Munster vs Ulster, Thomond Park, Sat 1 January 7:30pm; Live on RTÉ & BBCNI

thomond2006

Flannery Back in Munster Squad

Jerry Flannery returns to the Munster squad for the first time since October for Saturday's Magners League game against Ulster at Thomond Park Stadium.

Although Flannery is named in a 28 strong squad announced today after training in Cork, he took no part in that session as he is involved in a national camp in Belfast along with five others who will feature against Ulster on Saturday.
The team will be announced at midday on Friday.

Munster Squad:
Wian Du Preez, Darragh Hurley, Tony Buckley, John Hayes, Peter Borlase, Jerry Flannery, Mike Sherry, Damien Varley, Billy Holland, Mick O’Driscoll, Ian Nagle, Donnacha Ryan, Niall Ronan, Paddy Butler, Tommy O’Donnell, Denis Leamy,

Tomas O’Leary, Peter Stringer, Conor Murray, Scott Deasy, Paul Warwick, Barry Murphy, Tom Gleeson, Sam Tuitupou, Keith Earls, Lifeimi Mafi, Denis Hurley, Doug Howlett.

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/8462.php

DOC, Wallace and ROG are rested. Dave Ryan, Quinlan, Coughlan and POM are all injured. Johne Murphy not involved either, possibly because he's featured so much for Munster over the past while. I think this rest period is two weeks, so many of the above internationals might be rested/benched. They haven't trained with Munster week I think.

I'm certain Flannery will play a part, Kidney will be desperate to get him back fit and firing for the Six Nations. Should see action from the bench. If not we still have quality in that area.

With Conor Murray in the squad, perhaps there is a chance that TOL won't feature.

I'd like to see:
Du Preez, Varley, Buckley, Nagle, MOD, TOD, Ronan, Leamy;
TOL, Warwick, B Murphy, Tuitupou, Earls, Howlett, Hurley

Bench: Flannery/Sherry, Hurley, Hayes, Ryan, Butler, Stringer, Deasy, Mafi

That's assuming all the above squad players can be started.
I'd say the actual team will have MOD and Ryan in the second row (although they may well look at playing Ryan at 6 looking ahead to Toulon), Mafi starting either at centre or wing and Deasy at 15. Selection at prop should be interesting.

Phoenix Academy outhalf Paddy Jackson has been called into the Ulster panel ahead of this weekend's trip to play Munster in Limerick....

Jackson was named in the 30 man panel today with Ulster Captain Rory Best also included.

Best has spent the past month sidelined after fracturing his cheekbone during Ireland's defeat to New Zealand at the Aviva Stadium in November.
Irish internationals Tom Court and Paddy Wallace also feature with Andrew Trimble sitting this one out due to the player management programme.

There is no place however for teenage winger Craig Gilroy who scored Ulster's only try in a 13-30 defeat to Leinster on Monday while Stephen Ferris, still suffering from a leg injury will also miss the interpro clash.

The Ulster starting XV and replacements will be named on Friday.

ULSTER SQUAD FORWARDS
Bryan Young, Declan Fitzpatrick, Tom Court, BJ Botha, Jerry Cronin, Rory Best, Andi Kyriacou, Tim Barker, Neil McComb, Johann Muller, Ryan Caldwell, Chris Henry, Pedrie Wannenburg, Willie Faloon, TJ Anderson, Robbie Diack

ULSTER SQUAD BACKS
Adam D'Arcy, David McIlwaine, Jamie Smith, Simon Danielli, Tommy Seymour, Luke Marshall, Nevin Spence, Ian Whitten, Paddy Wallace, Niall O'Connor, Paddy Jackson, Paul Marshall, Ruan Pienaar, Ian Porter

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/news/8831.php

Word is that Ulster will start Paddy Wallace at 10 and rest their Springboks, meaning Paul Marshall starting at 9 (deserves it). Far better halfback combination than Pienaar and O'Connor. Trimble is rested and Gilroy is dropped from the squad.

Paddy Jackson, the young fly-half that kicked superbly for Lulster is named in the squad. Ferris remains absent through injury.

Tbh I don't think Ulster will target this game. They have Treviso at home next where they'll target 5 points IMO.

Around 20,000 tickets have been sold for this game. 1 euro of the ticket price goes to charity.
http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/8459.php

irishbucsfan

Considering it was a cheekbone injury I wouldn't be surprised to see Best come straight back into the team. Especially if the SAs are being rested (Muller captained in his absence)

I'd like to see a team of

Young, Best, Court, Barker, Tuohy, Henry, Faloon, Diack;
Marshall, Wallace, Danielli, Whitten, Spence, D'Arcy, Smith

Cronin, Fitzpatrick, Botha, Caldwell, Anderson, Porter, Jackson, Marshall/Seymour

durkadurka

Rory mcilroy has just tweeted from new york where he's spending new year with Darren cave

borna7

Word in Ulster is that they are almost giving up on this game and will give a lot of youngsters a lot of game time. Court while involved in the squad unlikelt to start and BJ and Muller both being rested along with Wannenberg apparently.

Surprised Ulster not at least having a go. If they started their first choice front row of BJ Best and Court I reckon they could do serious damage. Word on Pienarr is that Ulster management have promised Marshall some game time and they had thought of switching Pienarr to OH but Irish management requested that Wallace start at ten and so Ulster have just accepted this.

Interesting to see how Caldwell goes in only his second start but suggestions that Ulster are going to start Anderson at 6 just shows they appear to have given up on this one

durkadurka

No wonder no one wins in thomond, most teams have lost before they set foot on the pitch....

sock puppet

Teams named

Munster:
15 Scott Deasy, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Denis Hurley, 10 Paul Warwick, 9 Peter Stringer, 1 Wian du Preez, 2 Damien Varley, 3 Peter Borlase, 4 Ian Nagle, 5 Mick O'Driscoll, 6 Donnacha Ryan, 7 Niall Ronan, 8 Denis Leamy (capt)

Replacements: 16 Jerry Flannery, 17 Darragh Hurley, 18 Tony Buckley, 19 Billy Holland, 20 Tommy O'Donnell, 21 Tomas O'Leary, 22 Lifeimi Mafi, 23 Barry Murphy.

Ulster:
15 Jamie Smith, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Ian Whitten, 12 Luke Marshall, 11 Simon Danielli, 10 Paddy Wallace, 9 Paul Marshall, 1 Bryan Young, 2 Rory Best (capt), 3 Declan Fitzpatrick, 4 Tim Barker, 5 Ryan Caldwell, 6 TJ Anderson, 7 Willie Faloon, 8 Robbie

Replacements: 16 Andi Kryiacou, 17 Tom Court, 18 BJ Botha, 19 Neil McComb, 20 Chris Henry, 21 Ian Porter, 22 Paddy Jackson, 23 David McIlwaine.

That's a pretty poor Ulster team. They really shouldn't trouble Munster.

thomond2006

If Munster turn up, it should be a BP win tbh.

Ryan at 6 is interesting, they obviously see that as an option for the HEC. IMO he's had a poor season (was dropped for MOD after the loss to LI) and doesn't really warrant that selection, would have preferred to see O'Donnell there.

Ulster haved waved the white flag with that selection. Bar the front row they have very little impact off the bench.

Prediction: Munster BP win.

Dylbag

brutal ulster team...do anyone think this is perhaps ulster giving the whole rest the international players orders from the irfu the two fingers by essentially ruining a good spectacle and throwing in the towel?

Stev_o

Only two NIQ players in Ulster whole 22 of which only one is starting.

Digifriendly

Stev_o wrote: »

Only two NIQ players in Ulster whole 22 of which only one is starting.

If NIQ stands for Northern Irish Qualified then there's definitely more than 2 e.g. Smith, Seymour, Whitten, both Luke/Paul Marshall, Wallace in backline for starters.

irishbucsfan

Digifriendly wrote: »

If NIQ stands for Northern Irish Qualified then there's definitely more than 2 e.g. Smith, Seymour, Whitten, both Luke/Paul Marshall, Wallace in backline for starters.

Non-Irish Qualified

irishbucsfan

Stev_o wrote: »

Only two NIQ players in Ulster whole 22 of which only one is starting.

Who is the starting player? I thought Diack became qualified during the AIs?

sock puppet

Digifriendly wrote: »

If NIQ stands for Northern Irish Qualified then there's definitely more than 2 e.g. Smith, Seymour, Whitten, both Luke/Paul Marshall, Wallace in backline for starters.

Non-Irish Qualified. Is Diack qualified now?

edit: Danielli's the other NIQ starter so he must be then.

Digifriendly

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Non-Irish Qualified

Apologies for my stupidity! Wasn't the drink however!

thomond2006

Digifriendly wrote: »

If NIQ stands for Northern Irish Qualified then there's definitely more than 2 e.g. Smith, Seymour, Whitten, both Luke/Paul Marshall, Wallace in backline for starters.

Digifriendly wrote: »

Apologies for my stupidity! Wasn't the drink however!

Are we splitting up like the soccer teams? :eek::pac:

irishbucsfan

sock puppet wrote: »

Non-Irish Qualified. Is Diack qualified now?

edit: Danielli's the other NIQ starter so he must be then.

Of course!

thomond2006

VS

Munster:
15 Scott Deasy, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Denis Hurley, 10 Paul Warwick, 9 Peter Stringer,
8 Denis Leamy (capt) 7 Niall Ronan, 6 Donnacha Ryan, 5 Mick O'Driscoll, 4 Ian Nagle, 3 Peter Borlase, 2 Damien Varley, 1 Wian du Preez,

Replacements:
16 Jerry Flannery, 17 Darragh Hurley, 18 Tony Buckley, 19 Billy Holland, 20 Tommy O'Donnell, 21 Tomas O'Leary, 22 Lifeimi Mafi, 23 Barry Murphy.

Ulster:
15 Jamie Smith, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Ian Whitten, 12 Luke Marshall, 11 Simon Danielli, 10 Paddy Wallace, 9 Paul Marshall,
8 Robbie Diack 7 Willie Faloon, 6 TJ Anderson, 5 Ryan Caldwell, 4 Tim Barker, 3 Declan Fitzpatrick, 2 Rory Best (capt), 1 Bryan Young,

Replacements: 16 Andi Kyriacou, 17 Tom Court, 18 BJ Botha, 19 Neil McComb, 20 Chris Henry, 21 Ian Porter, 22 Paddy Jackson, 23 David McIlwaine.

Date: Saturday, January 1
Venue: Thomond Park,
Kick-off: 19.30 GMT
Referee: Dudley Phillips

Week 2 of the end of the year Irish derbies ends when Munster face Ulster at Thomond Park.

Ulster come into the game having been embarrassed at home to Leinster, a game they would have fancied to win. They were beaten in all areas of the pitch and most surprisingly lost the physical battle, a rare occurence at Ravenhill. It is clear from their lineup that they are not targeting a win at Thomond Park. It is a shame since when they sent a full strength team and believed in themselves they trounced Munster 11-37 in Limerick during Matt Williams' tenure. They will likely play a full side at home to Treviso next week and build momentum from there looking ahead to Biarritz in the Heineken Cup.

Munster got back on the horse after the debacle in Swansea with a hard fought win in Galway. It could prove difficult for the team to focus on this game with their most important Heineken Cup fixture in years to come at Toulon in two weeks time. Their next two games will be used to filter in the internationals and prepare for the trip to France. There is also the need to find an effective backrow combination following the injuries to James Coughlan and Alan Quinlan. This weekend Munster have decided to play regular lock Donnacha Ryan at blindside flanker. With Toulon's riches in the backrow, it is imperative that Munster find the right balance there. It hasn't been a great season for Donnacha Ryan thus far. Second row sensation Ian Nagle continues in the second row after impressing yet again last week.

All Eyes On:

Jerry Flannery & Rory Best: Ireland's first choice hookers return to action after spells on the sidelines. Best has recovered from a cheekbone injury suffered during the autumn internationals and starts for Ulster while Flannery returns to the Munster bench after getting the all clear after another frustrating time on the treatment table. If both men can prove their form and fitness, they will be certain to be the two hookers to battle it out for the Irish number 2 jersey.

Luke Marshall vs Sam Tuitupou: Marshall's rugby career has blossomed since he starred for the U20s Leinster-Ulster combination in the combined provinces match. A player with experience at fly-half, Marshall has displayed his talents as a playmaker and his strong all round game, becoming a valuable member of the Ulster squad. He comes up against one of the toughest inside centres in the Magners League: Sam Tuitupou. The 5'9" tank has shown his brutal physicality since his arrival at Munster. He makes up for his lack of top end pace with his strength in contact and drive in the tackle. Marshall has a tough jobs on his hands.

Prediction: Ulster have given a few young lads a run and the best they can hope for (if Munster turn up) is they don't disgrace themselves. The difference in the strength of their respective benches could prove crucial. Munster to win by 15-20 points and bag a try bonus point in the process.

Lineups/Refs etc taken from:
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,9989_6626728,00.html

Clareman

I'm looking forward to this now, was in 2 minds as to go or not, but definitely going, be a waste of a ticket otherwise

Teej

Nagle out due to illness

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/8468.php

Donnacha Ryan moves from blidside wing-forward to now partner Mick O'Driscoll while Billy Holland comes up from the bench to wear the number six jersey. Paddy Butler replaces Holland on the bench.
Munster: Scott Deasy; Doug Howlett, Keith Earls, Sam Tuitupou, Denis Hurley; Paul Warwick, Peter Stringer; Wian du Preez, Damien Varley, Peter Borlase; Donnacha Ryan, Mick O'Driscoll; Billy Holland, Niall Ronan, Denis Leamy capt . Replacements: Jerry Flannery, Darragh Hurley, Tony Buckley, Paddy Butler, Tommy O'Donnell, Tomas O'Leary, Lifeimi Mafi, Barry Murphy.

thomond2006

That's a big shame, massive loss to Munster considering his recent form.

I would have thought they would have put Holland at lock and left Ryan at 6, perhaps Ryan isn't seen as a flanker option for Toulon after all.

Teej

Real pity for him -opportunities for emerging players are scarce enough - & for spectators - he's been a joy to watch lately

thomond2006

Yikes, Warwick fluffs his first kick very badly.

thomond2006

I never knew Thomond Park was a funeral home, certainly sounds like it tonight.

Wallace penalty; Munster 0-3 Ulster

Stev_o

Sexual! That's the way id love to see Ireland's midfield attack!

thomond2006

What a try from Ulster, TJ Anderson finishes.

It's 2 years ago all over again.

Wallace converts: 0-10.

David900

Jesus that scrum hasn't seemed to have improved for them. As I write that line it has cost them a try!

How is that guy getting on at Newcastle?

SuprSi

Excellent try by Ulster, shocking tackling by Munster though

irishbucsfan

WHAT a try.

Inside pass from Marshall to Seymour, Seymour to TJ Anderson. 3 players there with a huge future for Ulster.

That will silence the doubters!

SuprSi

SuprSi wrote: »

Excellent try by Ulster, shocking tackling by Munster though

Actually, I take the tackling bit back having watched the replays - brilliant handling by Ulster and a beautiful move.

thomond2006

Warwick penalty: 3-10.

Munster really needed that!

thomond2006

Warwick misses.

SuprSi

Better scrummaging but Warwick's doesn't seem to have his kicking boots on so far today.

Stev_o

Marshall for Ireland's number 9?

SuprSi

Lucky, lucky, lucky!

thomond2006

Jesus Ulster nearly scored again, what the **** are Munster playing at? Marshall had acres of space at the side of the ruck.

lologram

P. Marshall having a stormer

corny

Ulster have really done their homework on the Munster defensive line. Skip pass bypassing the rushing centres and the ball back inside, causing huge problems for Munster.

corny

lologram wrote: »

P. Marshall having a stormer

Pienaar should play 10 to make room.

thomond2006

Warwick is having a shocker, missed touch.

thomond2006

Warwick easy penalty: 6-10.

Teej

is it raining? my reception looks permanent snow:(

thomond2006

Borlase off at HT please.

Wallace misses a penalty kick.

6-10 HT

Very poor performance from the home team.

twinytwo

thomond2006 wrote: »

Borlase off at HT please.

Wallace misses a penalty kick.

6-10 HT

Very poor performance from the home team.

Warrick needs to stop kicking the ball and bring the backs into the game, they have done nothing so far.

LuckyGent88

absolute shocker of a first half from munster. terrible in all areas of the game.

Kimono-Girl

at least thats 3 points!

thomond2006

9-10, Warwick penalty.

Ulster giving away lots of penalties.

Kimono-Girl

thomond2006 wrote: »

Ulster giving away lots of penalties.

another one given away there...

SuprSi

Excellent stuff from Munster, much better. Great try.

thomond2006

YES!!! Hurley try!!

Fantastic line break by Scott Deasy, superb interplay by Tuitupou and Earls to to put him through. Great play.

Warwick misses the conversion.

Munster 14-10 Ulster, 53 minutes gone.

Kimono-Girl

Damn it Warwick!

Fantastic play from deasy there, Hurley great try!


Flannery on!

thomond2006

TOL and Flannery on.