Leinster A V Munster A - Donnybrook Sun @ 14:30

phog

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/7871.php

Anthony Foley's Munster squad has a decidedly youth and experience look about it ahead of the A Interprovicial against Leinster at Donnybrook on Sunday (2.30).

The pack alone contains the likes of Darragh Hurley, Billy Holland, Tommy O'Donnell and James Coughlan who between them have 100 Munster senior caps, while the backline includes Heineken Cup medal winner Denis Hurley, capped 52 times, and a half back combination of Scott Deasy and Duncan Williams who have impressed whenever given the opportunity at the top level.

Munster. Sean Scanlon; Denis Hurley, Ivan Dineen, Troy Smith, Simon Zebo; Scott Deasy, Duncan Williams; Darragh Hurley, Sean Henry, Stephen Archer; Dave Foley capt, Ian Nagle; Billy Holland, Tommy O'Donnell, James Coughlan. Replacements: Ger Burke, Dave Kilcoyne, Alan Cotter, Dave O'Callaghan,Paddy Butler, Conor Murray, Eric Maloney, Ronan O'Mahoney.

thebaz

the leinster team is quite strong

http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/newsroom/5047.php

TheTMO

Both teams have their best A teams out really.

Amazotheamazing

TheTMO wrote: »

Both teams have their best A teams out really.

Do you think? Would have preferred to see Sherry, Murray and one of Quinn McDonogh/Holland/Hanrahan/Burke at outhalf, don't really rate Deasy as an outhalf.

Stev_o

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Do you think? Would have preferred to see Sherry, Murray and one of Quinn McDonogh/Holland/Hanrahan/Burke at outhalf, don't really rate Deasy as an outhalf.

Burke is gone from Munster completely AFAIK.

profitius

Sherry looks a good prospect. Deasy is a class player but I don't think he can kick. I reckon inside center is his best position. Murray looks better than Duncan Williams any time I've seen him play. Maybe I've missed something but Williams look ordinary. Murray can take kicks too so it gives the option of a non kicking 10.

As for Johnny Holland, Quinn-McDonagh and JJ Hanrahan they're all good prospects and its good to see a few coming through. Sean Scanlon is another to watch out for. Highly rated again and can play at outhlaf.

thomond2006

Stev_o wrote: »

Burke is gone from Munster completely AFAIK.

Yup, he was released at the end of last season.

AFAIK by continuing to play for UCC he irked the Munster management. Plus he struggled with injuries.

On Deasy, he probably needs at gametime at 10 as atm he is our 3rd choice fly-half with Cusack out injured. He did okay at MP against Edinburgh last season, goalkicking aside.

LEINSTER ‘A’:

15: Ian Madigan
14: Andrew Conway
13: Brendan Macken
12: Eamonn Sheridan
11: David Kearney
10: Ian McKinley
9: Paul O’Donohoe

1: Jack McGrath
2: Jason Harris-Wright
3: Ben Prescott
4: Mariano Galarza
5: Trevor Hogan
6: Stephen Keogh CAPTAIN
7: Paul Ryan
8: Ben Marshall

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Tom Sexton
17: Stewart Maguire
18: Ronan McCormack
19: Eoin Sheriff
20: Rhys Ruddock
21: John Cooney
22: Noel Reid
23: Michael Keating

TheTMO

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Do you think? Would have preferred to see Sherry, Murray and one of Quinn McDonogh/Holland/Hanrahan/Burke at outhalf, don't really rate Deasy as an outhalf.

Well the Munster managment clearly do considering Deasy has started for the senior squad a few times. Burke was released by Munster by the way.

Amazotheamazing

TheTMO wrote: »

Well the Munster managment clearly do considering Deasy has started for the senior squad a few times. Burke was released by Munster by the way.

Has Deasy ever started at outhalf for Munster's senior side? He came off the bench once or twice to play there alright.

I know Burke was released, he's still a better outhalf than Deasy, imo. Too injury prone unfortunately.

TheTMO

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Has Deasy ever started at outhalf for Munster's senior side? He came off the bench once or twice to play there alright.

I know Burke was released, he's still a better outhalf than Deasy, imo. Too injury prone unfortunately.

I actually think he has, either way hes a 10 and 12 and Munster management think hes clearly a top young player or they wouldnt of started him.

On Burke, I always thought he was utterly ordinary. Never did anything to impress and was never going to become a top level fly half.

profitius

TheTMO wrote: »

I actually think he has, either way hes a 10 and 12 and Munster management think hes clearly a top young player or they wouldnt of started him.

On Burke, I always thought he was utterly ordinary. Never did anything to impress and was never going to become a top level fly half.

Manning was probably better from what I saw.

[Jackass]

Delighted to see Conway starting at 14. Horgan is probably in his last season and is still a superb impact player, but not really the player he was. He'll probably retire after the world cup, so Leinster need to bring through another top quality wing to keep the depth.

Also, the contest against Zebo is mouth watering. Two of the most exciting young players in Ireland at the moment.

Madigan at 15 gives McKinley a chance. I'm really hoping one of these young lads can prove themselves as a valid back-up option to Sexton and play understudy, as Beirne is only a stop-gap signing and I can't see it as a good thing if he's required to still provide 10 cover next season. This season should be used, and is the perfect oppertunity to, find an alternative to Sexton from the academy. Sexton / Keatley would have been ideal, but hopefully we can bring someone better through.

Surprised Ruddock is only on the bench. Was he injured or just being eased back in or just didn't get the nod?

Kearney on the other wing and O'Donohue at 9 is nice to see also and hope Macken can break on to the scene at senior level this season, he has bags of talent, and along with Conway, imo are the two most exciting young Leinster backs yet to break into senior team.

Will be very interesting to see how the Leinster front row get on too.

Deasy could be an absolute master stroke if he can be converted into a 10. He's everything RO'G is not at the moment, has all the attributes ROG lacked, but I'm sure they'll be looking to train ROG's game management and place kicking into his game, and have no doubt ROG will be a full-time coach at Munster after this season, and he could be an absolute awesome prospect at 10 if it works out and a multi-facet 10 with bags of pace and skills.

danthefan

Zebo looks a very ordinary player to me. Has a bit of pace, can't really see what else. Don't think he's going to make it.

Amazotheamazing

[QUOTE='[Jackass]
Deasy could be an absolute master stroke if he can be converted into a 10. He's everything RO'G is not at the moment, has all the attributes ROG lacked, but I'm sure they'll be looking to train ROG's game management and place kicking into his game, and have no doubt ROG will be a full-time coach at Munster after this season, and he could be an absolute awesome prospect at 10 if it works out and a multi-facet 10 with bags of pace and skills.[/QUOTE]

Deasy was an outhalf at school and played a bit there for the Irish underage teams, he's been moved away from outhalf because he's not good enough to play there, imo. His best position is 12, followed by 15, imo.

Not going to comment about Conway but Zebo is all hype.

TheTMO

danthefan wrote: »

Zebo looks a very ordinary player to me. Has a bit of pace, can't really see what else. Don't think he's going to make it.

Agreed to be honest. Even then I've heard that Conway, Griffen and O'Halloran are all meant to be faster than him!

TheTMO

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Deasy was an outhalf at school and played a bit there for the Irish underage teams, he's been moved away from outhalf because he's not good enough to play there, imo. His best position is 12, followed by 15, imo.

He seems to have all the attributes to play 10 I dont understand the problem really he looks a class act and O'Gara will most likely be retiring after this WC so Munster need a 10 to come through. I think he could become excellent at outhalf with a bit of coaching and experience.

Risteard

TheTMO wrote: »

He seems to have all the attributes to play 10 I dont understand the problem really he looks a class act and O'Gara will most likely be retiring after this WC so Munster need a 10 to come through. I think he could become excellent at outhalf with a bit of coaching and experience.

O'Gara said in an interview that he'll retire from internationals after the world cup and wants to play one more season with Munster after that.

I think then he said he'd like to do kicking coaching in France.

Amazotheamazing

TheTMO wrote: »

He seems to have all the attributes to play 10 I dont understand the problem really he looks a class act and O'Gara will most likely be retiring after this WC so Munster need a 10 to come through. I think he could become excellent at outhalf with a bit of coaching and experience.

Being honest, I expect to see Munster sign Keatley next season, Warwick isn't an outhalf and the rest of our guys are too young.

profitius

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Being honest, I expect to see Munster sign Keatley next season, Warwick isn't an outhalf and the rest of our guys are too young.

If Keatley has a good season Joe Schmidt might also be interested in signing him. ROG will be there next season too so I can't see Munster signing him. He'd be a good signing though.

Amazotheamazing

profitius wrote: »

If Keatley has a good season Joe Schmidt might also be interested in signing him. ROG will be there next season too so I can't see Munster signing him. He'd be a good signing though.

One season to bed in while we phase O'Gara out. With McKinley back Leinster won't need him.

irishbucsfan

profitius wrote: »

If Keatley has a good season Joe Schmidt might also be interested in signing him. ROG will be there next season too so I can't see Munster signing him. He'd be a good signing though.

I don't think Keatley will come back to Leinster if he's offered a shot in Munster. The competition for places in Leinster would be far tougher.

[Jackass]

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

One season to bed in while we phase O'Gara out. With McKinley back Leinster won't need him.

+1

Sadly, this has been on the cards for some time now, and Keatley has always been touted as possible replacement for O'Gara at Munster since his switch to Connacht, and personally I think he'll be signed by them, although I'd like to see him back at Leinster...

With Madigan & McKinley yound 10 options at Leinster and both doing well, and seeing as Leinster just shipped off another promising 10 in Tonetti to the GP, I can't see how re-signing Keatley could ever be justified...

A lot of Leinster youngsters who are very capable of professional and international rugby end up looking elsewhere such is the competition in the academy...it's something we'll have to get used to unfortunately. But I'd rather have that problem than not bringing much through in the first place.

thehighground

Results:
Leinster

7

Munster

19

Munster: Sean Scanlon; Denis Hurley, Ivan Dineen, Troy Smith (Eric Maloney 70 mins), Simon Zebo (Ronan O'Mahony 75 min); Scott Deasy, Duncan Williams (Conor Murray 52 min); Darragh Hurley (Dave Kilcoyne 66 mins), Sean Henry (Ger Burke 76 mins), Stephen Archer (Alan Cotter 66 mins); Dave Foley capt, Ian Nagle; Billy Holland (Dave O'Callaghan 72 mins), Tommy O'Donnell (Paddy Butler ht), James Coughlan.

Leinster: David Kearney; Andrew Conway, Brenda Macken, Eamon Sheridan, Michael Keating; Ian McKinley, Paul O'Donoghue; Jack McGrath, Jason Harris-Wright, Ben Prescott; Mariano Galarza, Trevor Hogan;Stephen Keogh capt, Paul Ryan, Ben Marshall.

Scott Deasy had his 52nd intercept try today.:cool:

Teej

Do the spoiler tags mean there's coverage of this match?

thehighground

Teej wrote: »

Do the spoiler tags mean there's coverage of this match?

I've don't know (I wasn't at it) but didn't want to take the chance in case there is.

thomond2006

highground, the winner is obvious without looking behind the spoiler!

phog

Munster scored 3 tries to leinster's one, one of them being an intercept which Deasy ran the lenght of the field to score under the posts.

Well done Munster

Amazotheamazing

Good win for Munster, interesting to see AIL guys like Scanlon and Dineen outshine Irish underage players. I see Deasy confirmed by suspicion he's not an outhalf.

TheTMO

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Good win for Munster, interesting to see AIL guys like Scanlon and Dineen outshine Irish underage players. I see Deasy confirmed by suspicion he's not an outhalf.

Wouldn't get too carried away it was most of the Leinster underage players first game of the season. Also why is Deasy not an outhalf? Sounds like he had a great game?

Anyone know if McKinley is injured again? Noticed he went off after 20mins?

buck65

Heard the Munster scrum came out well on top - any one confirm?

Amazotheamazing

TheTMO wrote: »

Wouldn't get too carried away it was most of the Leinster underage players first game of the season. Also why is Deasy not an outhalf? Sounds like he had a great game?

Anyone know if McKinley is injured again? Noticed he went off after 20mins?

Poor tactical and goal kicking from Deasy by all accounts.

Think someone said McKinley was sick but tried to play anyway?

TheTMO

buck65 wrote: »

Heard the Munster scrum came out well on top - any one confirm?

Odd, heard from a friend that it was a stalemate in the scrums

phog

From Munsterrugby.ie

"I thought our purpose in the way we played was exemplary. I just couldn't get over the level of physicality the boys brought to the game," was Munster coach Anthony Foley's reaction in the wake of Munster's 19-7 win over Leinster in Donnybrook in the opening A Interprovincial game of the season."I think our physical exertion." He continued. "How the boys put themselves about. How they tackled. When they went to attack how they carried the ball. It was all very impressive and I think sets out our stall from the start."
Truth is that the final scoreline flattered the losers.

Interprovincial Title holders Munster led 12-7 at half time and effectively ended Leinster's interest when Scott Deasy cleverly intercepted inside his own half and beat all of Leinster speedsters to score under the posts. From there on in, it was a question of "what we have, we hold" and Munster did just that more than comfortably.

They looked the more likely to extend the lead with Denis Hurley, Ivan Dineen, Sean Scanlon and skipper Dave Foley carving open the Leinster defence at various stages, Dineen and Scanlon's line speed in defence snuffing out Leinster's baby galactico's .

Leinster out-half Ian McKilnley had the opportunity to kick Leinster into the lead with an 11th minute penalty but his effort drifted wide and Scanlon had to turn sharply to win the race to the touchdown moments later.

Then deft hands and neat footwork from Dineen operating impressively in the outside centre channel, sent Scanlon over for the opening try, Deasy's conversion well wide of the mark.

Deasy had played his part in that score and was involved again in the 23rd minute when Troy Smith, another impressive performer, scored Munster's second close to the posts leaving his out-half with a simple tap-over.

Leinster responded with a well worked try off a five metre scrum when quick hands from Brendan Macken put Micahel Keating through the hole and replacement out-half Noel Reid added the conversion.

That was in the 33rd minute and was to be Leinster's final score and, thanks to the ferocity of the Nagle, James Coughlan, Sean Henry inspired defence, their final serious threat.

Deasy had an opportunity to extend Munster's lead with a 74th minute penalty but his effort took a similar trajectory to his first conversion effort. Hurley gathered an attempted clearance and ran it deep into Leinster territory as Munster continued to threaten and when the home side did counter, Munster's defence coped comfortably.

Asked afterwards about individual performances, Foley laughed saying, "If you name one you have to name about twenty of 'em." But when pressed. "OK, stand out performers in the first half, Tommy O'Donnell, Ivan Dineen, Ian Nagle, just a clatter of them really. But look you'd have to say that was a team performance."

"We're just so delighted with the way we started. Obviously there's a bit of purpose about this team. In terms of disappointment with the way we finished up last season losing the final, we want to get back there so this is a really good start. Delighted." a well pleased Foley concluded.

Munster: S Scanlon; Denis Hurley, I Dineen, T Smith (E Maloney 70 mins), S Zebo (R O'Mahony 74 mins); S Deasy, D Williams (C Murray 57 mins); Darragh Hurley (D Kilcoyne 66 mins), S Henry (G Burke 74 mins), S Archer (A Cotter 66 mins), D Foley capt, I Nagle, B Holland (D O'Callaghan 72 mins), T O'Donnell (P Butler ht), J Coughlan.

Leinster: Kearney; Conway, Macken, Sheridan, Keating; McKinley, O'Donohoe; McGrath, Harris-Wright, Prescott, Galarza, Hogan, Keogh, Ryan, Marshall. Replacements : Reid for McKinley (23 mins), Ruddock for Keogh (h-t), Hudson for Keating (51), Cooney for Sheridan (54), Sheriff for Galarza, McCormack for Prescott, Maguire for McGrath (all 55), Sexton for Marshall (64).

Referee: A Lewis (IRFU).