HEC: Edinburgh vs Munster, Sun 13 Jan 12:45pm; Sky Sports 2

thomond2006

Will post teams as they are announced.

EDIT:
Edinburgh Rugby team v Munster, Heineken Cup Round 5
Murrayfield, Sunday 13 January (KO 12.45pm)

15 Greig Tonks, 14 Dougie Fife, 13 Ben Cairns, 12 Matt Scott, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN, 9 Richie Rees;
1 Allan Jacobsen, 2 Steven Lawrie, 3 Willem Nel, 4 Grant Gilchrist, 5 Sean Cox, 6 Stuart McInally, 7 Dimitri Basilaia, 8 David Denton

Substitutes: 16 Andy Titterrell, 17 Robin Hislop, 18 Geoff Cross, 19 Netani Talei, 20 Roddy Grant, 21 Piers Francis, 22 Ben Atiga, 23 Sep Visser

Munster:
F Jones; D Howlett capt, K Earls, J Downey, S Zebo; R O'Gara, C Murray;
D Kilcoyne, D Varley, BJ Botha; D O'Callaghan, D Ryan; P O'Mahony, T O'Donnell, J Coughlan.

Replacements: M Sherry, W du Preez, J Ryan, B Holland, P Butler, D Williams, I Keatley, C Laulala.

Massive game in Munster's season, we'll have a better idea of the degree of necessity for a try bonus point following Friday and Saturday's results. Given how Sale have sent out the B team against Montpellier, a win for the French side looks likely. That would mean a bonus point win becomes necessary.

I'm heading over to this and can't wait to experience the graveyard atmosphere of an empty Murrayfield! :pac:

thomond2006

Munster lose

Munster put up the link to the team selection on the home page but when you click it a 404 error is displayed. :rolleyes:

The caption says three changes up front and one in the backs. I'm guessing the rested internationals come back in with no other changes.

justsomebloke

thomond2006 wrote: »

Munster put up the link to the team selection on the home page but when you click it a 404 error is displayed. :rolleyes:

Happened with the Leinster team last week and the Leinster 'A' team this week so obviously they are having issues with the system

thomond2006

Munster lose

Yup no changes except for the rested players coming back in.

Duncan Williams on bench... :rolleyes:, what does Stringer have to do? If anything Stringer would be more useful in looking for tries near the end of the game.

So no punishment for that shambolic Edinburgh performance, bar Dougall getting dropped to the As.

Fishooks13

Was never expecting Keatley to be selected but still disappointing

Volvic12

Wouldn't agree that Sale have sent out the B team. They have included youth and fringe players but have also included Cipriani, Richie Gray, Cueto etc. There squad is just poor - simple as. You would expect Montpellier to win this one alright. Whether they can pick up the bonus point is another thing.

Sunday is simply huge for Munster. The Cardiff game has done little for the confidence of Munster fans going into this one. Yhey will need to pull out all the stops on Sunday before facing into a possible huge game next week against Racing.

Two ways of looking at Edinburgh.
1. Their form has been shocking. Their rugby has been poor. Look to have little confidence.
2. Last year Heineken Cup semi-finalists. Will look to exit the competition with a bang. Michael Bradley will have hopes of managing back in Ireland in future years. Defeating Munster will enhance his reputation.

CatFromHue

Volvic12 wrote: »

Michael Bradley will have hopes of managing back in Ireland in future years. Defeating Munster will enhance his reputation.

I think there's an element of Michael Bradley will have hopes of managing Edinburgh next season and a win here would help that.

There does seem to be some grumblings, well more than some, about someone else taking over them next season.

darragh_haven

Munster lose

I expect Munster to win, but the only bonus point being handed out will be to Edinburgh.

stunmer

Munster win without BP

Munster usually have a good game after a terrible one so here's hoping for a bonus point this weekend.

If the weather stays dry we have a great backline to score a lot of tries. Ideally we'd need Keatley on fairly early on in the game and the backs to click. Not better time like the present.

Nothing says "cop on lads" more then being backs to the wall and about to get thrown out of the HEC in group stages.

As I said........ here's hoping....

Lelantos

Biggest game of the season & I'm hoping for a big performance, happy enough with the pack & hoping that Murray & Rog can profit from this.

Spudmonkey

With ROG starting I can only assume we are going to kick to the corners and then not challenge the opposition line-out.

Fishooks13

Spudmonkey wrote: »

With ROG starting I can only assume we are going to kick to the corners and then not challenge the opposition line-out.

But it will be the "traditional" Munster game. Plenty of passion. What could go wrong!

some_dose

As someone said over on Planet Rugby, an interesting match (bar the scrums) would be this weekends Munster HEC XV versus this weekends Munster A. I reckon there would be a serious chance of an upset.

ed7890

Munster lose

some_dose wrote: »

As someone said over on Planet Rugby, an interesting match (bar the scrums) would be this weekends Munster HEC XV versus this weekends Munster A. I reckon there would be a serious chance of an upset.

That'd be great. I'd be interested in the scrums too, see how Cronin and Cotter get on

Quint2010

Munster lose

Thinking and hoping Munster win this handy enough-Edinburgh are a busted flush this season. If Munster can get ahead early they should get a winning BP and hopefully set up a winner takes all clash next week

Fishooks13

Our A team would be hammered up front, and out wide. Wouldn't be that interesting at all IMO

awec

Munster lose

I see most people are saying Munster win without BP. Would that not severely dent your HEC progression chances?

thomond2006

Munster lose

awec wrote: »

I see most people are saying Munster win without BP. Would that not severely dent your HEC progression chances?

Yes but the question was what we think would happen, not what we want to happen!

durkadurka

I've a feeling that Embra might have one performance in them.

Or they could collapse like the fairly shyte team that they generally are.

Hedging me bets here.....

Fireball07

Munster lose

Don't know how much I was expecting change, but that loss to Cardiff still really stings, I think I'll be having nightmares about that for years to come.


The inclusion of the likes of Zebo, POM and DOC should mean that we'll at least win this game (unlike last week's debacle) but I, like many others, am finding it difficult to see where a BP is coming from. It's not impossible, at times we have shown we are capable of it but it would take a 100% improvement from last week, and a lot more invention in the backs.

Assuming Varley over Sherry is due to Sherry's injury last week?

thomond2006

Munster lose

I would think so fireball re Varley.

Sean Henry is travelling over as cover so Sherry isn't 100% I don't think.

ed7890

Munster lose

Fireball07 wrote: »

Assuming Varley over Sherry is due to Sherry's injury last week?

Ya Henry traveled with the team as well, so there's some chance Sherry might not make the bench even.

thomond2006

Munster lose

Anyone here travelling to the game?

Otacon

Munster lose

For Munster to get the try bonus point, we need to:

- play less deep than we have been by 2-3 yards at least
- kick only when there is space to kick into, allowing Zebo and Earls to chase.
- and most importantly, take the ball to the gainline. We have a bad habit of slinging the ball out to our wingers without the opposition getting within yards of our players, meaning by the time the winger has it, instead of a 1-on-1, he has nowhere to go as there are 2-3 defenders on him.

Keatley needs to come on at 45-50 minutes and Williams needs to stay put.

My €0.02

razorblunt

The Chunk for a yellow! Waste of a pair of boots that guy!

Fishooks13

razorblunt wrote: »

The Chunk for a yellow! Waste of a pair of boots that guy!

Who's the chunk?

irishbucsfan

Fishooks13 wrote: »

Who's the chunk?

Is it Varley?

phog

Otacon wrote: »

For Munster to get the try bonus point, we need to:

score 4 tries :cool:

razorblunt

Fishooks13 wrote: »

Who's the chunk?

Jacobsen the prop.

razorblunt

thomond2006 wrote: »

Anyone here travelling to the game?

Live here so it will be a stroll down the road for me, nice, for a change!

jacothelad

CatFromHue wrote: »

I think there's an element of Michael Bradley will have hopes of managing Edinburgh next season and a win here would help that.

There does seem to be some grumblings, well more than some, about someone else taking over them next season.

His contract is up at the end of the season. Would you re-employ him?

durkadurka wrote: »

I've a feeling that Embra might ............................collapse like the fairly shyte team that they generally are.

.....

Fixed.

thomond2006 wrote: »

Anyone here travelling to the game?

You are as far as I know. Has no one told you yet? :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

CIARAN_BOYLE

Munster lose

jacothelad wrote: »

You are as far as I know. Has no one told you yet? :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

I think he is looking for a boardsie to act as his drinking buddy. I've heard things about Thomond at matches.

durkadurka

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

I think he is looking for a boardsie to act as his drinking buddy. I've heard things about Thomond at matches.

Does he get a bit amorous? Thinkin about John Hayes in his PJs and all that?

who_me

Munster win without BP

durkadurka wrote: »

I've a feeling that Embra might have one performance in them.

Or they could collapse like the fairly shyte team that they generally are.

Hedging me bets here.....

Considering Edinburgh haven't scored a try in 4 games, if we lose this one.... I really wouldn't want us to go through (not that we would anyhow!)

Fireball07

Munster lose

Yeah, I have this scary image of being absolutely tortured by Clermont...

PhatPiggins

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

I think he is looking for a boardsie to act as his drinking buddy. I've heard things about Thomond at matches.

I've met Thomond for a game. Think of a hyper active kid after drinking 10 cans of jolt cola. The lad has passion for rugby I'll give him that.

He offered to show me his 'Da Bull' thong but I drew the line there :eek:

Aidric

Munster lose

Backs to the wall type performance needed. After the embarrassment of last weekend I'm thinking a big performance will come by default. I am in no way confident of getting a bonus point.

You have to think that Edinburgh are going to pull at least one performance out of the group stages too. Nervously optimistic.

Higher

Munster win without BP

Aidric wrote: »

Backs to the wall type performance needed. After the embarrassment of last weekend I'm thinking a big performance will come by default. I am in no way confident of getting a bonus point.

You have to think that Edinburgh are going to pull at least one performance out of the group stages too. Nervously optimistic.

Have a little faith Aidric. If you're not confident that Munster can get a TBP against that Edinburgh team then you must not think highly of the Munster team at all. If Munster don't get a TBP I will be shocked.

Fireball07

Munster lose

Higher wrote: »

Have a little faith Aidric. If you're not confident that Munster can get a TBP against that Edinburgh team then you must not think highly of the Munster team at all. If Munster don't get a TBP I will be shocked.

I don't know if you saw the match last week...we won't get a bonus point if we play anything like that. We have potential, decent individual players but as a team we're lacking.

Fishooks13

I smell uncontested scrums soon

Fishooks13

Nick ****ing Williams!

Aidric

Munster lose

Higher wrote: »

Have a little faith Aidric. If you're not confident that Munster can get a TBP against that Edinburgh team then you must not think highly of the Munster team at all. If Munster don't get a TBP I will be shocked.

Just being pragmatic.

ed7890

Munster lose

Fishooks13 wrote: »

Nick ****ing Williams!

Wrong thread horse

Fireball07

Munster lose

Although Pienaar is showing how useful good and well-chased garryowens can be. ROG is well capable of putting up good garryowens.

Although it is slightly depressing that Glasgow look to have better back moves than us, although the conditions in their game aren't going to help nice handling.

Banbridgeman2

Munster win without BP

This is going to be a fun thread for the mods tomorrow afternoon...

awec

Munster lose

It's on Sunday. :P

bilston

thomond2006 wrote: »

I'm heading over to this and can't wait to experience the graveyard atmosphere of an empty Murrayfield! :pac:

I hear tickets are like gold dust for Edinburgh home games...I hope you've got yours already...:rolleyes:

phog

Higher wrote: »

Have a little faith Aidric. If you're not confident that Munster can get a TBP against that Edinburgh team then you must not think highly of the Munster team at all. If Munster don't get a TBP I will be shocked.

I expected Ulster playing in Ravenhill to hammer Glasgow and get the 4 try BP win, while they had a comfortable win they only got 3 tries and were under pressure for the win for a short period of the 2nd half. One of the beauties of rugby is that the underdog can win games.

I still expect Munster to win and hope they get the 4 tries.

Banbridgeman2

Munster win without BP

Yeah but Ulster were missing a good few players and playing against a better team, Other than POC this will be a full strength Munster team against an even poorer side than Glasgow.

Fireball07

Munster lose

Banbridgeman2 wrote: »

Yeah but Ulster were missing a good few players and playing against a better team, Other than POC this will be a full strength Munster team against an even poorer side than Glasgow.

Well...full-strength in theory.

But really, Stander would be starting and let's be honest, Keatley is better than ROG too. And there would be arguments made for Hurley over Jones too. Obviously our coach hasn't picked those players...but it's going to hinder our chances of getting a bonus.

And this game is away, while Ulster were at home. Bad conditions in Murrayfield will probably stop us from getting a BP anyway.

CoDy1

Munster lose

Banbridgeman2 wrote: »

This is going to be a fun thread for the mods tomorrow afternoon...

Regardless of when its on, why so BB2?

Took Munster at -9 btw on PP