Munster vs Scarlets, 7:35pm Thursday 18 March, S4C/Setanta1

thomond2006

Munster Squad: C O'Boyle, D Hurley, D Howlett, I Dowling, T Gleeson, J de Villiers, J Manning, S Deasy, P Warwick, D Williams, P Stringer, M Horan, D Ryan, S Archer, J Brugnaut, D Varley, D Fogarty, M O'Driscoll, I Nagle, B Holland, A Quinlan, N Ronan, N Williams, J Coughlan, T O'Donnell

No sign of Lifeimi Mafi in the squad, don't know why. Edit: Suspended for 3 yellow cards.

I would like to see:

Horan
Varley
Archer (Brugnaut was an unnecessary signing in hindsight, time to give Archer some games imo)
Nagle
MOD
Quinlan
TOD
Williams
Stringer
Warwick
Dowling
JdV
Gleeson
Howlett
Hurley

Fogarty
Dave Ryan
Holland
Coughlan
Williams
Deasy
O'Boyle

flutered

i am looking forward to see how tommy o donnell fares, as he has been unlucky with injury

danthefan

Mafi doesn't really deserve to be playing, he's been awful recently and a yellow card magnet. Proper order giving another guy a go.

buck65

He played well against Edinburgh 2 weeks ago. He is suspended having picked up 3 yellows in the League.

thomond2006

buck65 wrote: »

He played well against Edinburgh 2 weeks ago. He is suspended having picked up 3 yellows in the League.

Yeah, just read it on munsterfans.

2040

Munster Team:

Munster: S Deasy; D Howlett, T Gleeson, J de Villiers, I Dowling; P Warwick, P Stringer; M Horan, D Varley, J Brugnaut; M O'Driscoll capt, B Holland; N Williams, N Ronan, J Coughlan. Replacements: D Fogarty, D Ryan, A Quinlan, T O'Donnell, D Williams, J Manning, D Hurley.

Nice to see Deasy and Gleeson get a start. Deasy looks exciting every time he's been on the field for Munster. Not sure if full back is his preferred position or not though. Gleeson and De Villiers looked quite effective together against Connacht earlier this season.

My ol' man was at the last Munster A game. He said Nick Williams was phenomenal. He's still been a waste of money. Whether that's his fault or not, i'm not sure.

Hopefully O'Donnell and Duncan Williams can get a fair amount of game time. I'd like to see Duncan Williams get a start at some stage this season too.

Risteard

I'm glad to see Varley leap leapfrog Fogerty. Also good to see Coughlan retained as well as Williams at 6. Was hoping TOD would stay at 7.

thomond2006

Risteard wrote: »

I'm glad to see Varley leap leapfrog Fogerty. Also good to see Coughlan retained as well as Williams at 6. Was hoping TOD would stay at 7.

Finally, some justice for Varley. His performances this season have been consistent unlike Fogarty.

Deasy ahead of Hurley at FB is an interesting selection, hope he improves on his showing against Edinburgh. IMO Hurley should be on the wing ahead of Dowling.

Nick Williams has had a good run of games now with the A side and the senior team, let's hope he steps up because with our injuries we'll need him for the HEC.

Scarlets:
15 Dan Newton, 14 Joe Ajuwa, 13 Regan King, 12 Jonathan Davies 11 Andy Fenby, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Tavis Knoyle, 1 Iestyn Thomas, 2 Ken Owens, 3 Deacon Manu, 4 Lou Reed, 5 Dominic Day, 6 Josh Turnbull, 7 Richie Pugh 8 David Lyons (capt).

Replacements: 16 Phil John, 17 Emyr Phillips, 18 Damian Welch 19 Rob McCusker, 20 Martin Roberts, 21 Daniel Evans, 22 Gareth Maule

AFAIK it's about the same team that beat Ulster pretty well.

I'd still fancy Munster by 10, it's definitely time to start climbing the table. A bonus point would be nice.

P_1

thomond2006 wrote: »

Scarlets:
15 Dan Newton, 14 Joe Ajuwa, 13 Regan King, 12 Jonathan Davies 11 Andy Fenby, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Tavis Knoyle, 1 Iestyn Thomas, 2 Ken Owens, 3 Deacon Manu, 4 Lou Reed, 5 Dominic Day, 6 Josh Turnbull, 7 Richie Pugh 8 David Lyons (capt).

Replacements: 16 Phil John, 17 Emyr Phillips, 18 Damian Welch 19 Rob McCusker, 20 Martin Roberts, 21 Daniel Evans, 22 Gareth Maule

AFAIK it's about the same team that beat Ulster pretty well.

I'd still fancy Munster by 10, it's definitely time to start climbing the table. A bonus point would be nice.

Its also pretty much the team that a 2nd string Leinster beat at home, should be an easy enough point win for Munster. Munster by 10-15.

phog

thomond2006...........you migt add Setanta1 on your title as they are showing the match as well tonight.

thomond2006

phog wrote: »

thomond2006...........you migt add Setanta1 on your title as they are showing the match as well tonight.

Sure.

Edit: Won't let me edit the title!

PhatPiggins

pithater1 wrote: »

Its also pretty much the team that a 2nd string Leinster beat at home, should be an easy enough point win for Munster. Munster by 10-15.

But hammered Ulsters first team last time out. I'm not as confident as you but the weather is utter scutter today which is to our advantage.

Judgement Day

pithater1 wrote: »

Its also pretty much the team that a 2nd string Leinster beat at home, should be an easy enough point win for Munster. Munster by 10-15.

2nd string maybe but it included Johnathan Sexton who got 22 out of Leinster's 27 points. On paper you have to fancy Munster and I'm having a punt on them but I'm far from confident - they would need to rip into Scarlets from the start and I would hope that home advantage should ensure a good result for us.

P_1

Judgement Day wrote: »

2nd string maybe but it included Johnathan Sexton who got 22 out of Leinster's 27 points. On paper you have to fancy Munster and I'm having a punt on them but I'm far from confident - they would need to rip into Scarlets from the start and I would hope that home advantage should ensure a good result for us.

I'd say ye'll be fine, the team has a good mix of youth and experience with a good pair of half backs to steer the ship.

thomond2006

Christ Almighty.

Gifted from Warwick. :mad:

Scarlets try.

thomond2006

Try JDV.

Conversion is good, 7 - 5 to Munster , 7 minutes gone.

Minstrel27

Quite the start to the game. Scarlets almost in for another :eek:

2smiggy

awful restart

thomond2006

Jesus Coughlan and JDV were lucky to get away with that.

crisco10

Munster doing well into a fairly stiff breeze it must be said...

2smiggy

good half for munster. good to see holland playing well

Micky Dolenz

Great timing

thomond2006

Deasy has had an assured performance at fullback.

Great timing for the try, hopefully we can push on (into the wind) and get a BP win.

2040

Missed most of the first half. What was JDV's try like? How are Deasy and Gleeson doing?

crisco10

2040 wrote: »

Missed most of the first half. What was JDV's try like? How are Deasy and Gleeson doing?

JDV rode a couple of tacklers well from 5 yards after sustained pressure from Munster.

Deasy has looked very sharp aside from 1 or 2 dithers on long scarlets kicks..1 line off Howlett in particular was savage.

Gleeson, haven't really been looking for him but hasn't done much wrong/incredible.

SomeFool

Missed dg from Warrick, should have been a bit more patient maybe.

crisco10

THat looked like a trip from Deasy. lucky boy.

thomond2006

Scarlets were robbed at the end by the officials, Deasy should have been binned and Munster put down to 13. Ken Owens and Martin Roberts were rightly fuming.

Disappointing performance from Munster, the error and penalty count was ridiculous.

Scott Deasy (bar the trip at the end which wasn't picked up) was excellent. Brilliant kicking from hand including an 80m punt from outside his 22. He looks a real prospect.

IMO we could have got a BP had we taken our chances.

Brian P

A game Hurley will prefer to forget. Very poor from a man who looked sharp in the Heineken cup.

Judgement Day

A game I'll be glad to forget! If it weren't for Priestland's 1st half try and JDV's one I would be bust again. A horrible scrappy affair and as Thomond says Munster were lucky not to be down to 13 men. Nice place kicking from Warwick but he doesn't like playing at outhalf does he. Why was Dougie Howlett taken off - not injured I hope? Yep, thought Deasy had a good game too!

phog

Brian P wrote: »

A game Hurley will prefer to forget. Very poor from a man who looked sharp in the Heineken cup.

Harsh on him to be honest, he's just back from injury and only had a few minutes on the field, was at fulat for the high ball but the pass to him on line was not really on.

Overall, Munster lucky to win but should really have won with a BP. Deasy had a good game but was lucky to finish on the field, the trip was a YC.

MOD had a good game, Warwick had a curates egg of a game but took all the kicks from the tee perfectly. I think he may have carrying an injury, Duncan Williams must have gone off injured as Manning finshed the game at scrum half. Nick Williams had a decent enough game too.

buck65

I actually enjoyed the game, 1st half especially both teams threw it around a bit. Some good performances by us tonight.

Thought Varley did well with the throwing, O Driscoll was a menace in the lineout and led well too. Coughlan looked good with the ball and took his try well. The forwards dominated in most facets. Nick Williams seems to be well on the road to recovery.

Stringer kept the ball moving, Warwick apart from 2(!) blockdowns was a threat at OH and made some good breaks, needs time to adjust to jthe position again I would say. Dowling and Howlett worked hard as always, de Villiers did well in the first half and tackled hard all through. Gleeson was ok too and poked a perfect kick through at one stage.

Deasy was imperious with the boot, very assured player. Should have been binned late on though but the trip had to be made I feel. Dave Ryan from the bench looked decent , made a good burst and scrummed well.

My ratings : Deasy 7, Howlett 6, Gleeson 6, de Villiers 7, Dowling 6, Warwick 6, Stringer 6, Coughlan 8, Ronan 6, Williams 7, O Driscoll 8, Holland 7, Brugnaut 6, Varley 7, Horan 6.