Munster Team Talk Thread - Beirne After Reading

phog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123493055#Comment_123493055

What an absolute fantastic signing for us. The crowd used to light up when himself, Zebo or Earls got the ball. His try v Toulon (?) was one of those that will etched in the memory of those who saw it happening from the time he received the clearance kick.

Huge shame he had to bow out before his time.

munsterfan2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123494552#Comment_123494552

Yes, was behind the try line, had perfect view of him leaning over the touch line and the break up the pitch…. can still see it in my head !!

phog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123494558#Comment_123494558

I was on the same side as him but on the opposite end the field so I could only see him from behind as he caught then ball and ran. I didn't know what I wanted him to with the ball but the more he ran the more I saw the ground open up for him. Twas pure joy when he scored

leakyboots

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123494552#Comment_123494552

Happened in front of us too, up there with my all-time favourite memories. Absolutely lost our minds when he went over

aloooof

One of the great Thomond Park tries, an absolutely brilliant moment to put us ahead near the death. You'd feel sorry for him how it ended, Farrell seemed to be a fan and he missed out on a RWC too cos of injury (leaving aside how that ended for us).

Capable of magic with the ball in hand, but he was so good in the air too. Imagine Conway with the escort laws as they are now, he'd clean up.

phog

I see Munster have two tries in the URC power play of the month, both start with a cross field kick from Crowley, one for POM to score v Ulster (if you haven't watched that back on Access Munster, then do) and one to Kilgallen for Abrahams try.

I think I'd go with POMs try as my choice

Cookiemunster

Tadgh Beirne won the Players Player of the Year Award at the Rugby Players Ireland Awards last night.

KaneToad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123495450#Comment_123495450

Well deserved. He's a brilliant player.

Those years at Leinster have stood well for him.😉

50HX

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123495487#Comment_123495487

You mean Scarlets😜

Fully deserved, he has some amount of minutes played since RWC

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123495661#Comment_123495661

Leinster's notoriously poor talent ID letting him slip through the net. ;)

The man's a machine, and often comes into the game even more as it goes on. His number of minutes and big moments late in games speak to how unbelievably fit he must be.

ionadnapóca

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123495661#Comment_123495661

80mins in nearly every game Ireland played this season (70+mins v Scotland).

I think he's played the most minutes of any forward in Irish rugby over the last 2 seasons. Maybe even any Irish player?

Its nearly ALWAYS 80mins in every game for Province and Country.

I'm comfortable saying he is the best Lock to ever play for Ireland in the professional era.

He'll go down as one of the greats of Irish Rugby

Thanks Wayne Pivac.

budhabob

An absolutely fantastic player, world class for sure, and a workhorse with so many game defining moments at just the right time....immense.

But, I don't think he's a particularly great captain and it takes a bit from his game.....

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123495923#Comment_123495923

Off the top of my head, I'd guess it must be between either himself or Doris for most minutes for an Irish player over the last 2, 3 even 4 seasons. (Which puts in context him incredibly unlucky the timing of the Doris injury with regards the Lions is).

TomsOnTheRoof

I'd have Beirne as possibly lreland's greatest ever forward. His performance in the third test in New Zealand is certainly the best I've seen. He very nearly single handedly won us the series in those final 15 minutes. Three turnovers when we were under enormous pressure. An amazing performance in its own right but given the context it reaches a whole other level.

leakyboots

Yeah that NZ game was an unbelievable performance.

I actually like him as a captain, you might not see it on TV but he'll often have a word with the ref after an incident or draw his attention to stuff. It's definitely very rare that I'm there in the stands wondering 'Why hasn't Beirne gone to the ref?' or whatever. Maybe he could be a little more forceful making his point á la Mick Galwey or Paul O'Connell, but that rubs some refs up the wrong way

Brief_Lives

Beirne has the ability to look absolutely shagged for the whole game, after just 5 minutes.

Refs definitely respond to that..

"look at this headcase, he has given this game his all, I better listen to him, might be the last thing he ever says"….

budhabob

Anyone think there will be any surprises with the team? Given the power of the Sharks team the pack will be rightly up against it.

Cookiemunster

I can't see much change from the previous two games. It'll definitely be 6/2 on the bench again.

Former Former Former

I think Munster will win tomorrow. Sharks always seem to be less than the sum of their parts, Munster are the opposite.

sydthebeat

Sharks

1. Ox Nche

2. Bongi Mbonambi

3. Vincent Koch

4. Eben Etzebeth (C)

5. Jason Jenkins

6. James Venter

7. Vincent Tshituka

8. Siya Kolisi (v/c)

9. Jaden Hendrikse

10. Jordan Hendrikse

11. Makazole Mapimpi

12. Andre Esterhuizen

13. Lukhanyo Am *

14. Ethan Hooker

15. Aphelele Fassi

Replacements

16. Fez Mbatha

17. Ntuthuko Mchunu

18. Hanro Jacobs

19. Emile van Heerden

20. Phepsi Buthelezi

21. Bradley Davids

22. Francois Venter

23. Yaw Penxe

*Denotes 100th cap for the Sharks

Players note considered for selection due to injury:

Grant Williams

Siya Masuku

Trevor Nyakane

budhabob

As strong as it gets for sharks, that's some team on paper

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123499493#Comment_123499493

very similar team to the game last october, weaker even considering Hendrikse in for at 9 for Williams

Its a play off game so anything can happen

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123499507#Comment_123499507

That wasn't a good day for us, but I think that was the last game before Rowntree's departure so hopefully we should be in a better place and see a better performance. We should be able to name a significantly stronger 23 than that day as well.

That Sharks starting 15 is kinda nuts tho, front-row in particular is scary on paper. If we can get even close to parity there, and hopefully keep our lineout firing like it did against Benetton, we might have a chance.

Cookiemunster

Unchanged starting XV.

Munster Rugby: Thaakir Abrahams; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Diarmuid Kilgallen; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Michael Milne, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne (C); Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Tom Ahern, Alex Kendellen, Conor Murray, Rory Scannell, Mike Haley

Surprised to see the 5/3 bench split though.

budhabob

Starting 15 largely as expected, Scannell being the only question mark.

The bench is more interesting, gone for a 5:3 split, but with Scannell and Haley. Haley changes our back play significantly from Abraham's, while Scannell may indicate Crowley isn't 100%?

budhabob

Also, Coombes is the bulb off Mr. Incredible in the promo above (a complete aside, but had to be said)

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123499639#Comment_123499639

5/3 is a surprise alright, and I'm a little surprised Lee Barron isn't featuring either, he's been really good so far. I don't think he's injured, is he?

letowski

I think it’s disappointing Lee Barron isn’t in the 23 given his performance versus Benetton. With that being said, I understand starting Niall Scannell as he’s our best scrummaging hooker to go against their front row.

I don’t know, that’s a serious team we’re up against on paper, even if they don’t always perform to their talent level on the field. Set pieces are going to be tough going tomorrow.

Pepp1989

5/3 a big surprise. Rory in a big surprise. Probably a ? Over Jack with that. But I'd argue rory at 10 is only slowing down the wheels coming off if we lose jack.

Cannot understand the lee barron call unless hurt.

Haley from the bench another strange one. SOB hard done by.

budhabob

Scannell could also be on the bench for a second kicker for territory if things are going against us, so could be tactical.

I wonder if DB is picked over LB for scrimmaging and a bit of leadership on the bench front 5?

Also - 2 hookers with the same surname is very unhelpful.

Edit: I see R. Scannell is in line to make his 200th appearance for Munster, a serious milestone in all fairness.