Munster V Ospreys 12th April

Judgement Day

Only 156 hours and 23 minutes but who's counting! I'm still on a high from Saturday but I feel that Ospreys are going to present more of a challenge than Leinster. I presume it will be the full strength Munster team again?

156 hours and 20 minutes...:D


C'mon Munster!!

Kristopherus

Is it true that when they win this one, next stop is Croker, irrespective?

chupacabra

Kristopherus wrote: »

Is it true that when they win this one, next stop is Croker, irrespective?

The GAA have given it the nod so yeah, id say so. Probably have to pay out the arse for tickets tho :rolleyes:

ScrubsfanChris

Kristopherus wrote: »

Is it true that when they win this one, next stop is Croker, irrespective?

Yes, because the winner of that match will get a home semi-final. So its Croke Park for a Munster win (or the Millennium Stadium for an Ospreys win )

Can't wait for game day, I live outside Cork City but on the day of the game I will be out on the Gold Coast in Waterford, so its going to be a long old trip.

daveharnett

Judgement Day wrote: »

I feel that Ospreys are going to present more of a challenge than Leinster.

I'm not so sure. Ospreys haven't fielded a full team since the 6N. I think a meltdown is very possible.

anonymous_joe

It's the Ospreys. They could lose embarrasingly or just as likely spank you 40 - 0. They're the world's most inconsistent team.

Otacon

anonymous_joe wrote: »

It's the Ospreys. They could lose embarrasingly or just as likely spank you 40 - 0. They're the world's most inconsistent team.

Worryingly, they have been on the 'lose embarassingly' side for the past few weeks and its getting to the stage when a 'spank' is on the cards!

Even if the Ospreys do pull out a cracker of a game, with the confidence Munster have, I still can see a Munster win.

Will Tipoki be back in the frame?

Noopti

anonymous_joe wrote: »

It's the Ospreys. They could lose embarrasingly or just as likely spank you 40 - 0. They're the world's most inconsistent team.

I cannot see Ospreys spank anyone (apart from Connacht maybe) 40 to nothing even on a good day. Even if Ospreys play very well, it will be a tall order to beat Munster, in their current form, in Thomond.

Clareman

I've heard that Topoki won't play for Munster again, his contract hasn't been renewed and his injury is bad

thomond2006

Otacon wrote: »

Will Tipoki be back in the frame?

No chance, won't be involved. Still out injured.

In any case it would be hard to drop Earls or Warwick in the form they're in, which would happen if Tipoki was selected.

Most likely Tipoki would be at 13, Earls at 15.

While Tipoki is a super player, I don't like Earls at FB. Earls at 13 and Warwick at 15 is a better combination imo.

MonicaBing

Guys what time is game at and is it only be shown on Setanta again?

Royale with Cheese

Not massively looking forward to this one. Can't really see past a Munster win. Henson won't play of course.

Cmon Ospreys

anonymous_joe

Otacon wrote: »

Worryingly, they have been on the 'lose embarassingly' side for the past few weeks and its getting to the stage when a 'spank' is on the cards!

Even if the Ospreys do pull out a cracker of a game, with the confidence Munster have, I still can see a Munster win.

Will Tipoki be back in the frame?

Ah it's them. You really can't predict it.

Noopti wrote: »

I cannot see Ospreys spank anyone (apart from Connacht maybe) 40 to nothing even on a good day. Even if Ospreys play very well, it will be a tall order to beat Munster, in their current form, in Thomond.

That's the problem with the Ospreys, they're a joke of a club. They've only now appointed a coach after how long?

Great players there though. At the end of the day, they've a pack as good as Munster's probably, and a cracking backline. In theory they could thrash anyone, but meh. They play better for Wales than Ospreys.

Colm_OReilly

MonicaBing wrote: »

Guys what time is game at and is it only be shown on Setanta again?

Game is on at 13.00 on Sunday April 12th, and Sky Sports have the rights with RTE on delayed coverage (Quinns v Leinster is on at 15.30 Easter Sunday as well)

How does one go about getting tickets to Croker for the semi final game? Do you just buy them from the ERC website?

Serenity Now!

MonicaBing wrote: »

Guys what time is game at and is it only be shown on Setanta again?

Sky Sports shows the ERC so have a look on their website for channel and schedule.

buck65

Colm_OReilly wrote: »

Game is on at 13.00 on Sunday April 12th, and Sky Sports have the rights with RTE on delayed coverage (Quinns v Leinster is on at 15.30 Easter Sunday as well)

How does one go about getting tickets to Croker for the semi final game? Do you just buy them from the ERC website?

chickens hatch etc?

Colm_OReilly

buck65 wrote: »

chickens hatch etc?

Yeah I know but I've enjoyed the Croke Park Rugby Experience thus far so a HEC match there would be awesome!

Anyway, SHOULD Munster defeted the Ospreys next week, how are tickets allocated for the SF?

Noopti

anonymous_joe wrote: »

They play better for Wales than Ospreys.

Very true

robgloster

After the Leinster game I think the the 22 picks itself. Assuming Mushy is injured.

Horan
Flannery
Hayes
POC
DOC
Wallace
Leamy
Quinlan
TOL
ROG
Dowling
Mafi
Earls
Howlett
Warwick

Bench: Pucciarello, Fogerty, Ryan, Ronan, Stringer, Murphy. Hurley.

Expect a big game from the chavs. They'll be afraid of a bad beating and that makes them dangerous, given their quality.

Podge_irl

Colm_OReilly wrote: »

How does one go about getting tickets to Croker for the semi final game? Do you just buy them from the ERC website?

They'll be distributed through the provinces/clubs. Obviously there is a much better chance of people getting tickets if its a Munster-Quins semi. If its Munster-Leinster (and I'm beginning to doubt it will be ) then it will be interesting how they decide to distribute them. You'd wanna be a season ticket holder/member of a supporters club to guarantee yourself one though I'd say

robgloster

Podge_irl wrote: »

They'll be distributed through the provinces/clubs. Obviously there is a much better chance of people getting tickets if its a Munster-Quins semi. If its Munster-Leinster (and I'm beginning to doubt it will be ) then it will be interesting how they decide to distribute them. You'd wanna be a season ticket holder/member of a supporters club to guarantee yourself one though I'd say

If its a Munster v Leinster semi, I think the only way to get a ticket will be to marry someone in power. I managed to get a work pass for saturday but i wont be able to get one for Crockers.

My advice is enter as many compititions and try and win a pair. I have found my local club slow to give tickets to people not buying corprate packages. I dont think they will have any for public sale will they?

Danakin

Talk of tickets for the semi-final 6 days before the quarter-final?! Confidence is no bad thing but this could be a very depressing thread to read over if something goes wrong on Sunday!

Anyways, I'm looking forward to this one. As a neutral (albeit with a Munster bias as an Irish person) I think we could have a cracker if both backlines are let loose on one another which I can certainly see as the Ospreys strategy as they are massive underdogs and little real resistance is expected from them.

However if Munster play their controlled game and don't allow their confidence from recent results to entice them to play the unstructured and unfocused way they did against Ulster in Thomond then there shouldnt be any real problems. You would expect Munster to dominate up front and get good set-piece ball and that is three-quarters of the way to victory.

Little bit of worry about Earls defensive game at 13 though despite his undoubted talent, he was caught out a little by Glasgow recently and in fairness to them the Ospreys are a step up from Glasgow.

robgloster

Danakin wrote: »

Talk of tickets for the semi-final 6 days before the quarter-final?! Confidence is no bad thing but this could be a very depressing thread to read over if something goes wrong on Sunday!

Anyways, I'm looking forward to this one. As a neutral (albeit with a Munster bias as an Irish person) I think we could have a cracker if both backlines are let loose on one another which I can certainly see as the Ospreys strategy as they are massive underdogs and little real resistance is expected from them.

However if Munster play their controlled game and don't allow their confidence from recent results to entice them to play the unstructured and unfocused way they did against Ulster in Thomond then there shouldnt be any real problems. You would expect Munster to dominate up front and get good set-piece ball and that is three-quarters of the way to victory.

Little bit of worry about Earls defensive game at 13 though despite his undoubted talent, he was caught out a little by Glasgow recently and in fairness to them the Ospreys are a step up from Glasgow.

I hope the Ospreys dont function and if its a bad game and we win ill be happy. And with all this Munster v Leinster semi final stuff im starting to brick it . We have to win .Come Monday ,both Irish Teams Could be out. :(:(:(

Danakin

I think the talk of all-Ireland semi-finals has kind of glossed over these matches a little too much, what with the rugby-loving high the country is on at the moment it's kind of to be expected.

The thing is in 2006 the talk of an all Irish semi-final was quiet, more hopeful than expected. Munster were expected to do the business against Perpignan but Leinster were given very little chance, in the media at least, of turning over Toulouse so the expectations only really took off once Leinster won just beforehand. I would have to say though that Munster may very slightly have been affected by the news of the Leinster win and part of them may have been thinking about the possibility of such a huge occasion to come particularly as they were expected to simply turn up at Landsdowne to win.

This time though we have been nearly expecting the All-Ireland semi-final at Croker from the moment the draw was made and although it would hope that Munster should have enough to win, Leinster will have serious problems delivering on their end when you compare their form and the form of Quins.

Serenity Now!

Danakin wrote: »

Leinster will have serious problems delivering on their end when you compare their form and the form of Quins.

You never know though. The loss last weekend and dumping out of the running for the ML could be the motivator they need. They've won big must-win games away before (Toulouse and Bath?)

robgloster

Serenity Now! wrote: »

You never know though. The loss last weekend and dumping out of the running for the ML could be the motivator they need. They've won big must-win games away before (Toulouse and Bath?)

Same has to be said for Ospreys. They're out of the ML and That loss in The EDF cup. All they have to win is the HC. They will be well up for this and will love to get back for the defeat in the 6 nations. Ifs safe to say they'll be thinking they owe us one

Danakin

I'd say in Leinster's case it'll probably suit them to be playing away from hone as their big performances in those games against Toulouse and Bath showed. Leinster always look pressurised at home in the Heineken cup and the kind of game they play when they perform best is based on counter-attacking and striking from deep rather than having lots of possesion given to them and a well-organised defence inviting Leinster to break them down which can happen at the RDS. The other aspect is that when you have a result as poor as the one against Munster and the form of the team appears low, an expectant crowd can become nervous and worry the team in turn at home whereas there is an amount of freedom the team can feel when playing away.

In terms of the Ospreys while they now have nothing but the HC to concentrate on you'd wonder if they really believe they can win in Thomond or win the cup outright. Whether Lee Byrne is available and fit could have a major influence, I watched the EDF match and after he went off they lacked invention in the back three and although they could have won the match the organisation of Gloucester(which Munster should also have) made them look ordinary enough.

murphym7

Ospreys did not use their full ticket allocation and sent tickets back to Munster 3 weeks ago. Wondering why these were not all snapped up. They were on sale for 4 weeks.

Can't wait for Sunday. What an afternoon on Rugby. Hope both Provinces do well.

robgloster

The Munster Rugby squad assembled in UL today where Tony McGahan named a 26 man squad for Sunday's Heineken Cup quarter final tie with the Ospreys.

Munster Squad for the Heineken Cup Quarter Final v Ospreys, Sunday 12th April, ko 1pm.

Marcus Horan, Federico Pucciariello, Jerry Flannery, Denis Fogarty, John Hayes, Tony Buckley, Donncha O’Callaghan, Paul O’Connell, Mick O’Driscoll, Alan Quinlan, Donnacha Ryan, David Wallace, Niall Ronan, Denis Leamy, Nick Williams, Tomas O’Leary, Peter Stringer, Ronan O’Gara, Lifeimi Mafi, Keith Earls, Barry Murphy, Doug Howlett, Ian Dowling, Kieran Lewis, Paul Warwick, Denis Hurley.

Team and replacements will be announced Friday 12noon.


Some concern though as Doug Howlett has a virus, Ronan O’Gara has a slight knee injury and Paul O’Connell has a Hip issue according to todays Irish times. All are expected to be fit.

autograph

Ospreys will be really fired up. Just hope Munster won't be too confident after the great result against Leinster.

rugbynut

I believe Leamy is fit and rearing to go!

chupacabra

Munster will absorb everything the hairsprays throw at them and then crush them in the final quarter.

Munster by 10

Stick_man

As the game nears im getting more nervous, Ospreys have been written off by everyone but they have a team full of quality players, if they get a performance from each and everyone of them then who knows? Munster but only just.

anonymous_joe

Man for man Ospreys are easily as good as Munster.

As regards team cohesion...

thomond2006

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Man for man Ospreys are easily as good as Munster.

Yes, you're right, there are some excited match ups:

ROG vs Hook
Wallace vs Holah
Second Rows
Warwick vs Byrne
Howlett vs Williams.......f**king hell.

murphym7

I can see a Munster win, but not by much. It will come down to the kickers I'd say. I can;t see Munster playing a wide expansive game. Ospreys will be really up for it though, they have a lot to prove. Can't wait.

louthandproud

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Man for man Ospreys are easily as good as Munster.

Not really what Munster are about though, is it? Man for Man they shouldn't have been in 4 finals and won 2 of them, it's really a team effort/spirit more so than individual talent that has Munster where they are.

As thomond says above there are some interesting pairings on the man to man front nonetheless.

Should be a cracker.

My tuppence worth on prediction front is Munster by 10-15 and Leinster to win by less than a converted try.

thomond2006

http://munsterrugby.wavenex.ie/team-thoughts/56-captain-paul-oconnell-pre-ospreys

POC Press Conference.

anonymous_joe

thomond2006 wrote: »

Yes, you're right, there are some excited match ups:

ROG vs Hook
Wallace vs Holah
Second Rows
Warwick vs Byrne
Howlett vs Williams.......f**king hell.

Should be an interesting game.

I'd like to have seen Henson v Mafi if I'm honest. I think the Welsh boy attracts a lot of criticism because of who he is, not because of his rugby.

Wonder will Tommy Bowe me at 13 and up against Earls?

louthandproud wrote: »

Not really what Munster are about though, is it? Man for Man they shouldn't have been in 4 finals and won 2 of them, it's really a team effort/spirit more so than individual talent that has Munster where they are.

As thomond says above there are some interesting pairings on the man to man front nonetheless.

Should be a cracker.

My tuppence worth on prediction front is Munster by 10-15 and Leinster to win by less than a converted try.

That's why there were two points to my post.

If the Ospreys put a decent team unit together they'd be nigh on unstoppable.

thomond2006

Teams have been named:

Munster: P Warwick, D Howlett, K Earls, L Mafi, 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: D Fogarty, T Buckley, M O'Driscoll, N Ronan, P Stringer, B Murphy, D Hurley


Ospreys:
15 Tommy Bowe
14 Jonny Vaughton
13 Sonny Parker
12 Andrew Bishop
11 Shane Williams
10 James Hook
9 Mike Phillips

1 Paul James
2 Huw Bennett
3 Adam Jones
4 Ian Gough
5 Alun-Wyn Jones
6 Ryan Jones (Capt)
7 Marty Holah
8 Filo Tiatia

Replacements:

16 Richard Hibbard
17 Cai Griffiths
18 Filipo Levi
19 Andy Lloyd
20 Tom Smith
21 Jamie Nutbrown
22 Dan Biggar

No Lee Byrne!, YESSSSSSSS!!!! :D:D:D I think that definitely swings it for Munster

Can't wait to see Bowe vs Warwick.

G'WAN BULL, TIS YOUR FIELD!!!!!!

wixfjord

Has bowe played at fb before? Def swings it in munsters favour and ospreys bench looks weak aswell.

remus808

wixfjord wrote: »

Has bowe played at fb before? Def swings it in munsters favour and ospreys bench looks weak aswell.

Yeah, played there up to u18 level, believe he played there for Ulster too. Don't think it'll faze him to be honest: sadly he won't have much to work with as his pack will be getting pumelled up and down TP for 80 minutes.

robgloster

Can sleep easy no Byrne. Should make things a bit easier. Ronan was unlucky to miss out

barnesd

Munster definitely have the better team imo, but the bench is a bit underwhelming. If it's anyway close most of the starters will need to play the full 80.

anonymous_joe

Awful Ospreys back line.

Can't see them doing too well.

ScholesyIsGod

It wont be easy but i reckon we'll have too much for them iv never really been too impressed by the Opsreys in Europe and with the backline they have out i dont see them doing much.

chapelizod1

I hear that there is a bit of unrest within the Ospreys camp. They've brought in an 'advisor' coach to assist the head coach with his duties. Sounds bizarre! If there is conflict in their camp it can only be good for Munster.

robgloster

chapelizod1 wrote: »

I hear that there is a bit of unrest within the Ospreys camp. They've brought in an 'advisor' coach to assist the head coach with his duties. Sounds bizarre! If there is conflict in their camp it can only be good for Munster.

Where did you hear this? sounds interesting can only help as you said . Be hard for the players to focus . Is there little confidence in there head coach

Johnnyjump

This could be just the kind of ploy to put out there prior to a vital match to distract the opposition! Forgive me for being cynical/suspicious.

thomond2006

chapelizod1 wrote: »

I hear that there is a bit of unrest within the Ospreys camp. They've brought in an 'advisor' coach to assist the head coach with his duties. Sounds bizarre! If there is conflict in their camp it can only be good for Munster.

That's BS.

The "advisor" they brought in is no advisor, he is Scott Johnson, the Ospreys head coach next season. They just brought him in early to help around. Holley and Humphreys are still in charge at the moment.

There is no unrest in the camp.

phog

When the Q/F lineups were decided I was very worried about meeting Ospreys as we get nearer the game my confidence in Munster is increasing.

Ospreys losing Byrne is a big blow and while Bowe is still a threat I think he is less so at FB. Munster using O'Gara and Warwick as ball distributors will keep the Ospreys defence honest and hopefully keep them retreating.

Last weeks win over Leinster will also have been a huge boost for Munster.

Can't wait for Sunday

C'mon Munster