Munster vs Scarlets Match Thread

thomond2006

The frontline players return to the Munster squad for this weekend's clash. John Hayes is rested while Jerry Flannery is expected to be fit for next weekend's trip to Treviso in the Heineken Cup

Munster Squad: D Hurley, I Dowling, D Howlett, T Gleeson, J de Villiers, K Earls, L Mafi, P Warwick, R O'Gara, D Williams, T O'Leary, P Stringer, W du Preez, S Archer, T Buckley, D Fogarty, D Varley, P O'Connell, D Ryan, D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll, A Quinlan, N Ronan, B Holland, D Wallace, J Coughlan.

Scarlets: TBA

Team I'd like to see:

Warwick
Howlett
Earls
JdV
Hurley
ROG
TOL
Du Preez
Varley
Archer
DOC
POC
Quinlan
Wallace
Coughlan

Fogarty
Buckley :mad:
MOD
Ronan
Stringer
Mafi
Dowling

2040

12. Jean De Villiers
13. Keith Earls

Please please please. I don't know. Maybe i don't know what i'm talking about and Earls and JDV havn't clicked in training. JDV and Gleeson was actually a fairly effective combination, albeit against a weakened Connacht side. Should be given another shot maybe, but not this game. This is Heineken Cup preparation.

Despite Stephen Jones being out, this probably won't be a rout a la Leinster v Scarlets in the HC.

thomond2006

2040 wrote: »

12. Jean De Villiers
13. Keith Earls

Please please please. I don't know. Maybe i don't know what i'm talking about and Earls and JDV havn't clicked in training. JDV and Gleeson was actually a fairly effective combination, albeit against a weakened Connacht side. Should be given another shot maybe, but not this game. This is Heineken Cup preparation.

+1.

When Mafi went off against Perpignan, JdV and Earls had a balance to it.

I think the more interesting selection is the backrow and where Wallace will play.

Risteard

I'd like to see that team as well. Only thing is Dowling doesn't offer much off the bench.

Hopefully Archer will start. His first scrum against Ulster was pretty stable, even if he got pushed off the next one, that one scrum gives a glimmer of hope.

castie

God dam you. Thought that was the announced team and i was foaming at the mouth awaiting jdv earls

PhatPiggins

I'd imagine it'll be Coughlan at 8 and Wallace at 7 with Ronan coming on after 60 minutes.

2040

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/6976.php

Munster: P Warwick; D Howlett, K Earls, J de Villiers, D Hurley; R O'Gara, T O'Leary; W du Preez, D Fogarty, T Buckley; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell capt; A Quinlan, N Ronan, D Wallace.

Replacements: D Varley, S Archer, D Ryan, J Coughlan, PStringer, L Mafi, I Dowling

thomond2006

The teams have been named:

Munster: P Warwick; D Howlett, K Earls, J de Villiers, D Hurley; R O'Gara, T O'Leary; W du Preez, D Fogarty, T Buckley; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell capt; A Quinlan, N Ronan, D Wallace.

Replacements: D Varley, S Archer, D Ryan, J Coughlan, PStringer, L Mafi, I Dowling

Scarlets: 15.Daniel Evans, 14.Lee Williams, 13.Sean Lamont, 12.Jon Davies, 11.Andy Fenby, 10.Rhys Priestland, 9.Martin Roberts, 1,Phil John, 2.Ken Owens, 3.Deacon Manu, 4.Damian Welch, 5.Dominic Day, 6.Rob McCusker, 7.Johnathan Edwards, 8.David Lyons(c)

Replacements: 16.Jamie Corsi, 17.Emyr Phillips, 18.Lou Reed, 19.Richie Pugh, 20.Gareth Davies, 21.Morgan Stoddart, 22.Gareth Maule

I have mixed reactions looking at that team sheet.

Absolutely delighted that we will finally see JdV and Earls together in the centre.

Disappointed with the backrow selection, I think Coughlan is in better form than Ronan. Ronan is pacey and has a high work rate, but I don't think he is physical enough.

Buckley. :mad: How Archer doesn't start is beyond me. This selection is beyond a joke now. He has been a consistent failure and doesn't look interested in pulling the finger out. I really hope he proves me wrong but I can't see it.

Munster should be targeting a BP win here. The Scarlets are ravaged with injury, Rhys Thomas, Matthew Rees, Dafydd Jones, Stephen Jones, Regan King and Mark Jones are all out. I hope Archer and Coughlan get 20-25 minutes.

Risteard

Good. Apart from Buckley but that was to be expected. Looks like Earls and JdV will be our centre partnership, especially if it goes well. Would have preferred Varley though.

Also would have preferred Coughlan at 8 and Wallace at 7.

Riskymove

Risteard wrote: »

Also would have preferred Coughlan at 8 and Wallace at 7.

EDIT: Never mind, nead to learn to read

romcdo

DeVilliers has been a huge dissapointment so far. Dreadful missed tackle against Ulster. Mafi is a legend and should be playing next week in the Heineken Cup....

spoon

I'm actually pretty happy with that team. The lineup in the backs is mouth watering, and i'll be expecting great things, let's just hope the weather is dry enough for them to keep it in hand from time to time.

Also, i think Ronan deserves his spot at 7. We won't be missing any physicality when both Wally and Quinny are starting. If Ronan is on form, he gets us a lot of turnovers, and can have great moments going forward too.

The only decision i wouldn't be overly happy with is Buckley. He's been good enough around the park and especially at ruck times, but has been minced in the scrum over and over. It's time we see how Archer can do with a few games back to back.

PhatPiggins

romcdo wrote: »

DeVilliers has been a huge dissapointment so far. Dreadful missed tackle against Ulster. Mafi is a legend and should be playing next week in the Heineken Cup....

Mafi had the benefits of playing with the excellent Rua Tipoki for two seasons who was a good calming foil to Mafi's rashness. To be honest I think Tipoki made Mafi look better then he really is.

It's obvious that McGahan rates Earls and wants to develop him as a 13 and putting a relatively inexperinced 13 beside a bull in a china shop like Mafi is dubious.

Wow JDV missed a tackle, ship him home quick. The fact that he's our top try scorer this season is meaning less.

thomond2006

romcdo wrote: »

DeVilliers has been a huge dissapointment so far. Dreadful missed tackle against Ulster. Mafi is a legend and should be playing next week in the Heineken Cup....

He's been the top try scorer for Munster.

Last I checked, any player can miss a tackle.

"Mafi is a legend", could you clarify what you mean by that? I don't think "legends" look for contact everytime they touch the ball...

If you want to make a point, back it up with hard facts.

Risteard

romcdo wrote: »

DeVilliers has been a huge disappointment so far. Dreadful missed tackle against Ulster. Mafi is a legend and should be playing next week in the Heineken Cup....

Really? I'd say it was down to Mafi's inability to pass effectively that was hindering deVillers. The latter stages of the Perpignan match looked a lot better and he showed what he could do. Yes the missed tackle was bad, but it's not any worse than Mafi rushing up against Northampton to allow them to score.

deVilliers is a class act and I think it will really benefit Earls playing outside someone like him.

Peter B

romcdo wrote: »

DeVilliers has been a huge dissapointment so far. Dreadful missed tackle against Ulster. Mafi is a legend and should be playing next week in the Heineken Cup....

De Villiers has seen so little of the ball in attack. Firstly McGahan plays a World Cup winning first centre out of position and then after subbing him for a few games finally plays him in 1st center and De Villiers plays exceptionally well. Even when he was out of position playing at 2nd centre he never got the ball from Mafi playing 1st centre.

While he did miss a tackle I think his attacking skill completely outweighs any weakness he may have on the odd occasion in defence.

2040

De Villiers is indeed a class act. I can't believe people are making such a deal out of him missing that tackle. He really has alot in his armoury. He is a very good defender, a good distributor and also poses an attacking threat, while also being able to take on the role of bosh merchant if needs be.

Mafi is a legend. But he's been poor this season. He really softens up the opposition but he's become predictable in attack and has the distribution of a second row.

As of now, JDV and Earls for the ultimate win.

That's a very hard to handle centre partnership.

Riskymove

Latest is that Thomond unplayable so if Musgrave goes the same way its off

Pitch inspections were carried out this afternoon at Musgrave Park and Thomond Park by representatives of the IRFU Referee Department and Munster Rugby officials.

Musgrave Park will undergo a further assessment at 5.30pm on Saturday evening before a final decision is made. Munster are confident that the game will take place and every effort is being made to ensure the game goes ahead as planned, with protective covers laid on the surface and heaters in place.

In the event that Musgrave Park is deemed unplayable, the game is likely to be postponed as Thomond Park is currently unplayable. A further pitch inspection will take place at Thomond Park tomorrow evening also.

Munster Rugby did examine the possibility of playing the game at 2.40pm on Sunday, however, following consultation with the Scarlets, Magners League and the broadcasters, this was deemed unfeasible.

irishbucsfan

Really can't see this going ahead given the forcast etc.

I hope it does, because I think that's Munster best possible back line (now that F. Jones is unfortunately out long-term) and best possible pack minus the front row. It would be greast to see them.

2040

2040 wrote: »

De Villiers is indeed a class act. I can't believe people are making such a deal out of him missing that tackle. He really has alot in his armoury. He is a very good defender, a good distributor and also poses an attacking threat, while also being able to take on the role of bosh merchant if needs be.

Mafi is a legend. But he's been poor this season. He really softens up the opposition but he's become predictable in attack and has the distribution of a second row.

As of now, JDV and Earls for the ultimate win.

That's a very hard to handle centre partnership.

Not really,if you watched JDV before he came,you would know he is one of the worst passing centres curently in the game,he has terrible hands for a centre and Earls for all his attacking assets is a liability in defending the outside channel.

They will run amuck against average centres but against a good set that outside channel is weak.

In saying that Earls will only learn from experience,so nothing you can do but wait.

2040

Lawrence Happy Crucifix wrote: »

Not really,if you watched JDV before he came,you would know he is one of the worst passing centres curently in the game,he has terrible hands for a centre and Earls for all his attacking assets is a liability in defending the outside channel.

They will run amuck against average centres but against a good set that outside channel is weak.

In saying that Earls will only learn from experience,so nothing you can do but wait.

Nah, i have to disagree. His outings with South Africa this year are no indication of his ability. He wasn't fully utilised, as with other players.

What i'm basically saying is that in JDV and Earls we have two dangerous attackers that will be handful for most teams. If they click it could be amazing. I just don't see him as being "one of the worst passing centres curently in the game".

Yeah, Earls' defence isn't what it should be but it's not terrible. It's fine.

thomond2006

Lawrence Happy Crucifix wrote: »

Not really,if you watched JDV before he came,you would know he is one of the worst passing centres

He is a beautiful passer. You're taking Hooky seriously.

See Fogarty's try (2:45) against Treviso for proof:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsHdbZrpzlU

Having watched Perpignan vs Munster a few times, JdV threw some excellent passes.

2040

2040 wrote: »

Nah, i have to disagree. His outings with South Africa this year are no indication of his ability. He wasn't fully utilised, as with other players.

What i'm basically saying is that in JDV and Earls we have two dangerous attackers that will be handful for most teams. If they click it could be amazing. I just don't see him as being "one of the worst passing centres curently in the game".

Yeah, Earls' defence isn't what it should be but it's not terrible. It's fine.

I know they arent,im basing it on watching the last 3 years of super 14 and bits of the currie cup.

Hes a good player but if you were to ask me an area of weakness it would be his passing,there was a clip on youtube of his worst passes but it seems to be removed,he is a good defender though.

I would agree with your combo btw,dont know whats hapened to Mafi because he was quality last year it just doesnt seem to be happening for him this year.

I still think he would be worth a shot on the wing to regain some form,Hurley or Dowling will never be required by Ireland,so it wouldnt matter if you played him on the wing at their expense.
11-Mafi
12-JDV
13-Earls
14-Howlett
15-Warwick

would be worth a shot,although I wouldnt say the IRFU would be too happy but then again its their fault for allowing all these imports.

2040

I was actually looking for one youtube clip where De Villiers gives one of the worst passes i've ever seen, leading to an all black try, not that that would have negated my point. Couldn't find it though.

I can't imagine Mafi on the wing. I'm not saying it wouldn't work. I just have absurd visions of him getting the ball five metres out with a free run in, with him still looking to go into contact.

Hope this match goes ahead.

afatbollix

Canceled... Just got word now ..

thomond2006

afatbollix wrote: »

Canceled... Just got word now ..

Yep, called off:

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/6984.php

I'd say the management are disappointed, if you compare the teams, that was a BP win waiting to happen.

ScrubsfanChris

It was bound to happen.
Found out yesterday that they had a local all-weather pitch booked for Sunday afternoon for the last few days in case the match was called off.