Munster v Cardiff Blues - Friday Sep 11 - 7.05pm

buck65

Squad chosen - http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/6061.php
Quinnie and the Bull back in the fold. Warwick still out with foot injury. Munster bound to struggle again!

Team could be something like this 1.Horan 2. Fogarty 3. Brugnuat/Hayes 4. Ryan 5. O Driscoll 6. Quinlan 7. Ronan 8. Leamy 9. Stringer 10. Manning 11. Hurley 12. Mafi 13. Murphy 14. Howlett 15. Jones

buck65

buck65 wrote: »

Squad chosen - http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/6061.php
Quinnie and the Bull back in the fold. Warwick still out with foot injury. Munster bound to struggle again!

Team could be something like this 1.Horan 2. Fogarty 3. Brugnuat/Hayes 4. Ryan 5. O Driscoll 6. Quinlan 7. Ronan 8. Leamy 9. Stringer 10. Manning 11. Hurley 12. Mafi 13. Murphy 14. Howlett 15. Jones

They shouldnt struggle,thats not a bad team at all considering who is missing.

skregs

not a good team either though. the back line in particular looks weak. and cardiff are strong enough to exploit those weaknesses

anonymous_joe

skregs wrote: »

not a good team either though. the back line in particular looks weak. and cardiff are strong enough to exploit those weaknesses

Both teams will be very weak though, what with the lack of Lions.

skregs

skregs wrote: »

not a good team either though. the back line in particular looks weak. and cardiff are strong enough to exploit those weaknesses

True,its dissapointing Earls is missing because he didnt play that much in the Lions and could easily be playing,he could have added a bit of spark to the backline because in fairness the pack looks like they could do some damage.

buck65

There are alot of weaknesses in the front row for starters. Fogarty's throwing is a problem - sure he can motor in open play but if you can't scrummage and throw forget it. Horan's form is pretty poor and Hayes would be a lacking a bit in match fitness. Personally I would go with Brugnaut here. 4 and 5 are decent at best. Backrow no great problem even though Leamy and Ronan need to up the workrate at the breakdown. Manning is not up to it at flyhalf. Murphy, Hurley are not first choice but try hard. Very much up against it IMO!

buck65

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Both teams will be very weak though, what with the lack of Lions.

True but with Flannery, O Leary, Warwick out we are really short at the moment but tbh in the scheme of things it will bring on these fringe players a lot so at the seasons end it might be a blessing ! How many Lions had Cardiff? I'd say only 6 of my team above would make the HCup XV.

Stev_o

Don't worry if Sam Norton Knight plays for the Blues Munster should win.

MG

Lachlan Low Spoon wrote: »

True,its dissapointing Earls is missing because he didnt play that much in the Lions .

He played 5 times which is about average for the Irish tourists.

theKramer

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Both teams will be very weak though, what with the lack of Lions.

Cardiff are only without Gethin Jenkins, who was on the Lions or am I forgetting somebody? They should then be pretty much at full-strength then.

Going by our scrum issues, we can be damn glad he isnt playing. I hope to Christ he aint or we're ...........

2040

theKramer wrote: »

Cardiff are only without Gethin Jenkins, who was on the Lions or am I forgetting somebody? They should then be pretty much at full-strength then.

Going by our scrum issues, we can be damn glad he isnt playing. I hope to Christ he aint or we're ...........

Martyn Williams and Jamie Roberts also. Halfpenny played last week though as he didn't actually tour.

theKramer

They're still closer to full strength than us though.
But I suppose not having your first choice centre pairing would be a drawback alright.

Munster will seriously have to pull the finger out if they are gonna win this one, methinks. I hope they do as Im going to the game. Would be fairly depressing in the pub after

NickNolte

Not the strongest looking squad but it'll be an interesting match. Looking forward to see how Jones acquits himself.

PhatPiggins

theKramer wrote: »

Cardiff are only without Gethin Jenkins, who was on the Lions or am I forgetting somebody? They should then be pretty much at full-strength then.

Going by our scrum issues, we can be damn glad he isnt playing. I hope to Christ he aint or we're ...........

Cardiff will be missing Jenkins/Williams/Shanklin/Roberts and will be stuck with Donkey Hewitt and Thomas in centre again coupled with either Sweeney or an out of sorts Knight at 10 makes a pretty crappy looking backline.

I think Cardiff are going through a bit of a transitory period especially in the ML. Potentially a very good team but with no consistency what so ever.

Munster by 8/9 points for me

toomevara

buck65 wrote: »

in the scheme of things it will bring on these fringe players a lot so at the seasons end it might be a blessing !

QFT, absolutely the point here...firstly that squad isn't (relatively speaking) that bad, they may even turn over the Blues or at least give em a fright. As a very good mate of mine says, us Munster fans tend to want the moon on a stick,but the opportunity for these players to get game time at this level is priceless. Lets take the hit and suck it up, it will pay dividends later.

buck65

toomevara wrote: »

QFT, absolutely the point here...firstly that squad isn't (relatively speaking) that bad, they may even turn over the Blues or at least give em a fright. As a very good mate of mine says, us Munster fans tend to want the moon on a stick,but the opportunity for these players to get game time at this level is priceless. Lets take the hit and suck it up, it will pay dividends later.

True, hopefully the "hit" will still see us limp into the top4 in the ML !
Could really see Munster struggling this year to replicate the form of last year but hopefully they will peak when it is needed.

NITFBY

Looking forward to going to the game on Friday. Think it will be tight and I will go for 16-12 to munster

spoon

I'm looking forward to this, first game back in Thomand this season! I think the crowd will be expecting a big performance to make up for last week. I just hope people don't expect too much of this team. They're missing a lot of their key players, and it really showed last week, and i think it may on Friday too. I've a feeling it's going to be a horrible match to watch and we may end up with a loosing bonus point. However, it could go either way since Cardiff aren't at full strength either.

danthefan

Stev_o wrote: »

Don't worry if Sam Norton Knight plays for the Blues Munster should win.

Dai Young reads board.ie! Ceri Sweeny to the rescue though... uh oh.

1 John Yapp
2 Rhys Thomas
3 Taufa’ao Filise
4 Deiniol Jones
5 Paul Tito
6 Mamma Molitika
7 Robin Sowden-Taylor
8 Xavier Rush
9 Gareth cooper
10 Ceri Sweeney
11 Chris Czekaj
12 Dafydd Hewitt
13 Gareth Thomas
14 Leigh Halfpenny
15 Ben Blair


16 Gary Powell
17 Gareth Williams
18 Scott Morgan
19 Andy Powell
20 Richie Rees
21 Sam Norton-Knight
22 Dafydd James

irishbucsfan

Looks like an excellent Blues team. Fair play to Munster if they beat them

theKramer

danthefan wrote: »

11 Chris Czekaj

Good to see this guy back. I remember him breaking his ankle, I think, horribly in the 6N before last.

Makes me shudder everytime i see someone break their ankle as I broke mine badly 3 years ago.

buck65

Munster team:
Jones,Howlett,Murphy,Mafi,Hurley,Manning,Stringer,Leamy, Ronan,Quinlan,Ryan ,O Driscoll, Hayes,Fogarty,Horan.

Subs -Varley,Buckley,Holland,O Donnell,Morland,Gleeson, Deasy,

2040

danthefan wrote: »

19 Andy Powell

Completely forgot about Powell, along with the rest of the rugby world.

danthefan

theKramer wrote: »

Good to see this guy back. I remember him breaking his ankle, I think, horribly in the 6N before last.

Makes me shudder everytime i see someone break their ankle as I broke mine badly 3 years ago.

It was his femur.

ScrubsfanChris

buck65 wrote: »

Munster team:
Jones,Howlett,Murphy,Mafi,Hurley,Manning,Stringer,Leamy, Ronan,Quinlan,Ryan ,O Driscoll, Hayes,Fogarty,Horan.

Subs -Varley,Buckley,Holland,O Donnell,Morland,Gleeson, Deasy,

Manning is the only weak link in that team as far as I can see.

spoon

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

Manning is the only weak link in that team as far as I can see.

There's very little impact from the bench as well.

ScrubsfanChris

Hopefully we will get to see a full strenght Munster side for the Leinster game in the RDS on October 3rd.

buck65

I think you will get your wish!

But what is Munster's best team?

We are spoiled in the backs but the pack really needs a bit of new blood - interesting to see will we get anything out of the current pretenders to the throne - Fogarty, Varley, Holland, Brugnaut, O Donnell, Ryan etc.

Jam-Fly

would tickets be available to buy at the gate for this match?

ScrubsfanChris

Jam-Fly wrote: »

would tickets be available to buy at the gate for this match?

Yep

http://munsterrugby.ie/news/6076.php

PhatPiggins

buck65 wrote: »

I think you will get your wish!

But what is Munster's best team?

We are spoiled in the backs but the pack really needs a bit of new blood - interesting to see will we get anything out of the current pretenders to the throne - Fogarty, Varley, Holland, Brugnaut, O Donnell, Ryan etc.

Cant be having Fogarty, a hooker who cant throw is a liability to the team regardless of how good he is around the park.

spoon

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Cant be having Fogarty, a hooker who cant throw is a liability to the team regardless of how good he is around the park.

His throwing will get better with more match practice. I think this guy is a huge prospect for the future.

PhatPiggins

spoon wrote: »

His throwing will get better with more match practice. I think this guy is a huge prospect for the future.

Disagree there, he's had plenty of game time the past two seasons and he's getting no better. Its not like he's 22, if he cant throw by now !! He's scrumaging is none to hot either.

remus808

"Xavier Rush is very average"

Twat.

irishbucsfan

I don't have the words to express how much I dislike Neil Francis. I have more respect for the rugby opinions of every person on this planet. I hate so much about what he chooses to be.

2040

Munster by a score or less is my call.

anonymous_joe

So far so good from our red cousins.

Manning looked very nervous and overly eager too please at the start but looks a lot calmer now.

Halfpenny almost showed why he's likely to overtake Shane Williams as Wales' best winger.

Cardiff have a very good collection of players, but they're not doing anywhere near enough to use them.

DonkeyPokerTour

News Just In: Hurley Cought The Ball!

remus808

LOL at Neil "Twat" Francis saying Xavier Rush 'has no skills, and no pace'. Complete egg on face scenario - that was a class try.

Aidric

Solid first half from Munster, nothing spectacular. That late try from Cardiff will give them momentum going in to the start of the second. Great turn of pace from Rush for the try.

chupacabra

DonkeyPokerTour wrote: »

News Just In: Hurley Cought The Ball!

Yeah, shocker right? :rolleyes: He had a pretty decent game last week too.

Munster are really on top here, that last try from cardiff was good but totally against the run of play. Manning is looking improved from last week and Quinny looks like he never had a break at all. Roll on the second half.

irishbucsfan

Munster have been excellent from 4 to 7 (Niall Ronan is looking great yet again. Leinster fans who think Jennings should play for Ireland should start considering this guy as well). Can't say much good for any of the other players. Manning has kicked the placed ball very well, and some of his positional kicking has been good, but he's but the ball out on the full twice as well. Munsterhave bossed the lineout.

Cardiff are looking good they're just losing the battle on the ground, which is where you need to match Munster to beat them. If Cardiff's loose 5 start to use a bit more muscle they good be very dangerous.

Maybe one of the two teams will actually play some rugby in the second half.




Also, as a side note. Setanta are awful eh? Munster looking very poor at the scrum yet Fitzgerald managed to compliment them there... I just get the feeling that their commentators etc. are a little uneasy and they spend so much time trying to sound professional that they can't analyse the game properly.

irishbucsfan

chupacabra wrote: »

Munster are really on top here, that last try from cardiff was good but totally against the run of play. Manning is looking improved from last week and Quinny looks like he never had a break at all. Roll on the second half.

Munster's try was the first time they had any sort of attacking ball in the Cardiff 22 and wasn't entirely deserved. They certainly don't deserve to be more than 7 ahead right now.

DonkeyPokerTour

Great in Defence, great in attack, Felix Jones looks very impressive tonight.

If he nailsdown the fullback spot at munster this year he could start for Ireland!!!

anonymous_joe

DonkeyPokerTour wrote: »

Great in Defence, great in attack, Felix Jones looks very impressive tonight.

If he nailsdown the fullback spot at munster this year he could start for Ireland!!!

Ahead of the Lions full back?

(Not to mention one or two others of note. )

Was worried Buckley would score that try and end up starting for Ireland. Good to see Leamy looking more confident.

NickNolte

DonkeyPokerTour wrote: »

If he nailsdown the fullback spot at munster this year he could start for Ireland!!!

I'd say it'll be tough to knock Kearney off that spot if he manages to maintain his Lions form. Although he's looking like a good prospect.

soundsham

manning doing a bit better tonight alright....the boy is tackling hard too

m o driscoll is having a savage game

DonkeyPokerTour

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Ahead of the Lions full back?

(Not to mention one or two others of note. )

I said If! :P

But he's looking better than Kearney in Defence, which is always a nice thing from a full back! Kearney obviously has experience and long kick advantage. But lets put it this way, wouldn't it be a lovely headache to have! As long as it doesn't turn into another dempsey/murphy where they stick one on the wing!

What a shame that Halfpenny missed out on the Lions, even from the few brief touches he's had tonight, he's looked very good.

Ronan looks very impressive, a long run in the first team this year would put him and jennings on an even platform for the Irish 7 jersey (taking walace outta the mix).

Good but not great performance over all for munster, but a wins a win. Interesting to see when the Lions come back.

Regards
Ian

2040

I've missed Alan Quinlan.

irishbucsfan

I'd say Buckley is delighted there were hardly any scrums in that second half!

That game felt like a pre-season match. Cardiff look like they're a month away from playing the good winning rugby from last April and Munster were playing their 3rd team by the end.

Manning just doesn't have it. That was a good performance from him with the boot, but he had Mafi, Murphy and Howlett outside him and he never let them stretch their legs. The only times Mafi was able to run the ball he was recieving it straight from the scrum half. Saying that he controlled the game excellently, O'Gara-esque. I suppose his performance today was perfection as a Munster 10, but not my cup of tea.

PS, Norton-Knight is awful

ScrubsfanChris

Munster 24 - 13 Cardiff Blues, final score.