London Irish vs Munster Sat 9 Oct 5:45pm Sky Sports

thomond2006

Munster Squad: Wian Du Preez, Marcus Horan, Mike Sherry, Damien Varley, John Hayes, Darragh Hurley, Tony Buckley, Billy Holland, Donnacha Ryan, Donncha O’Callaghan, Mick O’Driscoll,

Alan Quinlan, David Wallace, Niall Ronan, Denis Leamy, Peter O’Mahony, James Coughlan, Tomás O’Leary, Duncan Williams, Peter Stringer, Ronan O’Gara, Scott Deasy, Paul Warwick, Danny Barnes, Keith Earls, Lifemi Mafi, Johne Murphy, Sam Tuitupou, Doug Howlett, Denis Hurley.

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/8036.php

He's back! G'wan the Earls!

I want to see:

Du Preez
Varley
Buckley
DOC
Ryan
Quinlan
Wallace
Leamy
Stringer
ROG
Murphy
Tuitupou
Earls
Howlett
Warwick

Sherry
Horan
Hayes
MOD
Ronan
TOL
Deasy
Hurley

budhabob

Great to see him back,he's been some loss!don't think I'd have him starting! He will likely only get 20 mins off the bench if at all!don't know who I'd play there should he not play. Agree with the rest of the team though!

PhatPiggins

I don't know what Quinlan is bringing to the team this year other then pest factor. He usually excells in the HC but I'd keep Ronan in the team with Wallace and Leamy. LI don't offer the physical threat of Leinster and Ronan excells against helter skelter teams.

Delighted to see Earls back, would agree with the above that he be restricted to 20 minutes or so.

buck65

Word on the street is Tomas O Leary out with thumb injury, Stringer to start!

PhatPiggins

buck65 wrote: »

Word on the street is Tomas O Leary out with thumb injury, Stringer to start!

Hope thats not true. We need TOL to help shut down Lamb/Mapusua

thomond2006

Has Lamb been a consistent starter this season or have they rotated him with Malone?

Yeah TOL will probably be needed defensively alright although personally I think Stringer has been treated terribly by McGahan. He should have came on last weekend with 15-20 to go.

If this was your average ML game I'd give Earls 20 minutes but this is a game we have to win because (IMO) Ospreys and Toulon away will be tougher tests. We need Earls to start. If Baz or Gleeson were fit then maybe keep Earls as a replacement but he's our only experienced out and out 13 fit.

some_dose

thomond2006 wrote: »

Has Lamb been a consistent starter this season or have they rotated him with Malone?

Yeah TOL will probably be needed defensively alright although personally I think Stringer has been treated terribly by McGahan. He should have came on last weekend with 15-20 to go.

If this was your average ML game I'd give Earls 20 minutes but this is a game we have to win because (IMO) Ospreys and Toulon away will be tougher tests. We need Earls to start. If Baz or Gleeson were fit then maybe keep Earls as a replacement but he's our only experienced out and out 13 fit.

I have to agree with you there. Stringer is very much under utilised and it's about time someone in the management woke up to that fact

PhatPiggins

thomond2006 wrote: »

Has Lamb been a consistent starter this season or have they rotated him with Malone?

Yeah TOL will probably be needed defensively alright although personally I think Stringer has been treated terribly by McGahan. He should have came on last weekend with 15-20 to go.

If this was your average ML game I'd give Earls 20 minutes but this is a game we have to win because (IMO) Ospreys and Toulon away will be tougher tests. We need Earls to start. If Baz or Gleeson were fit then maybe keep Earls as a replacement but he's our only experienced out and out 13 fit.

Lamb has started every game and finished 4/5. Malone has been restricted to 6 minutes off the bench against Gloucester.

Horses for courses, yes Stringer should have come on the last day but to say he's been threated terribly is pushing it. He's best days are past him, he still gets plenty of game time and McGahan has to play TOL when ever he's available.

Are you suggesting we start Earls? I'd much rather push Murphy in one and play Hurley on the wing then risk losing Earls for any lenght of time. With all due respect to LI they are a weaker a team then Ospreys and Toulon

thomond2006

I'd definitely start Earls. Give him 60 minutes against Irish so he can be match sharp for a serious test at Thomond the following week.

From an Ireland standpoint he needs a run of games to prove his fitness for the autumn.

PhatPiggins

thomond2006 wrote: »

I'd definitely start Earls. Give him 60 minutes against Irish so he can be match sharp for a serious test at Thomond the following week.

From an Ireland standpoint he needs a run of games to prove his fitness for the autumn.

When was the last time he played a full game? The guy is made of glass. I think you'd be nuts to start him in a HC game after such a long lay off.

Lets be honest Kidney loves him he's going to get into the Ireland squad regardless of game time between now and then

But hay its all about them onions .When's the team announcement?

thomond2006

PhatPiggins wrote: »

When was the last time he played a full game? The guy is made of glass. I think you'd be nuts to start him in a HC game after such a long lay off.

Lets be honest Kidney loves him he's going to get into the Ireland squad regardless of game time between now and then

But hay its all about them onions .When's the team announcement?

Not the first time my mental condition has been questioned on the forum, I'm used to it at this stage. :pac:

Team announcement probably on thursday or friday.

SomeFool

PhatPiggins wrote: »

I don't know what Quinlan is bringing to the team this year other then pest factor. He usually excells in the HC but I'd keep Ronan in the team with Wallace and Leamy. LI don't offer the physical threat of Leinster and Ronan excells against helter skelter teams.

Delighted to see Earls back, would agree with the above that he be restricted to 20 minutes or so.

I agree on starting Ronan, would be tempted to give Earls a full half of rugby though with a view to giving him 60/70 mins against Toulon.

Peter B

I'd probably prefer Earls to come on as a sub, maybe around the 50 minute mark. Would be great to see him against a tired defence.

buck65

Earls has to start if fit. We need him on the pitch. Rumour on MFans also that Johne Murphy will play full back with Hurley on the wing. Coghlan in the backrow.

phog

buck65 wrote: »

Earls has to start if fit. We need him on the pitch. Rumour on MFans also that Johne Murphy will play full back with Hurley on the wing. Coghlan in the backrow.

That would be two players coming into a H/C game with little or no match games behind them and one more playing in a position that he hasnt yet played for us.

I like all three players but not sure that's great for us in such an important game. Would have liked Earls and Coughlan to have got some game time last week and Murphy to have played a FB for us in one of his previous games.

Peter B

Tickets still available on http://www.london-irish.com/

bamboozle

buck65 wrote: »

Earls has to start if fit. We need him on the pitch. Rumour on MFans also that Johne Murphy will play full back with Hurley on the wing. Coghlan in the backrow.

is warwick injured? against London Irish's defence i'd want him on the park to nail a few drop goals, there wont be many trys scored against Irish over there.

buck65

bamboozle wrote: »

is warwick injured? against London Irish's defence i'd want him on the park to nail a few drop goals, there wont be many trys scored against Irish over there.

I think he is fit but benched...again all speculation.

buck65

O Leary out for 6 weeks with thumb injury :mad:
Source Evening Echo.

Dougalicious

buck65 wrote: »

O Leary out for 6 weeks with thumb injury :mad:
Source Evening Echo.

Nice one!! Big chance 4 Stringer.He could play his way into Irish team 4 AI's if he goes well. If Earls plays then the Munster backline will have a lot more bite!! If only McGahan showed some backbone and dropped O'gara, put warwick at OH and murphy at FB, we'd be laughing!!:D:D

thomond2006

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/8056.php

Big chance for Strings. Might be his lucky break (pardon the pun).

twinytwo

PhatPiggins wrote: »

When was the last time he played a full game? The guy is made of glass. I think you'd be nuts to start him in a HC game after such a long lay off.

He is hardly made of glass players get injured thus is the way of sport.. as for starting id defo give him a cameo of the bench id rather give him a short run to make sure he is actually 100% better than lose him for a period of the HC

Lets be honest Kidney loves him he's going to get into the Ireland squad regardless of game time between now and then

strange... id have thought he would be in the ireland squad because he is one of the better backs we have...

thomond2006

If the rumoured team is actually selected, I'm quite happy. Personally I'd keep Quinlan but it's a positive selection.

Exiled2NY

thomond2006 wrote: »

If the rumoured team is actually selected, I'm quite happy. Personally I'd keep Quinlan but it's a positive selection.

I agree with Thomond, I'd quite like this team to be selected. Although partly injury enforced its nice to see some changes to the team. I still feel that team is well capable of winning, though as usual a lot will come down to ROG and what type of game we choose to play.

TheOwl

If Munster want to win this is the team they should put out in my opinion.

1.Du Preez
2.Varley
3.Buckley
4.Donancha Ryan
5.O'Callaghan
6.Leamy
7.Wallace
8.Coughlan
9.Stringer
10.Warwick
11.Hurley
12.Tuitupou
13.Earls
14.Howlett
15.Murphy

Exiled2NY

TheOwl wrote: »

If Munster want to win this is the team they should put out in my opinion.

1.Du Preez
2.Varley
3.Buckley
4.Donancha Ryan
5.O'Callaghan
6.Leamy
7.Wallace
8.Coughlan
9.Stringer
10.Warwick
11.Murphy
12.Tuitupou
13.Earls
14.Howlett
15.Murphy

You expect an awful lot of Murphy!!

TheOwl

Exiled2NY wrote: »

You expect an awful lot of Murphy!!

My mistake, I meant to put Hurley there. Don't trust Hurley at full back but he could do a job on the wing.

thomond2006

How did Murphy do at FB during his Leicester days?

phog

TheOwl wrote: »

If Munster want to win this is the team they should put out in my opinion.

1.Du Preez
2.Varley
3.Buckley
4.Donancha Ryan
5.O'Callaghan
6.Leamy
7.Wallace
8.Coughlan
9.Stringer
10.Warwick
11.Hurley
12.Tuitupou
13.Earls
14.Howlett
15.Murphy

That seems to be the rumoured team but I have to say I have huge concern about so many players coming into the team with very little game time and Murphy playing at fullback for the first time in a Munster jersey. Would have loved to see all these being tried in Aviva last week for period of the game.

In saying all that, roll on Saturday and c'mon Munster

Stev_o

thomond2006 wrote: »

How did Murphy do at FB during his Leicester days?

Steady he looked comfortable and was able to stand strong against the Ospresy 1st XV in the EDF final two years ago when the rest of the team didnt want to play. However it's been a long while since he played there. He ll be told to run and not kick hopefully.

Anthonyk2010

Exiled2NY wrote: »

You expect an awful lot of Murphy!!

You expect an awful of earls. His first game back

buck65

The rumoured team doesn't have Warwick at OH;)

Murphy, Howlett, Earls, Sammy, Hurley, ROG, Stringer
WdP, Varley, Buckley, DOC, Ryan, Leamy, Wallace, Coghlan.
is the word but again speculation.

irishbucsfan

buck65 wrote: »

The rumoured team doesn't have Warwick at OH;)

Murphy, Howlett, Earls, Sammy, Hurley, ROG, Stringer
WdP, Varley, Buckley, DOC, Ryan, Leamy, Wallace, Coghlan.
is the word but again speculation.

According to Farrelly in the Indo Ronan will start ahead of Wallace. Don't see why myself (he was in good form, but he always plays well against poor ML teams and then disappears on the big days).

thehighground

irishbucsfan wrote: »

According to Farrelly in the Indo Ronan will start ahead of Wallace. Don't see why myself (he was in good form, but he always plays well against poor ML teams and then disappears on the big days).

He did fine on the SH tour this year. Was he MOM against the Maori?

[Jackass]

I think Munster will have it handy enough in this group. I think the teams are built up to be better than they are. Toulon are the only real threat imo.

What's the deal with Felix Jones? Injured I presume, for how long? Himself and Earls are very injury prone.

wixfjord

[Jackass] wrote: »

I think Munster will have it handy enough in this group. I think the teams are built up to be better than they are. Toulon are the only real threat imo.

What's the deal with Felix Jones? Injured I presume, for how long? Himself and Earls are very injury prone.

Based on what Jackass?
Ospreys bet Leinster last year in the ML and are looking like they might finally have a bit of backbone.
LI are hovering near the top of the GP and bet Leinster twice last year.
Toulon have some of the best players in the World and are hugely difficult to beat away.
I think that "Munster will have it handy enough" is a crazy statement tbh! Not much difference imo between this and our group.

buck65

Injured til New Year, Ospreys shouldn't be taken lightly. I think it is a very hazardous group. LI and the Spreys are both experienced HCup teams, Toulon will win their home games.

thomond2006

Just saw Quinlan in the UL gym with academy/development contracted players.

If he's not with the main squad he must be not involved at all.

thehighground

thomond2006 wrote: »

Just saw Quinlan in the UL gym with academy/development contracted players.

If he's not with the main squad he must be not involved at all.

Earlier in the week there was a notice in the Evening Hearld that he was going to be at some fundraiser in Dublin for Sunshine Homes being organised by Bernard Jackman (along with some of the Leinster oldies).

Squad rotation that suits the fact that he can run out in Thomond next week for an all-time record 202nd cap for Munster.

[Jackass]

wixfjord wrote: »

Based on what Jackass?
Ospreys bet Leinster last year in the ML and are looking like they might finally have a bit of backbone.
LI are hovering near the top of the GP and bet Leinster twice last year.
Toulon have some of the best players in the World and are hugely difficult to beat away.
I think that "Munster will have it handy enough" is a crazy statement tbh! Not much difference imo between this and our group.

I think Leinster really let themselves down against London Irish last season. We didn't show up at home and away we were awful and still got a draw. I think the quality of GP (or AP now) has fallen behind Magners League also and way behind Top 14.

Ospreys still don't have the backbone, and again, their quality shouldn't be based on an awful Leinster display. The Magners League final was one of the biggest disapointments in Leinsters professional history, having "won" the league in regular season, and then being so lethargic and unfocused in the final, we didn't show up and never threatened.

Toulon are a top class team, and the main threat, but I think Top 14 commitments will keep them from their best in Heineken Cup.

If you look at the seedings with Leinsters group - Clermont v Ospreys; Saracens v London Irish; Racing Metro v Toulon - I'd swap all of them, with the possible exception of Toulon, seeing as we get to play a weakend Racing Metro...

Leinsters group is far tougher. The Top 14 Champions, the current Top 14 leaders and the GP runners up..

buck65

Chips or Daddy?

thomond2006

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/8065.php

Munster:
J Murphy; D Howlett, K Earls, S Tuitupou, D Hurley, R O'Gara, P Stringer;

W du Preez, D Varley, T Buckley; D O'Callaghan, D Ryan; D Leamy capt, N Ronan J Coughlan.

Replacements:
M Sherry, M Horan, J Hayes, M O'Driscoll, D Wallace, D Williams, P Warwick, S Deasy.

The rumours were true.

wixfjord

I don't like that team for some reason. Just doesn't strike me as half as fearsome as years gone by.

who the fug

London Irish: 15. Delon Armitage*; 14. Topsy Ojo*; 13. Elvis Seveali’i*; 12. Seilala Mapusua *; 11; Sailosi Tagicakibau; 10. Ryan Lamb; 9. Paul Hodgson*; 1. Clarke Dermody* (captain); 2. James Buckland; 3. Faan Rautenbach; 4. Nick Kennedy*; 5. Bob Casey*; 6. Kieran Roche; 7. Declan Danaher; 8. George Stowers*.

Replacements: 16. David Paice*; 17. Max Lahiff; 18. Alex Corbisiero; 19. Matt Garvey; 20. Chris Hala’ufia; 21. Jonathan Joseph; 22. Daniel Bowden; 23. Darren Allinson.


Looking good

buck65

wixfjord wrote: »

I don't like that team for some reason. Just doesn't strike me as half as fearsome as years gone by.

Something had to be done after that debacle last Saturday.

Exiled2NY

I think the only questionable calls are Coughlan/Ronan over Wallace and Maybe Murphy/Hurley over Warwick.

Im happy to see Coughlan at 8 providing he has enough match fitness, he's the most natural 8. Leamy has been playing well 8, but his best position is 6. Its a big game for Ronan, also as i himself and Coughlan will more than likely be vying for the one position in the other group games.

Im happy to see Warwick dropped, for one game at least. Hopefully he will put in a few big performances when selected again.

smurphy29

Is it just me, or does that Munster team have an 'end of an era' feel to it. A Munster pack without Horan, Flannery, Hayes, POC, Wally and Quinny - Leamy and Donners are the only starters from the 06 and 08 Heineken Cup packs.

It's a brave new world folks. Rog called for the second tier players to take a step up in that Newstalk interview in the summer - this is the moment for the likes of D. Ryan, Ronan and Caughlan.

PhatPiggins

Thats probably the most attacking backline we could have put together, hopefully it works out.

Really like the balance of the backrow. Quietly confident for this one.

irishbucsfan

[Jackass] wrote: »

I think Leinster really let themselves down against London Irish last season. We didn't show up at home and away we were awful and still got a draw. I think the quality of GP (or AP now) has fallen behind Magners League also and way behind Top 14.

There's an interesting mention of that game in the Indo today. Johnno Gibbes saying that they were so flat in the first game against LI because it was the week after they'd played Munster, and they didn't recover properly. This week they took an extra day to recover in order to combat that.

[Jackass] wrote: »

Ospreys still don't have the backbone, and again, their quality shouldn't be based on an awful Leinster display. The Magners League final was one of the biggest disapointments in Leinsters professional history, having "won" the league in regular season, and then being so lethargic and unfocused in the final, we didn't show up and never threatened.

Personally I wouldn't count that game. We were absolutely decimated with injuries. Strauss had to start at 6 after hardly playing all season. And there were loads of other examples. In the same way that the Munster-Leinster the week before wasn't quite as important (Munster were decimated in the same way.)

wixfjord

Hmmm could Sevali'i and Mapasua starting ahead of Bowden indicate they are intending to run at ROG Stringer and an unfit Earls?

Their front 5 is more than a match for Munster's, Dermody and Raatembauch are good scrummagers.
Should be a cracker.

bleg

I think that's the paciest Munster backline I've ever seen.