Pro12: Munster vs Zebre, Sat 15th February 6:45pm; RTE2

thomond2006

Munster:

Felix Jones; Gerhard van den Heever, Johne Murphy, Ian Keatley, Simon Zebo; JJ Hanrahan, Cathal Sheridan;
James Cronin, Duncan Casey, BJ Botha; Donnacha Ryan, Billy Holland (Capt); Dave O'Callaghan, Tommy O'Donnell, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Ger Slattery, Dave Kilcoyne, John Ryan, Donncha O'Callaghan, Sean Dougall, Duncan Williams, Denis Hurley, Andrew Conway.

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/rugby/12933.php

Zebre:

15 Guglielmo PALAZZANI
14 David ODIETE*
13 Kameli RATUVOU
12 Roberto QUARTAROLI*
11 Dion BERRYMAN
10 Ruggero TREVISAN*
9 Brendon LEONARD
8 Samuela VUNISA
7 Andries VAN SCHALKWYK (cap)
6 Filippo CRISTIANO
5 George BIAGI
4 Michael VAN VUREN
3 Dario CHISTOLINI
2 Tommaso D’APICE*
1 Andrea DE MARCHI

Replacements:
16 Lorenzo GIOVANCHELLI
17 Luciano LEIBSON
18 David RYAN
19 Emiliano CAFFINI*
20 Nicola CATTINA
21 Alberto CHILLON*
22 Giulio BISEGNI
23 Giovanbattista VENDITTI*

A very interesting team!

- JJ and Keatley at 10 and 12
- Johne Murphy at 13
- Donnacha Ryan returns from injury
- Foley and Coughlan not in the 23 - rested?
- Downey not in the 23 for the second successive week

I'm not sure about the weather but it should be another BP win. DOC 100m intercept to seal it.

former legend

Wow, love the look of that team. If it clicks, I could see them tearing Zebre asunder.

Is Dineen injured? I won't shed any tears for the omission of Downey, I think he's done.

Having Keatley at 12 should ensure a constant supply of ball to the outside backs; if Darragh Fanning can make 50-metre breaks against Zebre, I'm excited to see what Zebo and GVDH can do...

thomond2006

Three or more

Dineen should be back next week I think.

It's a great backline alright and a very mobile backrow. It definitely looks like a team selected to move the Zebre pack around and score tries.

Riskymove

That's a great looking team

former legend

Not too many household names, similar line-up to that which played Leinster last week. Homecoming of sorts for Dave Ryan.

15 Guglielmo PALAZZANI
14 David ODIETE*
13 Kameli RATUVOU
12 Roberto QUARTAROLI*
11 Dion BERRYMAN
10 Ruggero TREVISAN*
9 Brendon LEONARD
8 Samuela VUNISA
7 Andries VAN SCHALKWYK (cap)
6 Filippo CRISTIANO
5 George BIAGI
4 Michael VAN VUREN
3 Dario CHISTOLINI
2 Tommaso D’APICE*
1 Andrea DE MARCHI
Replacements:
16 Lorenzo GIOVANCHELLI
17 Luciano LEIBSON
18 David RYAN
19 Emiliano CAFFINI*
20 Nicola CATTINA
21 Alberto CHILLON*
22 Giulio BISEGNI
23 Giovanbattista VENDITTI*

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience

I think Penney has been looking at moving Keatley to 12 for a while now. Reckon if they go well it's an option for Toulouse

CatFromHue

Home to Zebre is the best game for experimentation anyway but I can't see anyway the Lualala doesn't start against Toulouse.

thomond2006

Three or more

CatFromHue wrote: »

Home to Zebre is the best game for experimentation anyway but I can't see anyway the Lualala doesn't start against Toulouse.

I think it would be Downey to miss out, not Laulala.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience wrote: »

I think Penney has been looking at moving Keatley to 12 for a while now. Reckon if they go well it's an option for Toulouse

Best option with available resources. Only problem is that if its a regular thing your two senior OHs both play every game.

kub

One

Excellent team, I am so looking forward to the game now, have my stand tickets, but I was thinking it was going to be cold. Doubt it now with the sparks that will ignite with a Munster line up like that.

phog

Strong team the only real weakness is outside centre though Murphy is having one of his best seasons for Munster.

Great to so Donnacha Ryan back probably a week too late for this 6Ns hope buy hopefully not.

Hope the weather improves as I'm thinking of heading down to it and driving at the moment is horrible.

Fireball07

That's a proper team. Hopefully I'll have power back to watch it.

CatFromHue

Weather mightn't be too bad, from Met Eireann for Munster region:

A cold and breezy day with sunny spells and scattered rain or hail showers, but winds will ease later and it will become mainly dry.
Highest temperatures 6 to 8 degrees in strong and gusty northwest winds, decreasing moderate towards evening.

Riskymove

seems that the weather has lead to Nigel Owens flight being cancelled so he won't be the ref

Now Dudley Phillips!

phog

Riskymove wrote: »

seems that the weather has lead to Nigel Owens flight being cancelled so he won't be the ref

Now Dudley Phillips!

I saw on twitter that Nigel wasn't travelling and was thinking an Irish ref would get the game but really hoped it wouldn't be Phillips or McDowell generally both are poor.

thomond2006

Three or more

It doesn't matter who the ref is, we'll still get a BP if we turn up. I can't see DOC's day out being anything less.

Volvic12

Three or more

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience wrote: »

I think Penney has been looking at moving Keatley to 12 for a while now. Reckon if they go well it's an option for Toulouse

Not having a go whatsover but just wanted peoples opinion. Just what you said struck a cord with me re the whole Penney, Mannix & Foley thing.
Why is it that any positive decisions regarding the backline, the credit always goes to Penney. Same thing when decison was made to put Keatley ten against Gloucester. After the game, everyone remarked it was a ballsy move by Penney.
However, when ever the backline looks poor etc. it's Mannix that gets the blame?
This differs to the forwards. When the forward unit plays well, Foley always gets the credit for this
Anyone any opinions on this.

Also, last week against albeit an extremely poor poor Cardiff team was some of the best back play I've ever seen Munster put together.

Riskymove

thomond2006 wrote: »

It doesn't matter who the ref is, we'll still get a BP if we turn up. I can't see DOC's day out being anything less.

well I agree but I could still do without a frustrating reffing performance

usersame

One

I'd like to see Dave ryan impress for zebra, always liked him

phog

thomond2006 wrote: »

It doesn't matter who the ref is, we'll still get a BP if we turn up. I can't see DOC's day out being anything less.

I just think he destroys the game.

kub

One

phog wrote: »

I just think he destroys the game.

Who the ref or this fella ?

Donncha O'Callaghan is poised to make a record-breaking appearance off the bench as he looks to make his 241st appearance and become the most-capped Munster player of all time.

phog

kub wrote: »

Who the ref or this fella ?

Donncha O'Callaghan is poised to make a record-breaking appearance off the bench as he looks to make his 241st appearance and become the most-capped Munster player of all time.

Dudley and a few more too.

uncle-mofo

Anybody know if you'll be able to pay on the gate at Musgrave tomorrow?

thomond2006

Three or more

uncle-mofo wrote: »

Anybody know if you'll be able to pay on the gate at Musgrave tomorrow?

Almost certainly! It won't be a sell out.

CatFromHue

Volvic12 wrote: »

Not having a go whatsover but just wanted peoples opinion. Just what you said struck a cord with me re the whole Penney, Mannix & Foley thing.
Why is it that any positive decisions regarding the backline, the credit always goes to Penney. Same thing when decison was made to put Keatley ten against Gloucester. After the game, everyone remarked it was a ballsy move by Penney.
However, when ever the backline looks poor etc. it's Mannix that gets the blame?
This differs to the forwards. When the forward unit plays well, Foley always gets the credit for this
Anyone any opinions on this.

Also, last week against albeit an extremely poor poor Cardiff team was some of the best back play I've ever seen Munster put together.

I'm not sure I've ever seen Mannix interviewed, it's nearly always Penney or Foley. This probably feeds into the "Mannix does nothing" idea.

You're right it could well be Mannix saying he thinks Keatley should go to 12 but as it's Penney saying it to the media people think it's his idea.

The truth is no one except Mannix, Penney, and Keatley know.

Foley is the forwards coach so I suppose when they play well he gets some of the credit.

usersame

One

Definitely pay on the gate, usually 20 quid

budhabob

Two

Really looking forward to this game. It will be interesting to see what the backline and backrow in particular can do.

Anatidaephobia

Three or more

There doesn't seem to be much excitement for this, but I'm excited to see this backline. We should have the bonus point wrapped up in no time.

Buer

Well that was unexpected

budhabob

Two

Try for zebre. Decent work by them but poor defence by us.

durkadurka

That wasn't in the script

thomond2006

Three or more

Well that was very poor defence.

Buer

thomond2006 wrote: »

Well that was very poor defence.

Shocking from Stander.

Cool_CM

Hmmm...

Anatidaephobia

Three or more

Try for Zebre. Awful defending from Sheridan, Stander and someone else.

thomond2006

Three or more

Well done Hugh, you jinxed the kick!

blackdog1

Buer wrote: »

Shocking from Stander.

Why are you singling out stander?? Ryan and sheridsn misses were far worse

Mahatma Geansai

Hanrahan has been very assured lately.

chippers

super kick jj

budhabob

Two

Laptop came close to being wiped out.

thomond2006

Three or more

Ah chance wasted

Mahatma Geansai

Poor execution from Murphy, but he wasn't given many other options.

Anatidaephobia

Three or more

DoC2 is out.

Cool_CM

That's no place to leave an expensive computer!

Probably bot the way he'd like to see it happen but congrats DOC!

Mahatma Geansai

Looks horrible for DOC2.0. He hasn't had much opportunities this year.

thomond2006

Three or more

Another injury to DOC II, doesn't look good.

Here comes DOC I, shame about the circumstances. Holland to the backrow then.

sydthebeat

Knee ligaments? Looks to be in severe pain,

accidentprone1

Munster backline looking promising there - plenty of runners looking for the ball.

thomond2006

Three or more

Casey's lineout throwing is really good.

Mahatma Geansai

thomond2006 wrote: »

Casey's lineout throwing is really good.

Has he missed any since his debut?

sydthebeat

Johnye murph hasn't had the best of starts.