Munster vs NG Dragons, Musgrave Park, Sat 5 March 7:30pm; RTÉ/S4C

thomond2006

Leamy & Stringer Included in Munster Squad
2 March 2011, 11:36 am
By The Editor

Peter Stringer and Denis Leamy have been included in the Munster squad for the Magners League game against Newport-Gwent Dragons in Musgrave Park on Saturday (7.30 pm).

Other than the inclusion of the international pair the only addition to the squad is Danny Barnes who comes in for the injured Denis Hurley. Hurley who injured his right knee against Aironi will undergo a scan this evening to find out the full extent of the injury, but is expected to be out of action for a number of weeks.

The squad trained this morning in CIT and will have their second weekly session tomorrow in UL.

Munster Squad:
Johne Murphy, Doug Howlett, Danny Barnes, Lifeimi Mafi, Scott Deasy, Sam Tuitupou, Simon Zebo,
Declan Cusack, Paul Warwick,
Peter Stringer, Duncan Williams, Conor Murray,

Denis Fogarty, Damien Varley,
Tony Buckley, Wian Du Preez , Marcus Horan, Stephen Archer, Darragh Hurley, Peter Borlase,
Dave Foley, Ian Nagle, Mick O'Driscoll, Billy Holland, Donnacha Ryan, Tommy O'Donnell, James Coughlan, Alan Quinlan, Denis Leamy.

No Sherry in the squad (would like to know why tbh) and John Hayes is still out injured.

I'd like to see:
Du Preez, Varley, Buckley, MOD, Nagle, Leamy, TOD, Coughlan;
Stringer, Warwick, Zebo, Mafi, Barnes, Howlett, Murphy

Bench: Fogarty, Hurley/Horan, Borlase, Ryan/Holland, Quinlan, Murray, Deasy, Tuitupou

I think that XV has a good balance of youth and experience. Hopefully Barnes will start as his injury earlier in the season has stagnated his progress.

The way Borlase is in and out of the squad is mindboggling. He didn't feature at all last week and is back in the squad again. Do the management rate him or not?

This is surely a five pointer if we turn up (touchwood). We are 9 points clear at the top but we have a tough run in with the derby with Leinster (6 in a row me arse ) and Cardiff, Ospreys and Scarlets away all to come so this game is a must win IMO to seal a home semi final and home final.

phog

thomond2006 wrote: »

This is surely a five pointer if we turn up (touchwood). We are 9 points clear at the top but we have a tough run in with the derby with Leinster (6 in a row me arse ) and Cardiff, Ospreys and Scarlets away all to come so this game is a must win IMO to seal a home semi final and home final.

I love your confidence, we've only lost 3 ML games this season and one of them was away to the Dragons and I'd think Munster will lose more players due to the 6Ns than the Dragons so looking for 5 points from this game could be very optimisitic.

PhatPiggins

phog wrote: »

I love your confidence, we've only lost 3 ML games this season and one of them was away to the Dragons and I'd think Munster will lose more players due to the 6Ns than the Dragons so looking for 5 points from this game could be very optimisitic.

We were absolutely shafted by James Jones in that game who came in as a late replacement and we fielded a fairly inexperienced team. That said the Dragons are playing well since Turner left.

Sherry was injured against Treviso last month.

Team I expect to see:

Tony and Anto's mates 1 - 15

Soon to be leaving young talent 16 -23

buck65

The Dragons played us off the park as they often do to teams at Rodney Parade.

Micky Dolenz

You can never be sure what way the Dragons will play. will be a close one.

thomond2006

There's a decidedly fresh look to the Munster selection for tomorrow's Magners League game against Newport Gwent Dragons (Musgrave Park 7.30) and particularly so at half back where 21 year old Conor Murray makes his first senior start alongside Declan Cusack.

For his part, Cusack's only other start was against Connacht around this time last year and the Garryowen pair are joined in the starting XV by 22 year old Ian Nagle in the second row and Simon Zebo who will be 21 later this month.

There's loads of experience in the side including a return to the starting XV for Marcus Horan and Denis Fogarty while the bench looks particularly strong althioyugh still catering for youth in the shape of 21 year old Danny Barnes.

Munster:
J Murphy, D Howlett, L Mafi, P Warwick, S Zebo, D Cusack, C Murray,
M Horan, D Fogarty, S Archer, I Nagle, M O’Driscoll capt; D Ryan, J Coughlan, D Leamy.

Replacements: D Varley, W du Preez, T Buckley, A Quinlan, T O’Donnell, P Stringer, S Tuitupou, D Barnes.

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/8756.php

I am very happy with this selection. Delighted that Murray is getting a start and also that Cusack is getting a look in. They will know each other well as they both play for Garryowen so you'd expect them to click. Wouldn't mind seeing either of them take the kicks. The Warwick-Mafi centre partnership was superb against Edinburgh so it's good to see it being tried again.

I can understand why Fogarty is starting. Sherry is injured atm so the management need to give Fogarty a start to see if he is any worth to the squad. Good luck to him but I'm not hopeful tbh.

IMO Borlase is as good as gone if Archer is considered a better option than him.

Has Coughlan ever played openside before? The backrow is a bit all over the place tbh, none of them are in their natural/best positions.

DRAGONS:
15. Will Harries, 14. Adam Hughes, 13. Tom Riley, 12. Pat Leach, 11. Matthew Pewtner, 10. Jason Tovey; 9. Wayne Evans;
1. Hugh Gustafson, 2. Steve Jones (Capt.), 3. Ben Castle, 4. Scott Morgan, 5. Rob Sidoli, 6. Andrew Coombs, 7. Toby Faletau, 8. Joe Bearman,

Replacements: 16. Lloyd Burns, 17. Pat Palmer, 18. Phil Price, 19. Adam Jones, 20. Lewis Evans, 21. Ashley Smith, 22. Jon Evans, 23. Matthew Jones,

buck65

Good to see McGahan planning for next year.

CatFromHue

i would have gone for either warwick at 10 and murry at 9 or stringer at 9 and cusack at 10.

the main reson being then you dont have a half back pairing of in experienced players but an experienced fella with an in experienced fella. like what you have with nagle and o driscoll in the second row.

also with warwick at 12 you can see how the team reacts to more of a playmaker than a powerfull runner in that position. its like trial run for stephen donald!

Risteard

I'd say the argument is that they play week in week out with each other, and so would know each other more.

Glad to see Murray starting.

PhatPiggins

buck65 wrote: »

Good to see McGahan planning for next year.

He must be planning on applying for the vacant position at the Dragons then because thats a very unbalanced team. Worst front row in living memory, good second row, two 6's and a 5 in the back row, good scrum half, AIL standard 10, the rest of the backline is good but there'll do well to get any decent ball off set pieces. We can lose this one with the form the Dragons are on.

Risteard

PhatPiggins wrote: »

He must be planning on applying for the vacant position at the Dragons then because thats a very unbalanced team. Worst front row in living memory, good second row, two 6's and a 5 in the back row, good scrum half, AIL standard 10, the rest of the backline is good but there'll do well to get any decent ball off set pieces. We can lose this one with the form the Dragons are on.

I can't understand why Coughlan keeps being shoehorned into 6 and now 7. He's an 8, all of his good performances have come whilst wearing 8 on his back.

buck65

PhatPiggins wrote: »

He must be planning on applying for the vacant position at the Dragons then because thats a very unbalanced team. Worst front row in living memory, good second row, two 6's and a 5 in the back row, good scrum half, AIL standard 10, the rest of the backline is good but there'll do well to get any decent ball off set pieces. We can lose this one with the form the Dragons are on.

You're just pissed off because you got the team wrong (see above).:p

thomond2006

buck65 wrote: »

You're just pissed off because you got the team wrong (see above).:p

Ouch phat!

The front row doesn't make for great reading does it? But then Archer is still quite young so he could improve.

All I can say about Fogarty is we'll know about his worth either way after the game.

Again we'll know if Cusack is AIL standard or not. I will say that last year against Connacht he barely imposed himself on the game and looked a peripheral figure.

SomeFool

Happy enough over all really, there is a nice gap at the top of the league so it's nice to see a few fresh faces. Confused by the backrow though, would have been happier with Leamy, O Donnell, Coughlan at 6, 7 & 8 in that order.

thomond2006

SomeFool wrote: »

Happy enough over all really, there is a nice gap at the top of the league so it's nice to see a few fresh faces. Confused by the backrow though, would have been happier with Leamy, O Donnell, Coughlan at 6, 7 & 8 in that order.

Maybe they are resting O'Donnell. In fairness he's been starting all the recent games. Plus Leamy requires gametime and by all accounts Ryan had a good game at 6 last week.

profitius

buck65 wrote: »

Good to see McGahan planning for next year.

Yeah its good to see alright but it looks like Fogarty will be there next season too. A clearout of the deadwood is needed during the summer and I include Barry Murphy in that.

They have to move players on to make way for new or young players with potential. Otherwise it'll still be a big squad full of average players blocking potentially better players.

POM coming back is also good news. He would have gotten plenty of games this season but for that injury. Same with Felix Jones. So they'll be 2 good additions to the squad for next season.

thomond2006

profitius wrote: »

Yeah its good to see alright but it looks like Fogarty will be there next season too. A clearout of the deadwood is needed during the summer and I include Barry Murphy in that.

Not sure about Fogarty tbh. Sherry is on a full contract from next season (http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/8623.php), Fla is contracted until May 2012 (mentioned this at an Area 22 event) and I'm fairly sure Varley is contracted for a while. There's no way Munster would pay four full time hookers so I'd say Fogarty will be on his way regardless of his performances to be honest.

You gotta feel sorry for Murphy, a very good player when fit and firing. Don't think Munster will give him more chances. Ivan Dineen, although an inside centre, has been pushing strongly for a place in the squad.

ShamoBuc

Musgrave Park is looking fairly nice indeed it must be said!
Don't think that 15 will have it all their own way tonight, but in the end maybe a few subs will make the difference. Munsgter by 10, no bp.

razorblunt

Nostalgic look inside the Well clubhouse, the only difference is a lick of paint on the wall! Long overdue!

thomond2006

Warwick penalty. 3-0.

thomond2006

First scrum = Dragons penalty.

thomond2006

Tovey hits the post from a simple position.

RuggieBear

murray's pass looks very good so far

thomond2006

6-3 now.

ShamoBuc

What a commentator!!
Pen was struck, " no problem at all" a second later ball hits the post and scrapes over for 3 pts , lol

thomond2006

RuggieBear wrote: »

murray's pass looks very good so far

It is, impressed with him so far.

castie

Whats the approach there?
Munster did take it quick but the Dragon that caught it hadnt even gone to his own side of the lineout yet.

ShamoBuc

strange to see a 'big' scrum half for munster

durkadurka

thomond2006 wrote: »

It is, impressed with him so far.

Me too, one to watch

Spudmonkey

Murray having a great game so far

durkadurka

That scrum didn't even get to 'pause'

Spudmonkey

Shades of Irelands discipline problems in this performance.

castie

Spudmonkey wrote: »

Shades of Irelands discipline problems in this performance.

too true and just pointed out by setantas commentary team as well

ShamoBuc

surely that lineout should have been challenged.

castie

ShamoBuc wrote: »

surely that lineout should have been challenged.

Dont know if its just me but that gap seems to be huge and hes throwing down their line.

thomond2006

6-9 now.

ShamoBuc

beautiful offload from coughlan

durkadurka

Good try dougie, well earned

Warwick converts from the touchline

thomond2006

Try for Dougie, great hands in the buildup.

castie

nice by coughlan

ShamoBuc

very good convertion from the touchline 13-9 munster

thomond2006

Warwick converts: 13-9.

Spudmonkey

A boy da dougie

ShamoBuc

warwick contemplated a drop at goal there I think before runnung it

ShamoBuc

warwicks kicks in behind have been very good tonight

durkadurka

ShamoBuc wrote: »

warwicks kicks in behind have been very good tonight

He'll be sorely missed. Good game so far

budhabob

THe young lads are playing pretty well. Murray looks the real deal

ShamoBuc

Zebo really looks like a 'running' rugby player, socks around the ankle, ball in one hand , jinking as he goes.

thomond2006

Murray for Ireland.

ShamoBuc

get in Howlett!

durkadurka

Great try dOugie