Pro12: Munster vs NG Dragons, Sat 22 Sep 8pm; Live on TG4

thomond2006

Munster:
I Keatley; D Howlett capt, K Earls, J Downey, S Zebo; R O'Gara, P
Stringer;
M Horan, M Sherry, BJ Botha, Donncha O'Callaghan, B Holland; Dave O'Callaghan, N Ronan, P Butler.

Replacements: D Varley, W du Preez, S Archer, D Foley, T O'Donnell, C Murray, D Barnes, JJ Hanrahan.

• Coughlan, Dineen, Hurley & O'Dea all out
• Dougall and Laulala rested
• Zebo makes first appearance of the season, with Hanrahan and Barnes on the bench.

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/10835.php

Big opportunity for Stringer to press his claim to be Murray's backup, similar situation for Horan as well. Keatley gets a run at fullback, would be good to see if he can have the creative influence Warwick had a couple of years ago.

Downey and Earls in the centre, it's a great chance for Keith to get a run in his preferred position. Laulala is definitely the man currently in possession following some great performances so Keith has a lot to do. He did make a great impact off the bench last weekend.

It's also great to see Niall Ronan back in the mix, he'll add more competition to the backrow.

[Jackass]

I thought Horan did very well when he came on against Ulster I think it was. Had a good impact in the scrum. Obviously not the guy you'd be looking to for long term, but good to keep him fit and able to stand in for the younger lads if / when they're given a start.

Earls is obviously getting his wish at being in the centre, good depth, but could be a bit messy if he insists on playing there as apposed to on the wing for bigger games.

Nice game for the likes of Zebo, Keatley, Hanrahan and all the other young lads to get a first run or try a new position, I think Leinster made Dragons look like a decent side, when in reality Leinster defence was terrible, should have hammered them more if we were up to speed. Munster may still be getting up to speed too, but can't see anything other than a Munster bonus point win in this one.

Roanmore

Would like to have seen more of Stringer and Keatley together at 9 & 10.

ray jay

I'm surprised to see Murray on the bench. I like that Keatley and O'Gara are both starting, ROG needs the game time but Keatley has been playing well and deserves to start. Where's POM?

donfers

I wonder will this be the last time rog and stringer start a game together

i remember 12 years ago Ireland made a load of changes for a game against Italy, the two lads were nervous as hell for the first 10-15 minutes, knocking on, dropping balls, mis-hitting but then they settled and Ireland won comfortable and the so-called golden age had begun

I am curious to see how the back row will do, hopefully Ronan will show the form he did last season before his injury

I am also looking forward to see Butler play at 8 - is that his preferred position?

DOC2 looks a fine prospect but it's time (like TOD) that they started making more of an impact on games, we still lack a decent ball carrier in the back row since Wallace and to a lesser extent Leamy retired

Tox56

Perfect game for Munster to rest certain players, re-introduce some of the internationals and experiment with some combinations.

It's hard to know what to expect, on the one hand a lot of these players will be rusty, on the other hand they are playing a weak Dragons team at Thomond Park. It will be interesting either way.

Cpt_Blackbeard

I like the look of the team. Outside of Horan's and Stringer's inclusions, its as I expected.

GerM

Back line with two playmakers and three great finishers. A real link man at openside. I can see the Dragons being in for a long night here. Will be good to watch. Would love to see something like IK starting as first choice kicker given his superb form off the tee but would be shocked if it happened.

Fishooks12

Can't wait to see JJ Hanrahan

thomond2006

Backs
Daniel Evans, Tom Prydie, Pat Leach, Will Harries, Ashley Smith, Adam Hughes, Andy Tuilagi, Lewis Robling, Steffan Jones, Jonathan Evans, Liam Davies (Bedwas)

Forwards
Jevon Groves, Dan Lydiate, Tom Brown, Toby Faletau, Lewis Evans, Hywel Stoddart, Nick Cudd, Ian Nimmo, Adam Jones, Dan Way, Tim Ryan, Aaron Coundley, Phil Price, Steve Jones, Sam Parry.

Players not selected through injury;
Joe Bedford (Shoulder), Tonderai Chavhanga (Knee), Jamie Smith (Ankle), Dan Watchurst (Leg break), Darren Waters (Knee), Rob Sidoli (Calf), Andrew Coombes (Knee), Mike Poole (Knee), Wayne Evans (Back), Hugh Gustafson (Foot), Nathan Buck (Neck)

Quite the injury list. Jamie Smith seems to have barely got a run since arriving in Newport last season.

It should be interesting to see how our backrow competes against Lydiate and Faletau. Also it would be good to see Tim Ryan get a run at Thomond Park!

Dragons' 10s are Steffan Jones and Lewis Robling, 21 and 20 respectively.

It's a pretty strong Munster side so I might head out to this one!

thomond2006

Dragons team for Munster
Dan Evans, Will Harries , Adam Hughes, Ashley Smith, Tom Prydie, Lewis Robling, Jonathan Evans;
Phil Price, Steve Jones (c), Dan Way, Ian Nimmo, Adam Jones, Dan Lydiate, Jevon Groves, Tom Brown

Replacements
Sam Parry, Aaron Coundley, Tim Ryan, Toby Faletau, Lewis Evans, Liam Davies, Andy Tuilagi, Pat Leach

budhabob

Tim ryan joined the dragons? Totally missed that move.

totallegend

Munster should be sniffing a bonus point here, that is a poor Dragons outfit.

Fireball07

What a try.

DylanJM

Jesus that was some try.

ScissorPaperRock

Beautiful stuff

Fireball07

Pass from Earls was risky but it paid off, and tore them open completely. Nice kick from ROG too.

duckysauce

sweet try zebo is on fire

Roanmore

Zebo again with the final pass.

Fireball07

Another great try. Earls is having a very good game. Zebo did well to hold it up for an easy try for Ronan.

Benny Cake

Great stuff so far, Keith Earls lighting it up in midfield...

Fireball07

Down the line from the penalty. Nice ambition.

yimrsg

Flannery with an absolute gem there.

Describing DOC running onto to pitch like the 90s wrestler Ultimate warrior!

Fireball07

Bit error-prone since the 2nd try.

profitius

The scrums are ruining the game. Dragons will be delighted to be getting all those penalties.

I think this game highlights the problem with ROG and Stringer. They cannot attack the gain line with ball in hand and they need to get rid of it like a hot spud.

val_jester

Fireball07 wrote: »

Bit error-prone since the 2nd try.

Yeah Munster should be up by a lot more than they are, but they have no control at all at half back, and their protection of the rucks is appalling.

ScissorPaperRock

It would be nice to see Hanrahan brought on soon enough

eyeball kid

Whats the score at the moment? Thanks.

val_jester

14-6 to Munster

ScissorPaperRock

eyeball kid wrote: »

Whats the score at the moment? Thanks.

14 Munster - Dragons 6

Fireball07

Some more sloppy stuff, thought we'd score there.

Dragons prop in the bin, Murray on for Stringer.

eyeball kid

Fireball07 wrote: »

Some more sloppy stuff, thought we'd score there.

Dragons prop in the bin, Murray on for Stringer.

Stringer injured or just changing things up a bit?

duckysauce

eyeball kid wrote: »

Stringer injured or just changing things up a bit?

murray on and scores a try

ScissorPaperRock

Try by Murray, missed conversion

19-6 to Munster

Fireball07

eyeball kid wrote: »

Stringer injured or just changing things up a bit?

Just a switch. Murray scored immediately, nice move.


Great break by Keatley!

bleg

Zebo/Earls combining so well again.

duckysauce

zebo try

Fireball07

Zebo!!

Nice offload by Holland and then from Earls.


Came from Keatley's break and that's the bonus.

Benny Cake

I wish we could play the dragons every week

ScissorPaperRock

Zebo's try converted, 26-6 to Munster

val_jester

Rog is killing Munster

val_jester

Murray has made a big difference since he came on, he is a big improvement on Stringer, but Rog is still in there to screw up the team. Kicking out on the full, followed up by rushing up, out of the defensive line, luckily for him Murray saved him.

Fireball07

Evans try

val_jester

And then Murray decides not to tackle, ffs.

ScissorPaperRock

Some tackle by Earls!

Judgement Day

Rugby as it should be played - the glory days are on the way back!

val_jester

Come on please give JJ, 7 minutes, please.

19543261

That was some passage of play holy hell

ScissorPaperRock

O'Donnell try, converted by ROG, Hanrahan on

31-13 to Munster

ScissorPaperRock

Hanrahan close to setting up a try with a cross-field kick there

val_jester

Earls has had a great game, besides one poor pass in the first half, hopefully he can stay injury free this year.