Munster V Leinster Build up Thread

Clegg wrote:

I'm not sure what the problem was for Munster in the first half. Be it a lack of organisation, accuracy in play or intensity they weren't at all good. Probably a mixture of all three I think. They weren't at the same level as Leinster.

That you Reggie😎

stephen_n wrote: »

I really enjoy watching Wootton play, from what I’ve seen of him, I reckon he will definitely wear green and pass Sweetman soon enough. Appears to have it all.

Most dangerous Munster player for me. Always beat at least one defender with ball in hand.

shootermacg wrote: »

I totally agree, it's disrespectful to the fans who pay a lot of money to support the home games. I understand the why of it, but it still doesn't make it right.

This is the second year Leo has sent down a second string, and this second string is actually worse than last year. It will stand to Leinster's seconds to get taste of a derby, but he's killing what was once a highlight of the season.

So..... Where were we?

prawnsambo wrote: »

stephen_n wrote: »

I really enjoy watching Wootton play, from what I’ve seen of him, I reckon he will definitely wear green and pass Sweetman soon enough. Appears to have it all.

Most dangerous Munster player for me. Always beat at least one defender with ball in hand.

He never seemed to end up anywhere in spite of always being in space and beating a man. I agree he will be good but a few things need to be tightened up.

I really thought Zebo was fabulous today. Just seemed to be in the thick of a lot of whst Munster did well today and nearly made a try saving tackle. Maybe it was just what I noticed but he had some sweet passes to Conway especially.

Well, that was a game. Was looking forward to this all week and in the end it lived up to it.

Leinster were unplayable in the first half, smelt blood and went for it. The speed off the ball was very impressive, and the willingness to keep the ball alive was brilliant. Felt we left a couple of scores out there, and probably should've had the BP before HT. Whilst I appreciate the effort, the lack of rugby IQ at the end of the first half was a sign of things to come for me...

Munster obviously had the book thrown at them in the dressing room, and came out like angry rhinos. Leinster couldn't live with them, and you always felt scores were coming once they were in our half because we just couldn't win the collisions. A combination of Leinster getting a bit shell shocked, Munster finding another few gears, and Owens having one of the weirdest performances I've seen in a while meant at the 50 minute mark I started thinking we were going to lose this, and not even get a BP.

On those points, Leinster's game management was atrocious. Byrne for the most part is ticking over nicely, getting all the experience he needs to become a solid option, but he still lacks that tactical awareness to move the ball to the right area of the field. We tried to run it too often when it wasn't on.

In the 2nd half though my biggest problem was our back three. It was a green back three and it showed, they were directly responsible for lot of the points we leaked, Byrne was rusty fair enough, Larmour wasn't marshalling his wingers, and Lowe was just plain a liability. If he wasn't heralded as one of the best left wings in the world I'd be happy enough to never see him in blue jersey again, but I'll give him the benefit of doubt - he was awful, he wouldn't make it on to an AIL team with a performance like that. Leo did well not to involve him in the Exeter double bill because he would've cost us. Munster got wise to it and attacked down his channel all day because he didn't know how to defend; rushed in, bit in, ball watched, stood too flat, all the basic errors a winger of his calibre just shouldn't be making. His messing around at the breakdown was laughable too, seemed to think he'd get away with entering any way he wanted, going over the top, kicking at the ball. If he hadn't just completed a season and half of pro rugby you'd be forgiven for thinking he was rusty... Hope he gets an ear full and realizes he'll have to work for his spot in this team. But yeah, all over our back three were all over the shop. Caught out by kicks and couldn't find touch to save their life, really naive performance.

Nigel Owens... bizarre performance. First half thought he was quite harsh on Munster, second half he seemed to have it in for us. At times our discipline was poor, but he just seemed to ref us and ignored a load of infringements by the red team. One particular bit I thought was laughable was he had phase after phase in possession and Munster were getting away with murder slowing the ball down, including the tackler crawling through the ruck, over the ball, interfering with the scrum half before getting out of the way. If that isn't intentionally slowing the ball down then I don't know what is. Then Munster legally turn the ball over, we try and compete and he pings us for slowing the ball down. All I could do was laugh. There was a load of 50-50 calls which I can't complain about, but the tackle in the air on Lowe was a head scratcher. If he didn't land on his feet it'd 100% be a penalty. Watching the replay it was 100% a tackle in the air, Conway wraps his arm around him and only has eyes for him. How was that a fair tackle? At that point I realized we had done something stupid to get under Nige's skin and Munster in fairness played him brilliantly. They reverted to Munster of old and got away with murder at the breakdown, elbows and knees were used to hold players down and they did exactly what any coach worth their salt would've engraved into their team at half after being bullied around at home like that.

Still, great to have a game with load of talking points. Turned out to be a great event, game of two halves. A great display of Irish rugby without having to resort to bringing in the big guns.

My favourite moments from the game?

1. Conor ****ing Murray calling his own line out, jumping in the line out, catching in the lineout, and then scoring a try off the line out. If they let him kick the conversion he would've got it. Boss.
2. Jordan Larmour's 120m try.

Yousef Rapid Throwback wrote: »

You can certainly get a red card for a trip.

Anyway wasn't dangerous, don't expect anything to come if it. Conway is having a hell of a lot of rugby incidents these days.

Already answered above, unless it's a strike after play you would never get a red card if there's a yellow card issued for the foul that proceeded it.

Wow just wow at the incredibly weird essay above. Thanks for "noticing" all the things we armchairs missed. You should post your review of the game on a proper Rugby forum and see how you get on!

georgewickstaff wrote: »

Wow just wow at the incredibly weird essay above. Thanks for "noticing" all the things we armchairs missed. You should post your review of the game on a proper Rugby forum and see how you get on!

Feel free to add to the conversation about the match whenever you're ready...

IF you don't like people posting their opinions and viewings on a rugby match,
then by all means feel free to go to 'a proper Rugby forum'.

when i first saw larmour he was a centre - that i believe is his best postion - he is only newly converted to full back - that takes time to get positional sense - he has consistently made breaks like today through his short career, obviously against much weaker opposition than today - was the star of the u20s last year too.

.ak wrote: »

A veritable who's who of failed Leinster/Ulster players, Munster turncoats, over-the-hills and southern hemisphere mercenaries.

A gazillion to nill, Leinster.

It was looking that way early on ....

Watching the Larmour try again there (for the gazillionth time), but how anyone can criticise the first defender (Keatley was it?) I don't know. Larmour absolutely ghosts him, for all my money it was Conway's man, he absolutely sells the outside run brilliantly, but Keatley does nothing wrong either, tracks the inside channel incase he cuts inside to catch him on his strong shoulder, but his step is so good in timing and direction he catches his soft shoulder, there's nothing he can do.

Seen a few angry posts about the munster defence there. Absolutely no munster player does anything wrong (bar leave the line a bit). The only thing Munster did wrong there was put up a poor kick, the chasers didn't have time to close his space.

Sorry it was 13, Sam Arnold.

Burkie1203 wrote: »

It was looking that way early on ....

They eased up because boards.ie asked them to at HT. Easier than to deal with the 'Pro14 is making a mockery of the interpros by this poor scheduling' posts.