Munster vs Scarlets Sat 21st Dec 7:15pm; Live on TG4/S4C (aka Welsh Fanzone!)

thomond2006

Munster:
15 Denis Hurley, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Ivan Dineen, 11 Andrew Conway, 10 JJ Hanrahan,
9 Cathal Sheridan, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Tommy O'Donnell, 6 Dave O'Callaghan, 5 Ian Nagle, 4 Billy Holland (c), 3 BJ Botha, 2 Duncan Casey, 1 Dave Kilcoyne

Replacements: 16 Damien Varley, 17 Alan Cotter, 18 John Ryan, 19 Donncha O'Callaghan, 20 Barry O'Mahony, 21 Duncan Williams, 22 Johnny Holland, 23 Ronan O'Mahony

Scarlets:
15 Gareth Owen, 14 Liam Williams, 13 Gareth Maule, 12 Adam Warren, 11 Kristian Phillips, 10 Aled Thomas, 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Rob McCusker (c), 7 John Barclay, 6 Josh Turnbull, 5 Richard Kelly, 4 Jake Ball, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Ken Ownes, 1 Rob Evans

Replacements: 16 Emyr Phillips, 17 Shaun Hopkins, 18 Rhodri Jones, 19 Johan Snyman, 20 Dan Thomas, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 Mike Poole

A very interesting selection from Penney, unlike Leinster at Edinburgh Munster's key internationals are absent. Along with the likes of James Cronin and Felix Jones rested, hopefully this will mean Munster can name a strong side for the Ravenhill trip instead of sending the seconds to be hockeyed.

Dineen at 12 needs to seize this opportunity, Downey hasn't shown any significant form this season. It's a much needed start for Duncan Casey who is now second choice hooker with Sherry gone for the season. Andrew Conway returns from yet another injury niggle, he has lost a lot of ground because of the inconsistent gametime and with Zebo returning soon and Van den Heever also back Conway could do with a big performance.

Howard Juneau

If Conway can stay fit, he and Van den Heeeeever could make for a devastating attack duo

accidentprone1

I'm really excited to see this team in action - Penney's mixed the old and the new well.

Conway and VdH on the wings looks tasty, and Stander at 8 is interesting also. I'd be delighted to see him but in a big performance that demands future selection - I like the impetus I feel he adds to the team's ball carrying.

Front row looks solid too - Casey's flanked by two strong scrummagers and from what I saw last, he seems very solid at scrum time anyway.

phog

Rugby wise I wouldn't be expecting too much from this, the field is fairly capable of dealing with rain but we've got huge amount if rain in the last few days, it may not be a mud fest but I doubt we'll see much running rugby. I think the forwards will decide who wins this game.

Hoping for a Munster win.

SD Sportsman

Hurley aside who is solid, that back line looks exciting

Mahatma Geansai

Really excited to see that backrow in action. Conway and VdH aren't a bad set of wingers to have as your 4th/5th choice either.

thomond2006

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

Really excited to see that backrow in action. Conway and VdH aren't a bad set of wingers to have as your 4th/5th choice either.

Probably more for the team talk thread but I remember someone saying on MFs if one of the back three players would be trialled at centre. Munster have a lot of talent in the back three but not much at centre.

accidentprone1

SD Sportsman wrote: »

Hurley aside who is solid, that back line looks exciting

I feel his offloading could be a real asset given the pace of our wingers. Hoping to see him get his hands free and set Conway and VdH into space.

Mahatma Geansai

thomond2006 wrote: »

Probably more for the team talk thread but I remember someone saying on MFs if one of the back three players would be trialled at centre. Munster have a lot of talent in the back three but not much at centre.

Probably VdH, as it was mentioned that he could play centre when he signed. Earls will also feature in the centre.

phog

Heading down now, hope the rain stays away.

Gwan Munster

Grimebox

Is S4C in English?

Anatidaephobia

Grimebox wrote: »

Is S4C in English?

Yes, it's on red button.

thomond2006

Anatidaephobia wrote: »

Yes, it's on red button.

If you liked Sky Sports Fanzone then you'll feel right at home!

Henry Ford III

Weather will probably ruin this game. Pity.

Fireball07

Missing our internationals, but that team looks stronger in general than the side Leinster sent to Edinburgh.

Only 3 first-choice players, but lots of players who are well in contention for a starting place.

thomond2006

Varley has been ruled out because of illness, so Niall Scannell comes onto the bench.

Fireball07

thomond2006 wrote: »

Varley has been ruled out because of illness, so Niall Scannell comes onto the bench.

Well, better they get the experience now than have it happen in a HC match or against Leinster or Ulster or someone.

thomond2006

Fireball07 wrote: »

Well, better they get the experience now than have it happen in a HC match or against Leinster or Ulster or someone.

Bingo. Varley is going to have a big workload for the rest of the season anyway so no harm that he gets a week off.

19543261

I foretell this to be a boring game.

Howard Juneau

19543261 wrote: »

I foretell this to be a boring game.

I disagree,

SomeFool

great work from Dineen!

Anatidaephobia

Yawn.

ScrubsfanChris

Fallen victim to "white line fever" twice already......

Glass Prison 1214

I've been quite impressed by Casey, lineouts have been solid and he has seemed lively around the park.

sydthebeat

bit harsh there nige

LeinsterDub

Surely the ball is either in the ruck in which case it couldn't be played or it is out and playable. I've never heard of coming out of the ruck before. Makes no sense

SomeFool

hope Botha is not too badly injured

ScrubsfanChris

SomeFool wrote: »

hope Botha is not too badly injured

Looked like he was holding his shin, hopefully its not the knee.

SomeFool

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

Looked like he was holding his shin, hopefully its not the knee.

he walked off unaided anyway which is hopefully a good sign.

ScissorPaperRock

This is a bit shít

SomeFool

good to see the last scrum holding with Scannell and Ryan in the front row, not a classic game thouhh!

thomond2006

Didn't see the first half but noticed that Scannell was on. Did Casey go off injured?

durkadurka

thomond2006 wrote: »

Didn't see the first half but noticed that Scannell was on. Did Casey go off injured?

Blood

19543261

Howard Juneau wrote: »

I disagree,

Oh, yeah? ...

Howard Juneau

19543261 wrote: »

Oh, yeah? ...

It ain't over till the fat mare sings :P

thomond2006

Very poor garryowen from JJ. And from that they're in.

Glass Prison 1214

Shocking defending by Munster.

Anatidaephobia

Wtf was that?

Micky Dolenz

Sloppy stuff.

Anatidaephobia

Awful from JJ

thomond2006

Jesus that was awful defense.

thomond2006

Good response! Textbook offload from SBH.

SomeFool

thomond2006 wrote: »

Good response! Textbook offload from SBH.

Needs a run at 12

Mahatma Geansai

Pinged for not rolling away when you're out cold. That's a harsh one anyway.

Anatidaephobia

DoC2 appears unconscious.

Micky Dolenz

Looks nasty

Howard Juneau

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

Pinged for not rolling away when you're out cold. That's a harsh one anyway.

He said the other guy, (TOD)? had come thru anyway before him

Hagz

Love the way they just assume they're brothers.

Mahatma Geansai

Howard Juneau wrote: »

He said the other guy, (TOD)? had come thru anyway before him

Whistle would have never been blown for just TOD though.

ScrubsfanChris

I might rip the tv off the wall if we kick the ball away aimlessly again :mad:
Always too far and no chasers.....

Leinstertomas

What's the score?