Munster vs Southern Kings, Fri 15th Feb 7:35pm; Eir Sports 2

thomond2006

Munster:
Mike Haley; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Rory Scannell, Darren Sweetnam; Tyler Bleyendaal (C), Neil Cronin;
Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Billy Holland; Fineen Wycherley, Chris Cloete, Arno Botha.

Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Liam O’Connor, Stephen Archer, Darren O’Shea, Gavin Coombes, Alby Mathewson, JJ Hanrahan, Dan Goggin.

Southern Kings:

15. Masixole Banda
14. Yaw Penxe
13. Meli Rokoua
12. Berton Klaasen
11. Bjorn Basson
10. Bader Pretorius
9. Stefan Ungerer

1. Schalk Ferreira
2. Michael Willemse
3. De-Jay Terblanche
4. Andries Van Schalkwyk
5. John-Charles Astle (captain)
6. Stephan De Wit
7. Martinus Burger
8. Ruaan Lerm

Replacements:

16. Alandre Van Rooyen
17. Alulutho Tshakweni
18. Pieter Scholtz
19. Stephan Greeff
20. Andisa Ntsila
21. Sarel Pretorius
22. Tertius Kruger
23. Ulrich Beyers

An absolutely stacked Munster starting XV has been named for what should be a comfortable victory over the visiting Southern Kings.

Sabre0001

Very strong side. Would have liked to see Bill get the nod or bench spot though. And he did media so this seems strange...

thomond2006

Sabre0001 wrote: »

Very strong side. Would have liked to see Bill get the nod or bench spot though. And he did media so this seems strange...

That's an odd one alright. Hopefully it's not injury related.

That is a powerful side, even devoid of 6 nations players.

sydthebeat

the betting spread hasnt change after that announcement... so still there at -29 if anyones interested

Buer

Would have preferred to see a little bit more experimentation here for this one. There really isn't a weaker fixture in the season for any province to use for development. 13 of the 23 that beat Exeter will feature tomorrow night.

I'm hoping/assuming that guys like Oliver and Johnston are injured but they were involved in training this week so I'm somewhat confused by their absences.

Game should be enjoyable as an opportunity to see some tries and get some match fitness for a few guys.

thomond2006

Southern Kings:

15. Masixole Banda
14. Yaw Penxe
13. Meli Rokoua
12. Berton Klaasen
11. Bjorn Basson
10. Bader Pretorius
9. Stefan Ungerer

1. Schalk Ferreira
2. Michael Willemse
3. De-Jay Terblanche
4. Andries Van Schalkwyk
5. John-Charles Astle (captain)
6. Stephan De Wit
7. Martinus Burger
8. Ruaan Lerm

Replacements:

16. Alandre Van Rooyen
17. Alulutho Tshakweni
18. Pieter Scholtz
19. Stephan Greeff
20. Andisa Ntsila
21. Sarel Pretorius
22. Tertius Kruger
23. Ulrich Beyers

slingerz

I'd imagine Chris Farrell gets taken off after 60 mins

case885

JVG has been very conservative with his selections in these type of games.
Haley has played a huge amount already this season it would have been a good opportunity for his back up to get minutes there.
TB has played very poorly in his last few outings and yet Johnston can't make the 23 against a side that won't get within 20 points.

thomond2006

Perhaps Bleyendaal is being given a chance to earn a contract?

Dubinusa

Jesus! A vintage beating coming up for the Kings.

Jewelers

Dubinusa wrote: »

Jesus! A vintage beating coming up for the Kings.

do munster really give beatings in musgraves though , and that kings side is okish

who_me

Buer wrote: »

Would have preferred to see a little bit more experimentation here for this one. There really isn't a weaker fixture in the season for any province to use for development. 13 of the 23 that beat Exeter will feature tomorrow night.

I'm hoping/assuming that guys like Oliver and Johnston are injured but they were involved in training this week so I'm somewhat confused by their absences.

Game should be enjoyable as an opportunity to see some tries and get some match fitness for a few guys.

A fair point, but also I think this is an area that the provinces (Munster at least) have been getting better at.

In seasons past, we'd have a clear, distinct A and B team, who probably wouldn't even know each other if they met on the street. The "B" team would start the season and be.. mediocre, the "A" team would come in en masse leading up the Heineken Cup and be better but very rusty. Swapping back then during international windows..

I don't think that's the best way to go. In the above team, we have three 'breaking through' players in Cronin, Loughman and Wycherly starting; and a few more from the fringes on the bench. To me, that's about the right number. Less fringe players than that, and it's a waste of an opportunity to give them experience. More than that, and you risk a bit of a messy/disjointed game.

IMO it's not just about getting them on the field and getting a result, you want them to be playing in the moves/style and at the pace of the senior team. Having 3 fringe players surrounded by established players should lead to useful experience.

Stone Gossard

Thought the King's FB was called Massive Panda when I looked first!

Jewelers

Stone Gossard wrote: »

Thought the King's FB was called Massive Panda when I looked first!

Masixole Banda how does that look like massive panda do you have a bear fetish ?

Stone Gossard

Jewelers wrote: »

Masixole Banda how does that look like massive panda do you have a bear fetish ?

I think that's a given now isn't it?!

Jewelers

Stone Gossard wrote: »

I think that's a given now isn't it?!

does he **** in the woods ?

Cookiemunster

Jewelers wrote: »

do munster really give beatings in musgraves though , and that kings side is okish

This season
49-13 v Ospreys.
44-14 v Edinburgh.

3 x 25+ point wins there last season.

Munster normally win big in Cork have been hammering nearly everyone at home this season.

Defunkd

Buer wrote: »

Would have preferred to see a little bit more experimentation here for this one.

It's getting late for experimentation.
3 games after tonight - HC SF
3 games after that - domestic league ends.

These 10's need more gametime. I'd have no concerns for cover in any other position, well, maybe 15.

thomond2006

Buer wrote: »

Would have preferred to see a little bit more experimentation here for this one. There really isn't a weaker fixture in the season for any province to use for development. 13 of the 23 that beat Exeter will feature tomorrow night.

I'm hoping/assuming that guys like Oliver and Johnston are injured but they were involved in training this week so I'm somewhat confused by their absences.

Game should be enjoyable as an opportunity to see some tries and get some match fitness for a few guys.

Bill Johnston aside, I'm not sure how much leeway Munster would have to experiment, since we don't know how much influence the Irish management has. They are probably obliged to start the wider Ireland squad members (Niall Scannell, Ryan, Farrell and Conway) who are made available. Conway is the second option at fullback but if he has to start on the wing then it makes sense to keep Haley in the lineup. Neil Cronin is starting at 9 when players ahead of him are available. Jeremy Loughman is getting opportunities due to Kilcoyne's callup and Cronin's injury. Coombes will only become a senior player next season and he's selected ahead of Oliver.

ScrubsfanChris

Lovely February night weather here. Wind seems to be blowing in all directions.

Thrashssacre

King's carrying well..... Strangely

Stone Gossard

Well worked try... but it was so easy

thomond2006

Thrashssacre wrote: »

King's carrying well..... Strangely

The Kings are good in attack. It's the other side of the ball that's the issue.

Thrashssacre

Hope farrells alright, the guy can't catch a break this season

Stone Gossard

How many balls has Scannell kicked out of the ground?..3?

thomond2006

How did they not score there?

thomond2006

Kings will be getting a sinbin soon. Penalty after penalty.

padraig.od

What has happened to Farrell?

Stone Gossard

I make it 4 balls out now...

Goggin made a bad error there.. overlap and a certain try butchered with a poor pass attempt

Stone Gossard

padraig.od wrote: »

What has happened to Farrell?

Tweaked his knee.. taken off as a precaution Flannery said

thomond2006

There's the card. Now here's the chance to pull away.

razorblunt

Very harsh yellow.

Thrashssacre

Silly yellow imo are you just not aloud compete for the ball anymore?

leakyboots

Super pass by Tyler there off his left

thomond2006

Conway deserves it. He's been excellent.

Bazzo

Strange decision from Bleyendaal there...

ScrubsfanChris

One pass aside. Tyler is getting worse.
That last kick sums it up, on the front foot and he kicks it out after 40. Chr*st

thomond2006

Yup, I hated that decision. Kings are giving penalties for fun. You have to at least go through a few phases.

leakyboots

Haley is such a lovely, balanced runner. Just glided along. He's really come on as the season has progressed

Stone Gossard

Alby might start running the ball here

razorblunt

Bit more direction with Alby on.

Lovely conversion into the wind by Scannell too.

Bogwoppit

What’s the score?

sioda

19 nil

leakyboots

leakyboots wrote: »

Haley is such a lovely, balanced runner. Just glided along. He's really come on as the season has progressed

For a man who didn't touch the ball for the first half hour, in the next half he's ran the ball 7 times, making 125m, 3 clean breaks with 6 defenders beaten!

leakyboots

Gwan Billy, one of our all-time greats

budhabob

Knock on?

Stone Gossard

Would be harsh to call that as a knock-on

Jewelers

this ref is awful

thomond2006

Knock on.

budhabob

Insteresting Scannell taking all the kicks? Missed the first half