Scarlets vs Munster, Sat 16 Feb 6:30pm; Live on RTÉ/S4C

thomond2006

Scarlets:
15 Gareth Owen, 14 Liam Williams, 13 Gareth Maule, 12 Adam Warren, 11 Andy Fenby, 10 Owen Williams, 9 Aled Davies,
1 Phil John, 2 Emyr Phillips 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 4 George Earle, 5 Johan Synman, 6 Rob McCusker (capt), 7 Josh Turnbull, 8 Kieran Murphy.

Replacements: 16 Kirby Myhill, 17 Rhodri Jones, 18 Samson Lee, 19 Jake Ball, 20 Johnathan Edwards, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Aled Thomas 23 Nick Reynolds.

Munster:
I Keatley; D Hurley, I Dineen, JJ Hanrahan, J Murphy; R O’Gara, D Williams;
W du Preez, M Sherry, BJ Botha; D O’Callaghan, I Nagle; CJ Stander, T O’Donnell, P Butler.

Replacements: S Henry, J Ryan, S Archer, B Holland, S Dougall, C Sheridan, D Barnes, C Laulala.

This is a very important game in the context of the league, Munster need some return from the trip to Parc y Scarlets or the playoffs could be a struggle to reach.

Marcus Horan goes from starter to not being in the squad for this game. No Coughlan in the 23 (cover for Ireland?) but the backrow looks strong in any case.

Once again Ian Nagle starts, I wonder if they are giving him a chance to earn a contract. With five locks on next season's books (POC, DOC, Ryan, Holland, Foley), I think Nagle would be better off leaving for more gametime but we'll see how that develops.

The Hanrahan-Dineen partnership gets another run, they didn't get much chance last weekend in attack because of the weather.

ROG would want to have a stormer to justify his almost certain Irish start next weekend. Then again he'll need Williams to play well alongside him. That mightn't be fun to watch...

Then again, CJ Saviour is playing. So all will be well.

thomond2006

Varley out, replaced by Sean Henry on the bench.

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/11577.php

Otacon

Am I right in saying Sherry is the captain?

thomond2006

Otacon wrote: »

Am I right in saying Sherry is the captain?

Yup

durkadurka

With ospreys losing, and scarlets away to Leinster next, it's a good opportunity for munster to establish in the top 4.

thomond2006

I would rather Barnes on the wing than Hurley, then again ROG will hardly play the full 80 so I'd like Barnes to get some gametime.

As long as doesn't do this again:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP-3EvUH8BI

budhabob

Looking forward to seeing the centre partnership again. Also backrow looks pretty exciting aswell. A little disappointed to see ROG drop back into the team, but I suppose thats as expected.

CatFromHue

I've never really seen Barnes as a winger myself, now I'm going to the times I saw him play there last season as I haven't seen him play at all this season, to me he looks like a centre filling in on the wing.

While Hurley may not be a top end player on the wing he can and does offer alot to Munster I think.

[Jackass]

Nice of Kidney to release O'Gara considering he's sure to start the next Irish game and Keatley is fit...

phog

CatFromHue wrote: »

I've never really seen Barnes as a winger myself, now I'm going to the times I saw him play there last season as I haven't seen him play at all this season, to me he looks like a centre filling in on the wing.

While Hurley may not be a top end player on the wing he can and does offer alot to Munster I think.

His best game at wing was the night he replaced Earls in the Aviva, he got a fe H/cup games as a result but never drove on from it, having a few handling errors in one game in particular but I still think he has something to offer if he can get a few games on the trot. I hope Penney sees his potential.

CatFromHue

[Jackass] wrote: »

Nice of Kidney to release O'Gara considering he's sure to start the next Irish game and Keatley is fit...

Keatley was never going to leap frog a fit ROG into the Ireland starting No.10 jersey.

phog wrote: »

His best game at wing was the night he replaced Earls in the Aviva, he got a fe H/cup games as a result but never drove on from it, having a few handling errors in one game in particular but I still think he has something to offer if he can get a few games on the trot. I hope Penney sees his potential.

I do like Barnes and agree that he has potential. He's 23 now though and has fallen down the pecking order so maybe should be thinking of leaving.

thomond2006

Barnes was injured at the start of the season IIRC.

[Jackass]

CatFromHue wrote: »

Keatley was never going to leap frog a fit ROG into the Ireland starting No.10 jersey.

Ah I know that, I just mean with all of the international players being retained in camp and not available to the provinces, it's nice of uncle Deccie to release a player who played almost a full match last time out and is a dead cert starter next time out - like releasing O'Driscoll or Kearney or Heaslip etc. especailly as Munsters #2 in the position is fit and well...

Quint2010

[Jackass] wrote: »

Ah I know that, I just mean with all of the international players being retained in camp and not available to the provinces, it's nice of uncle Deccie to release a player who played almost a full match last time out and is a dead cert starter next time out - like releasing O'Driscoll or Kearney or Heaslip etc. especailly as Munsters #2 in the position is fit and well...

The Kidney mindset is that the ONLY reason ROG is playing so poorly is because of lack of game time hence he needs games and so starts tonight.

Lelantos

CatFromHue wrote: »

Keatley was never going to leap frog a fit ROG into the Ireland starting No.10 jersey.



I do like Barnes and agree that he has potential. He's 23 now though and has fallen down the pecking order so maybe should be thinking of leaving.

He's had injuries, got back for the last B&I game & was withdrawn again just beforehand. He's a good 13 & will prob stay on, he deserves a chance.

CatFromHue

[Jackass] wrote: »

Ah I know that, I just mean with all of the international players being retained in camp and not available to the provinces, it's nice of uncle Deccie to release a player who played almost a full match last time out and is a dead cert starter next time out - like releasing O'Driscoll or Kearney or Heaslip etc. especailly as Munsters #2 in the position is fit and well...

ROG hasn't really had that much game time and he really does need some!

Edinburgh nearly a month ago was the last time he started a game.

opinionatedfan

ROG shouldnt be playing for Munster let alone for Ireland, he should retire and answer his true calling punditry

phog

[Quote=[Jackass];83246909]

Ah I know that, I just mean with all of the international players being retained in camp and not available to the provinces, it's nice of uncle Deccie to release a player who played almost a full match last time out and is a dead cert starter next time out - like releasing O'Driscoll or Kearney or Heaslip etc. especailly as Munsters #2 in the position is fit and well...[/Quote]

Rubbish, ROG had 50mins Iast week and zero the previous week and barring an injury will start next week, he needs the game time. Most reasonably minded people can see why ROG is getting game time, earlier in the week Penney even mentioned that a starting place would be available for ROG if requested by Device.

thomond2006

ROG needs the time if he's gonna start for Ireland (sigh). His last start was Edinburgh away a month ago.

Grimebox

Sick of this argument about fans/stadium not being what it used to be

phog

G'wan Munster

[Jackass]

Jesus christ, what are they talking about...did they just do a 20 minute piece on stereotypical D4 fans there? :rolleyes:

grey_so_what

Grimebox wrote: »

Sick of this argument about fans/stadium not being what it used to be

I agree with AQ, people spend their time drinking pints, watching tv's when the game is on in front of their eyes.............

I just don't get it. Why bother. Go to the pub and watch it there....oh wait....then you can't go to the pub afterwards and waffle manure how x,y and z played...........'COS you were THERE!!....:mad:

thomond2006

Grimebox wrote: »

Sick of this argument about fans/stadium not being what it used to be

Only been to three games there so my experience is limited enough, but I agree with them more than disagree.

opinionatedfan

good stuff by nagle

thomond2006

Well played Nagle!

Pudsy33

Strange choice, ROG was never getting the length there

mohawk

Shocking news ROG's kicking doesn't have the legs anymore:eek:

bleg

Miles short.


Oh and look another Munster attack ends up in touch.. Like 60 percent of attacks this year!

opinionatedfan

awful stuff by rog so far

thomond2006

poor

[Jackass]

He'll have to come up with something special when explaining starting O'Gara after this already...

totallegend

Oh Ronan.

bleg

ROG, what are you doing?

Williams is pretty snappy so far.

opinionatedfan

its amazing how the commentators just ignore rog's poor play

Hagz

Good kick there from ROG.

Jesus, Hanrahan's put on some amount of timber!

Definitely looks a lot more physical.

bleg

2 forward passes there. What the hell ref? Good move all the same.

[Jackass]

bleg wrote: »

2 forward passes there. What the hell ref? Good move all the same.

every second pass from Scarlets looks forward to me, might be something to do with the TV angle, because I've noticed the ref in line and very close to them all...

Grimebox

thomond2006 wrote: »

Only been to three games there so my experience is limited enough, but I agree with them more than disagree.

I'm sure they're all spot on. I'm relatively new to rugby and actually can't remember a single game from the old stadium so I just don't care about all this. And apparently I'm to blame /rant

Hagz

Clever little kick from ROG.

opinionatedfan

all over the place

Big Nelly

opinionatedfan wrote: »

its amazing how the commentators just ignore rog's poor play

God I cant stand them, between the "brilliant kick" which hit and post and then the "judged to perfection" on a poor kick out I think they are blind.....

If they dont understand rugby why the hell are they been paid to commentate on it....joke of a sports station

(p.S. Not a pop at ROG just at how poor RTE is...they are just blind)

Grimebox

What was Dineen up to

budhabob

Keatley taking out refs is getting a bit blatant. Needs to be more subtle. Barnes and now today.

mohawk

Referee getting taken out is highlight so far.

Poor choice by Dineen not to pass.

[Jackass]

Ref has been kind to Munster thus far, especially at the breakdown. A few let offs for them.

Rightwing

Slot the penalty rog

[Jackass]

lol, the ref being so bias towards Munster here that the commentators are even questioning the legitimacey of an Irish ref for an Irish team...

Crowd incensed by the ref so far...

irishbucsfan

Scarlets defense and breakdown work is very subpar.

awec

Munster can do no wrong :pac: