Edinburgh vs Munster, Sat 30th March 12:45pm; VM1/BT Sport 3

thomond2006

Edinburgh:
15. Darcy Graham (20)
14. Damien Hoyland (60)
13. James Johnstone (39)
12. Chris Dean (84)
11. Duhan van der Merwe (37)
10. Jaco van der Walt (36)
9. Henry Pyrgos (20)

1. Pierre Schoeman (19)
2. Stuart McInally (133) CAPTAIN
3. WP Nel (130)
4. Ben Toolis (106)
5. Grant Gilchrist (133)
6. John Barclay (1)
7. Hamish Watson (96)
8. Viliame Mata (56)

Replacements: 16. Ross Ford (195); 17. Allan Dell (58); 18. Simon Berghan (63); 19. Magnus Bradbury (61); 20. Jamie Ritchie (61); 21. Charlie Shiel (3); 22. Simon Hickey (17); 23. Mark Bennett (16)

Munster:
Mike Haley; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; Joey Carbery, Conor Murray;
Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne; Peter O’Mahony (C), Jack O’Donoghue, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Jeremy Loughman, Stephen Archer, Billy Holland, Arno Botha, Alby Mathewson, Tyler Bleyendaal, Dan Goggin.

Edinburgh host Munster in the first game of the Champions Cup quarter-final weekend. Munster are looking to reach their first European final since 2008 with Edinburgh playing their first European playoff game since the 2011-12 season.

The big selection surprise sees Jack O'Donoghue starting at openside after making a return from a long term injury. Chris Cloete misses out from the 23 with Arno Botha making the bench as a more versatile bench option. Tyler Bleyendaal retains his bench spot from the Exeter game with Joey Carbery returning from injury to start.

Referee: Pascal Gauz (Fra)
Assistant Referees: Ludovic Cayre (Fra) & Jonathan Dufort (Fra)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)

Sabre0001

Munster: Mike Haley; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; Joey Carbery, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne; Peter O’Mahony (C), Jack O’Donoghue, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Jeremy Loughman, Stephen Archer, Billy Holland, Arno Botha, Alby Mathewson, Tyler Bleyendaal, Dan Goggin.

Former Former

Is that a 100% first choice XV? Not a single injury enforced selection? That's remarkable.

thomond2006

Former Former wrote: »

Is that a 100% first choice XV? Not a single injury enforced selection? That's remarkable.

Maybe an in-form TOD would start but otherwise yes. James Cronin would make the bench.

budhabob

interesting call with JOD I have to say, although I have been disappointed with Cloete the last few games - hes always liable to a brain fart and a couple of penalties a game these days.

thomond2006

Edinburgh:
15. Darcy Graham (20)
14. Damien Hoyland (60)
13. James Johnstone (39)
12. Chris Dean (84)
11. Duhan van der Merwe (37)
10. Jaco van der Walt (36)
9. Henry Pyrgos (20)

1. Pierre Schoeman (19)
2. Stuart McInally (133) CAPTAIN
3. WP Nel (130)
4. Ben Toolis (106)
5. Grant Gilchrist (133)
6. John Barclay (1)
7. Hamish Watson (96)
8. Viliame Mata (56)

Replacements: 16. Ross Ford (195); 17. Allan Dell (58); 18. Simon Berghan (63); 19. Magnus Bradbury (61); 20. Jamie Ritchie (61); 21. Charlie Shiel (3); 22. Simon Hickey (17); 23. Mark Bennett (16)

Clegg

Remarkably, Edinburgh's back row is actually better than Munster's. All three are that good.

troyzer

Clegg wrote: »

Remarkably, Edinburgh's back row is actually better than Munster's. All three are that good.

Certainly on current form.

Burkie1203

Eh, where is the game on?

https://twitter.com/Munsterrugby/status/1111615937524973568?s=19

Cookiemunster

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Eh, where is the game on?

https://twitter.com/Munsterrugby/status/1111615937524973568?s=19

It's a joke... BA flight lands in Edinburgh instead of Düsseldorf by mistake

LuckyGent88

Cookiemunster wrote: »

It's a joke... BA flight lands in Edinburgh instead of Düsseldorf by mistake

Top banter from them!!!

LuckyGent88

Too many Munster supporters here!!! Iv had to speak to people from Waterford!!!! An absolute nightmare:)

Some atmosphere in the city. It is wedged with red

Bridge93

Can’t call this. Game of the weekend for me. Munster have the world class operators and experience, Edinburgh have an ever improving squad and form on their side. Home advantage not a factor for me. Can’t wait

LuckyGent88

Morning, fair early for a game!!

Going to be very tight. Think the difference will be in Carbery so looking at him to produce some magic hopefully. Scrum will be crucial as Edinburgh are very strong in that department.

Going for a Munster win. 18-16

We never make it easy for ourselves anyway

Buer

I don't really think Edinburgh are in the form that is being mentioned. They beat a depleted Leinster after bringing back in a rake of their front liners and that was largely due to mincing Leinster in the set piece which won't happen today. Before that they got nothing against Treviso and lost at home to Cardiff. They desperately needed the win last week.

Cockerill would have given his right arm to play this game 2 months ago when Edinburgh were absolutely on a high but that is a long time ago now.

Munster are too long in the tooth to be beaten up today like Leinster's front five were last week. It's going to be a close one but I would say Munster by 5. Bookies have it about right making them marginal favourites.

Former Former

Munster haven't been playing great but winning all season. Can't see them losing today. I don't think Edinburgh have the experience or strength up front to win.

thomond2006

No sub lock on the bench for Edinburgh. Mata at 6'6 is presumably the option if necessary.

Clegg

Mike Haley has been ruled out of the game. Conway moves to 15 and Sweetnam comes into the side to start on the wing having not been in the initial 23 man squad.

sydthebeat

Clegg wrote: »

Mike Haley has been ruled out of the game. Conway moves to 15 and Sweetnam comes into the side to start on the wing.

Doesn't make munster any weaker imo.

Who's to the bench?

thomond2006

Clegg wrote: »

Mike Haley has been ruled out of the game. Conway moves to 15 and Sweetnam comes into the side to start on the wing.

It doesn't really weaken the side on paper. Sweetnam is unlucky that Conway and Earls are in situ.

thomond2006

sydthebeat wrote: »

Doesn't make munster any weaker imo.

Who's to the bench?

Goggin. No change.

Buer

I'd take Conway over Haley if both were available. Don't think that will weaken Munster much. Sweetnam on form is as good as Haley. Possibly prone to more errors though but has looked decent of late.

troyzer

Stadium doesn't look nearly as full as I thought it would.

BBDBB

Game is on channel 4

In case it wasn’t mentioned above

ScrubsfanChris

troyzer wrote: »

Stadium doesn't look nearly as full as I thought it would.

Around 35000 tickets sold according to BT. Still very decent for a qf

budhabob

Smart play by NScannell. Good atmosphere

Clegg

Good turnover from McInally.

griffinlee

murray slow at the ruck to get it away

BBDBB

Edinburgh hitting the ball with real pace, difficult to stop

Clegg

griffinlee wrote: »

murray slow at the ruck to get it away

It was the same all throughout the Six Nations. In this instance Edinburgh also counter rucked well.

budhabob

Strong defense by Munster, Edinburgh we're being pushed back, but Edinburgh put some pace on the ball.

BBDBB

Great defence

eigrod

Brilliant defence

LuckyLloyd

brilliant counter off the line out, set the tone for the rest of the phase. They needed that.

baas baa

Tasty so far. Good start from JoD

budhabob

Unreal by conway

eigrod

Earls was pushed in the back there

Or maybe not

Clegg

Excellent play from Edinburgh there.

Sure fire yellow for Munster.

troyzer

Clear yellow card there. Well done ref.

Onecoolcookie

Anyone got a stream for this, PM please

troyzer

Onecoolcookie wrote: »

Anyone got a stream for this, PM please

It's on TV3 and Channel 4.

baas baa

Great call by Gauzere, silly from Beirne to be so blatant.

eigrod

Defence outstanding again.

budhabob

Brilliant tackle by John Ryan on the arm to stop a definite try. Great scramble defense.

Diabhal Beag

Great defending. Ryan was all over that.

BBDBB

You beauty

Fantastic effort to hold them out

mark_jmc

Ref mike not working on virgin media?

LessOutragePlz

Can't complain about the yellow card very cynical from Beirne, awesome defense from Munster.

baas baa

JOD having a great start but I think Ryan should have been penalised for getting himself on the wrong side and impeding the clearout.

Hurrache

troyzer wrote: »

It's on TV3 and Channel 4.

Oh thank god. I was enduring Healey on BT until I saw your post.

budhabob

Great lineout and quick kick for great field position