Pro12: Munster vs Treviso, Sat 7 Jan 8:15pm; Live on RTÉ

thomond2006

Included in that extended squad is newly appointed Irish captain Paul O'Connell who takes over from the injured Brian O'Driscoll, O'Connell also revealed today that he's signed a two year extension to his contract that will keep him with Munster until the end of season 2013/14.

Munster trained in UL yesterday and will complete theior preparation for the Treviso game tomorrow in Cork. Omissions from the squad named include Tom Gleeson (shoulder) and Tommy O'Donnell (knee) both injured in Ravenhill and Denis Leamy (hip) who was withdrawn ahead of that match but Damien Varley who also retired injured in Belfast is included and believed likely to feature in the match day squad.

Munster Squad:
Marcus Horan, Stephen Archer, John Ryan, Wian du Preez, BJ Botha, Damien Varley, Denis Fogarty,
Donncha Ryan, Paul O’Connell, Donnacha O’Callaghan, Ian Nagle, Mick O’Driscoll,
Peter O’Mahony, Niall Ronan, Billy Holland, Dave O’Callaghan, Paddy Butler, James Coughlan,

Duncan Williams, Conor Murray, Tomas O’Leary
Ian Keatley, Ronan O’Gara,
Denis Hurley, Johne Murphy, Will Chambers, Danny Barnes, Keith Earls, Lifeimi Mafi, Simon Zebo,

Not available due to injury:
Tom Gleeson (shoulder); Tommy O’Donnell (knee); Luke O’Dea (ankle); Denis Leamy (hip); Declan Cusack (shoulder); David Wallace (knee); Troy Smith (knee); Felix Jones (foot); Jerry Flannery (calf); Doug Howlett (Achilles); Darragh Hurley (back disc); Mike Sherry (ankle).

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/9935.php

O'Dea out? Hope it's not serious.

All the internationals are back for this, a strong side should be named. Borlase still not picked in the squad.

I'd like to see:
du Preez, Varley, Botha, Ryan, POC, POM, Ronan, Coughlan;
Murray, ROG, Murphy, Barnes, Earls, Zebo, Hurley

Bench: Fogarty, Horan, Archer, DOC, Butler, TOL, Keatley, Mafi

If Treviso come with a full side, this could be very tricky.

phog

=thomond2006;76313481

If Treviso come with a full side, this could be very tricky.

Treviso have couple of scalps (Biarritz in the H/C, drew with Ospreys and beat Ulster in PRO12, in Ravenhill) under their belt but realisticlly I cant see them beating Munster in Thomond Park, especailly, if we're fielding a stronger team than the last 2 weeks.

Cpt_Blackbeard

thomond2006 wrote: »

O'Dea out? Hope it's not serious.

All the internationals are back for this, a strong side should be named. Borlase still not picked in the squad.

I'd like to see:
du Preez, Varley, Botha, Ryan, POC, POM, Ronan, Coughlan;
Murray, ROG, Murphy, Barnes, Earls, Zebo, Hurley

Bench: Fogarty, Horan, Archer, DOC, Butler, TOL, Keatley, Mafi

If Treviso come with a full side, this could be very tricky.

I think that your side is just a hint too strong. I know that we need to be giving our HC starters a runout together but, I'd like to see 1-3 youngsters getting a runout alongside a full-strength team.

Ideally I'd like to see two of Archer/Nagle/DOC2/Butler getting a start, just to see how they fare. Were LOD not injured, I'd have liked to see his great form rewarded too.

PhatPiggins

Is Sean Scanlon injured thomond or simply being punished for being able to run more then two angles ?

thomond2006

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

I think that your side is just a hint too strong. I know that we need to be giving our HC starters a runout together but, I'd like to see 1-3 youngsters getting a runout alongside a full-strength team.

Ideally I'd like to see two of Archer/Nagle/DOC2/Butler getting a start, just to see how they fare. Were LOD not injured, I'd have liked to see his great form rewarded too.

I would have liked to see Scanlon and LOD play if they were available.

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Is Sean Scanlon injured thomond or simply being punished for being able to run more then two angles ?

I'm not gonna be in the UL gym so I won't be able to find out!

phog

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Is Sean Scanlon injured thomond or simply being punished for being able to run more then two angles ?

Listed as being injured after the Connacht game.

Edited to add

exciting young full-back Sean Scanlon, a try scorer on his full debut against Connacht on St Stephen's Day, are also facing a race against time to be fit for Saturday's game as Munster's injury list soars beyond double figures.

taken from an injury update that I posted on the Munster thread.

durkadurka

These extended squads are a bit pointless aren't they?

thomond2006

durkadurka wrote: »

These extended squads are a bit pointless aren't they?

I assume they're announced so that the papers can print something. It facilitates discussion too.

Leinster don't announce them though do they? They just have a "squad update" on a monday/tuesday.

CIARAN_BOYLE

durkadurka wrote: »

These extended squads are a bit pointless aren't they?

I'm not certain but I believe that the AIL clubs are told that players outside the extended squad are fair game for the weekend and you will find out abou the others when the team is announced

Amazotheamazing

durkadurka wrote: »

These extended squads are a bit pointless aren't they?

they are but at least this they've started doing the bits about who's injured.

phog

durkadurka wrote: »

These extended squads are a bit pointless aren't they?

Only if you look at it from a team naming exercise, I think the idea of the extended squad is to allow the remaining players to be available to their clubs if required, bar I suppose the likes of ROG, POC, etc.

Edit: Beaten to it by Ciaran Boyle Post #9 ^^^

durkadurka

thomond2006 wrote: »

I assume they're announced so that the papers can print something. It facilitates discussion too.

Leinster don't announce them though do they? They just have a "squad update" on a monday/tuesday.

Yeah the Leinster squad updates are also dubious, although sometimes you can read between the lines.

I think the main purpose is to get something in the news bulletins etc.

Hopefully we'll get decent team selections this week.

buck65

So, we're all agreed that Munster have a better squad anouncement policy than Leinster?;)

Anyhoo, back to the game, I assume we'll see the big guns rolled out for this one. Looking forward to seeing Treviso, seem to be improving at a rate of notts.
Still though Munster should be too much.

Podge_irl

Leinster used to be big on announcing pointless 35 man squads consisting of every fit player when Cheiks was there.

phog

Munster Team

Mun v Trev Team: Hurley; Murphy, Earls, Mafi, Zebo; O'Gara, Murray; du Preez, Varley, Botha; Ryan, O'Connell (c) O'Mahony, Ronan, Coughlan.

Replacements: D Fogarty, M Horan, S Archer, Donncha O'Callaghan, B Holland, T O'Leary, I Keatley, D Barnes.

profitius

Looks like the HEC starting team. Good to see POM back but pity about TOD and LOD getting injuries.

phog

The Treviso Team

Treviso: Luke McLean, Ludovico Nitoglia, Tommaso Benvenuti, Alberto Sgarbi, Brendan Williams; Kristopher Burton, Tobias Botes; Michele Rizzo, Franco Sbaraglini, Lorenzo Cittadini; Antonio Pavanello (captain), Corniel Van Zyl; Gonzalo Padrò, Alessandro Zanni, Manoa Vosawai.

Replacements: Diego Vidal, Matteo Muccignat, Ignacio Fernandez Rouyet, Valerio Bernabò, Enrico Pavanello, Simon Picone, Edoardo Gori, Alberto Di Bernardo

Fireball07

Very strong team for Munster. Treviso are a good side but there should be no excuse for not winning the game tbh.

phog

Fireball07 wrote: »

Very strong team for Munster. Treviso are a good side but there should be no excuse for not winning the game tbh.

12 of starters for Treviso beat Biarritz in the H/C, in saying that, if Treviso were playing Munster in the H/Cup in Thomond Park I'd very unhappy with anything less than a win.

thomond2006

Munster: D Hurley; J Murphy, K Earls, L Mafi, S Zebo; R O'Gara, C Murray; W du Preez, D Varley, BJ Botha; D Ryan, P O'Connell capt; P O'Mahony, N Ronan, J Coughlan.

Replacements: D Fogarty, M Horan, S Archer, Donncha O'Callaghan, B Holland, T O'Leary, I Keatley, D Barnes.

Basically the Heineken Cup team. I'm disappointed that Holland is backrow cover over Butler.

Fireball07

phog wrote: »

12 of starters for Treviso beat Biarritz in the H/C, in saying that, if Treviso were playing Munster in the H/Cup in Thomond Park I'd very unhappy with anything less than a win.

That's what I mean. I think Treviso are a very good side but I'd be disappointed losing to anyone in Thomond Park, and we have to win this one.

buck65

Well we don't really HAVE to win it, but should nonetheless. Munster obviously are concentrating on getting into the HCup playoffs this season regardless of what happens in the league, considering the anger and abuse about not making the last eight last year , McGahan was never going to fight on two fronts this season as we had done last 2 years.
I think Munster will earn it to make the top 4 this season.

profitius

buck65 wrote: »

Well we don't really HAVE to win it, but should nonetheless. Munster obviously are concentrating on getting into the HCup playoffs this season regardless of what happens in the league, considering the anger and abuse about not making the last eight last year , McGahan was never going to fight on two fronts this season as we had done last 2 years.
I think Munster will earn it to make the top 4 this season.

He should be fighting on 2 fronts. He has a massive squad as well as academy players to call on.

michelledoh

buck65 wrote: »

Well we don't really HAVE to win it, but should nonetheless. Munster obviously are concentrating on getting into the HCup playoffs this season regardless of what happens in the league, considering the anger and abuse about not making the last eight last year , McGahan was never going to fight on two fronts this season as we had done last 2 years.
I think Munster will earn it to make the top 4 this season.

So you reckon he's not fighting on the Rabo front this year?
Considering that Munster's is the biggest squad in the land, and possibly the Rabo, I think that's a little far fetched, they've just been poor in some games.

PhatPiggins

profitius wrote: »

He should be fighting on 2 fronts. He has a massive squad as well as academy players to call on.

He has a maasive squad but unfortunately it consists of about 70% of players of equal averageness. Its good enough to make the playoffs of the league and the semi of the HC though which would represent a good season for me seeing as the team is in transition.

buck65

To me it seems he knows his team and is using the league to give a bit of gametime to a few lads and unearth a few others.
He basically rested all his first team in the past two weeks to be fresh for next week. Yes there were a few away in camp but alot more were rested or reported to be carrying knocks.
I'm not complaining, a semi final in the HCup with this team would be a massive success, what good is another League title if we are getting destroyed in Europe?

pappyodaniel

Can't wait to see Brendan Williams in action for Treviso, he's such an exciting player to watch.

michelledoh

buck65 wrote: »

To me it seems he knows his team and is using the league to give a bit of gametime to a few lads and unearth a few others.
He basically rested all his first team in the past two weeks to be fresh for next week. Yes there were a few away in camp but alot more were rested or reported to be carrying knocks.
I'm not complaining, a semi final in the HCup with this team would be a massive success, what good is another League title if we are getting destroyed in Europe?

Really? What about Player Welfare?
I don't think that they're glossing over the Rabo on purpose, just not winning tight games like last year. Such a huge squad should have more than enough older ML standard players.

phog

michelledoh wrote: »

So you reckon he's not fighting on the Rabo front this year?
Considering that Munster's is the biggest squad in the land, and possibly the Rabo, I think that's a little far fetched, they've just been poor in some games.

Injuries? For our last game (Ulster) we had a sqaud of 28 players available, for the Glasgow game during the W/C we had a squad of 27 players, those missing include the injured and the Irish players.

I still think we should be doing better in the PRO12 but this year of all years we seemed to have needed a big squad.

michelledoh

phog wrote: »

Injuries? For our last game (Ulster) we had a sqaud of 28 players available, for the Glasgow game during the W/C we had a squad of 27 players, those missing include the injured and the Irish players.

I still think we should be doing better in the PRO12 but this year of all years we seemed to have needed a big squad.

But you only need 22 to fill a squad!
The three other Irish provinces have suffered from this aswell, but Munster have a larger squad.

You say injuries, but that's nothing to do with the original point of not targeting the Rabo?

thomond2006

Leamy's hip injury is to be assessed by a specialist, so it looks like he's out for the forseeable future.

danthefan

thomond2006 wrote: »

Leamy's hip injury is to be assessed by a specialist, so it looks like he's out for the forseeable future.

Really is a mad run of injuries Munster have had. At least one or two seem to be just back/back soon. And there's been an element of luck in that there has tended to be cover for the guys who've been out. I reckon there are maybe 4 players (POC, ROG, Botha, Murray) who would absolutely sink Munster's season if they got injured.

CatFromHue

thomond2006 wrote: »

Leamy's hip injury is to be assessed by a specialist, so it looks like he's out for the forseeable future.

Was it his hip that kept him out before? like is this an inflammation of an old injury?

phog

michelledoh wrote: »

But you only need 22 to fill a squad!
The three other Irish provinces have suffered from this aswell, but Munster have a larger squad.

You say injuries, but that's nothing to do with the original point of not targeting the Rabo?

23 actually but there's no point having a load of 2nd rowers available if you're stuck for a prop or a hooker, or maybe having 4 scrumhalfs and no fullback.

thomond2006

CatFromHue wrote: »

Was it his hip that kept him out before? like is this an inflammation of an old injury?

IIRC it is an aggrevation of an old injury.

phog

thomond2006 wrote: »

IIRC it is an aggrevation of an old injury.

He had a hip injury before so it looks like it's a repeat, hope he doesn't go the same route as Dowling.

irishbucsfan

Would have liked to see Archer again. I suppose Botha needs the game before the H Cup.

colman1212

Cant believe I got up at 6 on a sunday morning to watch Munster v Treviso but any chance of a stream lads??

Almaviva

Did Jackman dip his whole head in the makeup jar ???

Brian

Anyone else getting audio lag on the RTE stream? How to fix?

thomond2006

Keet went to a good hair restoration clinic.

Taco Corp

thomond2006 wrote: »

Keet went to a good hair restoration clinic.

And Donal fell into a bucket of make up

durkadurka

The pitch is a bit ropey looking

duckysauce

Surley wrote: »

And Donal fell into a bucket of make up

Nigel is reffing

duckysauce

well done by zebo

budhabob

Fantastic run from zebo.

RuggieBear

zebo nice run

ambid

Only c. 6,000 people in the stadium according to RTÉ. Anyone else shocked by that? I know it's very late in the evening for people coming from outside Limerick, but it still seems a very poor attendance.

irishbucsfan

Zebo did absolutely everything he coudd there. What a shame he didn't get a bit f luck at the end, would have been one of the tries of the season.

durkadurka

Oh Murray!!!

colman1212

Stream please!!!!