Munster vs Ospreys, Thomond Park, Saturday 24 April 6:30pm S4C/Set IRL

thomond2006

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/7452.php

Munster Squad:
Alan Quinlan, Billy Holland, Damien Varley, Danny Barnes, Dave Foley, Dave Ryan, David Wallace, Denis Hurley, Donncha O'Callaghan, James Coughlan, Jean de Villiers, Jerry Flannery, John Hayes, Julien Brugnaut, Lifeimi Mafi, Marcus Horan, Mick O'Driscoll, Niall Ronan, Paul Warwick, Peter O'Mahony, Peter Stringer, Ronan O'Gara, Scott Deasy, Simon Zebo, Tom Gleeson, Tomas O'Leary, Tony Buckley.

No POC, Dowling, Howlett, Earls or Williams.

Poor Williams, he has been in top form and gets injured again. Luckless. He'll be a blow to the HEC if missing.

Good to see Hurley back, we're very short on wingers. I'm not sure about starting either Zebo or Barnes against the Ospreys wingers.

Interested that Peter O'Mahony is ahead of TOD, who was named in the A squad for the B&I Cup.

Anyhow, I'd like to see:

Horan
Flannery
Buckley (his recent performances merit a start, rest Hayes for next week)
DOC
MOD
Quinlan
Wallace
Coughlan
TOL
ROG
Hurley
JdV
Gleeson
Mafi (It's a big ask to put Zebo or Barnes against Shane Williams.)
Warwick

Varley
Ryan
Holland
Ronan
O'Mahony
Stringer
Deasy

This is a massive game, Munster's chance to gain a home semi final.

With no European crusade, Ospreys will come with a full strength side IMO.

budhabob

Agree with your selection. Would like to see mafi on the wing, think he could be really useful out there (and considering he has been very poor in centre). Also no fogarty in the squad, looks like he's no more chances!

thomond2006

budhabob wrote: »

Agree with your selection. Would like to see mafi on the wing, think he could be really useful out there (and considering he has been very poor in centre). Also no fogarty in the squad, looks like he's no more chances!

He's actually injured so he's unavailable anyway, I agree with your comment though.

He'd be a good player if he sorted his atrocious throwing.

kensutz

Don't forget if you're going to the game, there's a British & Irish Cup semi final on before the Ospreys game at 3:30pm and tickets for the Ospreys game will get you in for the earlier game too.

thomond2006

kensutz wrote: »

Don't forget if you're going to the game, there's a British & Irish Cup semi final on before the Ospreys game at 3:30pm and tickets for the Ospreys game will get you in for the earlier game too.

I've got a ticket but I don't want to be standing in a terrace for an hour bored stiff between the games because you can't leave and re-enter the stadium.

PhatPiggins

thomond2006 wrote: »

He's actually injured so he's unavailable anyway, I agree with your comment though.

He'd be a good player if he sorted his atrocious throwing.

He could go on a lions tour if he could even get to 80% on his throwing, sadly he shows no signs of improving.

buck65

Not happy to see POC, Earls and Howlett missing. Would have thought with Biarritz looming that 20 minutes would be needed to get the rust off.
Surley now O Connell will miss the 1/4 final? Thankfully O Driscoll is playing really well and is my player of the season along with Warwick.

kensutz

buck65 wrote: »

Surley now O Connell will miss the 1/4 final?

He already has.;)

phog

kensutz wrote: »

He already has.;)

like me on Sunday evening wishing the Connacht fans the best of luck in 1/4 finals

budhabob

kensutz wrote: »

Don't forget if you're going to the game, there's a British & Irish Cup semi final on before the Ospreys game at 3:30pm and tickets for the Ospreys game will get you in for the earlier game too.

Yup, heading down for that alright, have to bring a picnic though. Looking forward to the two games now, hope the weather keeps up.

subfreq

It's a great coincidence that we get to play Ospreys a week before the Semi. It's a good motivator to play the beaten QF'alist and set down a marker whilst also chasing a home semi in the Magners.

Aidric

thomond2006 wrote: »

I've got a ticket but I don't want to be standing in a terrace for an hour bored stiff between the games because you can't leave and re-enter the stadium.

The Bohs clubhouse is great for that sort of situation, I find.

itsallaboutheL

PhatPiggins wrote: »

He could go on a lions tour if he could even get to 80% on his throwing, sadly he shows no signs of improving.

It's a lack of natural throwing ability, you can only become so good at it if you're not naturally a good thrower.

TBH he's better than he was a few years ago anyway, but i can't see him ever achieving a properly good standard.

PhatPiggins

itsallaboutheL wrote: »

It's a lack of natural throwing ability, you can only become so good at it if you're not naturally a good thrower.

TBH he's better than he was a few years ago anyway, but i can't see him ever achieving a properly good standard.

True enough but you can be taught to be at least efficient at throwing to 2 and 4 in a static 7 man lineout. He cant even due that which is a pity because the rest of his game is super.

itsallaboutheL

PhatPiggins wrote: »

True enough but you can be taught to be at least efficient at throwing to 2 and 4 in a static 7 man lineout. He cant even due that which is a pity because the rest of his game is super.

TBH, in the modern game if you can't hit six and beyond then it has a massive effect on what the backs have to play with.

A good ball to the tail is the perfect attacking platform imo, and if it's not gauranteed then he shouldn't be playing..

PhatPiggins

itsallaboutheL wrote: »

TBH, in the modern game if you can't hit six and beyond then it has a massive effect on what the backs have to play with.

A good ball to the tail is the perfect attacking platform imo, and if it's not gauranteed then he shouldn't be playing..

Completely agree and McGahan must do as well.

thomond2006

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/7463.php

Ronan O'Gara, Tomas O'Leary Marcus Horan and the rest of Munster's international contingent - with some notable exceptions - return to action for tomorrow's crucial Magners League clash with Ospreys at Thomond Park Stadium(6.30pm).
Those exceptions are Paul O'Connell and Keith Earls who were not named in an extended squad earlier in the weekwhile Tony Buckley, who was,has failed to recover from a knee injury picked up in the game against Connacht on Sunday. Try scorer from the Sportsground, Scott Deasy retains his place in the starting XV but on the wing rather than full back while debutant last Sunday Simon Zebo is also retained in the match day 22, named on the bench alongside Denis Hurley who returns from injury.

Munster:
P Warwick; T Gleeson, L Mafi, J De Villiers, S Deasy; R O'Gara capt, T O'Leary;
M Horan, J Flannery, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll; A Quinlan, D Wallace, J Coughlan.

Replacements: D Varley, J Brugnaut, B Holland, N Ronan, P Stringer, D Hurley, S Zebo

15 Lee Byrne
14 Tommy Bowe
13 Andrew Bishop
12 James Hook
11 Shane Williams
10 Dan Biggar
9 Mike Phillips

1 Paul James
2 Huw Bennett
3 Adam Jones
4 Ian Gough
5 Jonathan Thomas
6 Jerry Collins
7 Marty Holah
8 Ryan Jones (Capt)

Replacements:
16 Ed Shervington
17 Ryan Bevington
18 Alun Wyn Jones
19 Filo Tiatia
20 Jamie Nutbrown
21 Sonny Parker
22 Nikki Walker

Both sides are pretty much at full strength, going to this game and really excited about it.

buck65

Munster are missing Howlett, Dowling, O Connell and Earls along with impact players Buckley and Williams hardly full strength!

PhatPiggins

buck65 wrote: »

Munster are missing Howlett, Dowling, O Connell and Earls along with impact players Buckley and Williams hardly full strength!

Full strenght as in the strongest team that could be fielded allowing for injuries.

2040

Tom Gleeson on the wing is a weird one. I would have preferred to have Mafi there and Gleeson at 13.

thomond2006

2040 wrote: »

Tom Gleeson on the wing is a weird one. I would have preferred to have Mafi there and Gleeson at 13.

+1

phog

2040 wrote: »

Tom Gleeson on the wing is a weird one. I would have preferred to have Mafi there and Gleeson at 13.

You'll probably find that they will swap positions depending on whether we're in defence or attack.

thomond2006

G'wan Munster!!

outwest

the loser of this match may find will need results to go their way if there going to get into the playoffs.

TheTMO

outwest wrote: »

the loser of this match may find will need results to go their way if there going to get into the playoffs.

Opsreys by 10 I reckon. That Osprey's backline is mouth watering, Munster are missing a few players and HC game is around the corner.

outwest

munster have a habbit of winning these games.

ospreys may have a good backline but, their setpiece is shocking, munster will dominate possesion

thomond2006

Bennett's throwing is (arguably) as bad as Fogarty's, Munster will dominate at the lineout.

We'll survive in the scrum as we always do.

The backrow contest is mouthwatering, all internationals bar Coughlan, including 2 All Blacks, 2 Lions and Quinlan.

Big game for Biggar, by some of his quotes in the media he seems quite sure of himself, time to deliver son.

Bowe and Williams vs Gleeson and Deasy worries me. The one area where the Ospreys outclass us.

I still fancy Munster by 8-10, important that we deny them a losing BP. They have Dragons next at home who have nothing to play for, while we have Cardiff away who have a small chance of making the playoffs.

"Her eyes they shone like diamonds..." :pac:

dreamer_ire

Today needs to be one of those traditional Munster games, keeping it in tight and relying on the forwards winning the game. If we try to spread it or be creative we could be in big trouble. Big day for ROG to control the game, his kicking out of hand will need to keep the Os pinned.

Tefral

Looking forward to this game, think ill need the jacket, its cold about Limerick today!

Hopefully the game will be a good'un so i have plenty to get worked up over!

I think Munster will do it by a small margin, grub out a victory more than a fancy footwork one.

Be interesting to see what kind of impact O'Gara will have today.

Judgement Day

Looking forward to this one with trepidation - going to be another massive day for ROG but Alan Quinlan and JDV (and the rest) should see us through.

C'MON MUNSTER!

sock puppet

0-0 draw:)

dreamer_ire

Choir starts with "Black Velvet Band"

D-Generate

Everyone must have left their kicking boots in the dressing room.

bleg

missed fist 7 minutes, what did i miss??

wixfjord

Tre men jus
ffs lenihen get a new word

bleg

S4C commentators are worse...

D-Generate

Got to hand it to Ospreys pack. Each one is as annoying in rucks as Quinny is! Ref is allowing them get away with a lot of it too.

16 mins in,
Munster 3 - 0 Ospreys

Gingervitis

wixfjord wrote: »

Tre men jus
ffs lenihen get a new word

Don't forget the "all kinds of everything"

durkadurka

1/3 from rog

pretty poor game so far.

Surprisingly Mafi has been the most impressive

D-Generate

Deleted User wrote: »

pretty poor game so far.

Surprisingly Mafi has been the most impressive

Yeah very much so. The wing is suiting him just fine. No need to pass to anyone and just get to do solo runs!

Piss poor scrappy game

durkadurka

Deleted User wrote: »

pretty poor game so far.

Surprisingly Mafi has been the most impressive

Did i see him sidestepping someone?

Limerick_Lass

Alot of empty seats! Surprising considering its the last home game

Judgement Day

Thank God the first half's out of the way and hopefull they will come out fired up for the final 40 mins. Mafi looks like MOTM for Munster so far. You get the feeling though that a try from either side could really open up the game - my money (literally) is on Warwick or JDV to do it before Byrne or Williams.

PhatPiggins

Limerick_Lass wrote: »

Alot of empty seats! Surprising considering its the last home game

Why aren't you there?

Judgement Day

durkadurka wrote: »

Did i see him sidestepping someone?

Now, don't lets get carried away!

durkadurka

As a leinster fan this scoreline suits me down to the ground.

Limerick_Lass

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Why aren't you there?

Wish I was... in bed sick

you know its not going to plan when Donal Lenihan says "that was an awful kick by ROG".

It really was though.

The atmosphere is very puzzlingly bad too. Any reasons?

sickpuppy

Mafi ya donkey

durkadurka

Deleted User wrote: »

you know its not going to plan when Donal Lenihan says "that was an awful kick by ROG".

It really was though.

The atmosphere is very puzzlingly bad too. Any reasons?

when rog is off the team is off imo.