Pro12: Munster vs Edinburgh, Sat 7 Sep 7:15pm; TG4/BBCALBA

thomond2006

Munster:
15 Denis Hurley, 14 Ronan O'Mahony, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Ivan Dineen, 11 Johne Murphy, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Duncan Williams,
8 James Coughlan (capt), 7 Sean Dougall, 6 Dave O'Callaghan, 5 Donncha O'Callaghan, 4 Dave Foley, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Mike Sherry, 1 James Cronin.

Replacements: 16 Damien Varley, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 John Ryan, 19 Billy Holland, 20 Tommy O'Donnell, 21 Cathal Sheridan, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Cian Bohane.

Edinburgh:
15 Greig Tonks, 14 Dougie Fife, 13 Nick De Luca, 12 Ben Atiga, 11 Lee Jones, 10 Piers Francis, 9 Sean Kennedy,
8 David Denton, 7 Roddy Grant, 6 Sean Cox (capt), 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Grant Gilchrist, 3 WP Nel, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Alasdair Dickinson.

Replacements: 16 Aleki Lutui, 17 Geoff Cross, 18 Lewis Niven, 19 Ollie Atkins, 20 Hamish Watson, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 Harry Leonard, 23 Jack Cuthbert.

Unavailable through injury: Tom Brown (ankle), Steven Lawrie (back), Robin Hislop (leg), Gregor Hunter (knee), Greig Laidlaw (knee), Chris Leck (shoulder), Robert McApline (knee), Stuart McInally (knee), Ross Rennie (shoulder), Matt Scott (ankle), Tim Visser (foot), Nikki Walker (shoulder).

Finally...

Ronan O'Mahony is the major winner of the pre-season, he gets a start after getting a hat-trick last week against London Irish. Stephen Archer starts what should be a run of games at tighthead and is definitely one to watch as Munster look to develop a viable homegrown tight-head prop.

Duncan Williams starts at nine, with the Irish Rugby community in full agreement that Will Genia will be considered a club player compared to him by the end of the season. IRB Player of the Year 2014. Guaranteed.

The Munster bench will hopefully play a key part, as players like Kilcoyne, O'Donnell and Hanrahan can make an impact.

Edinburgh are missing some key names in Laidlaw, Scott and Visser. They had a horrid season last year but have a new coach for this season in Alan Salomons, who coached Southern Kings in this year's Super 15.

Munster should win and four tries shouldn't be out of the question.

kub

Does anyone know where or if BBC ALBA is on SKY? Or does this mean its in Scottish?

PS Is the inclusion of Duncan Williams a misprint FFS he nearly gave Hurley an injury the way he passed the ball at him last weekend.

Fireball07

Edinburgh have a decent enough pack, or an experienced one anyway. Their backline looks less than inspiring, and they don't even have Visser.


Our backline isn't inspiring either, Williams at 9 really is just one of those downheartening things. We do have Keatley & Laulala, as well as ROM who is obviously on form. With our bench, I expect us to win handily enough. Maybe a TBP.

durkadurka

While I agree with the general buzz on here that Williams is brutal , I wonder why coaches who know infinitely more than I, continue to pick him?

ormond lad

Great to see James Cronin starting. Hope he goes well and we don't need to see Killer too early.
Bench should provide plenty of impact with Killer, TOD and JJ and should help us to get a good win

kub wrote: »

Does anyone know where or if BBC ALBA is on SKY? Or does this mean its in Scottish?

PS Is the inclusion of Duncan Williams a misprint FFS he nearly gave Hurley an injury the way he passed the ball at him last weekend.

BBC Alba is in
other channels. Try frequency: 10.803, polarisation: H, Symbol Rate: 22 and FEC: 5/6

phog

kub wrote: »

Does anyone know where or if BBC ALBA is on SKY? Or does this mean its in Scottish?

PS Is the inclusion of Duncan Williams a misprint FFS he nearly gave Hurley an injury the way he passed the ball at him last weekend.

AFAIK, Alba is a but like TG4 so no English and can't recall an English commentary via a red button.

thomond2006

durkadurka wrote: »

While I agree with the general buzz on here that Williams is brutal , I wonder why coaches who know infinitely more than I, continue to pick him?

I have no idea. I was at the Gloucester pre-season match and Sheridan was better during his time on the field. Same story by all accounts last week against London Irish.

Williams' main problem IMO is his sluggishness when getting the ball away (he has other deficiencies too!). When TOL's form was poor he had the same problem but at least TOL offered a physical edge and was always a beast in defence. Williams would want to seriously up his game or he'll be gone next summer.

athtrasna

thomond2006 wrote: »

Williams would want to seriously up his game or he'll get gone next summer.

Really can't see any justification in keeping him on based on last season and games so far this year. More interested in finding out what he had on McGahan to get a two year contract in the first place

With the talk of proposed changes to the Heineken cup, particularly if the Aviva lot get their way, far fewer Rabo teams will qualify so a good result is important. We play Edinburgh three more times this season, arguably this is the least important but that's precisely why it's the most important, cards need to be marked before our trip over there in Edinburgh. Hope Stander heals well and fast!

Digifriendly

phog wrote: »

AFAIK, Alba is a but like TG4 so no English and can't recall an English commentary via a red button.

Correct although pre/halftime/post match analysis is in English.

phog

Rain promised for Cork tomorrow, hope it's not as bad as the rain during the Scarlets game last season.

decisions

I also found last year that the picture on alba was better than tg4.

kub

athtrasna wrote: »

With the talk of proposed changes to the Heineken cup, particularly if the Aviva lot get their way, far fewer Rabo teams will qualify so a good result is important. We play Edinburgh three more times this season, arguably this is the least important but that's precisely why it's the most important, cards need to be marked before our trip over there in Edinburgh. Hope Stander heals well and fast!

I missed all those political moves, whats the story?

phog

A blog on the game.

Musgrave Park a test too soon for Solomons

SK101

Hey wondering if there are tickets available on the gate at Musgrave Park tomorrow night?

phog

kub wrote: »

I missed all those political moves, whats the story?

Possibly referring to stories like this

phog

SK101 wrote: »

Hey wondering if there are tickets available on the gate at Musgrave Park tomorrow night?

Almost certainly as Cork, Clare & Waterford are in the All Irelands on Sunday.

I might have one spare ticket if you want to PM me early tomorrow.

former legend

athtrasna wrote: »

With the talk of proposed changes to the Heineken cup, particularly if the Aviva lot get their way, far fewer Rabo teams will qualify so a good result is important. We play Edinburgh three more times this season, arguably this is the least important but that's precisely why it's the most important, cards need to be marked before our trip over there in Edinburgh. Hope Stander heals well and fast!

Let's get a discussion going on the CJ Stander issue... (joke)

I think Munster should definitely be looking for a try BP here. That is a poor Edinburgh side (aren't all Edinburgh sides?); they look to have the edge in the front row but after that, Munster should be superior pretty much everywhere and should pull away fairly handy in the second half.

SK101

phog wrote: »

Almost certainly as Cork, Clare & Waterford are in the All Irelands on Sunday.

I might have one spare ticket if you want to PM me early tomorrow.

I will be heading up with one of my brothers so will need two tickets I'm afraid and was hoping for the 20euro standing ones.

Not sure I would be able to get to a ticket master outlet to collect if I bought them online and don't want to travel up from west cork to find out I can't buy them on the gate.

Is there a number I can call to find out if they are selling them on the gate?

SK101

Just had another look on the Munster website in case I missed anything and saw that they are on sale on match day at musgrave park.

Thanks for the help!

who_me

SK101 wrote: »

Hey wondering if there are tickets available on the gate at Musgrave Park tomorrow night?

Still tickets available online, so it's unlikely to be a sellout.

Fireball07

Well Leinster setting the early pace.... can't see us getting 4 tries and winning by 23 points tbh, even if we should. I didn't see their game, but it sounds like they weren't quite sure how they won by so much themselves. Still, that's the hallmark of a good team.


If Williams is even solid tomorrow and gets the ball out to Keatley reasonably quickly, I think our backs could cause damage. It is really time for Keatley to step up now and I think he can.


ROM will score a try too, as will TOD from the bench.

[Jackass]

Does Dineen hold much promise?

I reckon Munster might have been better served testing Keatley / JJ at 10/12 combo.

Can see Munster getting a handy BP win. Whatever about Williams et al, Edinburgh are an absolutely dire outfit altogether.

phog

[Jackass] wrote: »

Does Dineen hold much promise?

I reckon Munster might have been better served testing Keatley / JJ at 10/12 combo.

Can see Munster getting a handy BP win. Whatever about Williams et al, Edinburgh are an absolutely dire outfit altogether.

Need to be careful here, don't want to be seen as hyping a player but I think Dineen has done what was asked of him, it will be interesting to see how he gets on if he's picked for bigger games. He needs to bulk up a though. I'm not sure the Keatley/Hanrahan partnership is off the cards, we're one game into the season and Penney has tried Bohane at 12 too so he has a few combos in his mind. He did say at a Q&A one night that he did see JJ as a 12 too but he may want JJ just to concentrate on outhalf position now. Time will tell.

razorblunt

SK101 wrote: »

I will be heading up with one of my brothers so will need two tickets I'm afraid and was hoping for the 20euro standing ones.

Not sure I would be able to get to a ticket master outlet to collect if I bought them online and don't want to travel up from west cork to find out I can't buy them on the gate.

Is there a number I can call to find out if they are selling them on the gate?

The dolphin side has a ticketmaster van outside it.

backgreen

Dineen is 96kg

phog

backgreen wrote: »

Dineen is 96kg

To me, he still looks likes he needs to bulk up but I haven't seen him this season yet. I missed the first friendly and he was injured for the second game.

Newtown90

Sickened I can't make musgrave tonight! Bought my tickets for the Leinster game there to console myself!..

Really can't understand the Williams decision... Disappointed CJ and Conway are out aswell... After the last two weekends I really think R.O'Mahony has the potential to be electric on the wing! Really hope he plays well tonight! And hopefully JJ gets 20 mins and shows his strength and vision again!

Safe journey to anyone travelling to the game tonight!

Anatidaephobia

Very excited for this game this evening. Some of our performances in the Pro12 last year were simply atrocious, and we need to start this one well. I'm hoping for a pretty comprehensive victory; maybe even a bonus point.

athtrasna

Wrap up warm! Forecast says 4 degrees and showery :eek:

Fireball07

Very very wet here in Limerick, if it's like this in Cork, could see it being a lowscoring game.

marian Carolan

Fireball07 wrote: »

Very very wet here in Limerick, if it's like this in Cork, could see it being a lowscoring game.

you are probably right but I am so looking forward to it took:-)

Mahatma Geansai

Fireball07 wrote: »

Very very wet here in Limerick, if it's like this in Cork, could see it being a lowscoring game.

Getting the excuses out while you can; good idea . Williams + Musgrave + Wet = Nightmare.

Newtown90

Dried up in cork the past hour supposedly!... But very cold for early September!!..

Hopefully it will stay dry as we have enough handling errors without a wet ball!!

Fireball07

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

Getting the excuses out while you can; good idea . Williams + Musgrave + Wet = Nightmare.

I know, I'm actually getting worried about this now.


That combination of things could see us in a bit of trouble. We should win, because Edinburgh are poor, but I can definitely see it being very unconvincing. We were awful in almost every game in Musgrave last year...

dtpc191991

Is Earls injured or is he still being rested with the other internationals?

Fireball07

dtpc191991 wrote: »

Is Earls injured or is he still being rested with the other internationals?

Just back from injury, we might see him next week, depending on fitness.

.ak

How long is Conway out?

phog

Dry here at the ground. Field looks in great condition, some rain earlier. Cool with a slight cross field wind.

Looking forward to our new season.

G'wan Munster

thomond2006

Weather holding up in Cork

phog

Marcus Horan doing match analysis?

b_mac

Any way of getting english commentary on bbc alba with sky?

athtrasna

b_mac wrote: »

Any way of getting english commentary on bbc alba with sky?

AFAIK it isn't an option. Half time coverage in English though.

thomond2006

Much thanks to athtransa for tickets for this. I have worn my Duncan Williams pyjamas, as per athtransa's request.

athtrasna

Come on Cathal Sheridan....as early as possible

Doesn't Marcus Horan scrub up well? Barely recognise him in the suit!

Tox56

phog wrote: »

Marcus Horan doing match analysis?

Yes and he's surprisingly good

athtrasna

thomond2006 wrote: »

Much thanks to athtransa for tickets for this. I have worn my Duncan Williams pyjamas, as per athtransa's request.

I'm telling the Bull, he won't be impressed :P

thomond2006

athtrasna wrote: »

I'm telling the Bull, he won't be impressed :P

I only wear my special John Hayes Ligind pyjamas at Thomond!

Buer

athtrasna wrote: »

Come on Cathal Sheridan....as early as possible

Doesn't Marcus Horan scrub up well? Barely recognise him in the suit!

He was never the biggest prop but I always find it impressive when a player retires how much training they were clearly doing as it looks like someone stuck a pin in them. There are guys like Fla and Emmet Byrne who are fitness fanatics but still look way smaller than they were. Horan looks to have lost a lot from around his neck.

Howard Juneau

You're all watching Horan? Personally I'm happier to check out Marie Thereas' form

Mahatma Geansai

Buer wrote: »

He was never the biggest prop but I always find it impressive when a player retires how much training they were clearly doing as it looks like someone stuck a pin in them. There are guys like Fla and Emmet Byrne who are fitness fanatics but still look way smaller than they were. Horan looks to have lost a lot from around his neck.

Its really noticeable with frontrows how much neck muscle they put on to cope in the scrum. Flannery is still massive, but his neck is considerably smaller.

Tox56

Musgrave Park applause sounds like a golf crowd..