Dragons V Munster

phog

The Squad for Friday night.

O'Leary & Mafi In Munster Squad.
24 November 2010, 12:02 pmBy The Editor

Tomas O'Leary and Lifeimi Mafi are included in the Munster squad for the Magners League trip to Newport and the clash with Dragons on Friday night (7.05pm).

O'Leary has been out of action since breaking his thumb against Leinster on Ocorber 2nd while Mafi returns from suspension picked up for an incident in that same game.
O'Leary's return is opportune given that Duncan Williams sustained an ankle injury last weekend that will keep him sidelined for 2/3 weeks.



Munster: W du Preez, D Ryan, J Hayes, S Archer, P Borlase, S Henry, M Sherry, B Hayes, I Nagle, B Holland, P O'Mahony, T O'Donnell, N Ronan, J Coughlan. T O'Leary, C Murray, P Warwick, S Deasy, S Tuitupou, B Murphy, L Mafi, I Dineen, T Gleeson, D Howlett, J Murphy, D Hurley.

Otacon

I wonder will Murray start with TOL to come on after 50/60?

He was impressive last week. Excellent pass with a bit of physicality too.

PhatPiggins

A real testament to our strength in depth that returning internationals weren't even missed.

Its starting to feel like a good season this year.

some_dose

PhatPiggins wrote: »

A real testament to our strength in depth that returning internationals weren't even missed.

Its starting to feel like a good season this year.

It's good to see. For the previous 2 years some have been saying that Munster were in serious trouble with the impending retirement of the current crop of players. It's good to see the new guys stepping up to the mark. Hopefully a sign of things to come.

buck65

Was J Murphy released from the Irish squad? Thought he might start against Argentina.

thomond2006

I'd like to see:

Ryan, Sherry, Borlase, Nagle, Holland, POM, Ronan, Coughlan;
Murray, Warwick, Hurley, Tuitupou, B Murphy, Howlett, J Murphy

Bench: Henry, Du Preez, J Hayes, B Hayes, TOD, TOL, Deasy, Mafi

Ryan in for Du Preez because I'd like to see Ryan get a game and I think I'm right in saying that Du Preez has played nearly every game so give him a rest.

It should be interesting to see if Borlase retains his spot ahead of the Bull.

Hopefully POM will learn his lesson from the weekend and curb his enthusaism. He does seem to give away lots of penalties.

Dragons have been shíte this season so I definitely think our second string can do them even if Dragons are at near full strength.

I want Murray to start because it's reward for his excellent performance last week. Give TOL 20 minutes.

Like buck I am surprised Johne is available, I thought he would at least be on the bench for Ireland. Good for Munster that's he available.

As phat says, it's encouraging that the youngsters are putting their hands up. Over the next two seasons we are going to see a mass exodus of players from Munster: Horan, Flannery, Hayes, Quinlan, Wallace, Stringer, Howlett etc so it's great to see their replacements doing a good job.

phog

thomond2006 wrote: »

Hopefully POM will learn his lesson from the weekend and curb his enthusaism. He does seem to give away lots of penalties.

I think he was penalised in the wrong on at least 2 occasions and if you look at the Scartlets No7 getting away with what he did then his sin-binning was overly harsh.

buck65

thomond2006 wrote: »

As phat says, it's encouraging that the youngsters are putting their hands up. Over the next two seasons we are going to see a mass exodus of players from Munster: Horan, Flannery, Hayes, Quinlan, Wallace, Stringer, Howlett etc so it's great to see their replacements doing a good job.

Hayes has at least 3 seasons in him.

Not as confident as you Thomond, Rodney Parade is a tough place to go and win. This will be a game that the Dragons are targetting I'd imagine - with Munster's core players away - still think we can win but will be a good match.

PhatPiggins

phog wrote: »

I think he was penalised in the wrong on at least 2 occasions and if you look at the Scartlets No7 getting away with what he did then his sin-binning was overly harsh.

Big difference for me was that Edwards the openside was the captain and was polite and respectful to Jones. O'Mahony, as is the curse of youth was passionate and over eager, you could see him stiffling curses a few times but some of the looks he gave Jones would melt ice. Nothing that experience won't iron out.

durkadurka

it'll be interesting to see if TOL gets picked above Stringer after the AIs - personally I reckon TOL's game seems to have gone a bit like Kearney - the wrong sort of kicking game for what is needed these days.

phog

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Big difference for me was that Edwards the openside was the captain and was polite and respectful to Jones. O'Mahony, as is the curse of youth was passionate and over eager, you could see him stiffling curses a few times but some of the looks he gave Jones would melt ice. Nothing that experience won't iron out.

It's easier be nice when the ref isn't penalising you for offences as opposed to penalising when you're in the right.

BTW, O'Mahony made a point of meeting the ref prior to the game, little good did it do him.

PhatPiggins

phog wrote: »

It's easier be nice when the ref isn't penalising you for offences as opposed to penalising when you're in the right.

BTW, O'Mahony made a point of meeting the ref prior to the game, little good did it do him.

I'll get O'Mahony McCaws autobiography for Christamas. Chapters 1 -8 "Playing with the ref in my pocket" will be useful to him.

onlyrocknroll

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/2010/1125/1224284137196.html


Munster team (v Dragons): J Murphy; D Howlett capt, B Murphy, S Tuitupou, D Hurley; P Warwick, T O'Leary; D Ryan, M Sherry, J Hayes; B Holland, I Nagle; T O'Donnell, N Ronan, J Coughlan. Replacements: S Henry, W du Preez, P Borlase, B Hayes, P O'Mahony, C Murray, S Deasy, L Mafi.

Glad to see Ryan start, also good to see Murphy beat Mafi to the 13 jersey.
Hopefully Murray will get a good run of twenty minutes.

Dragons team (v Munster): P Leach, A Hughes, T Riley, A Smith, A Brew, J Tovey, W Evans, P Price, T Willis, N Hall, L Charteris, R Sidoli, L Evans, G Thomas, T Faletau. Replacements: L Burns, B Castle, H Gustafson, A Jones, H Ellis, T Cheeseman, J Evans, M Jones.

theKramer

I wonder how $h!t TOL's pass is going to be now after two months out with a broken thumb....

Was over on Munsterfans and one of the guys there was saying that Conor Murray didnt train until today as he was beat up after the game on Sunday. Maybe thats why TOL is starting. Also probably to give him gametime before the Heineken Cup.

I wonder will it be Stringer or O'Leary for the Heineken Cup???

Otacon

theKramer wrote: »

I...as he was beat up after the game on Sunday.

What? Like, attacked?

theKramer

No. In a rugby sense Apparently a bit sore after the game against the Scarlets.

Otacon

Ahhh

thomond2006

I'm very confident of a win.

ScrubsfanChris

Just a bump before kick off.

7:05pm on RTE 2 and BBC Wales

thomond2006

Kick off Delayed At Rodney Parade

The kick off to tonight's Magners League game between Munster and Newport Gwent Dragons has been delayred by five minutes.

The adverse weather conditions have resulted in heavy traffic tail-backs that have delayed the arrival of the match officials.

Two hour journeys from Cardiff to Newport are being reported.

The snow that has been falling steadily since 5.30pm has turned more to sleet and ground conditions at Rodney Parade have not been affected and the game will go ahead.

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/8325.php

thomond2006

Christ the ground is covered in snow.

thomond2006

Johne Murphy is a late pullout again this week, Deasy now starts at fullback.

sioda

Is the rte commentary ahead of the play?

Risteard

sioda wrote: »

Is the rte commentary ahead of the play?

Think so. It's annoying.

thomond2006

The Beeb commentary is fine.

Great lineout steal by Nagle.

Risteard

TOL having a good game so far. Service is decent and put in a good kick there.

durkadurka

thomond2006 wrote: »

Christ the ground is covered in snow.

Is this a surprise to you thomond? Do you really live in the Bahamas or something?

Junior

Has Rugby got an orange ball ? It might be needed yet looking at the ground. Ref seems content to bollick munster and leave Dragons away without a word.

Warwick needs to sort out his kicking, don't know if it's the ground, the ball or what ..

thomond2006

Dragons try. Munster not playing well at all.

Dragons 7
Munster 0

24 minutes gone.

twinytwo

sammy wtf like

Otacon

What the hell was that from Tuitupou?!?

He's quickly turning into another Mafi... :-(

twinytwo

go on o leary... held up

Otacon

TOL you legend!

EDIT: Why am I always behind ya, twinytwo?! :pac:

thomond2006

Tuitupou in the bin, late shoulder charge.

Oooh great try saving tackle by TOL!! Awesome!!

Junior

Thomond, you've given us the kiss of death with your predication.

ShamoBuc

it could be all over already!

thomond2006

Junior wrote: »

Thomond, you've given us the kiss of death with your predication.

I think this one is a try.

Edit: Try given. Balls.

twinytwo

Otacon wrote: »

TOL you legend!

EDIT: Why am I always behind ya, twinytwo?! :pac:

Cause im awesome :cool:

suppafly

Why is there a welsh ref again? How can you be impartial against a welsh team. It was the same last week with James Jones when they were playing the scarlets. Is it that hard to get a scottish or english ref.

Otacon

14-0 to the Dragons... Munster yet to leave the changing rooms tbh.

Risteard

suppafly wrote: »

Why is there a welsh ref again? How can you be impartial against a welsh team. It was the same last week with James Jones when they were playing the scarlets. Is it that hard to get a scottish or english ref.

It was supposed to be an Italian but got held up in Cardiff.

twinytwo

thomond2006 wrote: »

I think this one is a try.

Edit: Try given. Balls.

The lads need a kick up the ass... this is the friggin dragons not leinster. **** sake they making us look like amatures.

For the love of god not another card

Podge_irl

Another yellow for Munster. THey're in serious trouble.

thomond2006

Jesus now Coughlan is in the bin.

suppafly

jesus, what happened there. All he had to do was go down on the ball and set it up again. There players in support.

budhabob

twinytwo wrote: »

The lads need a kick up the ass... this is the friggin dragons not leinster. **** sake they making us look like amatures.

For the love of god not another card

So what you're saying is......delete this match off the planner when I get home and don't watch it?....unless they get a kick up the arse.

twinytwo

budhabob wrote: »

So what you're saying is......delete this match off the planner when I get home and don't watch it?....unless they get a kick up the arse.

ya more or less:(

Otacon

Not enough welly from Warwick.

Still 14-0

ShamoBuc

a handy 3 pts and back to 14 men - hold on to HT and the second half will be very interesting

thomond2006

Pen for Warwick when we're down to 13 men. Not over yet.

14-3, 37 minutes gone.

twinytwo

peno warwick
now 14-3