Munster vs Perpignan, Sun 8 Dec 12:45pm; Sky Sports

thomond2006

Munster:
15 Felix Jones, 14 Keith Earls, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 James Downey, 11 Johne Murphy, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Conor Murray,
8 James Coughlan, 7 Sean Dougall, 6 Peter O'Mahony (c), 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Damien Varley, 1 Dave Kilcoyne

Replacements: 16 Duncan Casey, 17 James Cronin, 18 BJ Botha, 19 Billy Holland, 20 CJ Stander, 21 Cathal Sheridan, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Denis Hurley

Perpignan:
15 James Hook (c), 14 Joffrey Michel, 13 Tommaso Benvenuti, 12 Watisoni Votu, 11 Sofiane Guitoune, 10 Camille Lopez,
9 Tom Ecochard, 8 Justin Purll, 7 Al Strokosch, 6 Jean-Pierre Perez, 5 Guillaume Vilaceca, 4 Luke Charteris, 3 Paulica Ion, 2 Romain Terrain, 1 Sébastien Taofifenua

Replacements: 16 Maxime Delonca, 17 Kisi Pulu, 18 Jean Baptiste Custoja, 19 Sébastien Vahaamahina, 20 Dewaldt Duvenage, 21 Tommy Allan, 22 Richard Haughton, 23 Dan Leo

Date: Sunday 8th December
Venue: Thomond Park
Kick-off: 1245 (local and GMT)
Referee: Greg Garner (England)
Assistant referees: Tim Wigglesworth, Stuart Terheege (both England)
TMO: Sean Davey

Had a decent part of a preview written but I somehow deleted the tab.

Anyway, in short, don't let Guitoune get near the ball and don't give Hook too many shots at goal! Perpignan are missing a few players from 1-9 including Taumalolo, Guirado, Romain Taofifenua, Narraway with Duvenage on the bench but 10-15 is still very strong even in the absence of Mafi, Marty and Mkejevu.

I reckon Munster should be alright for a close win, but the question is can the partnership of Downey and Laulala that has never really clicked consistently set the platform for our back three to put their defence under pressure. Munster's defence has been good this year and the discipline needs to match it, Hook will keep the scoreboard ticking over for Perpignan and they have plenty gamebreakers to cause us problems.

durkadurka

Are you familiar with tables down in Munster. It's very difficult to read your team sheets ...

irishbucsfan

durkadurka wrote: »

Are you familiar with tables down in Munster. It's very difficult to read your team sheets ...

Were gonna have to loan molloyjh to Munster for a while to teach them.

19543261

Tables may be a bit above their ability level. Let's not overwhelm them.

19543261

Excellent table example.


Saturday, December 7th
13:35 - 15:35 frASM Clermont Auvergne vs. Llanelli Scarletswa Live
rugby Rugby: Heineken Cup
Saturday, December 7th
13:35 - 15:35 enExeter Chiefs vs. RC Toulonfr Live
rugby Rugby: Heineken Cup
Saturday, December 7th
13:35 - 15:35 itZebre vs. Saracensen Live
rugby Rugby: Heineken Cup
Saturday, December 7th
15:40 - 17:40 frRacing Metro vs. Harlequinsen Live
rugby Rugby: Heineken Cup
Saturday, December 7th
18:00 - 20:00 enNorthampton Saints vs. Leinsterie Live
rugby Rugby: Heineken Cup
Saturday, December 7th
18:00 - 20:00 ixUlster Rugby vs. Benetton Trevisoit Live
rugby Rugby: European Challenge Cup!
Saturday, December 7th
20:00 - 22:00 frGrenoble vs. London Wasps

accidentprone1

19543261 wrote: »

Excellent table example.


Saturday, December 7th
13:35 - 15:35 frASM Clermont Auvergne vs. Llanelli Scarletswa Live
rugby Rugby: Heineken Cup
Saturday, December 7th
13:35 - 15:35 enExeter Chiefs vs. RC Toulonfr Live
rugby Rugby: Heineken Cup
Saturday, December 7th
13:35 - 15:35 itZebre vs. Saracensen Live
rugby Rugby: Heineken Cup
Saturday, December 7th
15:40 - 17:40 frRacing Metro vs. Harlequinsen Live
rugby Rugby: Heineken Cup
Saturday, December 7th
18:00 - 20:00 enNorthampton Saints vs. Leinsterie Live
rugby Rugby: Heineken Cup
Saturday, December 7th
18:00 - 20:00 ixUlster Rugby vs. Benetton Trevisoit Live
rugby Rugby: European Challenge Cup!
Saturday, December 7th
20:00 - 22:00 frGrenoble vs. London Wasps

0.o

I don't even... What? All I can see is "rugby Rugby".

darragh_haven

durkadurka wrote: »

Are you familiar with tables down in Munster. It's very difficult to read your team sheets ...

Below is one of your posts, look at the highlighted.

Leinster v Castres, Sat 20 Oct 3.40 on Sky
LEINSTER:

15: Rob Kearney
14: Fergus McFadden
13: Brendan Macken
12: Gordon D'Arcy
11: Dave Kearney
10: Jimmy Gopperth
9: Isaac Boss

1: Cian Healy
2: Sean Cronin
3: Martin Moore
4: Devin Toner
5: Mike McCarthy
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Sean O'Brien
8: Jamie Heaslip CAPTAIN

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Aaron Dundon
17: Jack McGrath
18: Michael Bent
19: Quinn Roux
20: Rhys Ruddock
21: Eoin Reddan
22: Ian Madigan
23: Luke Fitzgerald
CASTRES OLYMPIQUE:
15: Brice Dulin
14: Romain Martial
13: Romain Cabannes
12: Remi Lamerat
11: Max Evans
10: Remi Tales CAPTAIN
9: Rory Kockott
1: Mihaita Lazar
2: Brice Mach
3: Anton Peikrishvili
4: Richie Gray
5: Rodrigo Capo Ortega
6: Jannie Bornman
7: Pedrie Wannenburg
8: Antonie Claassen
REPLACEMENTS:
16: Marc-Antoine Rallier
17: Karena Wihongi
18: Saimone Taumoepeau
19: Christophe Samson
20: Ibrahim Diarra
21: Julien Tomas
22: Geoffrey Palis
23: Daniel Kirkpatrick
REFEREE: Greg Garner (RFU), ASSISTANT REFEREES: Martin Fox (RFU), Robin Goodliffe (RFU), 4th OFFICIAL: Eanna O'Dowd (IRFU), 5th OFFICIAL: Gary Glennon (IRFU), TMO: Graham Hughes (RFU)



I don't know how to do tables.
but I know that's a full strength Castres team.
And with Castres beating Northampton last week, winning the French title a few months ago and Leinster missing Cullen, God, Strauss et al, I'd take any win.

If anyone has a serious write up then please update this Mods.
I don't do sexy write ups, but I do get fcuked off when no match thread appears.

darragh_haven

19543261 wrote: »

Excellent table example.


Saturday, December 7th
13:35 - 15:35 frASM Clermont Auvergne vs. Llanelli Scarletswa Live
rugby Rugby: Heineken Cup
Saturday, December 7th
13:35 - 15:35 enExeter Chiefs vs. RC Toulonfr Live
rugby Rugby: Heineken Cup
Saturday, December 7th
13:35 - 15:35 itZebre vs. Saracensen Live
rugby Rugby: Heineken Cup
Saturday, December 7th
15:40 - 17:40 frRacing Metro vs. Harlequinsen Live
rugby Rugby: Heineken Cup
Saturday, December 7th
18:00 - 20:00 enNorthampton Saints vs. Leinsterie Live
rugby Rugby: Heineken Cup
Saturday, December 7th
18:00 - 20:00 ixUlster Rugby vs. Benetton Trevisoit Live
rugby Rugby: European Challenge Cup!
Saturday, December 7th
20:00 - 22:00 frGrenoble vs. London Wasps

Has to be the worst example i have ever seen... anyway, this is a game thread

awec

Must win for Munster really. Think you'll do grand.

darragh_haven

awec wrote: »

Must win for Munster really. Think you'll do grand.

I thought that for the Edinb game

molloyjh

darragh_haven wrote: »

I thought that for the Edinb game

Yeah I know where you're coming from there, but I still think Munster should be well able for this one. HEC rugby at home in Thomond alone is a factor. Perpignan are a long way from the quality of Toulon or Clermont so should be beatable. I'd agree with comments above though that the centre pairing for Munster doesn't inspire huge confidence, but if players like Jones can get on LLLs shoulder even a couple of times during the game it should be enough to open Perpignan up.

Munster by 10+ for me

former legend

Perpignan

Don't mind this ****e about tables, stick in a prediction poll.

19543261

double post. nothing to see here.

19543261

darragh_haven wrote: »

Has to be the worst example i have ever seen... anyway, this is a game thread

........:eek:

Fireball07

Perpignan

Vahaamahina not starting, is he not a regular, no? I don't know much about them really, but their front row still looks pretty strong..... Would worry about our scrum tbh.

Looks like our pack is where we can win this though, play a nice, error-free game. Go through the phases...and if we get on the front foot, then we can use the likes of Laulala, Jones and Earls and hopefully open them up a bit.


Think it'll be tight enough though. And I hate these early kick-offs....suppose I'll leave home at around 11. Wonder will there be many Perpignan fans over...

[Jackass]

Perpignan

Can't see anything but a Munster walk over here.

Perpingan are a distinctly average team at the best of times, not least when they're away from home in Europe, missing half their first team and have a relegation battle to consider back in the Top14.

They might give Munster a game in the second leg of the tie, but I doubt it. T'was a handy ould draw for ye lot yet again!

uggybear

Perpignan

not a bad line-up for Munster, a walk in the park but still should be a competitive game from both sides. Wouldn't want to repeat an average non-convincing performance like the Gloucester game. Should've won that game by a mile!

Fireball07

Perpignan

Big markers laid down by both Ulster and Leinster today.


Are we going to follow suit? I would love us to show some sort of meaningful performance for once...we've failed to make it all click yet this season, at least in big games.


So, the first half against Cardiff delivered against Perpignan would be great to see.

finatron

[Jackass] wrote: »

relegation battle to consider back in the Top14.

In 9th place from 14 not really relegation battle is it

errlloyd

finatron wrote: »

In 9th place from 14 not really relegation battle is it

Actually with the top14 as balanced as it is this season they should have an eye on la barrage.

former legend

Perpignan

Perp have a very good backline but a weak enough pack, unusual for them.

If Munster can keep it tight and starve Lopez of ball, this should be handy enough.

I'd say Munster by 10-15 points, a try BP is not out of the question if they can get an early score or two.

Quint2010

Fancy Munster to win today and continue the form of the Irish teams this weekend. Not sure they will get a BP but they should win by a score.

Fireball07

Perpignan

Leaving now... Hon Munster!! Hoping for a convincing performance more than anything... Earls to score a try,

jamiedav2011

Perpignan

Really looking forward to this, mainly because literally anything could happen.

marvsins

Perpignan

Just to give people an idea, the bookies have the handicap at -12 for Munster.

thomond2006

Taxi for the Munster tannoy guy. Is it so difficult to learn how to pronounce names?

Mahatma Geansai

Sheehan commentating...

Anatidaephobia

I had no idea James Hook is only 28. It seems like he's been around much longer than that.

Anatidaephobia

BEAUTIFUL.

DDC1990

Boom!

molloyjh

Great stuff from Murray there. Awful, awful defense from Perpignan.

jamiedav2011

Perpignan

Lovely offload from Murray.

Hook was feckin abysmal there!

jamiedav2011

Perpignan

Is there a massive wind behind Munster or something?

Alpha Dog 1

Great start, hopefully we can build on it.

molloyjh

jamiedav2011 wrote: »

Is there a massive wind behind Munster or something?

Yeah looks like it.

jamiedav2011

Perpignan

Great stuff from Earls. Where in the jaysus has Johnny Murphy's form come from? Havign some season.

Anatidaephobia

molloyjh wrote: »

Yeah looks like it.

The length of Johne Murphy's kick there!

molloyjh

Jesus Perpignans line speed is pensioner type stuff giving Munster so much room. Munster have to get the TBP win here.

former legend

Perpignan

This is going to be a paddlin'

ScissorPaperRock

Franky Sheehan: "Casey Lawala".

Anatidaephobia

Is Hurley one of Frankie's clients?

freyners

Keatley and Murphy playing well so far. Great rob by earls.

Lived in Perpignan for a couple of summers, have their jersey actually and have been to a couple of their games. Not safe to mention that in UL this year though:D

Kanrith

Really positive signs from Munster so far.

Anatidaephobia

Keatley penalty 10-0.

Swiwi.

Nice opening stanza from Munster. Conor Murray must be just about the best SH in the NH, bullet pass today so far and good decision making. Great to see Earls back from injury.

molloyjh

Great step from Earls but desperate final ball.....

Anatidaephobia

ARGH.

ScrubsfanChris

Perpignan

Shocking pass by Earls after a great step...

Anatidaephobia

I can see this being similar to the Brive game a few years back.

molloyjh

Murray looks in trouble there. Get up lad, get up.....

grohlisagod

How did they butcher that?