Munster vs Nigel Wray's Saracens, Fri 24 Oct 7:45pm; BT Sport

thomond2006

Munster:

Felix Jones, Andrew Conway, Andrew Smith, Denis Hurley, Simon Zebo; Ian Keatley, Conor Murray;
James Cronin, Duncan Casey, BJ Botha; Dave Foley, Paul O'Connell; Peter O'Mahony - capt, Tommy O'Donnell, CJ Stander

Replacements: Eusebio Guinazu, Dave Kilcoyne, Stephen Archer, Billy Holland, Robin Copeland, Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan, Gerhard van den Heever

Saracens:
15. Alex Goode, 14. Chris Ashton, 13. Marlcelo Bosch, 12. Brad Barritt ©, 11. David Strettle; 10. Owen Farrell, 9. Neil de Kock;
1. Richard Barrington, 2. Jamie George, 3. Petrus Du Plessis, 4.George Kruis, 5. Jim Hamilton, 6. Kelly Brown, 7. Will Fraser, 8. Billy Vunipola.

Replacements; 16. Scott Spurling, 17. Rhys Gill, 18. James Johnston, 19. Mouritz Botha, 20. Jackson Wray, 21. Richard Wigglesworth, 22. Charlie Hodgson, 23. Duncan Taylor.




I will love it if we beat 'em.

Huge match tomorrow night, an English club that needs no introduction coming to town. Munster better bate them out the gate. I want our pack to turn into 8 monsters and destroy them. Serious pashun needed.

Let's send the wolfpack, Owen the brat, Swandive man, the Saracens PA, Nigel Wray, Brendan "Three Cheers" Venter, that awful Stand up for the Saracens song and that singing fat lady packing.

CatFromHue

It'll be some game as Saracens are 6 wins from 7 in all comps but they have only played 3 away games (the one against Bath is their only loss).

Fizman

Saracens BP

Heading to this.....can't wait. Think/hope Munster to win it by a 3-5 pt margin.

twinytwo

Saracens BP

thomond2006 wrote: »

Munster: TBA

Saracens: TBA




I will love it if we beat 'em.

Huge match tomorrow night, an English club that needs no introductionb coming to town. Munster better bate them out the gate. I want our pack to turn into 8 monsters and destroy them. Serious pashun needed.

Let's send the wolfpack, Owen the brat, Swandive man, the Saracens PA, Nigel Wray, Brendan "Three Cheers" Venter, that awful Stand up for the Saracens song and that singing fat lady packing.

i laughed long and hard!!

Anyway... is farrell playing? i thought he was injured?

If he is, tod/pom/stander should take it in turns to smash him (legally!!)

he is like mike phillips, get under his skin and you have the game half won

awec

Wipe the floor with them please. Smash Ashton and smash Farrell.

Deano7788

twinytwo wrote: »

i laughed long and hard!!

Anyway... is farrell playing? i thought he was injured?

If he is, tod/pom/stander should take it in turns to smash him (legally!!)

he is like mike phillips, get under his skin and you have the game half won

He came off the bench against Clermont, it was his first match back.

durkadurka

They must be the most dislikeable team in the hemisphere .

The Lost Sheep

Team named
Jones, Conway, Smith, Hurley, Zebo; Keats, Murray; Cronin, Casey, BJ; Foley, PO’C; P O’M, TO’D, CJ Stander

ssaye2

Replacements: Guinazu, Kilcoyne, Archer, B Holland, Copeland, Williams, JJ, GvdH

former legend

Saracens BP

So the only change is both props?

thomond2006

Only changes are both props which in itself is no surprise. Gutted that JJ is on the bench again.

ssaye2

Saracens team to face Munster Rugby:
15. Alex Goode, 14. Chris Ashton, 13. Marlcelo Bosch, 12. Brad Barritt ©, 11. David Strettle; 10. Owen Farrell, 9. Neil de Kock; 1. Richard Barrington, 2. Jamie George, 3. Petrus Du Plessis, 4.George Kruis, 5. Jim Hamilton, 6. Kelly Brown, 7. Will Fraser, 8. Billy Vunipola.
Replacements; 16. Scott Spurling, 17. Rhys Gill, 18. James Johnston, 19. Mouritz Botha, 20. Jackson Wray, 21. Richard Wigglesworth, 22. Charlie Hodgson, 23. Duncan Taylor.

thomond2006

ssaye2 wrote: »

Saracens team to face Munster Rugby:
15. Alex Goode, 14. Chris Ashton, 13. Marlcelo Bosch, 12. Brad Barritt ©, 11. David Strettle; 10. Owen Farrell, 9. Neil de Kock; 1. Richard Barrington, 2. Jamie George, 3. Petrus Du Plessis, 4.George Kruis, 5. Jim Hamilton, 6. Kelly Brown, 7. Will Fraser, 8. Billy Vunipola.
Replacements; 16. Scott Spurling, 17. Rhys Gill, 18. James Johnston, 19. Mouritz Botha, 20. Jackson Wray, 21. Richard Wigglesworth, 22. Charlie Hodgson, 23. Duncan Taylor.

thomond2006

Alex Goode is pretty average IMO but 11-14 for Saracens is excellent. Zebo would probably be the only Munster player to break into that. Marcelo Bosch gives them a long range kicking option as well.

Is Mako Vunipola injured? I don't know anything about Barrington but Mako is a fantastic ball carrier.

ionadnapokot

Saracens BP

Really looking forward to this one. loads of match-ups to look forward to. Zebo & Ashton to both score tries! POM TOD and CJ to win the battle of the back rows. Interesting to see how they handle Billy V and Fraser.
Munster by 4.

CatFromHue

Farrell hasn't played much this season so far, I think only 1 start and a few sub appearances, so that's your in there.
Bosch has played even less too.

Jim Hamilton starts ahead of Hargreaves.

Henry Ford III

Really looking forward to this. Sarries are a good team, but I think T.P. will be at it's intimidating best tomorrow night, and Munster will be inspired by it.

Midfield defense needs to be a lot sounder however.

sydneybound

I think everyone apart from Saracen supporters will supporting Munster, they arent very popular in England.

I know many would prefer this to be on Saturday night but surely with Saracens coming to town it'll be a sell out?

case885

Saracens BP

Vunipola will be a hard target to bring down, the backrow will have to tackle him hard or he will make big metres.

twinytwo

Saracens BP

durkadurka wrote: »

They must be the most dislikeable team in the hemisphere .

they be like a pimp in a purple suit...money dosent buy class...obviously no one ever told sarries that.

Iv no respect for a team like sarries, that just ozzes everything that is wrong with rugby in europe.

At least toulon can back it up.

Hated isnt a strong enough word..and lets be honest i dont think anyone like ashton or farrell

i would love to think we would send them packing.... but with our midfield not a chance

awec

Hurley and Smith are going to have to step up their game.

Tox56

Surely even if he's supposed to be carrying an injury this is a game you'd start JJ with Keatley, Hurley and Smith is so uninspiring

CZ 453

Has it sold out?

former legend

Saracens BP

twinytwo wrote: »

Iv no respect for a team like sarries, that just ozzes everything that is wrong with rugby in europe.

At least toulon can back it up.

I've no mad love for Saracens either but a Heineken Cup final and topping the English table last season (and the previous) is a reasonable attempt at backing it up.

phog

Munster team very much as expected, let's hope we've tidied up our defence.

Looking forward to the game now and will probably struggle through work tomorrow with nerves. Big team coming to town with a few players trying to prove points, here's hoping we match them man for man.

I hope we get an early lead and give the fans something to roar about. I'll take a one point win but it would be great to deny Saracens a LBP.

G'wan Munster

Flipper22

Saracens BP

Think this will be a low-scoring affair. Changing the props is the right call, though I don't understand Hurley ahead of Hanrahan. If the midfield defence can hold out Munster should win by a score; if they can deny Sarries the LBP that could be crucial.

G'wan Munster! Give them a proper Thomond welcome!

CatFromHue

Will be a good game to watch and see how Munster play.

They've been getting some good results from pick and go style through the forwards but Saracens will be a step above anyone they've played this season and should be able to deal with it better than other teams.

Same goes for the maul too.

molloyjh

I'd worry about Munsters midfield after last week. That's an area Sarries will target and could make hay from. I reckon this will be a tight one, but the loss of Brits is fairly big. I desperately want the home win, but I'm not at all convinced it'll happen. There is no way Sarries are coming away from the game with nothing though. I'd be genuinely shocked if that happened.

Zzippy

For all the hate for Sarries, anyone who's been to their ground can tell you how welcoming they are and how friendly the fans are. Some right knobs on the team alright, but anyone going to the game tomorrow please don't think their fans are like that.
I'd be worried for Munster alright, despite Thomond's disdain Alex Goode is dangerous, as are most of the backline, and Munster's midfield can be a bit leaky. Sarries can match them up front for power so Murray and Keatley are going to have to play really well for Munster to have a chance. Can't see this being an open game, but if it does open up I can only see it going one way unfortunately. Munster back row need to be in Farrell's face, and Keatley needs to be kicking close to 100%.
Too close to call for me, hope the TP roar can inspire Munster...

Buer

I'm definitely up for Munster here but the unbridled and illogical hate of Saracens is making me root for them a little.

For clarity, Nigel Wray does not equal Saracens.

Tox56

Buer wrote: »

For clarity, Nigel Wray does not equal Saracens.

... Saracens chairman Nigel Wray?

former legend

Saracens BP

Zzippy wrote:

Some right knobs on the team alright

Can someone tell me, as politely as possible, why Farrell is so disliked? Struggling to remember anything nasty he's done.

Zzippy wrote: »

I'd be worried for Munster alright, despite Thomond's disdain Alex Goode is dangerous, as are most of the backline, and Munster's midfield can be a bit leaky. Sarries can match them up front for power so Murray and Keatley are going to have to play really well for Munster to have a chance. Can't see this being an open game, but if it does open up I can only see it going one way unfortunately. Munster back row need to be in Farrell's face, and Keatley needs to be kicking close to 100%.
Too close to call for me, hope the TP roar can inspire Munster...

+1 on Goode, not really international level but very, very decent for this level.

I'd imagine it will be a horrible, attritional game, I'd say Munster to win with no BP, Saracens to come away happy enough with a losing BP.

awec

Buer wrote: »

I'm definitely up for Munster here but the unbridled and illogical hate of Saracens is making me root for them a little.

For clarity, Nigel Wray does not equal Saracens.

Nigel Wray + Chris Ashton + Owen Farrell = Saracens

awec

former legend wrote: »

Struggling to remember anything nasty he's done.

He took out Murray at Twickenham in the 6 nations in a late cheap shot for one.

He's just a thoroughly unlikeable character.

former legend

Saracens BP

Buer wrote: »

I'm definitely up for Munster here but the unbridled and illogical hate of Saracens is making me root for them a little.

For clarity, Nigel Wray does not equal Saracens.

Think Brendan Venter is a big part of it too, but who among the players is so objectionable? Even Ashton has calmed down a fair bit, no?

molloyjh

Zzippy wrote: »

For all the hate for Sarries, anyone who's been to their ground can tell you how welcoming they are and how friendly the fans are. Some right knobs on the team alright, but anyone going to the game tomorrow please don't think their fans are like that.
I'd be worried for Munster alright, despite Thomond's disdain Alex Goode is dangerous, as are most of the backline, and Munster's midfield can be a bit leaky. Sarries can match them up front for power so Murray and Keatley are going to have to play really well for Munster to have a chance. Can't see this being an open game, but if it does open up I can only see it going one way unfortunately. Munster back row need to be in Farrell's face, and Keatley needs to be kicking close to 100%.
Too close to call for me, hope the TP roar can inspire Munster...

Buer wrote: »

I'm definitely up for Munster here but the unbridled and illogical hate of Saracens is making me root for them a little.

For clarity, Nigel Wray does not equal Saracens.

I was over in London for the Sarries-Clermont SF in April and I can tell you I did not have a positive experience with the Sarries fans at all. They had no interest in interacting with anyone for the most part. There was a couple in front of us during the game that were lovely, but there were also 2 or 3 groups of total morons screaming all forms of racial abuse at the French players and fans. In the pubs before and after they completely refused to engage with anyone but their mates. They didn't even interact with each other. It was all really strange.

former legend

Saracens BP

awec wrote: »

He took out Murray at Twickenham in the 6 nations in a late cheap shot for one.

Oh yeah. That wasn't great now.

Buer

Tox56 wrote: »

... Saracens chairman Nigel Wray?

Yes, I know who he is. He is one person that is involved in the business side of the organisation.

I have a strong dislike of a number of players but that doesn't mean that I hate the entire club they play for.

irishbucsfan

awec wrote: »

He took out Murray at Twickenham in the 6 nations in a late cheap shot for one.

He's just a thoroughly unlikeable character.

It was borderline. The ref even said he wasn't penalising him for being late, he was penalising him for not wrapping his arms. However people don't remember it like that.

But people like to conjure up these bad guys. If people need to do that to help them create a sense of atmosphere around the game then fair play to them, let them go at it. The truth is though that Sarries are a good club with a strong history and good fans and are currently one of the best teams in Europe, although are led by a handful of nutters behind the scenes.

Buer

awec wrote: »

He took out Murray at Twickenham in the 6 nations in a late cheap shot for one.

He's just a thoroughly unlikeable character.

And Sexton booted Mafi in the face. I think Farrell comes across as arrogant and bullish on the field but, as far as I'm concerned, the intense dislike for many is soap opera stuff.

Fireball07

Saracens BP

Must-win game. Real pity that JJ isn't playing. Worried about the midfield defence... Bosch and Barritt will cause us problems, not to mention some of the back 3 coming into traffic.

Goode mightn't be in the best form of his career, but I think he's a very clever player.

The Saracens pack are just a very strong unit, and we're going to have to crack it somehow. The same gameplan as last week is very unlikely to work this time.

Buer

Goode is a very solid player. He was excellent for England when they won in Dublin a couple of years ago and is well capable of performing to the highest level. He hasn't hit those heights since but he's a real threat.

Munster will win, I feel, by a score but they're going to have to up things a couple of gears from last week.

I think Farrell might be in for a shocker. He has about 5 minutes rugby in a month. Munster should look to attack him from the off.

irishbucsfan

Munster's midfield will be dependent on the back row slowing Sarries down. If Sarries can start going through phases quickly then I think Munster's backline will find it very hard to cover and reorganise. But if Munster's pack can create a real contest consistently then I don't think Saracens will be capable of making ground consistently. And I really do think Munster's pack are capable of doing that.

Neil Francis

I think Irish vs English bigotry tends to come out when Saracens are mentioned. I know that swan dive infuriates to no end.

matthew8

Saracens BP

Strong Munster pack against a Saracens pack testing its depth. From a Munster POV I'd be glad Farrell is starting. Should be a Munster win in a close one.

sydthebeat

Neil Francis

Stander needs a good game from a defensive point of view. Saracens back row can be extremely effective if they are allowed latch down rucks unopposed, so munster needs strong cleaners to make POM have some effect of his own.

i think the TP factor may just get munster over the line

former legend

Saracens BP

Deleted User wrote: »

I think Irish vs English bigotry tends to come out when Saracens are mentioned. I know that swan dive infuriates to no end.

I think the "swan dive" sums up the problem and mild hypocrisy of hating Ashton specifically and Saracens in general.

twinytwo

Saracens BP

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Munster's midfield will be dependent on the back row slowing Sarries down. If Sarries can start going through phases quickly then I think Munster's backline will find it very hard to cover and reorganise. But if Munster's pack can create a real contest consistently then I don't think Saracens will be capable of making ground consistently. And I really do think Munster's pack are capable of doing that.

the midfield wouldnt be too bad if they stopped watching the ball and watched the run instead, hurley is brutal for it.

Tox56

Buer wrote: »

Yes, I know who he is. He is one person that is involved in the business side of the organisation.

I have a strong dislike of a number of players but that doesn't mean that I hate the entire club they play for.

Ok that's your view, but I would not consider it illogical for someone to dislike a club if they dislike it's chairman and several of it's players

molloyjh

Tox56 wrote: »

Ok that's your view, but I would not consider it illogical for someone to dislike a club if they dislike it's chairman and several of it's players

And their fat lady, and the stunt they pulled at Hensons expense etc.

They are a good side with some very good players but they have also done a bang up job of representing themselves publicly in an incredibly bad light. And almost all of that was needless and avoidable. They've really nobody to blame but themselves in that regard.

Anyway, back to the match itself I'd agree with IBF. If Munster can shut down their back row (and they have the ability to) then I think they'll be in with a shot. Fail to do that and they'll be in trouble.

Munster, the underdog, relying on their pack to front up in the face of one of Europes biggest and toughest clubs? Foley must be in his element.

awec

They can also shove their stand up song up their bangles to be perfectly honest.