Munster vs Cardiff, Fri 9 Sept 7:35pm; TG4/BBCWales

thomond2006

Munster:
Andrew Conway; Darren Sweetnam, Dan Goggin, Rory Scannell, Ronan O'Mahony; Ian Keatley, Duncan Williams;
James Cronin, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Dave Foley, Billy Holland - capt.; Dave O'Callaghan, Tommy O'Donnell, Jack O'Donoghue.

Replacements: Duncan Casey, Dave Kilcoyne, Brian Scott, Donnacha Ryan, CJ Stander, Tomás O'Leary, Cian Bohane, Stephen Fitzgerald.

Cardiff:
15 - D Fish; 14 - A Cuthbert, 13 - C Allen, 12 - R Lee-Lo, 11 - T James; 10 - G Anscombe, 9 - T Williams;
1 - G Jenkins (capt), 2 - K Dacey; 3 - T Filise, 4 - G Earle, 5 - M Cook, 6 - J Navidi, 7 - E Jenkins, 8 - N Williams.

Replacements: 16 - M Rees, 17 - R Gill, 18 - S Andrews, 19 - J Turnbull, 20 - S Warburton, 21 - L Williams, 22 - S Shingler, 23 - M Morgan

Tyler Bleyendaal was not available for selection after reporting a mild calf strain.

Oh dear lord no.

There is no change to the forwards bar Casey on the bench for KOB. Rory Scannell will be the backup 10 to Keatley. Conway replaces Zebo who is out for 5 weeks. Brian Scott remains ahead of John Andress on the bench. No Jean Kleyn in the 23.

former total

At least it's not Bleyendaal's quad anyway.

Is Andress fit?

thomond2006

former total wrote: »

At least it's not Bleyendaal's quad anyway.

Is Andress fit?

Ah my mistake re Bleyendaal, I thought his issue was a calf one. Hopefully nothing serious then, we can't afford a long term absence.

There was no mention of Andress in the injury update and he played in the pre-season so I assume he's available.

phog

An all Irish qualified squad - only 3 not produced by Munster but it counts for little unless we perform well and we're up against a strong Cardiff team. I was more hopeful of a win when the fixtures were announced than I am now after the teams are named.

thomond2006

Hopefully Cardiff just don't care. It wouldn't be the first time.

phog

thomond2006 wrote: »

Hopefully Cardiff just don't care. It wouldn't be the first time.

This early in the season and with the team they named :eek:

thomond2006

phog wrote: »

This early in the season and with the team they named :eek:

They have sent good teams and not cared. I recall a Leinster game where they got hammered. I'm trying to put a positive spin here..!!!

Buer

They've won 7 games away from home in the league over the past 3 seasons.

They're atrocious but have the players to make things difficult. It's rare enough to see those players bother to break sweat in these games though.

wp_rathead

No Kleyn involved in 23?

irishbucsfan

Buer wrote: »

They've won 7 games away from home in the league over the past 3 seasons.

They're atrocious but have the players to make things difficult. It's rare enough to see those players bother to break sweat in these games though.

I don't know about that. They've actually been getting better under Danny Wilson I think. They were pretty dominant over Edinburgh last weekend and in the closing stages of last season they put in some good performances I thought.

Their squad is getting stronger from a really really poor starting point. Their halfbacks are pretty strong and their back row is really strong. If they continue to improve I think they could be a threat to the provinces this season.

thomond2006

wp_rathead wrote: »

No Kleyn involved in 23?

Holland and Foley did well last week and the squad is stacked with locks. Darren O'Shea is outside the 23 also.

Buer

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I don't know about that.

I was really just referring to their performances away from home. They're actually a hard enough side to beat in Cardiff but they're simply gutless on the road.

They haven't won in Treviso since the 2011/12 season, for example.

thomond2006

Buer wrote: »

I was really just referring to their performances away from home. They're actually a hard enough side to beat in Cardiff but they're simply gutless on the road.

They haven't won in Treviso since the 2011/12 season, for example.

They would be in Europe instead of Munster if they had won both games in Italy last season. Instead they got 1 point from a possible 10. Had they earned 8 points from 10 they would have finished ahead of Munster on points difference (after an equal number of wins for both teams).

wp_rathead

thomond2006 wrote: »

Holland and Foley did well last week and the squad is stacked with locks. Darren O'Shea is outside the 23 also.

I know but..
..I thought I was so Smart investing in him for my Fantasy Rugby side meaning I wouldn't have to waste a transfer on him bringing him into the side

slingerz

I'm really nervous for Munster on this one. A win here keeps the momentum going but a loss would be deflating after a good performance last week. A win here and I could see Munster rocking up to the Aviva at the start of October unbeaten

flogthebog

cardiff is a strange team. lots of quality players and shocking results. that said they seemed to be turning a corner towards the end of last season and first game out in new pro12 season was a positive. so they are on the up. not saying who might win but if munster win it won't be easy

jacothelad

flogthebog wrote: »

cardiff is a strange team. lots of quality players and shocking results. that said they seemed to be turning a corner towards the end of last season and first game out in new pro12 season was a positive. so they are on the up. not saying who might win but if munster win it won't be easy

I have the impression that Cardiff had a great run of wins towards the end of last season. However the Pro 12 new website has no access to last seasons data - or any other season's - which is a pity.

irishbucsfan

jacothelad wrote: »

I have the impression that Cardiff had a great run of wins towards the end of last season. However the Pro 12 new website has no access to last seasons data - or any other season's - which is a pity.

Yeah it's a complete pain, but thankfully the Blues kept the record on their site!

http://www.cardiffblues.com/rugby/fixtures_and_results.php?includeref=699&season=2015-2016

ScrubsfanChris

Weather is brutal.
Unlike last week, it's not just rain but wind as well. Could be a very scrapy game tonight.

CZ 453

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

Weather is brutal.
Unlike last week, it's not just rain but wind as well. Could be a very scrapy game tonight.

Will it go ahead if it's like this.

phog

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

Weather is brutal.
Unlike last week, it's not just rain but wind as well. Could be a very scrapy game tonight.

Forecast is to clear so hopefully it will be dry at least.

CZ 453 wrote: »

Will it go ahead if it's like this.

Current weather wouldn't prevent it going ahead.

The Lost Sheep

CZ 453 wrote: »

Will it go ahead if it's like this.

Its definitely going to go ahead. Weather nowhere near bad enough to force a postponement. Musgrave pitch is a very good one and will be in perfect condition considering its the start of the season

LuckyGent88

Looks absolutely fine in cork now. Sun out and all.

Expecting a tough game for us here. Cardiff team and bench looks slightly stronger to ours but hopefully we can get the win.

thomond2006

Sweetnam has made two awesome covering tackles.

Brilliant Brilliant defence from Sweetnam, terrific stuff.

LuckyGent88

Two very good tackles by sweetnam so far

LuckyGent88

Cardiff came to play. Lovely try. Good hands.

DDC1990

Williams and Keatley already putting us in difficulty. Keatley insisting on kicking it straight to Cardiff every time.

Sweetnam has had to make 2 brilliant tackles.

Cardiff 7-0

That was coming, bit of composure and it would be the second try not the first. Munster can absorb this and push on though - they look very solid.

Diabhal Beag

Sweetnam :eek:

DDC1990

Wow scrappy but brilliant from Sweetnam to take on 4 guys and pop to Conway.

They all count.