Leinster v Munster Build-up Tread

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120587173#Comment_120587173

its not his "proper" wedding, he just had to get the civil ceremony done. Its not that weird.

Looking at the two teams, Kelleher the stand out of the two front rows, beyond that not loads between them. I rate Loughman, Milne is developing well but still raw enough. Ala'alatoa a far better tighthead than Archer, but the red v blue rivalry factor should get a lot out of Archer.

Advantage Munster in the second row, Kleyn is having a terrific season and Beirne is on the cusp of world class. Interesting though in that Jenkins and Kleyn would play a very similar brand of rugby and Beirne / Baird are similarly athletic second rows.

Backrow a tough call. POM Hodnett Coombes v Deegan Connors Conan.

I think people will call this one on provincial lines. No doubt POM a far more established international than Deegan, but the same could be said of Conan over Coombes. Connors looked to be Ireland's openside at one point but injury has derailed his career of late. Hodnett has never been in the frame for Ireland but has had a stand out season that's brought him close to the top table.

Can't really call it but going to give slight advantage to Leinster. I think Connors is a better player than Hodnett and the margin between the two is greater than that between POM / Deegan. I think Conan is a more dynamic player than Coombes as much as Coombes gets through an immense amount of work I think he's more a Rhys Ruddock style 8. Lineout is going to be fascinating but advantage Munster, can't see the scrums going either way.

Overall not a lot between the packs, front row Leinster, second row Munster, back row parity. Leinster the better coached unit however and that gives them advantage.

Halves another interesting one. Munster look to be in a 'getting their best players on the pitch' situation with Crowley moving to 12. I'd take McGrath / Byrne over Casey / Healy personally. Crowley is hardy enough for the 12 channel but will the line hold against two hard carrying 12s? Advantage Leinster at half and mid field to be honest, and that's a significant advantage.

No much between the back three's. I'm a big Haley fan and I don't think it's JOB's best position. Earls v Kearney makes me want to post the jumanji 'what year is it' meme. Daly v TOB is a nice line up as both are up and comers with International aspirations. Parity in the back three from what I can see.

Leinster's forwards replacements are far stronger. If the game hasn't been won at that point, I see the forwards bench sealing the deal for the home side.

TLDR:

Front row: Advantage Leinster

Second row: Advantage Munster

Back row: parity / slight Leinster advantage

9/10: Advantage Leinster

12/13: Advantage Leinster

Back 3: Parity

Bench: Advantage Leinster

Conclusion: Ladyboy's to progress.

Akrasia

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120587211#Comment_120587211

What makes you think Beirne isn't fit, he played the full 80 last week. The squad update even specifically said Beirne came through the game without injury

pickarooney

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120587148#Comment_120587148

Yeah, he couldn't get legally married in France if he's not a resident there. The 'actual wedding' would be just a party with no legal status.

aloooof

Pretty happy with those team, all things considered.

Think Fineen Wycherley is a little unlucky not to be starting, given some of his performances of late.

Niall Scannell only recently back from injury but looks like Barron’s out starting hooker now?

Feel we’ll miss Murray or Patterson here, even one of those fit would’ve been helpful.

CIARAN_BOYLE

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120587288#Comment_120587288

Given that he needed to give 3 months notice maybe he was expecting the season to be over by now.

What if Munster were away to South Africa for the semi (3 months notice is necessary) he would have missed one of the other.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120587304#Comment_120587304

Yeah, I don't mean he's injured, I just mean he came back pretty quickly from a very long layoff. In an ideal world they'd have preferred to have eased him in more slowly than they've had to. He played 80 last week out of necessity.

Brief_Lives

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120587396#Comment_120587396

he had it on a wednesday. They always have wednesdays free. it's not a big deal.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120587454#Comment_120587454

Who officiated? We're they from Munster?

Clegg

Harry Byrne has been playing well since returning from injury and getting consistent time on the pitch. Tomorrow he's starting the biggest game of his career. It's a chance for him to show he should be ahead of Crowley and that Farrell backed the right man over Healy.

I hope he plays well, brings the ball to the line and puts his outside backs into space.

Brief_Lives

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120587471#Comment_120587471

Well, we can rule you, Ciaran and me out for definite... after that, not sure...

Former Former Former

Handicap has narrowed from 15 to 10 since the teams were announced.

Akrasia

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120587412#Comment_120587412

Nah, Beirne is one of those players who is better the more he plays. If he's coming back from a long break, usually he has one poor enough game before he hits form, he was very good last week, I'd expect him to be even better tomorrow.

Akrasia

Munster destroyed Glasgow's Maul last week. Given the team Leo picked today, it's clear that they're focusing on LAR and I'd say most of their training is with that game in mind.

Having Pete, Kleyn and Beirne fit is important for our set piece

It'll be interesting if the same techniques that ruined Glasgow's maul last week will work again this week.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120587535#Comment_120587535

Leinster haven't really relied on the maul to a huge extent this season. They have a lot more variety and plays that they run off of it now; though typically it requires a player with JVDF's passing qualities to be in the 7 shirt.

They've still scored a good amount of tries with it, but certainly aren't Ulster-level reliant on it.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120587535#Comment_120587535

Leinster score plenty of tries through the maul but just as many if not more using the maul as a platform. Different kind of threat entirely to Glasgow.

Dave_The_Sheep

A lot less confident now the teams are out. Obviously Europe the focus, but still, the league matters too. Wouldn't surprise me at all if Munster manage to take this one.

Dubinusa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120587211#Comment_120587211

Ahern could disrupt our line outs. He's a big lump of a lad. I'm happy he's not in the squad.

AbusesToilets

Think Leinster will eat that team up. Pressure defense causing knockons, leading to scrum penalties, leading to scores.

Dubinusa

Fingers crossed for Henshaw and Kelleher. I hope they go well.

Interested Observer

Has it been mentioned that ex-Munster player Frank Murphy is the ref?

Former Former Former

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120587454#Comment_120587454

It's not a big deal, but it is a bit odd. He got married on Tuesday (not Wednesday) so he missed training, the week of the URC semi-final. And this was planned months ago.

For a guy fighting for his place in the squad, it's a weird approach.

That's all.

Interested Observer

Didn't realise how little Earls had played this season. Only ~250 mins in total from 7 appearances.

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120588143#Comment_120588143

Been injured a lot.

typhoony

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120586961#Comment_120586961

It's actually not rubbish, very few will make the first 15 let alone the subs bench next week, in fact you can't even say they've mixed and matched

Brief_Lives

A lot of the Leinster fans seem to forget that even if they have a plethora of internationals missing, they still have plenty of internationals in their stead WHO WERE THE URC PLAYING SQUAD.

the fact that these guys are playing tomorrow, is justification for the hard work they put in all year.

You can talk about who is missing, the Eurpean front liners but there are still plenty of internationals/ex-internationals in the 23 tomorrow.

By my count at least 13/14.

ersatz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120587251#Comment_120587251

No a big difference between the packs but I can see Henshaw Ngatai making holes in mid field all day. Ngatai has been playing very well and Munster defense will be sticking close to him, perfect opportunity for Henshaw to hit his stride. That's Munster's biggest challenge that I can see, if they contain them they'll go a long way to a win but if they don't it could be a very long day for Crowley and Frisch.

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120587396#Comment_120587396

I guess they might have travelled on a Thursday anyway. They don't seem to spend that much time out there.

I'm sure he cleared it with Munster like.

Brief_Lives

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120588410#Comment_120588410

I think Venjurs comparative rundown was solid enough.... (Venjurs Venjur's, do I stick an apostrophe here?)

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120587291#Comment_120587291

ulsteru20s

Quite a bit weaker Leinster team than i expected. If Munster can play with the same level of aggression as last week, they have a chance here.

Leinster’s biggest advantage in this game is the bench and the midfield. Crowley needs to have a big game at 12.