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MATCH THREAD: Leinster vs Munster, Aviva Sat 07th 14:00, SS Main & Arena

  • 06-10-2017 3:14pm
    #1
    Registered Users Posts: 24,742 ✭✭✭✭molloyjh


    1227261.jpg
    THE VIEW FROM THE HEAVENS
    molloyjh

    Leinsters selection for tomorrows game has one or two curveballs that many did not anticipate. James Tracy and Barry Daly ahead of Cronin and Kearney/McFadden stand out. With a number of leaders missing through injury it is somewhat surprising that the coaches haven't elected to have a more experienced head in the back 3 in particular. And given the line out woes in recent times the fact that the more familiar Cronin isn't starting is also a bit puzzling. Sean O'Brien has picked up a calf injury so that's yet another injury to Leinsters list, which now includes several players from the presumed first choice match day squad if not the starting XV.

    Up front Leinster have a very good tight 5. Two Lions and two experienced internationals will go toe to toe with a good Munster front row but a limited second row with Robin Copeland starting at 4. The scrum battle should see Leinster with the advantage. And while Leinsters line out has been an issue this season their lock pairing should be significantly better than the Munster equivalent. POMs presence will help Munster, but with Ruddock and VDF in Leinsters back row the home team have no real excuse for not being able to at least secure their own line out. In the back row Munster have a more experienced and settled unit, but VDF in particular for Leinster is in fantastic form so far this season. Conan too has been putting in some very good shifts. Ruddock hasn't been on top form, but he is still an abrasive player and Scott Fardy adds a significant amount in the loose to make up any gaps there may be.

    In the back line Leinster have their first choice half backs and if the pack can win the collisions Leinster really should be on top from 1 to 10. It's outside Sexton that Leinsters worries will really start. Robbie Henshaw is back for his season debut. Last season he made his debut in this fixture, played 80 minutes and was solid. If he can do that again I'd be a very happy Leinster fan. Outside him is Rory O'Loughlin who has had some serious defensive issues this season. And despite a breakthrough season last year, most of his strong performances then were on the wing and not in the centre. Leinster will need Henshaw talking to him and guiding him throughout as he is a potential area for Munster to exploit. Leinsters back 3 has a lot of potential to it, but can also be exposed. Particularly positionally. Adam Byrne has struggled a bit this season to make the same impact he did last season, and while Barry Dalys try scoring record is good he is still very inexperienced at this level. Carbery can be electric from full back, but can also be caught out with a good kicking game. Something Edinburgh did to very good effect last week. With Keatley and Bleyendaal at 10 and 12 Munster defeintely have the options there to target Leinster in midfield and the back field.

    This is the first week that the Leinster squad have had a full week, with a full panel of coaches and players to work with. The weeks leading up to this have been messy on and off the field but as usual with Leinsters season the hard work starts here. In the Aviva against Munster. Poor performances preceding this game have been forgotten before and can be again. But with an incredibly difficult pool in Europe Leinster really need to start turning things around this week.

    Rarely a spectacle of blistering rugby and try scoring feats, this game tends to be a very tight and hard fought affair. Both sides still in the early season mode making errors and finding their feet. Looking over the previous encounters at this venue prove this to be the norm. And there's no reason to expect this one to be any different.

    Leinster by 6.
    inpho_01267877-600x400.jpg
    THE VIEW FROM THE DEEP, DEEP, DEPTHS OF HELL
    thomond2006

    Munster face Leinster in the Aviva. I feel like we’ve been here before! Well Munster’s recent record in Irish Rugby HQ has been graveyard level poor, with 3 losses there last season alone in all competitions. With the Pro14 split into conferences, this fixture will lose much of its bite when it comes to final standings at the business end of the season but it still remains a marquee fixture of the rugby calendar.

    Munster started the season well until the momentum came to a shuddering halt at Glasgow. Facing the best side to date in the league Munster were undone in most facets of the game and Glasgow’s gamebreakers made hay. They rebounded (after some first half hiccups) against Cardiff with the returning Lions making a return to action but tomorrow will be a step up in opponent and intensity.

    Munster’s selection in the backline is an intriguing one. JJ Hanrahan starts at fullback having last made starts there at the end of his previous stint at Munster. Tyler Bleyendaal, who has struggled at 10 this year, is moved into the midfield while Ian Keatley retains his starting position at flyhalf. With a big target at 13 in Chris Farrell and dangerous wingers in Andrew Conway and Keith Earls, this back division screams potential if the forwards can supply clean ball. Some of Munster’s most exciting play in the last 10 years was with Paul Warwick acting as a second playmaker at fullback, the hope will be that Hanrahan can provide a similar option.

    In the forwards we see the return of the frontline frontrow of Kilcoyne-Scannell-Ryan. Liam O’Connor performed admirably in his first run of starts at loosehead while the often criticised Stephen Archer has held the fort well in John Ryan’s absence. The competition of places in the trenches will hopefully push the starters to recover their best form. The second row has historically been a position of massive depth for Munster, not too long ago we had four Irish internationals available in POC, DOC, MOD and Ryan. This season stocks have been decimated with the departure of Ryan and multiple injuries. This means Robin Copeland starts at lock. He is unlikely to be around at Munster next season due to being down the depth chart in the backrow so this represents a massive opportunity for the Wexford native to put himself into the shop window. The backrow is always a crucial area in rugby and the experienced trio of O’Mahony, O’Donnell and Stander will hope to get the upper hand against a Leinster backrow missing their experienced veterans in O’Brien and Heaslip.

    I fancy Munster to put pressure on a Leinster back three with plenty of potential but equally plenty question marks of their defensive abilities. The starting lock combination is a concern: The loss of Jean Kleyn to the Munster pack cannot be overstated. No player in the Munster squad can match Kleyn’s power in the tight, he has become the go-to player for drives close to the try-line. Munster’s backline looks thrown together with the curveball selections at 12 and 15 but they will hopefully exploit enough opportunities to score tries.

    Munster by 3.

    20.gif
    |
    22.gif

    01. Jack McGrath|01. Dave Kilcoyne
    02. James Tracy|02. Niall Scannell
    03. Tadgh Furlong|03. John Ryan
    04. Devin Toner|04. Robin Copeland
    05. Scott Fardy|05. Billy Holland
    06. Rhys Ruddock|06. Peter O'Mahony
    07. Josh van der Flier|07. Tommy O'Donnell
    08. Jack Conan|08. CJ Stander
    |
    09. Luke McGrath|09. Conor Murray
    10. Jonathan Sexton|10. Ian Keatley
    11. Barry Daly|11. Keith Earls
    12. Robbie Henshaw|12. Tyler Bleyendaal
    13. Rory O'Loughlin|13. Chris Farrell
    14. Adam Byrne|14. Andrew Conway
    15. Joey Carbery|15. JJ Hanrahan
    |
    16. Sean Cronin|16. Rhys Marshall
    17. Cian Healy|17. Liam O'Connor
    18. Michael Bent|18. Stephen Archer
    19. Ross Molony|19. Mark Flanagan
    20. Jordi Murphy|20. Jack O'Donoghue
    21. Jamison Gibson-Park|21. Duncan Williams
    22. Ross Byrne|22. Rory Scannell
    23. Fergus McFadden|23. Alex Wooton


«13456715

Comments

  • Administrators Posts: 53,126 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭awec


    I think this may be the rugby forum's first ever jointly written match thread. This Leinster Munster rivalry is becoming very friendly, next we'll be seeing fans wearing those half and half scarves to matches.


  • Registered Users Posts: 13,552 ✭✭✭✭thebaz


    is it on TG4 or RTE ?


  • Posts: 0 Ryan Fast Nomad


    thebaz wrote: »
    is it on TG4 or RTE ?

    AFAIK both sky and tg4 have it.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,721 ✭✭✭Erik Shin


    The holy trinity of JJ, Tyler B & Keats to collectively rip the Leinster heathen a new one


  • Posts: 0 Ryan Fast Nomad


    Erik Shin wrote: »
    The holy trinity of JJ, Tyler B & Keats to collectively rip the Leinster heathen a new one

    Weren't you calling for Keats to be dropped from the squad last season?

    Sexton to send runners down Blyendaals' channel. All. Day.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,721 ✭✭✭Erik Shin


    Weren't you calling for Keats to be dropped from the squad last season?

    Sexton to send runners down Blyendaals' channel. All. Day.

    You spend too much time worrying about little old me Kynlee Warm Luck :D
    Our 10,12 & 15 are interchangeable... could definitely see Tyler and Keats switching it up just to confuse the hell out of poor Johnny


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,805 ✭✭✭budhabob


    Weren't you calling for Keats to be dropped from the squad last season?

    Sexton to send runners down Blyendaals' channel. All. Day.

    To be fair, TB and keatley are rarely found wanting in defense. In consistency in all other aspects that's the issue.


  • Registered Users Posts: 12,920 ✭✭✭✭stephen_n


    Write up is way too friendly, let's hope there is more bite tmw :)

    Think Leinster will shade it but it will be tight as always. Fairly concerned about our ability to defend beyond 12.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,585 ✭✭✭irishfan9


    stephen_n wrote: »
    Write up is way too friendly, let's hope there is more bite tmw :)

    Think Leinster will shade it but it will be tight as always. Fairly concerned about our ability to defend beyond 12.

    Defending and attacking has been a problem


  • Registered Users Posts: 45,433 ✭✭✭✭thomond2006


    irishfan9 wrote: »
    Defending and attacking has been a problem

    It's incredible Leinster have won at all then. :)


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  • Registered Users Posts: 12,920 ✭✭✭✭stephen_n


    irishfan9 wrote: »
    Defending and attacking has been a problem

    Attacking wasn't really a problem up till 2 weeks ago. Having a non functioning centre partnership is not helping there. Then again not clearing out rucks properly is compounding the issue.


  • Registered Users Posts: 17,574 ✭✭✭✭Mantis Toboggan


    Folks I've 2 tickets for this but can't make it, if anyone wants them send me a pm.

    Edit: Gone

    Free Palestine 🇵🇸



  • Registered Users Posts: 45,433 ✭✭✭✭thomond2006


    This thread is too quiet.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,721 ✭✭✭Erik Shin


    This thread is too quiet.

    The ladys are off shaving their legs, they'll all be back for 1.30 ...then let the good times roll !


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,305 ✭✭✭Dave_The_Sheep


    Game is too early.


  • Posts: 0 Ryan Fast Nomad


    This thread is too quiet.
    Erik Shin wrote: »
    The ladys are off shaving their legs, they'll all be back for 1.30 ...then let the good times roll !

    Sure most of Munster are still asleep.. will get busier as they gradually start to come around.

    4SjYEok.png


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 18,122 Mod ✭✭✭✭CatFromHue


    Game is too early.

    Anyone know why it's on at 2?

    There's no other Pro14 game until 7 so there's plenty of time to have it later and have no clash.


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,047 ✭✭✭Bazzo


    Game is too early.

    I'm going to be staring at the clock for the next 20 minutes until it's acceptable to have a beer with lunch.


  • Registered Users Posts: 24,742 ✭✭✭✭molloyjh


    CatFromHue wrote: »
    Game is too early.

    Anyone know why it's on at 2?

    There's no other Pro14 game until 7 so there's plenty of time to have it later and have no clash.

    SA-NZ on after and then the rugby league final after that. All 3 on Sky.


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 18,122 Mod ✭✭✭✭CatFromHue


    Is that mickey mouse competition still going? Don't they know this is the Pro14...the PRO14!!


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  • Registered Users Posts: 12,752 ✭✭✭✭mfceiling


    Good write up.

    It's like having our very own Gerry Thornley and Keith Wood.


  • Registered Users Posts: 26,899 ✭✭✭✭BBDBB


    G'wan Munster!


  • Subscribers Posts: 40,722 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    Awful lot of empty seats here with 2 mins to kick off... I wouldn't say it's 1/3 full


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,838 ✭✭✭leakyboots


    CJ's 100th match for Munster I think


  • Registered Users Posts: 37,553 ✭✭✭✭PTH2009


    Is Zebo injured ??

    This is the real one, the December meeting is not as big as a lot of guys are rested


  • Registered Users Posts: 26,899 ✭✭✭✭BBDBB


    Looks full at ok

    Those must been recorded earlier


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,838 ✭✭✭leakyboots


    Tis more like an American Football match with the rock music and smoke machines as Leinster run out


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,198 ✭✭✭sonic85


    What was being sprayed on the front of Munsters jerseys there?


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,047 ✭✭✭Bazzo


    Why does Ben Whitehouse always look like he's wearing a bad fat suit?


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  • Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 26,398 Mod ✭✭✭✭Peregrine


    sonic85 wrote: »
    What was being sprayed on the front of Munsters jerseys there?

    Lynx Africa


This discussion has been closed.
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