Dragons vs Munster, Sun 1st Nov 2pm. Live on TG4

thomond2006

Dragons:
Josh Lewis, Owen Jenkins, Adam Warren, Jamie Roberts, Ashton Hewitt, Sam Davies, Rhodri Williams (c); Brok Harris, Richard Hibbard, Lloyd Fairbrother, Joe Davies, Matthew Screech, Ben Fry, Harrison Keddie, Ollie Griffiths

Replacements: Ellis Shipp, Conor Maguire, Aaron Jarvis, Ben Carter, Taine Basham, Tavis Knoyle, Jack Dixon, Dafydd Howells

Munster:
Matt Gallagher; Calvin Nash, Rory Scannell, Damian de Allende, Darren Sweetnam; JJ Hanrahan, Craig Casey; Josh Wycherley, Kevin O’Byrne, Keynan Knox; Jean Kleyn, Billy Holland (C); Jack O’Donoghue, Chris Cloete, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, James Cronin, Stephen Archer, Thomas Ahern, Tommy O’Donnell, Nick McCarthy, Jake Flannery, Jack O’Sullivan.

Munster travel to Rodney Parade after their thrilling win over Cardiff in the inaugural Monday Night Rugby. Munster enter this contest with three wins from three while Dragons have shipped two heavy defeats to Leinster and Ulster and an eight point win over Zebre.

Delighted to see a nice mix of youth and experience again.

Interesting to see Flannery in the 22 shirt. With the other outhalfs in the Academy and him playing 15 for the U20's, I honestly thought that's where his future would lie.

theVersatile

Goddamn that is an interesting Munster team. Finally get to see Knox. Whycherley starts at LH. Thomas Aherne involved at last too. Scannell at 13 probably isn't the most glowing thing for McHenry (unless injury or COVID is a factor). Flannery getting his trial off the bench.

Looking forward to it

thomond2006

A lot of opportunities given in that lineup alongside experienced players. Knox starts at TH, Wycherley as expected gets a start at LH. Ahern on the bench for his debut. Scannell at 13 with Farrell and Goggin unavailable.

bayern

Marley Old-fashioned Popgun wrote: »

Delighted to see a nice mix of youth and experience again.

Interesting to see Flannery in the 22 shirt. With the other outhalfs in the Academy and him playing 15 for the U20's, I honestly thought that's where his future would lie.

He could quite easily come on at 15 in this.

budhabob

Delighted with that team. Youth is getting a right shot at the moment, but theres a nice balance to it.

aloooof

Great mix again, there. As young a front row as we’ve started in a long time (tho out of necessity as much as anything). Looking forward to see Ahern too.

Would have thought 12. Scannell 13. DDA might’ve made more sense?

yerrahbah

DDA vs Roberts and Nash vs Hewitt will be interesting battles

Looking forward to seeing Gallagher at FB

Happy to see Knox, Wycherley, Barron, Ahern, Flannery and O'Sullivan all involved

Tomtom364

When DdA came on for goggin last week himself and Scannell sort of interchanged between 12/13 depending on circumstances but mostly Scannell was stood at 13

thomond2006

theVersatile wrote: »

Goddamn that is an interesting Munster team. Finally get to see Knox. Whycherley starts at LH. Thomas Aherne involved at last too. Scannell at 13 probably isn't the most glowing thing for McHenry (unless injury or COVID is a factor). Flannery getting his trial off the bench.

Looking forward to it

I can understand taking Scannell over McHenry. While Dragons look awful it's still an away game where a mix and match Munster side has struggled to wins in the past. If Flannery comes on at 10 he might be glad to have Scannell alongside as a kicking option.

yerrahbah

If conditions are anything like they were yesterday for the Wales game, then this game could be an arm wrestle

The Lost Sheep

Cleote is out with neck injury. John Hodnett straight into team replacing him

yerrahbah

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Cleote is out with neck injury. John Hodnett straight into team replacing him

He's luckless with neck injuries

budhabob

Very dangerous no arm tackle. Surprised it wasnt given another look.

razorblunt

That was a long advantage.
I thought Kleyn might have had a shoulder to the head too.

The no arms - chop was filthy.

budhabob

Hodnett looks the real deal. Surprisingly strong and great awareness. Gallagher has been sharp so far also. Good try.

The Lost Sheep

Good score by Gallagher. Some great offloading in leadup.

sioda

Casey great feints by him

foxyladyxx

Gallagher, Casey , Hodnett and Wycherley for Ireland

razorblunt

budhabob wrote: »

Hodnett looks the real deal. Surprisingly strong and great awareness. Gallagher has been sharp so far also. Good try.

I think he'll be great, loads of aggression already and runs at space. He offers Munster something in the backrow they haven't had before.

leakyboots

Tis very early days but Casey looks to be the dog's danglies - lovely snappy pass, great break and step, not afraid to take control and play for territory.

ScrubsfanChris

Sh*t day, take the points.

ScrubsfanChris

What a try!

Akrasia

What a beautiful try

razorblunt

Munster are playing some brilliant heads up stuff. Gallagher not calling the mark, Casey and JJ all making great decisions.

The Dragons defence are actually backing away from tackles too.

sioda

Will today be the day De Allende breaks his duck

ScrubsfanChris

That was poor from Casey at the maul, had plenty of time to use it.

JJs territorial kicking continues to be so very poor

foxyladyxx

Knock on?

Dog Botherer

a lot of Dragons lads look like they're just there to make up the numbers and get a paycheck. sad stuff.

Dog Botherer

lol well obviously my stream is a minute or two behind

budhabob

Dragons are dirty ****ers. KOB got an elbow to the face while on the ground there.

Dog Botherer

shout out to the commentator who started saying "good hands, good hands" while Munster knocked on

ionadnapokot

sioda wrote: »

Casey great feints by him

Thats because he's too small:pac:
https://twitter.com/Murray_Kinsella/status/1322906301626802176?s=20

Get him onto that Ireland bench quickly. Crying out for this impetus.

ScrubsfanChris

Well that was.... odd

Akrasia

That was mad

The Lost Sheep

Not odd. Clever from Dragons. At least Munster hadnt transferred ball back in the maul

razorblunt

Why are the commentators saying Munster had to use it? Ball was at the front of the maul, not the back.

ScrubsfanChris

That was a clear penalty at the end

thomond2006

Frustrating end to the half but some great highlights.

ScrubsfanChris

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Not odd. Clever from Dragons. At least Munster hadnt transferred ball back in the maul

I know what the laws are, it was odd that no one was making a decision on what to do

razorblunt

Hibbard came in from the side completely there.

He should be next on Casey's bítchslap list.

Akrasia

Couldn't have been more in from the side if he was a flippin crab

Yellow card territory there given where we were on the pitch.

leakyboots

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

I know what the laws are, it was odd that no one was making a decision on what to do

My reading was Billy Holland told the ref he still had the ball so he put the onus back on the Dragons. And (surprise) their prop came straight in from the side then.

razorblunt

Akrasia wrote: »

Couldn't have been more in from the side if he was a flippin crab

Yellow card territory there given where we were on the pitch.

No surpise the two Welsh yokels on comms were praising the good hit.

leakyboots

KOB twice in a row tried an inside pass off the back of a maul towards the end and noone there. You could see Hanrahan having a word with him after the second one... no idea is he going off script or is he right to be a bit peeved that noone is running the line for him. But good to see the variety in our attacking, last few games have been very encouraging

ScrubsfanChris

That was a pathetic passage of play.

thomond2006

Dragons' SH buys the penalty.

budhabob

I hate when teams play for that penalty.

kingofthekong

Coombes cant be that naive, gotta be cuter, the scrumhalfs looking for that all day...just lie on the bloody ground

thomond2006

budhabob wrote: »

I hate when teams play for that penalty.

Keeps defenders honest I guess.

leakyboots

Coombes is being brought back down to earth, not having a good day today