Munster vs CONNACHT match thread

thomond2006

Munster:
Shane Daly; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Damian de Allende, Keith Earls; JJ Hanrahan, Conor Murray; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne; Peter O’Mahony (C), Chris Cloete, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Kevin O’Byrne, Liam O’Connor, Stephen Archer, Billy Holland, Jack O’Donoghue, Craig Casey, Rory Scannell, Jack O’Sullivan.

Former Former

KBurke85

Connacht Team

https://twitter.com/connachtrugby/status/1299300703240884224/photo/1

Zzippy

Fixed your title Thomond. Careful now

thomond2006

Zzippy wrote: »

Fixed your title Thomond. Careful now

Zzippy hates FrEe SpEeCh.

Tomtom364

I know interpros tend to be a bit tighter then the game on paper.

But Munster should tear that Connacht team apart.

Daly & Arnold Vs DdA & Farrell could be brutal.
Poor Sammy used to struggle for size in Munsters centre against the big teams and now he could have the same problem against Munster.

connachta

For once Connacht pack (even on the bench) is as haevy as Munster's, should be interesting!

Papali'i/Oliver is experimental, if it goes well.... Same for T.Daly/C.DeBuitlear.

4 make or break. The rest is close to our best

The Lost Sheep

connachta wrote: »

For once Connacht pack (even on the bench) is as haevy as Munster's, shhould be interesting!

Papali'i/Oliver is experimental, if it goes well.... Same for T.Daly/C.DeBuitlear.

4 make or break. The rest is close to our best

You are far too concerned with the weight of players. Bar a few exceptions a few kgs lighter isnt an issue.

thomond2006

Papali'i has been set up to fail. The mocker gods have only to read the Connacht team thread for more than enough reason...

connachta

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

You are far too concerned with the weight of players. Bar a few exceptions a few kgs lighter isnt an issue.

Munster dominated Connacht in the past because of that.


Even for centres, yeah DeA/Farell are monster, but Daly/Robb aren't shy either..

connachta

thomond2006 wrote: »

Papali'i has been set up to fail. The mocker gods have only to read the Connacht team thread for more than enough reason...

Papal'i will learn Stander what ball carrying means.
Without doubt.
The only concern is about lasting 60/80 minutes

sydthebeat

munster are gonna whoop that connacht team...

the difference at the end of the game will depend on how quickly munster race to the TBP

rayd3

connachta wrote: »

Papal'i will learn Stander what ball carrying means.
Without doubt.

Do you think there is any better ball carrier in world rugby than Papal’i fella? Do Billy V or Vermeulen come close?

thomond2006

With the complete retooling of the back five there are spots up for grabs. JOD and JOS will be itching for minutes.

connachta

rayd3 wrote: »

Do you think there is any better ball carrier in world rugby than Papal’i fella? Do Billy V or Vermeulen come close?

Billy, maybe.. tight call:D

theVersatile

Tomtom364 wrote: »

Poor Sammy used to struggle for size in Munsters centre against the big teams and now he could have the same problem against Munster.

The same Sam Arnold who defended brilliantly against Nonu and Bastereud? He'll be fine.

connachta

theVersatile wrote: »

The same Sam Arnold who defended brilliantly against Nonu and Bastereud? He'll be fine.

DeAllende+Farrell 204 Kg
Daly+Arnold 201 Kg


Weight won't be an issue at least

shootermacg

Arnold was never shy in defense, what a load of bull. He just didn't get a good injury free run at Munster, but you can never deny the kid had heart in spades.

Richie_Rich89

First choice players bolded

v Ulster
1. Denis Buckley
2. Dave Heffernan
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Ultan Dillane
5. Gavin Thornbury
6. Eoghan Masterson
7. Jarrad Butler
8. Paul Boyle
9. Kieran Marmion
10. Jack Carty
11. Alex Wootton
12. Bundee Aki
13. Tom Farrell
14. Peter Sullivan
15. John Porch (at 14)

v Munster
1. McAllister
2. Delahunt
3. Robertson-McCoy
4. Murray
5. Roux
6. E Masterson
7. Oliver
8. Papali'i
9. Blade
10. Fitzgerald
11. Healy
12. Daly
13. Arnold
14. De Buitlear
15. TOH

Marmion/Blade and MacAllister/Buckley arguable. It makes sense to rotate and spread the gametime around, but I wonder what Friend's thinking was in selecting far more first choice players for the first fixture. Neither game had/has anything riding on it for Connacht as regards qualifying for anything.

It's a reasonably good team but their chances could be improved massively by having the quality of Aki and Farrell in the centre. I can see Munster making hay down Tom Daly's channell all day.

connachta

Richie_Rich89 wrote: »

First choice players bolded

v Ulster
1. Denis Buckley
2. Dave Heffernan
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Ultan Dillane
5. Gavin Thornbury
6. Eoghan Masterson
7. Jarrad Butler
8. Paul Boyle
9. Kieran Marmion
10. Jack Carty
11. Alex Wootton
12. Bundee Aki
13. Tom Farrell
14. Peter Sullivan
15. John Porch (at 14)

v Munster
1. McAllister
2. Delahunt
3. Robertson-McCoy
4. Murray
5. Roux
6. E Masterson
7. Oliver
8. Papali'i
9. Blade
10. Fitzgerald
11. Healy
12. Daly
13. Arnold
14. De Buitlear
15. TOH

Marmion/Blade and MacAllister/Buckley arguable. It makes sense to rotate and spread the gametime around, but I wonder what Friend's thinking was in selecting far more first choice players for the first fixture. Neither game had/has anything riding on it for Connacht as regards qualifying for anything.

It's a reasonably good team but their chances could be improved massively by having the quality of Aki and Farrell in the centre. I can see Munster making hay down Tom Daly's channell all day.

1. McAllister
2. Delahunt
3. Robertson-McCoy
4. Murray
5. Roux
6. E Masterson
9. Blade
10. Fitzgerald
11. Healy
13. Arnold
15. TOH


Are all in contention for 1st choice spots
Not even talking about unproven Papali'i

aloooof

Richie_Rich89 wrote: »

It makes sense to rotate and spread the gametime around, but I wonder what Friend's thinking was in selecting far more first choice players for the first fixture. Neither game had/has anything riding on it for Connacht as regards qualifying for anything.

Probably an IRFU conspiracy. AMIRITE, Richie??

Richie_Rich89

aloooof wrote: »

Probably an IRFU conspiracy. AMIRITE, Richie??

The facts are there for everyone to look at. Draw your own conclusions.

I actually think some of the non-first choice players are quality and could step up - the likes of Oliver, Delahunt. And in some cases the second choices are nipping at the heels of the first choices - Blade, Robertson-McCoy. But there's no getting away from the fact that far more of the players who would be selected to start a must-win game were playing last weekend.

evil_seed

Glorified friendly is all this is. Only hope is that Connacht come out injury free and with some pride. That's quite a strong Munster team for a glorified friendly IMO

stephen_n

aloooof wrote: »

Probably an IRFU conspiracy. AMIRITE, Richie??

IRFU clearly don’t hold any sway with Leinster :pac:

Cookiemunster

evil_seed wrote: »

Glorified friendly is all this is. Only hope is that Connacht come out injury free and with some pride. That's quite a strong Munster team for a glorified friendly IMO

It won't be a glorified friendly for Munster if Scarlets win tomorrow. Although the bookies currently have Munster at -17, so they're not expecting much from Connacht.

Former Former

connachta wrote: »

DeAllende+Farrell 204 Kg
Daly+Arnold 201 Kg


Weight won't be an issue at least

I'm very skeptical of this statistic.

sydthebeat

Former Former wrote: »

I'm very skeptical of this statistic.

from someone obsessed about weight as well....

Richie_Rich89

Internet says:

Daly 106kg
Arnold 95kg
de Allende 101kg
Farrell 110kg

sydthebeat

Richie_Rich89 wrote: »

Internet says:

Daly 106kg
Arnold 95kg
de Allende 101kg
Farrell 110kg

according to ultimate rugby de allande is 103
wiki says hes 105
munster squad site says hes 105
ESPN says hes 105

Tomtom364

shootermacg wrote: »

Arnold was never shy in defense, what a load of bull. He just didn't get a good injury free run at Munster, but you can never deny the kid had heart in spades.

Never said he was shy in defence.
It's more in attack he cannot impose himself against big opposition.

Against strong teams, can think of clear examples against Leinster & Sarries in the last season, Arnold would hit a line hard up off a lineout, get stopped easily behind the gainline and Munster lose possession due to the forwards having to work around to the ruck.

stephen_n

Tomtom364 wrote: »

Never said he was shy in defence.
It's more in attack he cannot impose himself against big opposition.

Against strong teams, can think of clear examples against Leinster & Sarries in the last season, Arnold would hit a line hard up off a lineout, get stopped easily behind the gainline and Munster lose possession due to the forwards having to work around to the ruck.

Maybe Connacht will have the good sense not to try use him as a battering ram so.

The Lost Sheep

The IRFU have just confirmed that all Covid testing in Connacht and Munster has produced zero positive results.

yerrahbah

Serious Jackal ability in that Munster team with Beirne, POM, Cloete and Stander

Cloete has a chance to make the 7 jersey his own for the rest of this season (if tomorrow isn't our last match) with a big performance

Thought we might have made a change in the back three to get minutes into other players

Just a shame we wont see DdA vs Aki

Zzippy

yerrahbah wrote: »

Just a shame we wont see DdA vs Aki

I heard Munster asked IRFU to tell Connacht to rest Bundee. Bad enough losing Snyman last week, but they didn't want DDA broken too...

connachta

Zzippy wrote: »

I heard Munster asked IRFU to tell Connacht to rest Bundee. Bad enough losing Snyman last week, but they didn't want DDA broken too...

South African rugby to be cut from 6 to... 8 provinces


Sale Sharks, Montpelier, Saracens and Munster are joining the Union:cool:

So munster only need a LBP?

yerrahbah

Deleted User wrote: »

So munster only need a LBP?

Two match points.

Scarlets are ahead by 1 point, but they have won more matches so would qualify if both teams ended on the same points

Buer

[Deleted User] wrote: »

So munster only need a LBP?

No, they need 2 points. If they lose, they'll need the LBP and 4 tries or the Scarlets progress.

Given the respective line ups, it should all be very straightforward. The bookies currently have Munster as 17 point favourites.

Oh interesting. I thought it came down to points difference

Buer

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Oh interesting. I thought it came down to points difference

Matches won. Hence Edinburgh already having topped the table also before this weekend.

shootermacg

connachta wrote: »

South African rugby to be cut from 6 to... 8 provinces


Sale Sharks, Montpelier, Saracens and Munster are joining the Union:cool:

Ah go on now. So cute
I appreciate you're trying to have a go, but irony isn't your strong point is it?
You really need to read some of the Munster vs Ladyboy threads for tips.

connachta

shootermacg wrote: »

Ah go on now. So cute
I appreciate you're trying to have a go, but irony isn't your strong point is it?
You really need to read some of the Munster vs Ladyboy threads for tips.

That's not irony.
That's pointing out teams who have 50% of their XV who're Saffers.

shootermacg

connachta wrote: »

That's not irony.
That's pointing out teams who have 50% of their XV who're Saffers.

From a fan of a team where other team's rejects go to die See what I did there?

Buer

shootermacg wrote: »

You really need to read some of the Munster vs Ladyboy threads for tips.

Nah. He doesn't.

Cookiemunster

connachta wrote: »

That's not irony.
That's pointing out teams who have 50% of their XV who're Saffers.

Munster have 6 saffers in the whole squad, never mind the half the XV.

connachta

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Munster have 6 saffers in the whole squad, never mind the half the XV.

Knox
Kleyn
Snyman
Cloete
Stander
De Allende


40% Ok, need one more to be admited by SANZAAR (who doesn't exist anymore though....)

thomond2006

Connacht won't have any players next year because they're going to be disbanded by the IRFU in a major conspiracy.

shootermacg

connachta wrote: »

Knox
Kleyn
Snyman
Cloete
Stander
De Allende


40% Ok, need one more to be admited by SANZAAR (who doesn't exist anymore though....)

Connacht is like the united nations of Rugby.
Great for developing players for us though, so I won't complain. We'll be keeping an eye on Sammy and if he turns out OK we'll just have him back. Mightn't be long now until we give Dillane a shout as injury cover

thomond2006

It's difficult to see past a comfortable Munster win. The 17 point handicap feels about right. Connacht's starting XV isn't bad but you'd expect DDA and Farrell to have a big influence and Munster have plenty impact off the bench. Casey will hopefully get more minutes. It's a big opportunity for Wycherley at lock as Holland and Beirne are the likely starting lair next week as it stands.

I'm looking forward to see how Conor Fitzgerald gets on. IIRC he had become the starter before getting injured in the RDS. He only turns 23 next month so is still young enough in his development.

connachta

shootermacg wrote: »

Connacht is like the united nations of Rugby.
Great for developing players for us though, so I won't complain. We'll be keeping an eye on Sammy and if he turns out OK we'll just have him back. Mightn't be long now until we give Dillane a shout as injury cover

That's been 5 years you have wanted Aki and Dillane. They turn you down. Too bad.

connachta

thomond2006 wrote: »

It's difficult to see past a comfortable Munster win. Connacht's starting XV isn't bad but you'd expect DDA and Farrell to have a big influence and Munster have plenty impact off the bench.

I'm looking forward to see how Fitzgerald gets on. IIRC he had become the starter before getting injured in the RDS. He only turns 23 next month so is still young enough in his development.

T.Daly is indeed the key to a landslide for the Reds or a tight game


Front-8 for Connacht is the most physical I've seen. They should match.

Optimistic for back-3 too.