warwick, I Dowling, D Howlett, A Horgan, R Tipoki, K Lewis, L Mafi, B Murphy, K Earls, D Hurley, s Payne.

Slight doubt over Tomas O'Leary's fitness because of a neck injury picked up at the weekend but he should be ok in time for Sunday.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2008/0424/munster.html

marco_polo

Team announced: It is the same as that which started against Glouchester

Three changes amongst the replacements. Federico Puccieriello instead of ahead of Tony Buckley, Barry Murphy for Kieran Lewis and Donnacha Ryan chosen ahead of Anthony Foley.

Melion

Its great how everyone will post in this thread but nobody posted in the one for the magners league last weekend.

marco_polo

Melion wrote: »

Its great how everyone will post in this thread but nobody posted in the one for the magners league last weekend.

Are you takin to me?

Melion

No, nobody in general. But this thread will probably get to 10-11 pages whereas the one for last weeks game would have barely got past 2 if it wasnt for the Leinster arguments.

marco_polo

Melion wrote: »

No, nobody in general. But this thread will probably get to 10-11 pages whereas the one for last weeks game would have barely got past 2 if it wasnt for the Leinster arguments.

Are are we using the lengths of threads now to decide who are the best supporters? Its only natural that a HEC semi final thread will have more posts than a thread on a game between two teams with no chance of winning the ML. . Would you actually have wanted to read a 10-11 page thread on the Osperys game? It wasn't that good believe me

Melion

I see it in the pub where i work aswell. Nobody gives a toss about the ML, we get maybe 10 people to watch the match but when the HC rolls around the place is packed with everyone declaring their love for Munster. Just irritates me that they dont care about the ML but will argue for hours about Munster in the HC

Crash

Melion, Marco Polo, don't bring this thread down that path. You have been warned.

marco_polo

çrash_000 wrote: »

Melion, Marco Polo, don't bring this thread down that path. You have been warned.

Wouldn't dream of it Honest.

Saracen team is as follows:

Saracens: 15 Richard Haughton, 14 Francisco Leonelli, 13 Kevin Sorrell, 12 Adam Powell, 11 Kameli Ratuvou, 10 Glen Jackson, 9 Neil de Kock (c), 8 Ben Skirving, 7 Richard Hill, 6 Paul Gustard, 5 Kris Chesney, 4 Hugh Vyvyan, 3 Cobus Visagie, 2 Matt Cairns, 1 Nick Lloyd.

Replacements: 16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Cencus Johnston, 18 Tom Ryder, 19 Don Barrell, 20 Moses Rauluni, 21 Gordon Ross, 22 Dan Scarbrough.

Pretty powerful pack, very strong front row and decent half backs (only seen Jackson play once or twice but he looks quite capable at 10). I must admit doesn't look very indimidating on paper, but they will be seriously up for this game and will give it everything.

komodosp

I always get a feeling of dread when I see posts like "Munster will definitely win"!!! Keep your tempting of the rugby gods till after the match!

marco_polo

komodosp wrote: »

I always get a feeling of dread when I see posts like "Munster will definitely win"!!! Keep your tempting of the rugby gods till after the match!

I'm a rugby atheist actually .

Where did I say Munster would definately win? To be fair it is quite hard to talk Saracens up on their recent showings. I could edit my previous post to throw in some cliches about the "Alan Gaffney" factor etc if it makes you feel better. But I don't think it is being arrogant to suggest that Sarries will have to up there performance considerably on recent showing if they are to win on Sunday, just stating a fact.

I expect an extremely physical game on Sunday with a squeaky bum finish befitting of any semi final. Rest assured I haven't forgotten the result of Biaritz Vs Northampton at the same stage last year .

Tim Robbins

marco_polo wrote: »

Wouldn't dream of it Honest.

Saracen team is as follows:

Saracens: 15 Richard Haughton, 14 Francisco Leonelli, 13 Kevin Sorrell, 12 Adam Powell, 11 Kameli Ratuvou, 10 Glen Jackson, 9 Neil de Kock (c), 8 Ben Skirving, 7 Richard Hill, 6 Paul Gustard, 5 Kris Chesney, 4 Hugh Vyvyan, 3 Cobus Visagie, 2 Matt Cairns, 1 Nick Lloyd.

Replacements: 16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Cencus Johnston, 18 Tom Ryder, 19 Don Barrell, 20 Moses Rauluni, 21 Gordon Ross, 22 Dan Scarbrough.

Pretty powerful pack, very strong front row and decent half backs (only seen Jackson play once or twice but he looks quite capable at 10). I must admit doesn't look very indimidating on paper, but they will be seriously up for this game and will give it everything.

How many Saracens players would get on the Leinster team?

Tim Robbins

marco_polo wrote: »

I'm a rugby atheist actually .

Actually I wonder how Munster atheists feel when they see the "Ireland by birth, Munster by the grace of God" banners?

remus808

D Hurley; D Howlett, L Mafi, R Tipoki, I Dowling; R O'Gara, T O'Leary; M Horan, J Flannery, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell (capt); A Quinlan, D Wallace, D Leamy.

Replacements: F Sheahan, F Pucciariello, M O'Driscoll, D Ryan, P Stringer, P Warwick, B Murphy.

Very disappointed to see Buckley lose out. He is a great TH and fearsome in the loose. I think they should have either gone for a 5-2 split or put Buckely in instead of Shehan, with Le Puc covering hooker (best option IMO)

Also, Ryan getting the nod ahead of Foley is probably the right call, but i'm sure Axl will be very disappointed to miss out.

Sherifu

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Actually I wonder how Munster atheists feel when they see the "Ireland by birth, Munster by the grace of God" banners?

Lol, I doubt they mind.


Roll on the game and victory.

bleg

irish by birth, munster by natural selection

Crash

karmabass wrote: »

D Hurley; D Howlett, L Mafi, R Tipoki, I Dowling; R O'Gara, T O'Leary; M Horan, J Flannery, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell (capt); A Quinlan, D Wallace, D Leamy.

Replacements: F Sheahan, F Pucciariello, M O'Driscoll, D Ryan, P Stringer, P Warwick, B Murphy.

Very disappointed to see Buckley lose out. He is a great TH and fearsome in the loose. I think they should have either gone for a 5-2 split or put Buckely in instead of Shehan, with Le Puc covering hooker (best option IMO)

Also, Ryan getting the nod ahead of Foley is probably the right call, but i'm sure Axl will be very disappointed to miss out.

Hrmmm - i'm not sure i'd agree with you on this. Puciarello is by far better at prop than hooker, and as such Sheehan deserves his place. With Horan being the biggest worry fitness-wise in the front row, Puciarello has to get the nod over Buckley who, while being a beast in open play and as a rucker, will yet again have problems if put in at loosehead.

marco_polo

çrash_000 wrote: »

Hrmmm - i'm not sure i'd agree with you on this. Puciarello is by far better at prop than hooker, and as such Sheehan deserves his place. With Horan being the biggest worry fitness-wise in the front row, Puciarello has to get the nod over Buckley who, while being a beast in open play and as a rucker, will yet again have problems if put in at loosehead.

I agree it is the right call. I would guess Kidney feels that one facet of play that Saracens could possibly gain a clear advantage is in the scrum so why not pick the guy that is equally comfortable on both sides, and that it is possibly worth the loss of Buckleys impact in the loose from the bench.

marco_polo

çrash_000 wrote: »

Hrmmm - i'm not sure i'd agree with you on this. Puciarello is by far better at prop than hooker, and as such Sheehan deserves his place. With Horan being the biggest worry fitness-wise in the front row, Puciarello has to get the nod over Buckley who, while being a beast in open play and as a rucker, will yet again have problems if put in at loosehead.

I agree it is the right call at prop. I would guess Kidney feels that one facet of play that Saracens could possibly gain a clear advantage is in the scrum especially in case of injury. So why not pick the guy that is equally comfortable on both sides, and that it is probably worth the loss of Buckleys impact in the loose from the bench.

remus808

Don't get me wrong, I don't think Buckley should be in instead of Puc.. could be rightly in trouble then. I just think both of them should have been included. Sarries are very strong in the scrum, could be putting serious pressure on after 60+ minutes with Hasan and Johnson coming on. I really think both Mushy and Puc should have been included to 'lift the siege'. Mushs work in the loose will be sorely missed.. just the man you need to barrel over off a maul for a late try to seal the game.

Goodluck2me

marco_polo wrote: »

I agree it is the right call at prop. I would guess Kidney feels that one facet of play that Saracens could possibly gain a clear advantage is in the scrum especially in case of injury. So why not pick the guy that is equally comfortable on both sides, and that it is probably worth the loss of Buckleys impact in the loose from the bench.

you can say that again

RuggieBear

well there's munster's kick in the arse.

escobar

Saracens certainly raised their game for the HC. Shows how seriously they take the HC. Didn't seem to turn up for the last game .A commendable win by Munster . They have done it again How do they keep winning by small margins in tight games .Pure class..:)

A great match enjoyed by all in Ranelagh. Nail biting but now we have the dream Final . Have to say it's Munster's year.....