Munster vs Racing 92, Sat 21st Oct 5:30pm; Sky Sports Arena

thomond2006

Munster:
Munster: Simon Zebo; Darren Sweetnam, Chris Farrell, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; Ian Keatley, Conor Murray;
Dave Kilcoyne, Rhys Marshall, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Billy Holland, Peter O’Mahony (Capt), Tommy O’Donnell, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Kevin O’Byrne, Liam O’Connor, John Ryan, Mark Flanagan, Jack O’Donoghue, Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan, Andrew Conway.

Racing 92:
15. Pat Lambie; 14. Joe Rokocoko, 13. Henry Chavancy, 12. Anthony Tuitavke, 11. Louis Dupichot; 10. Dan Carter, 9. Maxime Machenaud; 1. Eddy Ben Arous, 2. Camille Chat, 3. Ben Tameifuna, 4. Bernard Le Roux, 5. Leone Nakarawa, 6. Wenceslas Lauret, 7. Yannick Nyanga, 8. Antonie Claassen
16. Dimitri Szarzewski, 17. Viliamu Afatia, 18. Census Johnston, 19. Baptiste Chouzenoux, 20. Edwin Maka, 21. Teddy Iribaren, 22. Remi Tales, 23. Albert Vulivuli

Munster host Racing 92 is a crucial European tie, having stuttered to a largely fortunate draw at Castres. The expectation will be a win against a Racing side which has struggled this season (4 wins from 8 in all competitions).

Munster welcome back Jean Kleyn in the second row. His influence cannot be understated in the scrum or in general play. He is a monster in the physical exchanges and Munster's scrum was powerful in the early stages in the Pro14 when Kleyn was the nucleus of the pack. Rhys Marshall makes his first European start in place of the injured Niall Scannell (thumb) while Ian Keatley replaces Tyler Bleyendaal (neck). Otherwise it's as you were with no un-enforced changes to the lineup.

thomond2006

https://munsterrugby.ie/preview/munster-side-named-racing-92/

KLEYN!!!!

Former Former

Munster to cruise this I think. Racing are all over the place.

Interesting that Archer continues ahead of Ryan. Sweetnam seems to have nailed down the wing spot ahead of Conway too.

thomond2006

15. Pat Lambie; 14. Joe Rokocoko, 13. Henry Chavancy, 12. Anthony Tuitavke, 11. Louis Dupichot; 10. Dan Carter, 9. Maxime Machenaud;
1. Eddy Ben Arous, 2. Camille Chat, 3. Ben Tameifuna, 4. Bernard Le Roux, 5. Leone Nakarawa, 6. Wenceslas Lauret, 7. Yannick Nyanga, 8. Antonie Claassen

16. Dimitri Szarzewski, 17. Viliamu Afatia, 18. Census Johnston, 19. Baptiste Chouzenoux, 20. Edwin Maka, 21. Teddy Iribaren, 22. Remi Tales, 23. Albert Vulivuli

No messing about with that lineup. Le Roux at lock is odd but they have injuries there IIRC (including Donnacha Ryan).

John Hayes

Racing are coming to town with all guns blazing.

However, they are rudderless and poorly coached. They've no interest at all in Champions Cup.

Munster by 15+

aloooof

Deleted User wrote: »

Racing are coming to town with all guns blazing.

However, they are rudderless and poorly coached. They've no interest at all in Champions Cup.

Munster by 15+

Subtle.

ClanofLams

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Racing are coming to town with all guns blazing.

However, they are rudderless and poorly coached. They've no interest at all in Champions Cup.

Munster by 15+

I don't follow the top14 at all bar reading the odd bit but haven't the two head coaches won the league twice? Are they that bad?

budhabob

John Hayes

thomond2006 wrote: »

15. Pat Lambie; 14. Joe Rokocoko, 13. Henry Chavancy, 12. Anthony Tuitavke, 11. Louis Dupichot; 10. Dan Carter, 9. Maxime Machenaud;
1. Eddy Ben Arous, 2. Camille Chat, 3. Ben Tameifuna, 4. Bernard Le Roux, 5. Leone Nakarawa, 6. Wenceslas Lauret, 7. Yannick Nyanga, 8. Antonie Claassen

16. Dimitri Szarzewski, 17. Viliamu Afatia, 18. Census Johnston, 19. Baptiste Chouzenoux, 20. Edwin Maka, 21. Teddy Iribaren, 22. Remi Tales, 23. Albert Vulivuli

No messing about with that lineup. Le Roux at lock is odd but they have injuries there IIRC (including Donnacha Ryan).

Jayus, that's one hell of a team on paper.

pickarooney

Sucks that D Ryan is not down to play.

molloyjh

It's very hard to know how Racing are going to approach this. Are they going full throttle? It looks like they are. But with crappy conditions forecast I wouldn't be surprised to see them give up the ghost early enough. Munster should win this, but maybe not all that comfortably.

leakyboots

Need a couple of early scores to soften their cough. Looking forward to finally seeing Carter in Thomond Park, one of the all-time greats

thomond2006

The A team are on their way to a BP win. Close at half-time but they've blown Nottingham away in the second.

LuckyGent88

Any chance this match is postponed/called off today? A lot stronger winds and rain here in ennis than on Monday.

Mainly due to safety reasons more than the weather itself.

PetKing

It is windy to say the least in Limerick this morning! The Shannon has burst it's banks at several points around the city center.

ec18

wheres best to park in limerick coming from Dublin?

Cookiemunster

Blur

ec18 wrote: »

wheres best to park in limerick coming from Dublin?

There's a park and ride form the Kilmurray Lodge.

https://munsterrugby.ie/2017/10/19/ticket-matchday-info-munster-v-racing-92-2/

Other than that, park in one of the multistories in town and walk out.

DDC1990

I always park in the Jetlands shopping centre. Free parking and a 10min walk to the Stadium.

It's straight off the motorway and so handy to get straight back on.

Make sure you park on the McDonalds side rather than the Woodies side.

Edit: Google Maps has it as a 20min walk. It's definitely not that long. Maybe 15mins rather than the 10 I thought it was.

thomond2006

It's a frightening team on paper.

Bridge93

where are Imhoff, Ryan, Vakatawa, Thomas, Dulin?

Larbre34

Bridge93 wrote: »

where are Imhoff, Ryan, Vakatawa, Thomas, Dulin?

Visa issues.

moycullen14

Sky sports arena? What's that? Don't seem to have it on Eir ? 60 quid a month and I still don't get the match I want. FML

moycullen14

Found it! 416. Never knew I had that. All forgiven, sky. Carry on

John Hayes

Massive game this, strong start from Munster and a few scores should see them through but if Racing are up for this it could be a slog.

Hopefully Reggie had a quiet word during the warm up to get the lads going!

Clegg

Would be a crying shame if Carter were to go off.

I'm serious too.

John Hayes

Yooouch, Carters leg looked elasticated there.

DDC1990

Brilliant timing on the hit on Carter. Hope he's not injured.

Farrell needs to come up big today.

irishbucsfan

Poor from Archer

budhabob

John Hayes

POM isn't 100%, looks a weakened arm, just dropped the ball

budhabob

John Hayes

budhabob wrote: »

POM isn't 100%, looks a weakened arm, just dropped the ball

Surely if he's not right Rassie will take him straight off before it gets worse.

budhabob

John Hayes

Deleted User wrote: »

Surely if he's not right Rassie will take him straight off before it gets worse.

Looks to be coming through it so far. Fingers crossed hes ok as he looks well up for it today

budhabob

John Hayes

If Marshall had held that I reckon we were in

budhabob

John Hayes

What a kick from zebo....must have been centimetres in it

Erik Shin

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Surely if he's not right Rassie will take him straight off before it gets worse.

If only others would have thought the same about Murray

irishbucsfan

Munster got away with that, lifted 2

Akrasia

Nerve wrecking stuff.

DDC1990

irishbucsfan wrote:

Munster got away with that, lifted 2

Whats wrong with lifting 2?

budhabob

John Hayes

Earls and TOD look well up for this, TOD has been everywhere

Erik Shin

Comedy of errors all around there

DontThankMe

Lineout has been terrible you can only blame the conditions for so many errors.

DDC1990

DontThankMe wrote:

Lineout has been terrible you can only blame the conditions for so many errors.

You can blame Nakawara for the others.

Destroying our lineout. Fantastic player. Great disruptor at the lineout.

Clegg

Well that was a terrible tap and go.

budhabob

John Hayes

Madness to go fast there, racing were set, we weren't.

DDC1990

Terrible tap but JP ignored 3 Racing players offside under the posts.

We are so wasteful the last 2 weeks.

DDC1990

Great defence but brainless in attack too often.

budhabob

John Hayes

Great defense for the past what feels like 10 mins.

budhabob

John Hayes

What a steal and kick.

Great hands from Marshall

irishbucsfan

Excellent play immediately negated by an unforced error. Seems to be the story of the day.

yosser hughes

Michael Corcoran has mentioned the fact that Racing have the wind about twenty times

Can't quite figure out if this is a good game or not.

Quint2010

Awful stuff from Racing