Treviso v Munster, Sunday Feb 13th at 2pm: TG4

some_dose

What with a few of the regulars off on international duty, I'd hope for McGahan to name a younger side including the likes of Sherry and Nagle. Treviso will surely try to bully Munster around the park and lets not forget that Leinster lost here at the start of the tournament this year. However, I think that Munster will do it by about 10-15 points.

buck65

I'd say Treviso are missing a few internationals too. Still will be hard won but Munster to win.

thomond2006

A first ever Magners League assignment in Italy is what Munster face as they resume their campaign with the game against Benetton Treviso on Sunday (2pm local) at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo.

And despite the absence of their frontline players who are either involved with Ireland or on the injured list, they still travel with an experienced squad that includes four of those, Denis Hurley, Johne Murphy, Mick O'Driscoll and Donnacha Ryan, who spent the week in Dublin and therefore have had no involvement at all in preparation for this game.

Prior to this week, the quartet mentioned were involved with Ireland A for the previous fortnight and so it remains to be seen whether Tony McGahan will consider them from the off or not against a Treviso side who will not be as badly affected by international absenteeism.

Back in the squad after a prolonged bout of injury is Denis Fogarty whose last game was against Ospreys in September, Marcus Horan whose last outing was against Toulon in October and Dave Ryan who injured a shoulder against Connacht at the end of December.

Treviso have six wins under their belts, five of those at home and their victims include Leinster, Connacht, Scarlets and Dragons.

Munster Squad:
S Deasy, D Hurley, D Barnes, J Murphy, D Howlett capt, S Zebo, T Gleeson, L Mafi, S Tuitupou, D Williams, P Stringer, D Cusack, P Warwick,

Darragh Hurley, Dave Ryan, P Borlase, M Horan, D Fogarty, W du Preez, S Archer, D Varley, M Sherry, Ian Nagle, M O'Driscoll, D Foley, D Ryan, B Holland, T O'Donnell, J Coughlan, P Butler

I wouldn't mind seeing an experimental side sent out to Italy. Given we are doing very well on the table a loss wouldn't be so bad if we give players gametime. Howlett is captain so he'll definitely start anyway.

I'd like to see:
Hurley, Varley, Borlase, MOD, Nagle, Coughlan, TOD, Butler;
Stringer, Cusack, Murphy, Mafi, Barnes, Howlett, Deasy

Bench: Sherry, Du Preez, Archer, Foley, Ryan, Williams, Warwick, Hurley

Given that Warwick is moving on we need to have a look at Cusack. I don't suggest freezing out Warwick but for the games against weaker opposition I'd be in favour of looking at the players who will be around next year.

If Fogarty gets in the 22 ahead of Sherry, I'll go spare. It better not happen. Now that Sherry has agreed terms he should be ahead of Fogarty full stop. Same story with Marcus Horan.

I think my lineup is unlikely to happen mind, I expect Warwick at 10, MOD and Ryan at lock, possibly Holland at 6 with Tuitupou and Mafi in the centres. Wouldn't surprise me if he offers gametime to Horan and Fogarty too.

thomond2006

Looks like Williams will start and Murray will bench now, with Stringer being called up to the Ireland squad.

thomond2006

Munster: S Deasy; D Howlett, T Gleeson, L Mafi, S Zebo; P Warwick, D Williams; D Hurley, D Varley, S Archer; I Nagle, D Foley; B Holland, T O'Donnell, J Coughlan.

Replacements: M Sherry, W du Preez, P Borlase, M O'Driscoll, D Ryan, C Sheridan, S Tuitupou, D Hurley.

Very happy with the selection, particularly the front five. I assume Murray must be injured, Sheridan is a scrum half from the academy.

TREVISO
15 Brendan Williams
14 Ludovico Nitoglia
13 Ezio Galon
12 Andrea Pratichetti
11 Michele Sepe
10 Willem De Waal
9 Tobias Botes
8 Marco Filippucci
7 Gonzalo Padrò
6 Benjamin Vermaak
5 Corniel Van Zyl
4 Antonio Pavanello (capitano)
3 Lorenzo Cittadini
2 Franco Sbaraglini
1 Michele Rizzo

A disposizione:
16 Enrico Ceccato
17 Matteo Muccignat
18 Pedro Di Santo
19 Ignacio Fernandez Rouyet
20 Enrico Pavanello
21 Tommaso Benvenuti
22 Benjamin De Jager
23 Andrea Marcato

Don't really know how good that Treviso lineup is tbh, their halfbacks are quality though.

Risteard

Happy with that team. Second Row looks pretty good. Ineresting that Archer is ahead of Borlase, will be interesting to see how they get on.

SomeFool

thomond2006 wrote: »

Munster:
Don't really know how good that Treviso lineup is tbh, their halfbacks are quality though.

Fullback is a quality player too, usually willing to have a go, like the look of the Munster side actually. Good to see newer players being selected.

Cpt_Blackbeard

Its a great looking Munster side. Hopefully Sherry gets some meaningful gametime, as he has always looked a quality player when called upon. Its a pity that Murray isn't involved, but I have heard that he isn't fully fit.

I'd like Dineen and Butler to get a run out soon too. They both have bags of quality. We have a real lack of 13s at the moment too, Murphy is always injured, Gleeson will never be top class. We don't have much behind Earls.

Any information on Barnes? He wasn't announced as having signed a new contract and its odd to see Zebo there but Barnes not included.

Digifriendly

Don't forget this is 1.00pm Irish/UK time so a nice appetiser before the main course of Ireland vs France.

thomond2006

Where's Borlase in the pecking order? Have the management given up on him already? He wasn't starting for the As either.

CatFromHue

if this was a first string treviso side id be very worried with that munster team.

its hard to know how the national team call ups will effect treviso but so far they havent been an easy team to beat in treviso.

considering the munster pack only contains 1 first team member (coughlan), and that italian teams are always forward dominated. this could be a very hard game for munster.

remember treviso have 6 wins out of 12, which isnt a bad return.

PhatPiggins

What time does this actually start? Still being subjected to GAA Beo on TG4

budhabob

It says scheduled delayed. Dunno what the story is.

PhatPiggins

Just on now

PhatPiggins

Good work from the front row there, bad miss from PW

budhabob

Ya,looking decent enough considering the amount a lot these lads have played.

PhatPiggins

God I loathe James Jones

thomond2006

3-3 atm

Risteard

Good to see the forwards getting stuck in, particularly Foley and O'Donnell, Nagle being his usual self at the lineout.

budhabob

Good hunger from us there in defence,got a decent turn over from it.

PhatPiggins

thomond2006 wrote: »

3-3 atm

Tommy O Donnell with another steal. Doug really is a class act, he always does the right thing.

Phew that was lucky

budhabob

Our scrum is under serious pressure, just got a warning from Jones there. Could see a change at the break

wixfjord

Good game this.
Great atmosphere too.

Thought it was good reffing from Jones to clear up the hooker thing.

Risteard

Bar the scrum I think our forwards are coping pretty well, stopped the Treviso maul on a good few occasions and lineout functioning well when the ball's thrown in straight.

wixfjord

Brendan Williams is a good player imo.

wixfjord

Oh that was stupid from Varley :mad:

lologram

wixfjord wrote: »

Oh that was stupid from Varley :mad:

What did Varley do?

Just tuning in now, got the hour wrong obviously.

What was the sin bin for?

wixfjord

lologram wrote: »

What did Varley do?

Straight off his feet with Treviso attacking and tossed the ball back on the Munster side. Really really obvious, and the fact he really threw it back made it look a lot worse!
Munster scrum in trouble, but Treviso are playing some really great rugby.

budhabob

Wdp is carrying well since he came on. Thought this was something lacking in his game of late.

yayamark

Any english commentary going, none on live95fm?

wixfjord

That's a ****ing crazy yellow imo.

budhabob

Damn it, must of cursed him,down to 13 men now, wdp off

CouchSmart

This isn't going well at all.

wixfjord

Their number 7 is having a great game.

lologram

wixfjord wrote: »

That's a ****ing crazy yellow imo.

It's tough on Du Preez to be held personally responsible for the scrum's failings, but at least Jones had the courage of his convictions to punish their poor and illegal scrummaging. He announced that he was still working from the warning he had given them in the 1st half.

wixfjord

lologram wrote: »

It's tough on Du Preez to be held personally responsible for the scrum's failings, but at least Jones had the courage of his convictions to punish their poor and illegal scrummaging. He announced that he was still working from the warning he had given them in the 1st half.

Aye your right there.

ShamoBuc

Not going too well now,

lologram

wixfjord wrote: »

Their number 7 is having a great game.

He sure is. Good finish for his try there. It's been coming for a while.

castie

Anyone else think he dropped that before getting ti done?

Kristopherus

Woeful defending by Munster. There are a lot of them playing like they did'nt wish to be there. Strong leadership called for now.

wixfjord

castie wrote: »

Anyone else think he dropped that before getting ti done?

No way, deff try imo.

ShamoBuc

castie wrote: »

Anyone else think he dropped that before getting ti done?

I thought I saw that... on both views!

wixfjord

Kristopherus wrote: »

Woeful defending by Munster. There are a lot of them playing like they did'nt wish to be there. Strong leadership called for now.

In fairness nigh on impossible to defend with 13v15.

Kristopherus

That try had a difficult birth.

Risteard

Volleyball stuff. Looks like a try from Howlett.

lologram

Absolutely manic buildup to that try

budhabob

Good try there by Dougie

wixfjord

Try time! Great game.

ShamoBuc

we took the long road to the line, but who cares, got there in the end!

sioda

Kristopherus wrote: »

That try had a difficult birth.

This whole match is a difficult birth with Warwick pushing kicks this much :P