ASM Clermont Auvergne V Munster. Sunday Dec 7.

toomevara

Munster name squad for the Clermont game.

Munster Squad

M Horan, F Pucciariello, J Hayes, T Buckley, D Fogarty, F Sheahan, M O’Driscoll, P O’Connell, D O’Callaghan, D Ryan, A Quinlan, D Wallace, J Coughlan, N Ronan, J O’Sullivan,

T O’Leary, P Stringer, R O’Gara, P Warwick, L Mafi, K Earls, B Murphy, K Lewis, I Dowling, D Howlett, A Horgan.

sm.org

Possible away win for Munster in this one. Clermont are a shadow of last season.

cashmni1

sm.org wrote: »

Possible away win for Munster in this one. Clermont are a shadow of last season.

+1
a lot of changes to that team, if I recall

phog

I'd take an away win but I'm not too optimistic. Flannery, Leamy and Tipoki are big losses for Munster.

Clermont must still be hurting from being so close to a QF last year.

sm.org

phog wrote: »

I'd take an away win but I'm not too optimistic. Flannery, Leamy and Tipoki are big losses for Munster.

Clermont must still be hurting from being so close to a QF last year.

Not on current form. Leamy hasn't played yet, flannery has been average, tipoki granted is a loss but mafi has stepped his game up so much this year he has passed tipoki in terms of importance

Crash

em, flannerys a bit of a loss - sheahans throwing has been highly suspect. Whats the story with Melck?

sm.org

They re signed him for cover for leamy again, I know he was carrying a knock the past three weeks hence no appearance against the ABs. I presume he's still carrying it.

bleg

i'd say fogarty will start this

toomevara

just been on the Clermont site, Munster have sent back 700 tickets.Sign of the times I guess....

phog

sm.org wrote: »

Not on current form. Leamy hasn't played yet, flannery has been average, tipoki granted is a loss but mafi has stepped his game up so much this year he has passed tipoki in terms of importance

Yeah, I know Leamy hasn't played but if fit he'd get his place so still a big loss. Fla is certainly the first choice hooker in munster so again a big loss and no cant agree that Mafi is better than Tipoki, I think Tipoki offers a lot more in defence and defence will be so important on Sunday.

sm.org

phog wrote: »

Yeah, I know Leamy hasn't played but if fit he'd get his place so still a big loss. Fla is certainly the first choice hooker in munster so again a big loss and no cant agree that Mafi is better than Tipoki, I think Tipoki offers a lot more in defence and defence will be so important on Sunday.

Really Tipoki offers more in D ? I would have thought that was Mafi's best asset regardless we still have a quality player in Earls to step in for Rua. I'd be more worried if it was Hayes who was injured.

I know I've asked this before but is there something wrong with Nick Williams??

Tim Robbins

sm.org wrote: »

Really Tipoki offers more in D ? I would have thought that was Mafi's best asset regardless we still have a quality player in Earls to step in for Rua. I'd be more worried if it was Hayes who was injured.

I know I've asked this before but is there something wrong with Nick Williams??

Are CA playing 1st team?

spoon

sm.org wrote: »

I know I've asked this before but is there something wrong with Nick Williams??

I don't think Williams will be arriving in Ireland for another week or two, not sure why there has been such a delay in him getting here.

sslazio11

Paul Warwick is out. Cut his hand during the week, needed stitches. Could have done with him.

toomevara

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Are CA playing 1st team?

Julien Malzieu's been gobbing off about Munster's scalp being their for the taking so I'd imagine their going to field a strong team. The game is also almost sold out, so I'd imagine CA would fancy a good crack at the euro champions in their own back yard.

buck65

Bonus point loss would be a good result here, of course they would have to win the following week at home!

premierstone

buck65 wrote: »

Bonus point loss would be a good result here, of course they would have to win the following week at home!

Yeah i think if we can take 5 point from the two and CA only 4 then it would be a very good weeks work

phog

sm.org wrote: »

Really Tipoki offers more in D ? I would have thought that was Mafi's best asset regardless we still have a quality player in Earls to step in for Rua. I'd be more worried if it was Hayes who was injured.

I know I've asked this before but is there something wrong with Nick Williams??

One of the problems with players stepping up is who steps up to take their place on the bench? We'll have to agree to disagree but I think Tipoki, Leamy and Flannery would make most HEC squads.

Re. Nick Williams it's said over on mf.com that he is supposed to make an appearance for Munster at either the Connacht or Ulster ML games.

sm.org

I agree with completely that all three would, I just think that this season we have the squad to absorb their absence without seeing a huge dip in the quality of performance.

That said warwick being out as well will stretch the reserves a bit.

Aidric

buck65 wrote: »

Bonus point loss would be a good result here, of course they would have to win the following week at home!

I'd go along with this, although four points is within their grasp if they put it together right on the day.

Zzippy

toomevara wrote: »

just been on the Clermont site, Munster have sent back 700 tickets.Sign of the times I guess....

Got a link for this? I've a friend who's been trying to get a ticket for his sister-in-law who lives in France and he couldn't get one...

twinytwo

Munster for the win.... to contemplate anything else is blashmephy!!

toomevara

Zzippy wrote: »

Got a link for this? I've a friend who's been trying to get a ticket for his sister-in-law who lives in France and he couldn't get one...

sure...this should do...

http://asm-rugby.billetterie.datasport.fr/App/Web/LstManifsFormules.aspx?wId=ASMCA

toomevara

CA team announced:

Clermont Auvergne

1. Thomas Domingo, 2.Mario Ledesma, 3.Davit Zirakashvili, 4.Julien Pierre, 5.Loïc Jacquet, 6.Jamie Cudmore, 7.Alexandre Lapandry, 8.Julien Bonnaire, 9.Pierre Mignoni, 10.Brock James, 11.Julien Malzieu, 12.Seremaïa Baï, 13.Benoît Baby, 14.Aurélien Rougerie(cap), 15.Anthony Floch

16.Mirko Lozupone, 17.Laurent Emmanuelli , 18.Alexandre Audebert, 19.Elvis Vermeulen, 20.John Senio, 21.Pierre-Manuel Garcia, Grant Esterhuizen.

That is a team loaded with quality across the park. Munster will have their work cut out.

Crash

Any sign of the munster 15 yet?

bugler

15. Keith Earls, 14. Doug Howlett, 13. Barry Murphy, 12. Lifeimi Mafi, 11. Ian Dowling, 10. Ronan O'Gara, 9. Tomas O'Leary, 1. Marcus Horan, 2. Frankie Sheahan, 3. John Hayes, 4. Donncha O'Callaghan, 5. Paul O'Connell, 6. Alan Quinlan, 7. Niall Ronan, 8. David Wallace,
16. Denis Fogarty, 17. Tony Buckley, 18. Donnacha Ryan, 19. James Coughlan, 20. Peter Stringer, 21. Paul Warwick, 22. Jeremy Manning,

RuggieBear

i likes that backrow.

bugler

I'm delighted for Ronan, a little suprised Buckley is ahead of Pucciariello, and unsure about Barry Murphy at OC. Thought Warwick at 15 and Earls at OC would be the call.

EDIT: It's possible that Lewis is on the bench instead of Manning, some confusion over that.

sm.org

bugler wrote: »

I'm delighted for Ronan, a little suprised Buckley is ahead of Pucciariello, and unsure about Barry Murphy at OC. Thought Warwick at 15 and Earls at OC would be the call.

EDIT: It's possible that Lewis is on the bench instead of Manning, some confusion over that.

Warwick cut his hand and is out for a week. Freddie played for the BaBa's on wednesday and went off injured after twenty.

Crash

Except Warwick is on the bench, so he's obviously not that bad?

sslazio11

Going Forward wrote: »

Except Warwick is on the bench, so he's obviously not that bad?

Must have made a quick recovery so, word on Wednesday was that he was definitely out, had to have stitches on the hand.

remus808

Ronan ahead of Ryan all of a sudden? Or is it just to accomodate Quinlan?

bugler

I think Ronan is in competition with Wally alone. When Wally is out or moved to 8 Ronan is in. It makes more sense than forcing JOS or Quinlan into 7, which neither of them are IMO. Ryan is a 6 only when it comes to the backrow, so it was between him and Quinlan.

If Leamy was fit then I think you'd have seen 6 quinlan 7 Wallace 8 Leamy.

But I like this backrow. Natural 7, natural ball carrier at 8 (and he was great from there vs Sale) and an out and out 6. Hope it goes well for them as a unit!

d-gal

So prediction people? I always believe munster will do it so i will stick with that, should be a cracker, bonnaire vs wallace especially!

toomevara

d-gal wrote: »

So prediction people? I always believe munster will do it so i will stick with that, should be a cracker, bonnaire vs wallace especially!

This one's got all the hallmarks of a classic Munster banana-skin. That CA team is a quality outfit and at home, well, who knows? I'd say *rubs rosary* Munster, by a single score, in a low scoring game.

dreamer_ire

Munster for me too but I think (hope!) it'll be by more than 7

Stev_o

Its going to be hard to beat the Bath vs Glasgow fixture probably the best HC match this year.

Boots09

anyone know of a stream or TVU player chanel showing the game? Watched the bath game on TVU but the channel is showin the soccer now!

PowerHouseDan

http://www.justin.tv/sportstime - Related Links down the bottom. Munster V Clermount

Boots09 wrote: »

anyone know of a stream or TVU player chanel showing the game? Watched the bath game on TVU but the channel is showin the soccer now!

kensutz

Nice try from Horan

PowerHouseDan

Horan Showing His Power there and Rog Converts.

anonymous_joe

Why does ROG's kicking always seem so much calmer for Munster?

Rattlehead_ie

Great try for Horan, always great to see forwards showing the backs how to score tries

Why does ROG's kicking always seem so much calmer for Munster?

Oh lets not start this old one

ozt9vdujny3srf

I'd still rather see a winger there then Horan.

anonymous_joe

Rattlehead_ie wrote: »

Great try for Horan, always great to see forwards showing the backs how to score tries


Oh lets not start this old one

I really don't mean it as criticism. He's kicked very well so far, and with a lot of self-assurance.

Vendetta

Does anyone have a better stream than justin.tv?

Rattlehead_ie

Oh I know it wasnt a criticism Joe, its just one of these debates that never ends

Unlucky Howlett, but wasnt a try. Munster do look dangerous on attack but I would like to see how their defense stands up. I was v impressed with Leicester and Quinns yesterday.

PowerHouseDan

Munster Defense has been Excellent So far.

Rattlehead_ie

PowerHouseDan wrote: »

Munster Defense has been Excellent So far.

I only walked in just as Horan scored the try, so wasnt sure but the last bit of offense from Clermont kinda answered my question, will keep an eye on it.

You gota love the touch judges head nodding when horan scored the try...... that guy wants to be a Hero............. and to me he is!

dreamer_ire

Pretty solid first half by Munster, pity ROG didn't find a red jersey with that last break. More tries in the second half I reckon, we looking very promising in attack.

[Jackass]

Absolutely clinical stuff from Munster. They look like the team to beat this year.