Cardiff vs Munster, Sat 23 Nov 6:30pm; RTE2/S4C

thomond2006

Cardiff Blues:
15 Tom Williams, 14 Richard Smith, 13 Gavin Evans, 12 Dafydd Hewitt, 11 Chris Czekaj, 10 Simon Humberstone, 9 Lewis Jones,
8 Robin Copeland, 7 Josh Navidi, 6 Andries Pretorius, 5 James Down, 4 Macauley Cook, 3 Taufa'ao Filise, 2 Kristian Dacey, 1 Sam Hobbs (c).

Replacements: 16 Rhys Williams, 17 Thomas Davies, 18 Benoit Bourrust, 19 Thomas Young, 20 Rory Watts-Jones, 21 Luke Hamilton, 22 Tomos Williams, 23 Gareth Davies.

Munster:
15 Felix Jones, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Ivan Dineen, 11 Johne Murphy, 10 JJ Hanrahan, 9 Cathal Sheridan,
8 CJ Stander, 7 Sean Dougall, 6 Dave O'Callaghan, 5 Billy Holland, 4 Dave Foley, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Damien Varley, 1 James Cronin.

Replacements: 16 Mike Sherry, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Donncha O'Callaghan, 20 James Coughlan, 21 Duncan Williams, 22 Johnny Holland, 23 Denis Hurley.

Munster can go five/six points clear after Glasgow lost tonight against Dragons. Except for Felix Jones the international squaddies are on the bench. JJ starts at 10 in the absence of Ian Keatley.

Like Munster, Cardiff are missing their star names so it's not the worst period to be travelling to the Arms Park.

A win would be very good but some nice running rugby/tries is imperative, watching Munster this season sometimes feels like a chore!

phog

thomond2006 wrote: »

, watching Munster this season sometimes feels like a chore!

:eek:

A win for Munster would be super and it should be achievable but that backrow of Cardiff could cause us problems.

I was a huge fan of Czekaj but since his serious injury a few years back he doesn't seem to be the same player

From a Munster POV, I would love to see Jones show his former potential and see Conway having a stormer that will leave Penney with a difficult decision come the H/cup games.

Fireball07

Don't know a huge amount about that Cardiff team, but the back row is strong and a few decent backs.


We should have enough to win if we turn up and perform, but if we deliver one of those shocking performances (Treviso/Edinburgh), we'll definitely lose. Some nice rugby would be nice, would like Sheridan/JJ/Laulala to link up.


You'd have to think we have the stronger bench, with Killer, Sherry, Archer, DOC and Coughlan to come in...

errlloyd

That is a very fast Munster backline on what should theoretically be the fastest pitch in the league. I'd be excited. The only problem is that casual fans would probably have been much more likely to go to a cheap Tonga match in the Millenium than a Cardiff game in the Arms Park, so it'll probably be dead.

phog

Preview from the Indo

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/penney-out-to-keep-the-ball-rolling-29777767.html

thomond2006

phog wrote: »

:eek:

They've been poor to watch, Mannix hasn't done much with the backline. Perpignan's 9-15 will be quality and I don't think we can rely on just our (generally good) defence to win.

Mahatma Geansai

Don't think that should have been a penalty. Looked like Varley released on first viewing.

Mahatma Geansai

Smart by Sheridan there.

thomond2006

Well done Sheridan, nice grubber.

thomond2006

Dang, knock on.

phog

Is this our first time playing a competitive game on an artificial pitch?

thomond2006

Penalty count too high.

phog

Try from Jones but made by Laulala

Howard Juneau

Felix knew which shoulder to be on there, well read!

demac

Great try !

Hagz

The head movement.

thomond2006

That's more like it Casey. More of that please.

phog

Conway wasn't looking happy with himself there, is he injured?

Howard Juneau

Hagz wrote: »

The head movement.

Our nodding dog

Hagz

Does Conway ever play a game without getting hurt these days…..:(

Mahatma Geansai

Conway didn't look happy in the replay there. You could see him say "fúck sake". I wonder if he injured himself?

eyeball kid

Nice try from Jones. All the nodding must generate extra speed or something.

Howard Juneau

eyeball kid wrote: »

Nice try from Jones. All the nodding must generate extra speed or something.

It's kinetic energy, gives him an extra burst of speed! over 10m

chupacabra

The commentator on setanta cant seem to stop talking about how Conway is from Leinster.

phog

That was poor

thomond2006

Cardiff defence is vulnerable, nice kick from JJ.

thomond2006

Accidental offside...****e.

We're all over them at the moment.

phog

That was criminal, no one watching the ball

Mahatma Geansai

Brilliant break from Stander.

Howard Juneau

Great move by Stander though, lovely hand off too

phog

We should have at least one more try from the last 6 or 7 mins

thomond2006

So frustrating, we could be out of sight here.

Howard Juneau

phog wrote: »

We should have at least one more try from the last 6 or 7 mins

It's been a messy first 20 mins, we're finding our rhythm now though

phog

Great maul

awec

Cardiff are all over the shop here.

phog

thomond2006 wrote: »

So frustrating, we could be out of sight here.

Commentator said it's our first game in 3 weeks but Cardiff has had 3 LV Cup games.

thomond2006

Varley, nice one.

eyeball kid

Checking for obstruction. Thought it was ok at the time.

Try given. It's the least they deserve.

phog

Try awarded, thought some of the maul could be seen as truck and trailer so maybe a tad lucky

thomond2006

Try given, deserved. Great work by the pack who are on top in all facets.

phog

Conway still on, medics must be happy with him thought Ralph Keyes has said he took very little part in the warm up

thomond2006

"LET'S GET BEHIND THE BLUES"

awec

Another try, Cronin. Cardiff are crap!

Howard Juneau

Quick thinking by JJ there, easy try after that

phog

Try no 3, scored by Cronin, looked like John Hayes running for the try line

thomond2006

Well this is great. Can put up a serious score here.

Howard Juneau

phog wrote: »

Try no 3, scored by Cronin, looked like John Hayes running for the try line

Like a gazelle on the Serengeti?

eyeball kid

Very nearly intercepted by Cardiff but nice pressure from Munster. JJ's kicking very well.

thomond2006

The subs coming on in the second half will make an impact, can't ask for more in this first half.

phog

thomond2006 wrote: »

The subs coming on in the second half will make an impact, can't ask for more in this first half.

If we're out of sight early Penney should use Holland as outhalf, he needs to get some gametime

thomond2006

"LET'S GET BEHIND THE BLUES"