Ulster vs Munster, Sat 2nd Jan 5:15pm, Eir Sport 1

thomond2006

Ulster:
(15-9) Jacob Stockdale, Matt Faddes, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Ethan McIlroy, Billy Burns, John Cooney;
(1-8) Eric O’Sullivan, Rob Herring, Marty Moore, Kieran Treadwell, Sam Carter (Capt.), Matty Rea, David McCann, Nick Timoney.

Replacements: Adam McBurney, Callum Reid, Tom O’Toole, David O’Connor, Marcell Coetzee, Nathan Doak, Ian Madigan, Ben Moxham.

Munster:
Shane Daly; Calvin Nash, Dan Goggin, Rory Scannell, Liam Coombes; Ben Healy, Craig Casey;
Liam O’Connor, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Fineen Wycherley, Billy Holland (c); Jack O’Donoghue, Chris Cloete, Jack O’Sullivan.

Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Dave Kilcoyne, Roman Salanoa, Thomas Ahern, Tommy O’Donnell, Nick McCarthy, Jack Crowley, Darren Sweetnam.

yerrahbah

So Munster sending a largely 2nd choice 15 whereas Ulster are close enough to full strength.

Big ask for Munster, McCloskey did a load of damage in this game last year

Kilcoyne, N.Scannell, L.Coombes, and Crowley all due to play for the first time this season

14 out of the starting 15 are "homegrown" players and all 23 are IQ

thomond2006

I knew none of the frontline internationals would take part, but I thought it would be a stronger side. No Kleyn, Conway or JJ for example.

It's great to get Kilcoyne and Scannell back from injury. It's a big game for Scannell as his form wasn't great prior to his injury. KOB and Marshall have done well in his absence.

bilston

I make that 9 IQ players 24 or under in the Ulster 23?

Stockdale
McIlroy
Hume
McCann
Reid
McBurney
O'Toole
Doak
Moxham

launish116

yerrahbah wrote: »

So Munster sending a largely 2nd choice 15 whereas Ulster are close enough to full strength.

Big ask for Munster, McCloskey did a load of damage in this game last year

Kilcoyne, N.Scannell, L.Coombes, and Crowley all due to play for the first time this season

14 out of the starting 15 are "homegrown" players and all 23 are IQ

Ulster have a lot of youth in the team.

If I was Munster I’d be wanting a Ulster win and keep fingers crossed for some magic next week. I’m sure Munster would prefer us than Leinster in the final.

Paul Smeenus

bilston wrote: »

I make that 9 IQ players 24 or under in the Ulster 23?

Stockdale
McIlroy
Hume
McCann
Reid
McBurney
O'Toole
Doak
Moxham

I think it's a fantastic mix. Some of our best players and internationals to try to get us over the line, Academy players McCann and McIlroy starting, two more Academy players (in badly-needed positions) potentially making debuts off the bench.

thomond2006

All attention on next week as expected but getting the injured players back (N Scannell, Kilcoyne, Healy and L Coombes) is great. Kilcoyne's return is timely with Cronin out.

aloooof

Gav Coombes omission solidifying his place in the first choice 15, if there was any doubt. Well deserved given the season he’s had. I wonder could he feature in the 6N (maybe against Italy) at this rate?

thomond2006

I don't think there's any question over Coombes spot in the backrow.

It's a big opportunity for Daly. The injury and Ireland callup have seen Mike Haley nail down the 15 shirt for the time being.

Jump_In_Jack

thomond2006 wrote: »

I don't think there's any question over Coombes spot in the backrow.

It's a big opportunity for Daly. The injury and Ireland callup have seen Mike Haley nail down the 15 shirt for the time being.

Daly should be targeting 13 anyway, not the back 3 IMO

Edit: wondering now what a 15 Scannell, 13 Daly, 12 Goggin could be like.

thomond2006

Jump_In_Jack wrote: »

Daly should be targeting 13 anyway, not the back 3 IMO

Edit: wondering now what a 15 Scannell, 13 Daly, 12 Goggin could be like.

I think his best opportunity will be in the back three. Earls has maybe one season left after this one.

yerrahbah

I think McCloskey will be looking to test Healys shoulder at every opportunity

The 9-10-12 combination of Casey, Healy and Scannell will have their work cut out for them

shootermacg

If Munster actually wanted a chance of a win, they'd just have to add a bit of experience in the right areas, they haven't so I wouldn't expect to see them winning.

Very light in the back 5 pack-wise, which means Ulster will be looking to maul any chance they get. Very young back 3 too. Centre looks like another weak area that Ulster could exploit.

Starting Niall Scannell instead of off the bench also seems a bit bonkers to me. I'd only be looking to give him a 20 minute run out.

thomond2006

Scannell was at the presser for the Leinster game so he was going to be involved. Add in an extra week's training and it's not a surprise to see him start.

shootermacg

thomond2006 wrote: »

Scannell was at the presser for the Leinster game so he was going to be involved. Add in an extra week's training and it's not a surprise to see him start.

I saw the presser, doesn't make a difference to my opinion. He will be blowing hard after 5 minutes.

RugbyLover123

Anyway of watching this live other then Eir? Coming up unavailable on Premier Sports

irishbucsfan

Interesting decision for Ulster not to start 15 Chris Farrell's on Eir Sport this week, after how well he did last week

Paul Weller

I hope that Healy & Casey have cracking games today...can't see is winning, but hopefully we keep it close

arsebiscuits1

Starting Cloete is essentially a guarantee of penalty concessions.

The dude never learns

Dave_The_Sheep

Lovely score.

AlfaZen

Pass from Stockdale looked a touch forward

Buer

Dave_The_Sheep wrote: »

Lovely score.

Lovely, slick passing aside from Stockdale who owes Faddes a beer for gathering that pig of a pass.

budhabob

AlfaZen wrote: »

Pass from Stockdale looked a touch forward

thought the same myself but good move nonetheless

Dave_The_Sheep

Buer wrote: »

Lovely, slick passing aside from Stockdale who owes Faddes a beer for gathering that pig of a pass.

Agreed, and there was a second one later from Faddes in a similar position that was a rocket too. Soften it a bit.

Second lovely score for Ulster there.

launish116

McIlroy looks very sharp

Kraftwerk

Billy Burns is a shrewd operator. No hesitation and always a threat.

razorblunt

That lineout prior to the Mcilroy break was ridiculously squint. Caught in an Ulster left hand.

Absolutely no effort there to roll away - was so obvious.

Clegg

Really not a fan of Cloete. Good on the deck but every other aspect of his game is average.

razorblunt

Adamson is letting Ulster hold on to the ball for a long time at every ruck.

razorblunt

razorblunt wrote: »

Adamson is letting Ulster hold on to the ball for a long time at every ruck.

Timoney robs one after Munster release on the floor.

Paul Smeenus

Best young player on the pitch that half was McIlroy.

irishbucsfan

Munster got very lucky to be given that penalty at the end at the scrum, could have been even more behind

"Tea or Coffee"

"No Robbo - I'm gonna have a pizza"

Did Ferris just announce a signing there?

Buer

Impressive physicality on both sides of the ball from the Ulster back line. Hammering into contact, making yards and tossing Munster backs out of rucks.

This is the best I've seen from Hume in some time.

OldRio

Robbo..... SHUT UP.

Burkie1203

[Deleted User] wrote: »

"Tea or Coffee"

"No Robbo - I'm gonna have a pizza"

Did Ferris just announce a signing there?

Meaning who?

awec

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Munster got very lucky to be given that penalty at the end at the scrum, could have been even more behind

I thought the first offence was that Scannell didn't hook it again.

Locke_Lamora

Munster making far too many basic errors and can't get a foot in the game. Still not over from them I feel, think they'll come out better in the second half. Back three and centre defence are particularly to blame.

Ulster going well, the backs looking dangerous with Burns being a standout, and the forwards are carrying with conviction. Would like to see them ruck faster, don't let Munster get a sniff of a turnover.

McIlroy has shown a bit of everything - good under the high ball, defended very well, carried down his line dangerously as well.

McCann has done ok, one carry made me think he can mix it at this level, but it's obviously not his main role. Don't think he's an openside at all, not quick enough or savy enough at the breakdown.

bilston

Very impressed by Ethan McIlroy in that half. Billy Burns going well too.

Still plenty in the game for Munster though.

irishbucsfan

awec wrote: »

I thought the first offence was that Scannell didn't hook it again.

Yeah. Munster were in trouble right across the front row there.

If they are still struggling on their own put in in the second half it’ll be a huge target for Ulster

Burkie1203

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Meaning who?

I didn't hear the name, Ferris said something along the lines of "did you hear xxxxx was coming up next season".

Sometimes the streams keep the sound on a little longer than the broadcasters do. They were chatting about what they were eating at half time. Ferris was having a pizza!

irishbucsfan

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I didn't hear the name, Ferris said something along the lines of "did you hear xxxxx was coming up next season".

Sometimes the streams keep the sound on a little longer than the broadcasters do. They were chatting about what they were eating at half time. Ferris was having a pizza!

Nucifora, I’m pretty sure he said

aloooof

Ulster comfortably better and a bit unlucky not to be further ahead. Billy Burns looking pretty sharp.

Robbo and Ferris fairly annoying on comms...

irishbucsfan

Robson is possibly the most annoying person this island has ever produced

irishbucsfan

Do you know the priest in the closet in father Ted who talks to himself. “What is your favourite humming noise”

That is Robson

SqueakyKneecap

That Hume is having a lovely match

razorblunt

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Robson is possibly the most annoying person this island has ever produced

Consistently too. At least we don’t have to hear about Jack McGrath’s Kevlar thumb 12 times over the 80 mins.

razorblunt

Adamson is just blind to rucks, JOS had to wrestle for an age to get a turnover and then there’s a cluster**** where he guesses scrum Ulster.

launish116

Coetzee & Reid on

razorblunt

JOS is nowhere near the standard required.