Munster V Northampton Saints Sat 6th Oct

murphym7 · 08-10-2009 1:36pm #1

MUNSTER Squad (v Northampton Saints) - Backs (11): Tomas O'Leary, Toby Morland, Peter Stringer, Ronan O'Gara, Paul Warwick, Jean de Villiers, Lifeimi Mafi, Doug Howlett, Ian Dowling, Denis Hurley, Keith Earls.

Forwards (16): Marcus Horan, Julien Brugnaut, Tony Buckley, Darragh Hurley, Dave Ryan, Denis Fogarty, Jerry Flannery, Donncha O'Callaghan, Mick O'Driscoll, Paul O'Connell, Donnacha Ryan, Denis Leamy, Niall Ronan, David Wallace, Nick Williams, Alan Quinlan.

From Irish Rugby.ie

I am really nervous about this one. Munster have not started well this season and are coming off a bad defeat. We will see what character Munster have this year. I hope its a good start.

Risteard · 08-10-2009 1:50pm

Disappointed that Jones has been left out. I think that he could potentially be our best fullback, but I suppose he's only had a few games so far and it's a big enough game.

buck65 · 08-10-2009 2:12pm

Jones will get his chance again. He had a so/so start to the ML. Hurley is the form wing at the moment and he can cover full back too. Earls also is an option.

My guess at the first XV

Warwick, Howlett, Mafi, de Villiers, Earls, O Gara, O Leary
Horan, Flannery, Buckley, DOC, POC, Quinlan, Wallace, Leamy

theKramer · 08-10-2009 4:38pm

The questions that are lingering in my mind are:
1. How will the scrum hold up?
2. Will they have the lineout sorted?
3. Will they actually commit numbers to the rucks, rather than having forwards out on the wing waiting for some fancy move to happen but doesnt coz they need to protect the f***ing ball :mad: Hope they woke the f up and tweaked the gameplan a bit.
4. Can ROG up his game.......

08-10-2009 4:55pm

theKramer wrote: »

4. Can ROG up his game.......

I wouldnt be surprised to see warwick starting.

Amazotheamazing · 08-10-2009 4:56pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I wouldnt be surprised to see warwick starting.

You think McGahan wants to start O'Gara?

theKramer · 08-10-2009 5:14pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I wouldnt be surprised to see warwick starting.

I'd be very surprised if Warwick started at 10, as he hasnt played one game at 10 this year. I dont think he even played any of the preseason games at 10. So I would be very surprised to see Warwick start at 10 for a H-Cup game.

TBH, O'Gara performing is the least of our worries, in comparison to my first 3 points. He cant do anything if the forwards dont give him a good platform to execute the plays, which they definitely didnt do last weekend.

pappyodaniel · 08-10-2009 5:26pm

O'Gara will start, his position is guaranteed no matter how bad his form is. Warwick does deserve his chance in his best position of 10, and you may never know, it could be the perfect catalyst for RO'G to up his game and 'play' for his jersey.
Buckley now has 6 weeks to prove himself, that is if he even starts. Brugnaut is an ideal replacement and cover for both sides of the front-row.
The big guns will start this time round so we will see a completely different performance this Saturday. O'Connell's presence alone will be a big addition too. Shame about Nick Williams though.
Northampton won't be an easy place to go but fingers crossed for a big back-lash!

gavkm27 · 08-10-2009 5:43pm

pappyodaniel wrote: »

Shame about Nick Williams though.

Maybe he will start? Think he has done enough so far this season?

thehighground · 08-10-2009 8:40pm

pappyodaniel wrote: »

O'Gara will start, his position is guaranteed no matter how bad his form is.

True - the IRFU wouldn't be too chuffed if he wasn't getting game time with the AIs coming up. Hopefully Sexton will step up to the plate and take some pressure off the International situation.

Warwick does deserve his chance in his best position of 10, and you may never know, it could be the perfect catalyst for RO'G to up his game and 'play' for his jersey.

For the record, Warwick was the 10 that lost to Ulster* x 2 times last year & Connacht x 1 time. Games Munster lost when O'Gara was 10 were to CA (away) and Leinster in semi.

O'Gara came off injured after about 10 mins in Thomond Park against Ulster.

buck65 · 09-10-2009 7:25am

The highground, Warwick didn't have the benefit of the full Munster team around him in some of those games. Remember Connaght and Ulster away especially were really weakened sides.

danthefan · 09-10-2009 9:05am

Team is up.

Munster: P Warwick; D Howlett, L Mafi, J de Villiers, K Earls; R O'Gara, T O'Leary; M Horan, J Flannery, T Buckley; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell capt; A Quinlan, D Wallace, D Leamy. Replacements: D Fogarty, J Brugnaut, Darragh Hurley, M O'Driscoll, N Ronan, D Ryan, P Stringer I Dowling

murphym7 · 09-10-2009 9:11am

danthefan wrote: »

Team is up.

Munster: P Warwick; D Howlett, L Mafi, J de Villiers, K Earls; R O'Gara, T O'Leary; M Horan, J Flannery, T Buckley; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell capt; A Quinlan, D Wallace, D Leamy. Replacements: D Fogarty, J Brugnaut, Darragh Hurley, M O'Driscoll, N Ronan, D Ryan, P Stringer I Dowling

With the exception of Mushy the forwards look so old, no freshness or newness there at all. This may be an issue this year for Munster. I am not saying that they are bad players, far from it, but a bit of fresh blood would be good. I think we are playing very predictably, maybe teams can read us too well. Just my opinion.

Back line looks great, maybe Warwick at 10 after he plays a few ML games.

danthefan · 09-10-2009 9:35am

It reminds me of an EOS selection, not a bad side but all about fitting certain players in no matter what, with not much account of form taken.

buck65 · 09-10-2009 10:12am

buck65 wrote: »

My guess at the first XV

Warwick, Howlett, Mafi, de Villiers, Earls, O Gara, O Leary
Horan, Flannery, Buckley, DOC, POC, Quinlan, Wallace, Leamy

I should have put money on it!!

buck65 · 09-10-2009 10:24am

danthefan wrote: »

It reminds me of an EOS selection, not a bad side but all about fitting certain players in no matter what, with not much account of form taken.

I can see your point, and I agree to an extent where I differ is that Munster due to their severely disjointed season so far really don't know who is in form. A few players in the first 3 rounds put themselves up for consideration and find themselves in the extended panel -Williams, Hurley- while others are due another look -Jones, Varley.
For the first round of the HCup not to go with your established players would be too risky for Mc Gahan who has shown himself to be surprisingly conservative with his selections.
I hope if things start going wrong that he will use the bench earlier than what we saw in Munster's 2 defeats this season.
I still feel that Munster were not mentally tuned in to last Saturdays fixture and were hoping to get a decent run out under the belt with their top players. Of course Leinster's ferocity gave them no chance to gel or play themselves into it.
I think O Gara must be given the chance to find his form too but should be replaced if he isn't playing well, Leamy in my eyes has to play as he brings a bit of bite to proceedings as does Quinlan. Earls has to play also and on the wing will give some attacking options, Dowling is a better defender hands down.
Will be a tough one, hoping for a big performance form Munster and a win wouldn't be outside the bounds of reason , a losing BP might have to do.

bleg · 09-10-2009 10:24am

Looking forward to this. Should be a cracker. Munster should bounce back from last weekend and perform well tomorrow.

twinytwo · 09-10-2009 10:32am

bleg wrote: »

Looking forward to this. Should be a cracker. Munster should bounce back from last weekend and perform well tomorrow.

we hope

thehighground · 09-10-2009 11:36am

buck65 wrote: »

The highground, Warwick didn't have the benefit of the full Munster team around him in some of those games. Remember Connaght and Ulster away especially were really weakened sides.

Thats a lame excuse. Any team that Munster put out against these two teams last year should have won (no disrespect to either Connacht or Ulster intended). Losses happen, but the 10 losing at Home to Ulster is as deserving as much criticism as the 10 that lost Away to Leinster in a very disjoined team.

thehighground · 09-10-2009 11:39am

murphym7 wrote: »

With the exception of Mushy the forwards look so old, no freshness or newness there at all. This may be an issue this year for Munster. I am not saying that they are bad players, far from it, but a bit of fresh blood would be good. I think we are playing very predictably, maybe teams can read us too well. Just my opinion.

Back line looks great, maybe Warwick at 10 after he plays a few ML games.

I'd prefer our old forwards back in form. Surely the predictability is down to coaching & tactics?

anonymous_joe · 09-10-2009 11:41am

thehighground wrote: »

I'd prefer our old forwards back in form. Surely the predictability is down to coaching & tactics?

Well Munster's forwards seem to be stuck between their old game and whatever the fcuk McGahan's new game is. Not helping them much lately.

Given that half of 'em were in Safferland they're not exactly bad players. Tactics and coaching would be a reason they might be playing poorly.

Hyperbullet · 09-10-2009 9:35pm

I have a few slight concerns about tomorrow night, apart from the fact we got our arses handed to us last weekend and we need a serious return to form, hopefully we'll put in a good performance tomorrow.

Are Leamy and Quinny fully fit? Personally I would've left Nick Williams in at 8 on merit of his recent performances, lad deserves a chance. I'd expect him to start against Troviso next Saturday. Also slightly concerned about the scrum. Hope Mush will step up to the plate.

profitius · 09-10-2009 10:12pm

Saints will copy Leinsters game plan but Munster should be ready for it at least. I'm worried about munsters fittness levels. They're not match fit in many areas and the Saints are. That could decide the match.

Stev_o · 09-10-2009 10:16pm

profitius wrote: »

Saints will copy Leinsters game plan but Munster should be ready for it at least. I'm worried about munsters fittness levels. They're not match fit in many areas and the Saints are. That could decide the match.

Match will be decided in the pack and unless Munster's one fronts up like the old days they could be in for a rough ride in Franklins Gardens.

PhatPiggins · 09-10-2009 10:43pm

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Well Munster's forwards seem to be stuck between their old game and whatever the fcuk McGahan's new game is. Not helping them much lately.

Given that half of 'em were in Safferland they're not exactly bad players. Tactics and coaching would be a reason they might be playing poorly.

Thats a cop out. The reason their playing poorly is becasuse so many of them are out of form(too much rest?) and though I hate to say it a few of them are past it.

Depp · 09-10-2009 10:57pm

bleg wrote: »

Looking forward to this. Should be a cracker. Munster should bounce back from last weekend and perform well tomorrow.

Fingers & Toes crossed

murphym7 · 09-10-2009 11:20pm

thehighground wrote: »

I'd prefer our old forwards back in form. Surely the predictability is down to coaching & tactics?

I totally agree with you that our old forwards back in form would be great and not playing predicatable rugby, but thats not the case and is unlikely to change in the near future.

Otacon · 10-10-2009 5:07pm

ROG penalty missed. Dang!

Otacon · 10-10-2009 5:11pm

Geraghty gets his penalty.

Northhampton 3 Munster 0

Munster very fidgety so far.

Stev_o · 10-10-2009 5:12pm

TOL having a mare so far.

Cool_CM · 10-10-2009 5:16pm

Stev_o wrote: »

TOL having a mare so far.

Munster in general having a mare so far...

NickNolte · 10-10-2009 5:16pm

It's been a bit of a shocking start far Munster so far. The Saints are definitely up for this. Let's hope the boys in red can pick themselves up.

RuggieBear · 10-10-2009 5:17pm

munster are in big trouble in the scrum. what's the frenchman like?
poor effort by geraghty

Stev_o · 10-10-2009 5:18pm

Saints in for a try, Munster have yet to wake up seem in a daze.

Cool_CM · 10-10-2009 5:19pm

Well deserved Northampton try...
What are they up to?

RuggieBear · 10-10-2009 5:19pm

Stev_o wrote: »

Saints in for a try, Munster have yet to wake up seem in a daze.

knock on?

Stev_o · 10-10-2009 5:20pm

Cool_CM wrote: »

Well deserved Northampton try...
What are they up to?

Just caught napping really a bit like the start they made last week, hopefully for Munster's sack they ll realise they are in a serious match now.

B0X · 10-10-2009 5:20pm

Munster looking poor so far.

RuggieBear · 10-10-2009 5:20pm

munster are still in this with kicking like that

Stev_o · 10-10-2009 5:20pm

RuggieBear wrote: »

knock on?

Came off Ears going towards the Saints end so i doubt it. Still good invention from Geraghty.

An Citeog · 10-10-2009 5:21pm

RuggieBear wrote: »

knock on?

Definite knock on in the build up to the try.

NickNolte · 10-10-2009 5:22pm

Smashing drop goal from Warwick.

louthandproud · 10-10-2009 5:22pm

After 100+ minutes Munster have scored again.

Cool_CM · 10-10-2009 5:22pm

What a Drop!
Hopefully something to start motivating them

RuggieBear · 10-10-2009 5:22pm

lol

Otacon · 10-10-2009 5:23pm

An Citeog wrote: »

Definite knock on in the build up to the try.

Yeah saw that. Geraghty knock on a phase earlier.

BOHSBOHS · 10-10-2009 5:23pm

nice DG from warwick!

louthandproud · 10-10-2009 5:25pm

O'Gara finding form? Couple of nice field kicks there!

RuggieBear · 10-10-2009 5:25pm

rog doing well. putting the pressure on hartley

Stev_o · 10-10-2009 5:26pm

Try Wallace good fortune back 3 went missing.

NickNolte · 10-10-2009 5:26pm

Good stuff from Wallace!

Munster V Northampton Saints Sat 6th Oct

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