Munster vs Connacht, Sat 23 March 5:45pm, Live on TG4

thomond2006

O'Connell is back in the starting XV for the first time since October and all credit to the Munster Medical and S&C staff for having him back weeks ahead of schedule.

Penney has made just three changes from the side that drew with Ospreys, all those up front and more specifically in the back five.

Not surprisingly O’Connell’s return forces Billy Holland to the bench and just as unsurprisingly Donncha O’Callaghan gets to partner him while in the backrow Sean Dougall returns to the starting line-up for the first time since the January 9th League encounter with Edinburgh.

The backline remains the same as does the front row while Niall Ronan is included in the match day squad for the first time since November.

Short just five front line players, Conor Murray, Donnacha Ryan, Peter O’Mahony and the injured pair of Keith Earls and Luke O’Dea, it’s a selection that gives due cognisance to the challenge faced on Saturday and the importance of the game.

There’s only one play off place within Munster’s reach and they vie for that fourth spot with Ospreys and Scarlets so all eyes will be on the Stadio XXV Aprile and Liberty Stadium tomorrow night when Scarlets play Zebre and Ospreys take on Dragons.

But while those games will give Munster a clearer understanding where they stand, before a ball is kicked this weekend, they know exactly what’s required from them in Musgrave Park on Saturday evening.

Munster:
F Jones; D Howlett, C Laulala, J Downey, D Hurley; R O’Gara, C Sheridan;
D Kilcoyne, D Varley, S Archer; Donncha O’Callaghan, P O’Connell; T O’Donnell, S Dougall, J Coughlan.

Replacements: M Sherry, W du Preez, BJ Botha, B Holland, N Ronan, D Williams, I Keatley, I Dineen.

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/11717.php

POC starting as promised yesterday!

Interesting selections at halfback, Sheridan is ahead of Duncan Williams at 9 but Ronan O'Gara stays ahead of Ian Keatley.

Hurley on the wing is a strange one, although Munster are short in that area due to injuries to Zebo, Earls and O'Dea. Funnily enough the Munster article above has forgotten Zebo exists ("short just five front line players"). The backline in generally doesn't really excite.

The absence of Stander really points to him being in the doghouse surely? Niall Ronan could do with the gametime (great to see him back btw) but Stander has played little rugby over the past while and if he was in the HEC frame he would surely have been involved in this match.

Archer is getting some consistent gametime now, he'll have a tough test against a decent Connacht scrum.

Connacht are chasing Munster in the table so it's imperative that Munster win this. They are more or less out of the playoff race bar some upsets involving Scarlets & Ospreys. Anything less than a BP win against Connacht isn't good enough and I can't see Munster scoring four tries.

CONNACHT:
15. Robbie Henshaw
14. Danie Poolman
13. Eoin Griffin
12. Dave McSharry
11. Gavin Duffy (captain)
10. Dan Parks
9. Kieran Marmion

1. Brett Wilkinson
2. Jason Harris-Wright
3. Nathan White
4. Mick Kearney
5. George Naoupu
6. Andrew Browne
7. Willie Faloon
8. John Muldoon

Replacements: Adrian Flavin, Denis Buckley, Ronan Loughney, Mike McCarthy, Eoin McKeon, Paul O’Donohoe, Miah Nikora, Fetu’u Vainikolo

Unavailable due to injury: Frank Murphy, Dave Nolan, Johnny O’Connor, Michael Swift, Kyle Tonetti

Hype710

Serious lack of pace in that backline.

irishbucsfan

It'll be interesting to see how Archer does after being with Ireland. Might have done him well.

thomond2006

Hype710 wrote: »

Serious lack of pace in that backline.

Three of our quickest players all injured.

Quint2010

Which 6 are Munster missing?

thomond2006

Quint2010 wrote: »

Which 6 are Munster missing?

D Ryan, POM, Murray, Earls, Zebo, LOD

.ak

Good backrow and seconds. Everything else isn't great, but as you'd expect.

Quint2010

thomond2006 wrote: »

D Ryan, POM, Murray, Earls, Zebo, LOD

So 5 then.:D

its_phil

If McCarthy and Swift are playing Connacht are in with a shout of knicking something. If they are both out I would expect an easy win for Munster. Any time both of them are missing our scrum has take a beating because Mick Kearney and Andrew Browne, who are outstanding talents, are a bit too light in comparison. We could chuck George in to the second row though.

Looking forward to this, especially with a strong Munster team out in comparison to previous years. A good litmus test for Connacht.

freyners

its_phil wrote: »

If McCarthy and Swift are playing Connacht are in with a shout of knicking something. If they are both out I would expect an easy win for Munster. Any time both of them are missing our scrum has take a beating because Mick Kearney and Andrew Browne, who are outstanding talents, are a bit too light in comparison. We could chuck George in to the second row though.

Looking forward to this, especially with a strong Munster team out in comparison to previous years. A good litmus test for Connacht.

Swifty is out afaik, Macca is in from what I read here I reckon its going to be Browne Macca 2nd row with kearney on the bench. Browne has the edge on form for me atm

Would like to see

Buckley/Wilkinson
JHW
White
Browne
Macca
Muldoon
Faloon
George/McKeon
Marmion
Parks
Fetu'u
McSharry
Griffin
Poolman
Henshaw

Cannot decide on 1 or 8, Wilko has really come to form again but I reckon Buckley could really make life hell for archer. Similar Mckeon has been immense this season and we all know how the journeyman (sorry thomond:P) can play

Also just like to give a slow hand clap to whoever decided to have this in cork:mad:

Quintis

Whats the story with CJ Stander, why is he not even in the squad?

thomond2006

Quintis wrote: »

Whats the story with CJ Stander, why is he not even in the squad?

He played for the A's last Tuesday so he's not injured. I don't know what the story is.

Quintis

thomond2006 wrote: »

He played for the A's last Tuesday so he's not injured. I don't know what the story is.

Ya, he played quite good too, it seems odd when he is such a good ball carrier

Wexfordboy89

could stander be on his way back to SA maybe.seems to have hardly played in the last two months even tho hes been fit????

Quintis

Wexfordboy89 wrote: »

could stander be on his way back to SA maybe.seems to have hardly played in the last two months even tho hes been fit????

Hopefully not, he had a great start to his time with Munster, a wasted talent sitting at home on the sofa

Wexfordboy89

Quintis wrote: »

Hopefully not, he had a great start to his time with Munster, a wasted talent sitting at home on the sofa

hope not either look like a talented play seems odd with injuries that hes hardly played

The Peoples Captain

Stander's gametime is just being managed afaik. He's had a long year, and the branch want to prevent burn-out.

Quintis

The Peoples Captain wrote: »

Stander's gametime is just being managed afaik. He's had a long year, and the branch want to prevent burn-out.

You would imagine they would still like him available and match for for the bigger games instead of playing 80 minutes in an A match, especially with Harlequins two weeks away

CIARAN_BOYLE

Wexfordboy89 wrote: »

could stander be on his way back to SA maybe.seems to have hardly played in the last two months even tho hes been fit????

He had a few weeks in SA on holidays during the six nations, visit his newborn niece, possibly help the girlfriend move to Ireland. He came back and was thrown into the A game.

Dunno why he isn't playing now.

Quintis

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

He had a few weeks in SA on holidays during the six nations, visit his newborn niece, possibly help the girlfriend move to Ireland. He came back and was thrown into the A game.

Dunno why he isn't playing now.

He did look like he was carrying a bit of weight in the A match but nothing too serious, maybe its a fitness issue if that is the case

freyners

could have a niggling injury and not want to risk it what will be a tough inter-pro match, could be time management as his season has been ridiculously long as well. Certainly has impressed me in his cameos so i doubt its because they dont rate him

Wexfordboy89

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

He had a few weeks in SA on holidays during the six nations, visit his newborn niece, possibly help the girlfriend move to Ireland. He came back and was thrown into the A game.

Dunno why he isn't playing now.

think hes due to get married in the summer too just seems odd with not a lot of players to pick from in the 6/7/8 spots that he isnt even on the bench

totallegend

The theories around Stander are bizarre. The coach just doesn't rate him!

thomond2006

totallegend wrote: »

The theories around Stander are bizarre. The coach just doesn't rate him!

this

I don't buy the "prevent burnout" theory. They are hardly going to pay him to sit on his ass.

Tox56

The Peoples Captain wrote: »

Stander's gametime is just being managed afaik. He's had a long year, and the branch want to prevent burn-out.

Play him in a meaningless A game that will be of little benefit but completely exclude him from important interpro?? If I was managing his gametime (or paying his wages) I wouldn't be resting him for the big games and giving him 80 mins in totally meaningless ones.

Zzippy

Good to see Alain Rolland reffing this. Less chance of a ridiculous penalty try given to reward Archer boring in...

sweetthing

Strander just hasn't had enough gametime, mostly due to injury, to prove himself good enough to start an important Munster match yet. Remember he was warming the bench for the Bulls most of last season. Why do we think he should be an automatic starter here?

Foxtrol

sweetthing wrote: »

Strander just hasn't had enough gametime, mostly due to injury, to prove himself good enough to start an important Munster match yet. Remember he was warming the bench for the Bulls most of last season. Why do we think he should be an automatic starter here?

Because he was unfortunate enough to receive a ridiculous amount of hype. He probably has the title of the most hyped "project player" prior to their arrival. Many fans had seen a few youtube clips of him ball carrying and saw him as some sort of messiah, starter and instant ligind.

He could turn out to be a fantastic player but just as easily crumble under the weight of needless expectation.

The Peoples Captain

sweetthing wrote: »

Strander just hasn't had enough gametime, mostly due to injury, to prove himself good enough to start an important Munster match yet. Remember he was warming the bench for the Bulls most of last season. Why do we think he should be an automatic starter here?

He was starting for the Bulls until he announced his move to Munster and was promptly dropped. We don't know if he is an automatic starter, but come the HEC we'll be seeing him in the 23.

Podge_irl

I really, really, really don't understand Penney. He tries to bring in an expansive gameplan and then picks the absolute worst flyhalf to do it and then barely gives a promising and talented backrow a chance in Stander. Unless Penney just doesn't rate Stander (and I genuinely haven't seen enough of him to form my own opinion) in which case it was potentially just a screw up in bringing him over in the first place.

Anyway, all signs point to ROG starting the QF and thus ending Munster's chances of winning that game.

eyeball kid

Connacht team has been named....
Connacht XV

15. Robbie Henshaw
14. Danie Poolman
13. Eoin Griffin
12. Dave McSharry
11. Gavin Duffy (captain)
10. Dan Parks
9. Kieran Marmion

1. Brett Wilkinson
2. Jason Harris-Wright
3. Nathan White
4. Mick Kearney
5. George Naoupu
6. Andrew Browne
7. Willie Faloon
8. John Muldoon

Replacements: Adrian Flavin, Denis Buckley, Ronan Loughney, Mike McCarthy, Eoin McKeon, Paul O’Donohoe, Miah Nikora, Fetu’u Vainikolo

Unavailable due to injury: Frank Murphy, Dave Nolan, Johnny O’Connor, Michael Swift, Kyle Tonetti



McCarthy on the bench. Good to see McSharry back. Could be a tight game though Munster never seem to have too many problems beating us.

shuffol

eyeball kid wrote: »

Connacht team has been named....
Connacht XV

15. Robbie Henshaw
14. Danie Poolman
13. Eoin Griffin
12. Dave McSharry
11. Gavin Duffy (captain)
10. Dan Parks
9. Kieran Marmion

1. Brett Wilkinson
2. Jason Harris-Wright
3. Nathan White
4. Mick Kearney
5. George Naoupu
6. Andrew Browne
7. Willie Faloon
8. John Muldoon

Replacements: Adrian Flavin, Denis Buckley, Ronan Loughney, Mike McCarthy, Eoin McKeon, Paul O’Donohoe, Miah Nikora, Fetu’u Vainikolo

Unavailable due to injury: Frank Murphy, Dave Nolan, Johnny O’Connor, Michael Swift, Kyle Tonetti



McCarthy on the bench. Good to see McSharry back. Could be a tight game though Munster never seem to have too many problems beating us.

Never liked Muldoon at 8, I'd move him to 6, bring in Browne and Mckeown, put Kearney on the bench. That teams good enough to beat Munster though, particularly given their recent record in Musgrave.

Robbo

4 Options in the lineout then and a bit more heft behind the front row with George in there. It's the first time in ages I've seen a strong Connacht bench.

wp_rathead

I suppose Duffy was always gonna get nod over fetu'u for this game- could imagine o'gara would have targeted few kicks vainkolos way (plus who can forget his brainfart in this fixture last year- but option to bring on)
Surprised kearney gets nod over browne for 2nd row, half expected george and browne there with muldoon, mckeon and faloon making up backrow

Still, not bad team, and healthy looking bench- great have mcsharry back!

totallegend

The Peoples Captain wrote: »

He was starting for the Bulls until he announced his move to Munster and was promptly dropped. We don't know if he is an automatic starter, but come the HEC we'll be seeing him in the 23.

Ouch.

http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/news/20553.php

Cosmo Kramer

That's as good a Connacht team as I have seen in some time, not too many weaknesses there. However, being honest, even a full strength Connacht 15/23 might struggle against Munster in Cork, regardless of how poorly they have been going recently. Maybe it's time to buck a trend - this would be as good a time as any to do it, could make the end of the pro 12 season very interesting.

thomond2006

That's a strong Connacht side. I'd take any kind of win tbh.

molloyjh

thomond2006 wrote: »

That's a strong Connacht side. I'd take any kind of win tbh.

POC being back is absolutely huge. It will be very interesting to see the impact he has on his return. It's a very good pack Munster are putting out, but I'd be seriously worried about that back line. If Penney is still insisting on his wide game plan (I've given up calling it expansive) then Connacht are in with a very decent shot. If he's seen sense and has modified it somewhat I reckon Munster will edge it.

irishbucsfan

I dunno what you'd really describe Penney/Mannix's game plan as.

The typewriter, inevitably moving from side to side but never in any other direction?

The crab? Although that would infer there would be some sort of pincer like incision....

molloyjh

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I dunno what you'd really describe Penney/Mannix's game plan as.

The typewriter, inevitably moving from side to side but never in any other direction?

The crab? Although that would infer there would be some sort of pincer like incision....

Newtons cradle maybe?

Robbo

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I dunno what you'd really describe Penney/Mannix's game plan as.

The typewriter, inevitably moving from side to side but never in any other direction?

The crab? Although that would infer there would be some sort of pincer like incision....

"Ride Me Sideways" was another one.

Gambas

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

That's as good a Connacht team as I have seen in some time, not too many weaknesses there. However, being honest, even a full strength Connacht 15/23 might struggle against Munster in Cork, regardless of how poorly they have been going recently. Maybe it's time to buck a trend - this would be as good a time as any to do it, could make the end of the pro 12 season very interesting.

Front row is fine, Faloon too. The rest of the pack is a pick'n'mix. Hopefully they've been working as this unit for the past couple of weeks.

.ak

totallegend wrote: »

Ouch.

http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/news/20553.php

Wait, what.. Is he not in the H-Cup squad already?

Glass Prison 1214

.ak wrote: »

Wait, what.. Is he not in the H-Cup squad already?

Nope, he was replaced by James Coughlan when he got injured.

molloyjh

Glass Prison 1214 wrote: »

Nope, he was replaced by James Coughlan when he got injured.

Wow. I'd assumed he was there already.

.ak

Must be carrying a niggle? I thought he was quite decent the couple of times he played earlier in the season.

totallegend

Glass Prison 1214 wrote: »

Nope, he was replaced by James Coughlan when he got injured.

Nit-picking a bit here but Stander was never in the HEC squad IIRC, because when you register your initial squad, all players therein have to be eligible to play and since Stander was still registered in SA at the outset, he couldn't be registered for the HEC.

They then had a choice between Coughlan and Stander as to who they'd register during the pool stages; picked Coughlan.

(I think the problem was that they anticipated Coughlan to be out injured for the entire pool stages so didn't register him at the start).

But it boils down to this; if Stander was good enough to be forcing his way into the 23, he'd have been added today ahead of Dineen.

CIARAN_BOYLE

totallegend wrote: »

Nit-picking a bit here but Stander was never in the HEC squad IIRC, because when you register your initial squad, all players therein have to be available to play and since Stander was still in SA at the outset, he couldn't be registered.

Registered with the club, can't be register when registered to another club in a different union

ed7890

totallegend wrote: »

But it boils down to this; if Stander was good enough to be forcing his way into the 23, he'd have been added today ahead of Dineen.

I assume if Earls hadn't gotten injured, Dineen wouldn't have needed to be added. I guess it's just an unfortunate needs-must situation.

d-gal

Connacht +13 bet of the season

thomond2006

d-gal wrote: »

Connacht +13 bet of the season

Wouldn't bet against Munster by principle (only did it the once! :P) but a 13 point spread is being generous to Munster. Connacht's away record to Munster isn't good but Munster won't score many tries with that mostly blunt backline.