The "Munster can't possibly lose this" Leinster v Munster build up thread

Munster to empty the dressing room in this final round clash with their arch rivals provincial neighbours Leinster.

Will Leinster once again set out to intentionally injure Munster players?

Will Munster's Rowntree Van Graan be able to inspire Munster at half time to strike for victory?

Will Alan Quinlan's gradual conversion to the dark side life long Leinster fan be completed?

Will three red kings have a hissy fit make us internet famous again?

Find out, same bat time, same bat channel.

Actually that last one might not have made sense.

TRC10

Quinny, Keith Wood and Fiona Hayes' group therapy sessions on OTB are going to be pretty wild if Munster lose this

molloyjh

Munster won’t lose this. They won’t underestimate us the way the saffers did, especially not after how we performed down there. They are better than us almost everywhere and should win this comfortably.

I’d be happy to see the same heart and fight that we saw in SA though. A few guys could use this experience to kick on for next season.

Now of course if Munster don’t win this comfortably……

RichieRich_89

Hopefully there won't be controversial result-changing decisions from IRFU-affiliated officials that result in more home quarter-finals for IRFU teams. That wouldn't be a good look for the league.

It'll be unbelievably embarrassing for Munster if they don't win this comfortably.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119090647#Comment_119090647

That's the spirit!

aloooof

Bookies have it a 6 point game. Funny how some want to paint this as a home run.... #narrative.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119090697#Comment_119090697

So you think a first choice Munster team minus what, POM and Beirne is only marginally better than a complete reserve Leinster team? One featuring Thomas Clarkson, Rob Russel and Cormac Foley? Must keep that in mind for the future.

TRC10

Looks like this fixture is gaining a bit more spice than anticipated. Looking forward to it now.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119090766#Comment_119090766

Well when one team can simply shrug off a loss but the other will face complete humiliation it's just how it goes. I'm sure Munster are nervous.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119090697#Comment_119090697

The problem isn't that it's a home run, the problem is that it should be a home run but probably won't be.

I'd actually give that Leinster team a decent shot

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119090740#Comment_119090740

If you think Munster are only missing Beirne and POM then I don't think you're familiar with our injury list.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119090871#Comment_119090871

Stop making excuses, jeez.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119090766#Comment_119090766

If Leinser win I might never leave the Munster thread.

aloooof

I’m just surprised Leinster fans on here are interested at all in this and aren’t off practicing actually adding some volume to their shouting for next weekend.

Dubinusa

Munster should win going away! Earls and Conway v R.O.L and Russell!

Murray and Carberry v Foley and HB!

The Munster pack should get the upper hand. I would be very surprised if it's a very tight encounter!

RichieRich_89

Off the top of my head Munster are missing Kilcoyne, Archer, Snyman, Beirne, O'Mahony, Coombes, de Allende and Zebo.

I would argue Kilcoyne and Archer being absent actually strengthens the Munster XXIII though, and O'Mahony must find it difficult to believe Munster can actually win this fixture with Leinster having the wood over them so much lately - relatively comfortable wins in Thormand Park, etc. I'd say he's completely demoralised at this point, so it might be better for Munster to have the likes of Kendellen in there to bring a bit of freshness and vigour.

TRC10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119090916#Comment_119090916

It's easy to shout when you're underdogs and rely on the 16th man. Less so when you have most games in the bag at HT.

It will be plenty loud enough in Marseille next week, don't you worry

Former Former Former

Fair play to aloooof for getting into the spirit of things.

All the other Munster posters obviously just think the win is in the bag and can't be bothered. They're as arrogant as their players.

Neil3030

Munster will be missing DDA, Kilcoyne, Beirne, POM, Coombes, Zebo, anyone else I'm forgetting about? (don't think RG counts...)

mun1

First time seeing a match thread where its mostly the wind up merchants who we’ve all blocked . Is there anyone going to give a prediction ?

TomsOnTheRoof

I see the usual trolling masquerading as banter is underway.

As for the match. Munster will need Carbery to have his kicking boots on as I think we'll struggle to get the ball out wide with that midfield. I would also have preferred to see Casey start. Anyway here's hoping for a good game.

Neil3030

Looking at the experience in both squads, it's actually not miles off.

Province/Club caps, it's Munster around 2300 v Leinster around 1500 total (if Wiki is up to date).

International caps it's even closer, around 340 v 310.

A passing glance may have you thinking, "Munster might lose to Leinster's A team, lolz", while in reality, Leinster's experience and quality in depth is exactly where you'd expect it, given their catchment area.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119091193#Comment_119091193

And funnily enough, at beyond a passing glance you'd see Leinster As feat. retirees v Munster

Dubinusa

I think it will be Munster 24 : 13 Leinster.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119091349#Comment_119091349

Stop disrespecting Munster.

Akrasia

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119090740#Comment_119090740

POM, Beirne, De-Allende, Coombes (Can anyone remember why he's not playing?) Zebo, Archer, Kilcoyne, Hodnett, Cloete, Snyman.....

Yeah it's the first choice Munster vs Leinster here

Akrasia

My score prediction

Leinster, 7 - Munster 30,000,000

With Leinster's 7 points coming as Jenkins scores an own try in the dying moments and kicks the conversion himself.

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119091067#Comment_119091067

To be fair, I think there’s generally more leeway in the build-up threads before kick-off which is fair enough.

Tho that doesn’t account for what will inevitably happen in the Munster thread after the final whistle… soMeOne shouLd make and acronym For that ‘Stuff.

pickarooney

It's Snyman, isn't it, the reason everything goes wrong. No Snyman. Had a nice shiny toy and broke it after 5 minutes.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119091517#Comment_119091517

I think he got injured by his own player

Akrasia

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119091827#Comment_119091827

You think wrong

Akrasia

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119091753#Comment_119091753

Snyman would be nice to have. Maybe he'll be back for the final

He can come on when Ahern gets tired

Clegg

I posted on the Leinster thread that I expect Munster to win. They've a stronger 23 overall and also have more to play for.

But we've put out a similar squad to the one that surprised the South African teams in the recent mini tour there. I think we've a coaching advantage there. We might sneak a losing bonus point if we hit all our markers.

Akrasia

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119092432#Comment_119092432

good thing you arrived just in time to raise the level of the discourse

Lsdrugbyfan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119092432#Comment_119092432

go back to the echo chamber so, im sure TRK will tell you what you want to hear.

Toner's last chance to take out another up-and-coming Munster star

Dave_The_Sheep

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119092596#Comment_119092596

You're assuming a few things.

1. Munster don't get a final or otherwise meet Leinster before that.
2. Leinster don't get a final or otherwise meet Munster before that.
3. Toner doesn't play both games.

I mean, if we're being realistic, Toner could have two games to perform career ending injuries on up and coming Munster stars.

But I suppose I'd be assuming things too.

1. He hasn't taken them out already.
2. Toner can be arsed to do so, but I suppose he's a loyal Leinster lock and has never signed with another club so wants to go out with a bang or whatever...
3. This whole thing isn't just made up in someone's head.

Of course, Toner could get injured in a freak rugby accident in training next week. In which case we'll never know.

One out of six isn't bad. Certainly better than Munster's record recently.

In case it wasn't clear, this post there is what I'm choosing to call "general silliness" given the week that is in it, and I'm only being 16.6% serious.

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119092570#Comment_119092570

Didn’t you say you subscribe yourself to TRK? Paying to be outraged, it’s a new one to me. ;)

RichieRich_89

The way Munster win this match is by getting their maul going and dominating collisions on both sides of the ball. Leinster have to be good enough to stop Munster doing those things. Their maul defence has to be on point, their defence needs to be accurate and aggressive, and they need to generate go-forward when they have the ball. They do have good tight carriers in Murphy and McCarthy, and good loose carriers in Cronin and Baird. And their starter plays off line-outs have caused Munster serious problems in recent seasons. The biggest reason to be optimistic is that Lancaster's training techniques pit these players against Leinster's first-choice players all the time in high-intensity sessions.

ionadnapokot

Nice to see Larmour at FB. First time since…Saracens 2020?

Murphy at Lock and Baird at 6 is odd to me

as is Murray over Casey. Maybe Palpatine is still HC after all.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119092715#Comment_119092715

Nice to just see Larmour back playing really, he'd been very good this season up to getting injured. Hadn't really thought about Murphy & Baird but fair point.

aloooof

I think Larmour will need a really good run next season to put himself in with a chance of making the RWC squad. His ability to cover 13 as well is in his favour vs the competition for wing/fb, but he’s down the pecking order at the moment.

Lsdrugbyfan

Hopefully Larmour has improved his fielding.

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119093392#Comment_119093392

Was it the first game back after Covid that he was quite poor? I think the game 2 weeks later then, Leinster did a better job of protecting him / “escorts”.

It’ll be interesting to see how he goes 2nite, you’d imagine it’s an area Munster will try to test him in, especially with Conway back too.

Lsdrugbyfan

would love to see Munster box kicking with murray instead of keeping the ball in hand.

Dubinusa

Larmour has been quite good this season. But, he's got a lot of ground to make up to be in contention for the rwc. His high ball fielding remains his weakness, otherwise he'd probably be a starter or thereabouts.

Today's tilt should be a Munster victory. The front row for Leinster will struggle due to Cronin having so little match time and Clarkson being low on minutes too. The 2nd row for Munster is a bigger unit and should retain their own line out ball while being disruptive to Leinster's line out. I think McCarthy and Murphy will put in a shift and front up. But it's tough to see Leinster getting on top in the forwards battle.

Munster should focus on what they're good at and attack the breakdown and maul when close to Leinsters line. Leinster will put up a good fight and will push Munster for about 60 minutes. But Munster should win with a cushion. I'm really looking forward to seeing Ahern play and McCarthy for Leinster. I hope Foley plays well and can start pushing on for next season.

It's disappointing that Casey didn't get the start. He's certainly earned it and it won't be long until he is starting.

typhoony

Not sure where the comfortable win for Munster comes from, there's enough players in that Leinster team who have been involved in putting them at the top of the league, I guess it will depend on how well the Leinster pack operate as a unit, it doesn't seem to matter whether it's 1st, 2nd or 3rd team Lancaster has them all trained well. Munster might just edge it based on the individuals they have but they are definitely not a well oiled unit like Leinster

TRC10

Larmour is a funny one, in that he's been on an upward trajectory over the last year, yet he's further down the Ireland pecking order than he was a year ago. Probably down to the emergence of Baloucoune and Hansen in that time, both who Farrell rates highly.

Farrell isn't as obsessed with having back three cover on the bench as Schmidt was. He's happy to have a centre in the 23 shirt, which doesn't favour Larmour.

I'd actually spent most of the day oblivious to the fact this nothing game was on this evening. Might keep an eye on it.

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119094265#Comment_119094265

Announcing it on a message board probably isn’t the best way to convince people ;)