Munster vs Edinburgh, Pro14 SF Qualifier, Sat 5 May 3:15pm; TG4/Sky Sports

thomond2006

Munster:
Simon Zebo; Andrew Conway, Sammy Arnold, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; JJ Hanrahan, Conor Murray;
James Cronin, Rhys Marshall, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Billy Holland; Peter O’Mahony (C), Jack O’Donoghue, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Mike Sherry, Dave Kilcoyne, Ciaran Parker, Gerbrandt Grobler, Robin Copeland, James Hart, Ian Keatley, Darren Sweetnam.

Edinburgh team to face Munster in the Guinness PRO14 Semi-Final Qualifier at Thomond Park on Saturday 5 May (kick-off 3.15pm) – live on Sky Sports Action and BBC ALBA.

15. Blair Kinghorn (63)
14. Dougie Fife (106)
13. Mark Bennett (11)
12. Chris Dean (65)
11. Duhan van der Merwe (17)
10. Jaco van der Walt (16)
9. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (107)

1. Jordan Lay (11)
2. Stuart McInally (119) CAPTAIN
3. Simon Berghan (48)
4. Ben Toolis (87)
5. Grant Gilchrist (119)
6. Magnus Bradbury (52)
7. Jamie Ritchie (48)
8. Bill Mata (36)

Replacements: 16. Neil Cochrane (75); 17. Allan Dell (43); 18. WP Nel (115); 19. Lewis Carmichael (32); 20 Cornell du Preez (104); 21. Nathan Fowles (58); 22. Duncan Weir (34); 23. James Johnstone (17)

Many selection decisions to dissect here! The big story of Munster's lineup comes at flyhalf with JJ Hanrahan starting ahead of Ian Keatley. John Ryan's injury means Ciaran Parker steps up to the bench after Brian Scott's struggles in the scrum last weekend. Alex Wootton, a starter in the European knockout matches, cannot get a place in the 23 with Darren Sweetnam selected ahead of him to cover the starting back three of Earls-Zebo-Conway. Niall Scannell was an injury doubt during the week and doesn't make the side. Kevin O'Byrne was also confirmed injured so Mike Sherry is selected to backup Rhys Marshall.

Edinburgh have been one of the surprises of the season under new head coach Richard Cockerill, following a period in disrepair. Cockerill himself has done much to repair his reputation after a disappointing end to his long tenure at Leicester. Duhan van der Merwe arrived under the radar in November from South Africa and has been one of the signings of the season, scoring 8 tries in 9 Pro14 games since the New Year. Jaco van der Walt has also arrived to establish himself as first choice 10.

I'm surprised at Munster's decision at 10. Keatley hasn't been great in recent games but I haven't seen what JJ has done to wrestle the starting jersey from him. I had thought Taute might sneak into the bench with the idea of getting match time but perhaps he's not ready. Home advantage edges this towards Munster but I think it will closer than the bookies' spread. Munster to win by 5-7 points.

aloooof

JJ obviously the big one. Is this an indication that he's gonna start if we go further in the competition?

thomond2006

aloooof wrote: »

JJ obviously the big one. Is this an indication that he's gonna start if we go further in the competition?

It doesn't make sense otherwise. Munster get a rest next week.

Squidgy Black

Huge call starting JJ over Keatley. I wonder is that down to his performance (or lack thereof) in the game against Racing?

Squidgy Black

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Huge call starting JJ over Keatley. I wonder is that down to his performance (or lack thereof) in the game against Racing?

Keatley falls apart too often in big games. He's on average better than JJ at his best but worse when his head is down.

Really not a great situation, neither good enough for Munsters aspirations and Tyler can't stay fit.

phog

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Huge call starting JJ over Keatley. I wonder is that down to his performance (or lack thereof) in the game against Racing?

The all underperformed v Racing

thomond2006

phog wrote: »

The all underperformed v Racing

That's the thing. JJ came on and was no better. Big call from Van Graan.

thomond2006

For those of you in Edinburgh: http://www.edinburghrugby.org/news/18/05/02/news-get-behind-edinburgh-huxley

thomond2006

leakyboots

Surprised at JJ starting, will be interesting to see how he goes with our first choice pack ahead of him.

Edinburgh are playing great stuff by all accounts, hope they don't sucker punch us early on a la Racing

leakyboots

leakyboots wrote: »

Surprised at JJ starting, will be interesting to see how he goes with our first choice pack ahead of him.

Edinburgh are playing great stuff by all accounts, hope they don't sucker punch us early on a la Racing

It's something that needs to be worked on as it's not just the Racing game. Munster have been slow out of the blocks a few times since before Christmas and the problem now is that teams are going to really target that opening 20 if they think the missed tackle count is going to give them opportunities.

Edinburgh are a threat and are probably playing with an unusual amount of confidence at this stage of the season.

I think the hurt from the semi final will see a lot of resolve on Munster faces though and I can't see Edinburgh being given any kind of platform.

Should be a good match, hope JJ lives up to the confidence placed in him.

thomond2006

Unreal weather right now.

thomond2006

https://twitter.com/EdinburghRugby/status/992760189865652224?s=19

Burkie1203

Conway got away with one there in the air

budhabob

For such good weather the ball is being dropped everywhere.

thomond2006

More of this JJ!

thomond2006

Gift! Gwan Marshall.

budhabob

Atta boy Marshall, had alot to do to get there

razorblunt

Awful throw by McInally, well finished.

That Edinburgh backrow should be destroyed, who replaced Carmichael on the bench?

yosser hughes

One end of the ground empty? That's poor.

Squidgy Black

razorblunt wrote: »

Awful throw by McInally, well finished.

That Edinburgh backrow should be destroyed, who replaced Carmichael on the bench?

Ally Miller, played 7s for most of last year and played with London Scottish in the premiership.

Burkie1203

Butchery

Squidgy Black

yosser hughes wrote: »

One end of the ground empty? That's poor.

Both ends are I think.

razorblunt

Jeez Bennett lost none of his speed after that knee injury.

razorblunt

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Ally Miller, played 7s for most of last year and played with London Scottish in the premiership.

Shíte, I live here and never heard him of him! Where's Crosbie?

Vinnie222

yosser hughes wrote: »

One end of the ground empty? That's poor.

Hardly surprising whats going on in other parts of Munster this weekend

thelad95

yosser hughes wrote: »

One end of the ground empty? That's poor.

League Quarter Final is never going to capture the imagination too much to be honest.

budhabob

Archer gone off, injury or blood?

thomond2006

What happened to Archer? Big step up for Ciaran Parker now.

Vinnie222

thomond2006 wrote: »

What happened to Archer? Big step up for Ciaran Parker now.

Went down a few times with his shoulder

Bridge93

Munster not looked particularly good so far. Been largely Edinburgh in control apart from an enormous brainfart

Beechwoodspark

Cmon Munster liven up a bit

thomond2006

Munster could do with some possession. Edinburgh are building nicely.

ClanofLams

Edinburgh kicking too much. Munster off their normal level and giving up soft yards all the time

razorblunt

Munster playing like its a normal end of season game with nothing to play for.

thomond2006

This is worrying. We're not winning the aerial battles.

Clegg

That's the second kickable penalty Cronin has conceded.

pickarooney

Which sky sports channel is this on?

Squidgy Black

Edinburgh are really starting to get into the swing of things in attack.

Two easy penalties given away by Cronin, needs to be cut out.

Flannery seems pretty unhappy with the attendance.

kub

Cronin FFS that is now 6 points to them thanks to you.
As always handing penalties away

budhabob

pickarooney wrote: »

Which sky sports channel is this on?

Main event, 401

thomond2006

Disappointing turnout tbh.

yosser hughes

Deleted User wrote: »

Flannery seems pretty unhappy with the attendance.

I don't blame him.

Burkie1203

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Flannery seems pretty unhappy with the attendance.

Wat he say? Bit harsh really. A weeks notice for a bank holiday weekend.

Clegg

There's a lot of empty seats in the upper tier.

Disappointing.

thomond2006

Clegg wrote: »

There's a lot of empty seats in the upper tier.

Disappointing.

The Riverfest is on but I'm not sure how many would stay away because of that. I expected a good crowd given the weather.

Bridge93

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Wat he say? Bit harsh really. A weeks notice for a bank holiday weekend.

Realistically they've known for weeks this was going to be at home this weekend

yosser hughes

Unacceptable standard of kicking from Hanrahan there.

Burkie1203

Bridge93 wrote: »

Realistically they've known for weeks this was going to be at home this weekend

But time and date etc wasn't and it's a bank hol weekend

Buer

Conway gone by the looks of it. Elbow to the head followed by an arse to the face to compound the issue.