Leinster vs Munster buildup

thomond2006 · 03-10-2016 9:11am #1

IT'S TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIME

irishbucsfan · 03-10-2016 9:17am

Munster

Team predictions?

Kirchner, Nacewa, Ringrose, Reid, Kearney, Sexton, McGrath, Healy, Tracy, Furlong, Kearney, Toner, Ruddock, JvDF, Heaslip;
Cronin, McGrath, Ross, Molony, Leavy, JGP, Carberry, Henshaw

Not sure if Rob Kearney will be back fit, if he is then he'll start but I think it sounded like he might struggle to make it back. We might see SOB on the bench if we're lucky?

03-10-2016 9:32am

Munster

Who are you going to be rooting for thomond2006?

The foster child or the birthed one?

03-10-2016 9:32am

Munster

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Team predictions?

Kirchner, Nacewa, Ringrose, Reid, Kearney, Sexton, McGrath, Healy, Tracy, Furlong, Kearney, Toner, Ruddock, JvDF, Heaslip;
Cronin, McGrath, Ross, Molony, Leavy, JGP, Carberry, Henshaw

Not sure if Rob Kearney will be back fit, if he is then he'll start but I think it sounded like he might struggle to make it back. We might see SOB on the bench if we're lucky?

Tracy? I'd say you're fairly spot on otherwise, but why Tracy? Would be excellent if Henshaw was fit.

Healy/McGrath could go either way. The Munster scrum has been a wrecking machine this season so Leo should go for whoever he thinks is the stronger scrummager imo.

thomond2006 · 03-10-2016 9:33am

Cronin, Scannell, J Ryan, Ryan, Holland, POM, TOD, Stander,
Murray, Bleyendaal, Earls, Scannell, Taute, Sweetnam, Zebo

Casey, Kilcoyne, Archer, DOS, JOD, Williams, Keatley, Conway*/ROM

*Conway is following RTTP right now.

Mahatma Geansai · 03-10-2016 9:36am

The team that scores the most points

thomond2006 wrote: »

Cronin, Scannell, J Ryan, Ryan, Holland, POM, TOD, Stander,
Murray, Bleyendaal, Earls, Scannell, Taute, Sweetnam, Zebo

Casey, Kilcoyne, Archer, DOS, JOD, Williams, Keatley, Conway*/ROM

*Conway is following RTTP right nwo.

I don't think POM will be fit to start just yet, but I'd be delighted to be proved wrong.

Is Rory Scannell expected to be back fit?

thomond2006 · 03-10-2016 9:46am

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

I don't think POM will be fit to start just yet, but I'd be delighted to be proved wrong.

Is Rory Scannell expected to be back fit?

I think Scannell was back in training last week? I might be wrong.

irishbucsfan · 03-10-2016 9:47am

Munster

Charleigh Shapely Numskull wrote: »

Tracy? I'd say you're fairly spot on otherwise, but why Tracy? Would be excellent if Henshaw was fit.

Healy/McGrath could go either way. The Munster scrum has been a wrecking machine this season so Leo should go for whoever he thinks is the stronger scrummager imo.

Cronin's scrummaging was badly exposed again last weekend. Can't risk it against that Munster scrum from the beginning, if he is on then we'll need Ross beside him from the start. Meanwhile Tracy has been our best hooker so far this season in the early stages.

Tomtom364 · 03-10-2016 9:49am

The team that scores the most points

thomond2006 wrote: »

I think Scannell was back in training last week? I might be wrong.

Modified training. No way fit to start this week if feature at all

03-10-2016 9:50am

Munster

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Cronin's scrummaging was badly exposed again last weekend. Can't risk it against that Munster scrum from the beginning, if he is on then we'll need Ross beside him from the start. Meanwhile Tracy has been our best hooker so far this season in the early stages.

His scrummaging has been what it's been for years now. I thought Cardiff were just driving straight up anyway. I'd be fine with Tracy starting but I don't think he will.

thomond2006 · 03-10-2016 9:50am

Tomtom364 wrote: »

Modified training. No way fit to start this week if feature at all

Thanks. I imagine it will be Taute-Earls then with Conway (if fit) or ROM on the wing.

former total · 03-10-2016 9:55am

Munster

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Cronin's scrummaging was badly exposed again last weekend. Can't risk it against that Munster scrum from the beginning, if he is on then we'll need Ross beside him from the start. Meanwhile Tracy has been our best hooker so far this season in the early stages.

I wouldn't be enough of an expert in the scrum to point the finger at Cronin, but even if he is a weak scrummager, he still has to start so long as Tracy's throwing is a huge issue (which it is). D Ryan would have a field day against him.

Cronin to start, Tracy to bench, Leinster fans to continue to wonder what the story with Strauss is.

irishbucsfan · 03-10-2016 9:56am

Munster

Charleigh Shapely Numskull wrote: »

His scrummaging has been what it's been for years now. I thought Cardiff were just driving straight up anyway. I'd be fine with Tracy starting but I don't think he will.

Rees and Andrews were dominating him, Scannell is almost certainly not as good a scrummager as Rees but I don't see why we'd give Munster any possibility of an edge in that department when Cronin is a good weapon off the bench anyway.

Clegg · 03-10-2016 9:57am

Munster

I'd like to see Leavy, VdF and Heaslip as our starting backrow but I think we'll get Murphy at 6 instead. That isn't even much to moan about either as they're all in great form right now.

Strange game this one as I'm very confident about a Leinster win and I've no idea why. We've a middling back three and a leaky defence but the forwards have gone well, Sexton is playing some good stuff and Noel Reid is an immovable object in midfield. Leinster by 5.

thomond2006 · 03-10-2016 10:03am

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

I don't think POM will be fit to start just yet, but I'd be delighted to be proved wrong.

Is Rory Scannell expected to be back fit?

40-50 minutes is the most I'd expect from POM, which is why I have him down to start.

irishbucsfan · 03-10-2016 10:05am

Munster

former total wrote: »

I wouldn't be enough of an expert in the scrum to point the finger at Cronin, but even if he is a weak scrummager, he still has to start so long as Tracy's throwing is a huge issue (which it is). D Ryan would have a field day against him.

Cronin to start, Tracy to bench, Leinster fans to continue to wonder what the story with Strauss is.

Tracy's throwing isn't a huge issue... We went 12/12 last week on our own lineout.

We have struggled a bit more with Byrne's throwing though, if maybe there's confusion there?

thomond2006 · 03-10-2016 10:19am

Deleted User wrote: »

Who are you going to be rooting for thomond2006?

The foster child or the birthed one?

former total · 03-10-2016 10:28am

Munster

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Tracy's throwing isn't a huge issue... We went 12/12 last week on our own lineout.

We have struggled a bit more with Byrne's throwing though, if maybe there's confusion there?

Maybe I am; Byrne had a nightmare against Edinburgh I think, but I seem to remember a couple going very astray against the Ospreys, and there were definitely a couple against Cardiff that found their man but looked very wobbly en route.

I don't think it matters, I can't see Tracy starting this one.

irishbucsfan · 03-10-2016 10:37am

Munster

former total wrote: »

Maybe I am; Byrne had a nightmare against Edinburgh I think, but I seem to remember a couple going very astray against the Ospreys, and there were definitely a couple against Cardiff that found their man but looked very wobbly en route.

I don't think it matters, I can't see Tracy starting this one.

I can certainly see Cronin starting but if he does then that's someone Munster will go after, and they/Flannery will relish that opportunity. If he does start I hope Ross is in there to put pressure on Scannell and that could be enough. Tracy has been our best player in the position this season though so I think he deserves a go.

leakyboots · 03-10-2016 10:37am

The team that scores the most points

Excited to see how the scrum goes against the Blue Magoos, been a revelation this season but I don't know have we faced quality scrums just yet. Archer (surprisingly) did well against McGrath last time around but I think John Ryan is a better scrummager again.

Backrow clash will be immense too.

I'd take a good performance, no injuries and losing bonus point if offered it now to be honest. Form sort of goes out the window in these games, I don't think that a win is beyond us at all.

irishbucsfan · 03-10-2016 10:41am

Munster

leakyboots wrote: »

Excited to see how the scrum goes against the Blue Magoos, been a revelation this season but I don't know have we faced quality scrums just yet. Archer (surprisingly) did well against McGrath last time around but I think John Ryan is a better scrummager again.

Backrow clash will be immense too.

I'd take a good performance, no injuries and losing bonus point if offered it now to be honest. Form sort of goes out the window in these games, I don't think that a win is beyond us at all.

If you guys want a losing bonus point you can take it from our cold dead leather-gloved hands

03-10-2016 11:06am

Leinster are the greatest XV to exist. Carved by God himself in his likeness. Munster are the worst team to ever play Rugby. They are complete embarrassment to the game.

LostArt · 03-10-2016 11:14am

Munster

Deleted User wrote: »

Leinster are the greatest XV to exist. Carved by God himself in his likeness. Munster are the worst team to ever play Rugby. They are complete embarrassment to the game.

It's hard to disagree with any of that really.

kuang1 · 03-10-2016 11:29am

Munster

thomond2006 wrote: »

40-50 minutes is the most I'd expect from POM, which is why I have him down to start.

POM said himself after Saturday that he was blowing hard at the end. He came on at 60 minutes.
I expect him to be on the bench again. Full match fitness is 3/4 weeks away for him yet methinks.

Anatidaephobia · 03-10-2016 11:34am

thomond2006 wrote: »

Cronin, Scannell, J Ryan, Ryan, Holland, POM, TOD, Stander,
Murray, Bleyendaal, Earls, Scannell, Taute, Sweetnam, Zebo

Casey, Kilcoyne, Archer, DOS, JOD, Williams, Keatley, Conway*/ROM

*Conway is following RTTP right now.

This is what I'd pick apart from hooker. I thought Casey a great game on Saturday. He's very mobile and skilled in the loose, and he's a better thrower than Scannell.

03-10-2016 11:41am

Munster

What the hell is this? Two pages in and no salt at all?

Have a watch of this my friends, many of our Southern Cousins still haven't been able to build a bridge since this fateful day.

03-10-2016 12:18pm

Munster

McFadden and Kearney x2 unavailable for Leinster.

Clegg · 03-10-2016 12:25pm

Munster

The Croker semi was just a prelude to the most glorious of matches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tmW7fAdJGg

Neil3030 · 03-10-2016 12:36pm

'Glorious', you say?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7oMBq1vkCM

PS - if that song doesn't get you pumped for a match, or just life in general, well then I don't know what can be done with you.

molloyjh · 03-10-2016 12:44pm

With the latest squad update I'm predicting a Leinster side of:

McGrath Cronin Ross
Toner Kearney
Leavy Heaslip VDF

McGrath Sexton
Reid Ringrose
Nacewa Kirchner ROL

Tracy, Healy, Furlong, Molony, Ruddock, Murphy, JGP, Carbery

I'm worried about Munsters scrum and our ability to play the way we were at the start of the season. There's been a real difference in how we're playing with Sexton vs Carbery. Johnny is obviously the better player, but he doesn't take the ball to the line the same way that Carbery does. Munster seemed to really struggle with that against Cardiff. There was a brief spark of it at the weekend when Sexton, Reid and ROL linked well which saw ROL make that huge break. We need more of that sort of thing this week.

former total · 03-10-2016 1:07pm

Munster

Rob Kearney hasn't been ruled out yet, he's going to be assessed later in the week.

molloyjh · 03-10-2016 1:09pm

former total wrote: »

Rob Kearney hasn't been ruled out yet, he's going to be assessed later in the week.

WTS

03-10-2016 1:09pm

Munster

former total wrote: »

Rob Kearney hasn't been ruled out yet, he's going to be assessed later in the week.

From the other thread:

Leinster's Fergus McFadden has suffered another injury set-back ahead of this weekend's interprovincial clash against Munster at the Aviva Stadium.

And there was further bad news for Leinster HQ yesterday as both Kearney brothers were officially ruled out of action this week.

phog · 03-10-2016 1:13pm

Ideal preparations for this game :mad:

Rúaidhrí O'Connor ‏@RuaidhriOC 1h1 hour ago
Provincial preparations disrupted by a one-day Ireland camp. Munster have 10 players away today and aren't doing an on-pitch session

Eponymous · 03-10-2016 1:26pm

Munster

phog wrote: »

Ideal preparations for this game :mad:

And if they weren't picked?

But yes, it's stupid timing for the weekend that's in it.

molloyjh · 03-10-2016 1:29pm

phog wrote: »

Ideal preparations for this game :mad:

Honestly, whoever in the IRFU thought that this game in Chicago was a good idea needs their head examined.

Podge_irl · 03-10-2016 1:30pm

Munster

I suppose at least with the week that's in it it affects both teams equally. You do wonder how beneficial the one-day get-together really is.

thomond2006 · 03-10-2016 1:34pm

molloyjh wrote: »

Honestly, whoever in the IRFU thought that this game in Chicago was a good idea needs their head examined.

Is this anything to do with Chicago specifically? They have had one day camps during the club periods all the time.

molloyjh · 03-10-2016 1:36pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

Is this anything to do with Chicago specifically? They have had one day camps during the club periods all the time.

I don't remember them having one this week before though. This week is a pretty big week with the inter-pro building to the start of the European campaign. Both squads will be looking to field full teams this week for potentially the first time this season etc.

Now if this is part of Joe announcing his decision to stay and we all hear about it later today/tomorrow then all is forgiven......

Neil3030 · 03-10-2016 1:50pm

molloyjh wrote: »

Now if this is part of Joe announcing his decision to stay and we all hear about it later today/tomorrow then all is forgiven......

Or a chance to say goodbye....

thomond2006 · 03-10-2016 2:01pm

molloyjh wrote: »

I don't remember them having one this week before though. This week is a pretty big week with the inter-pro building to the start of the European campaign. Both squads will be looking to field full teams this week for potentially the first time this season etc.

Now if this is part of Joe announcing his decision to stay and we all hear about it later today/tomorrow then all is forgiven......

I'm certain they have had one day camps before interpros, maybe it's during the Christmas period I'm thinking of.

As for 'Is Chicago a good idea', I'm sure it's a good money spinner and I hope the players get a cut somehow! I doubt anyone that plays 40 minutes plus will appear at all against Canada. From a fan's point of view, it's something a bit different.

former total · 03-10-2016 2:33pm

Munster

Charleigh Shapely Numskull wrote: »

From the other thread:

I don't know where that text came from but anything I've read (RTE, irishtimes.com) says that RK's rehab is continuing and he's still in contention.

bennyl10 · 03-10-2016 2:50pm

The team that scores the most points

Why oh gods name is it a 2:05 KO?..

Surely 3 would have made sense If they wanted afternoon that badly..

LostArt · 03-10-2016 2:59pm

Munster

former total wrote: »

I don't know where that text came from but anything I've read (RTE, irishtimes.com) says that RK's rehab is continuing and he's still in contention.

Yep, can't remember where I read it but it def said Rob was expected back training this week

irishbucsfan · 03-10-2016 3:03pm

Munster

LostArt wrote: »

Yep, can't remember where I read it but it def said Rob was expected back training this week

No idea where that quote is from but Gerry Thornley and Murray Kinsella today both suggesting Henshaw should be available and RK/SOB both stand a decent chance.

former total · 03-10-2016 3:09pm

Munster

bennyl10 wrote: »

Why oh gods name is it a 2:05 KO?..

Surely 3 would have made sense If they wanted afternoon that badly..

Sky are showing the Super League final. Maybe could have had it 3pm alright but that's why it's an afternoon game.

CharlieClarke · 03-10-2016 3:14pm

You seem to have an incredible vendetta against Cronin
Leinster scrum bossed the Ospreys last week with him in it and solid against Edinburgh
You're deluded pointing all the blame at him, a man called michael bent was at TH against Cardiff along with a second row who hadn't played a pro game in 2 years
Cronin is number 1 at the moment, miles ahead of Tracy, wide up

ec18 · 03-10-2016 3:18pm

The team that scores the most points

CharlieClarke wrote: »

You seem to have an incredible vendetta against Cronin
Leinster scrum bossed the Ospreys last week with him in it and solid against Edinburgh
You're deluded pointing all the blame at him, a man called michael bent was at TH against Cardiff along with a second row who hadn't played a pro game in 2 years
Cronin is number 1 at the moment, miles ahead of Tracy, wide up

were we watching the same game?

03-10-2016 3:20pm

Munster

ec18 wrote: »

were we watching the same game?

Cardiff was last week where the scrum struggled, we were quite good against Ospreys though. Didn't let their forwards breath the entire game.

CharlieClarke · 03-10-2016 3:24pm

ec18 wrote: »

were we watching the same game?

Did you miss the penalty try near their posts that we got from our scrum

phog · 03-10-2016 3:27pm

From The 42

LEINSTER WILL HAVE to plan without Fergus McFadden (thigh) and Dave Kearney (ankle) for the Guinness Pro12 inter-provincial clash with Munster at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
However, Robbie Henshaw is in line to feature for the first time in blue having recovered from a knee injury sustain during Ireland’s summer tour of South Africa.
Rob Kearney and Sean O’Brien are also back on the training pitch this week, though it remains to be seen if they’ll be fit in time for selection.

Leinster vs Munster buildup

Who is going to win? 96 votes

Comments