Cardiff Blues vs Munster, Fri 21st Sept 7:35pm; Eir Sport

thomond2006 · 20-09-2018 12:01pm #1

Cardiff Blues:
Gareth Anscombe, Blaine Scully, Willis Halaholo, Rey Lee-Lo, Jason Harries; Jarrod Evans, Tomos Williams;
Rhys Gill, Kristian Dacey, Dmitri Arhip, George Earle, Josh Turnbull, Josh Navidi, Ellis Jenkins (capt), Nick Williams.

Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Rhys Carre, Scott Andrews, Macauley Cook, Olly Robinson, Lloyd Williams, Garyn Smith, Matthew Morgan.

Munster:
JJ Hanrahan; Andrew Conway, Jaco Taute, Rory Scannell, Darren Sweetnam; Joey Carbery, Duncan Williams;
James Cronin, Mike Sherry, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne; Peter O’Mahony (C), Chris Cloete, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Dave Kilcoyne, Brian Scott, Darren O’Shea, Tommy O’Donnell, Jack Stafford, Bill Johnston, Shane Daly.

Player update – Keith Earls and Rhys Marshall reported knocks during the week and were not available for selection.

thomond2006 · 20-09-2018 12:07pm

JJ Hanrahan at 15 with Mike Haley presumably rested. It looks like he is set to be the backup to Carbery as it stands.

The bench looks a bit bare in terms of experience but that's a very strong starting XV.

phog · 20-09-2018 12:11pm

CJ returns

but Earls' return is delayed due to knock

Sabre0001 · 20-09-2018 12:19pm

Strong team. Looking forward to seeing Carbery at 10 with JJ at 15. Got a teaser during Cheetahs game, but that was out of sight by that stage. Bench is a little light, but getting some players experience. Shame to be missing Earls in particular. Great battles for positions in the coming weeks if everyone is fit. Will be some interesting calls ahead.

aloooof · 20-09-2018 12:22pm

Sherry back in. Did Marshall pick up an injury?

Former Former · 20-09-2018 12:25pm

Cardiff are 0 from 3. Pretty incredibly they were leading up until the 77th, 82nd and 78th minute of each match and still managed to lose them all.

This won't be an easy game for Munster but that pack should get the upper hand, Munster to win, LBP for Cardiff

20-09-2018 12:43pm

Former Former wrote: »

Cardiff are 0 from 3. Pretty incredibly they were leading up until the 77th, 82nd and 78th minute of each match and still managed to lose them all.

This won't be an easy game for Munster but that pack should get the upper hand, Munster to win, LBP for Cardiff

You'd almost feel sorry for Cardiff, they started the season well but just didn't have the fitness to go 80 with Leinster and then had two away games against vastly improved Italian opposition.

This will be a good test for Munster, Cardiff will want to get a home win under their belt but their opening fixtures haven't helped and this won't be any easier.

I'd expect a narrow win for Munster but if Cardiff's confidence is starting to wane then they could struggle.

stephen_n · 20-09-2018 1:48pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

Cardiff Blues:
Gareth Anscombe, Blaine Scully, Willis Halaholo, Rey Lee-Lo, Jason Harries; Jarrod Evans, Tomos Williams;
Rhys Gill, Kristian Dacey, Dmitri Arhip, George Earle, Josh Turnbull, Josh Navidi, Ellis Jenkins (capt), Nick Williams.

Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Rhys Carre, Scott Andrews, Macauley Cook, Olly Robinson, Lloyd Williams, Garyn Smith, Matthew Morgan.

Munster:
JJ Hanrahan; Andrew Conway, Jaco Taute, Rory Scannell, Darren Sweetnam; Joey Carbery, Duncan Williams;
James Cronin, Mike Sherry, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne; Peter O’Mahony (C), Chris Cloete, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Dave Kilcoyne, Brian Scott, Darren O’Shea, Tommy O’Donnell, Jack Stafford, Bill Johnston, Shane Daly.

Player update – Keith Earls and Rhys Marshall reported knocks during the week and were not available for selection.

Who he?

Henry Ford III · 20-09-2018 2:36pm

Cardiff will be hurting after 3 narrow losses. A home win is vital for them. They are a decent team and are at full strength too. Good centres.

Munster will be doing well to win.

BIGT4464 · 20-09-2018 2:40pm

Our first choice no 4 to 8 , the pack will dominate tomorrow night.

Dubinusa · 20-09-2018 2:46pm

Nice to see Bill Johnson get a glimmer of hope.

Henry Ford III · 20-09-2018 2:48pm

BIGT4464 wrote: »

Our first choice no 4 to 8 , the pack will dominate tomorrow night.

Arguable. I think Botha will have C.J. under a bit of pressure. Scannell or Marshall ahead of Sherry? Only time will tell.....

thomond2006 · 20-09-2018 2:48pm

stephen_n wrote: »

Who he?

Year 1 academy hooker.

Henry Ford III · 20-09-2018 2:52pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

Year 1 academy hooker.

That page is well out of date. Not good.

thomond2006 · 20-09-2018 3:12pm

Henry Ford III wrote: »

That page is well out of date. Not good.

Yes they're a bit behind!

Cookiemunster · 20-09-2018 3:18pm

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Arguable. I think Botha will have C.J. under a bit of pressure. Scannell or Marshall ahead of Sherry? Only time will tell.....

He won't. Botha is a one year stop gap. Stander is an Irish international. Unless injured Stander will start ahead of Botha every time. And when fit, both Scannell and Marshall will be ahead of Sherry.

Henry Ford III · 20-09-2018 11:02pm

Cookiemunster wrote:

He won't. Botha is a one year stop gap. Stander is an Irish international. Unless injured Stander will start ahead of Botha every time. And when fit, both Scannell and Marshall will be ahead of Sherry.

Only a Sith deals in absolutes.

thomond2006 · 21-09-2018 1:40pm

It would take a remarkable run of form for Botha to supplant CJ when he's Ireland's starting number eight.

slingerz · 21-09-2018 2:20pm

Strong cardiff side. I think a LBP for Munster at best. Callow nature of replacements means i cant give them the nod

Sabre0001 · 21-09-2018 2:23pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

It would take a remarkable run of form for Botha to supplant CJ when he's Ireland's starting number eight.

Think it'll be good for CJ to have a break every now and again. MotM awards were no longer his by default last year and he was looking a bit more tired by the end of the season. He puts in a huge amount of work in a very physical role, so good to share those duties. And Botha looks more than capable from what I've seen of him so far.

Good problems to have, especially if we end up springing Botha off the bench or something!

Former Former · 21-09-2018 2:33pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

It would take a remarkable run of form for Botha to supplant CJ when he's Ireland's starting number eight.

A remarkable run of form for Botha, and for CJ's form to absolutely collapse.

shootermacg · 21-09-2018 3:31pm

Former Former wrote: »

A remarkable run of form for Botha, and for CJ's form to absolutely collapse.

Yeah, he's gone on some runs. But I've seen him fail to clear out some rucks, so that's a work-on for me.

LuckyGent88 · 21-09-2018 7:40pm

Correct decision to disallow that try from Cardiff. Good start from then though

razorblunt · 21-09-2018 7:42pm

Poor ref so far. Clear as day obstruction and never a forward pass.

Swinging arm missed by Darcey too.

MaybeMaybe · 21-09-2018 7:44pm

live on the Pro14 Facebook page for those of you abroad.

LuckyGent88 · 21-09-2018 7:45pm

Ah shocking stuff from Sherry. Very soft defense

razorblunt · 21-09-2018 7:45pm

Awful from Sherry, spaghetti armed tackle.

DDC1990 · 21-09-2018 7:45pm

Munster very slow off the mark so far, but took the red long enough to give the obstruction. Also very questionable call on the forward pass.

7-0 now. Awful defence off the lineout. Sherry taken for a ride by the Cardiff inside centre.

LuckyGent88 · 21-09-2018 7:48pm

Some start to this game. Could have been a penalty against Cloete to be honest

LuckyGent88 · 21-09-2018 7:51pm

Carbery is ridiculous in open space. Great finish by Conway. I wouldn’t fancy sliding on that surface

Neil3030 · 21-09-2018 7:51pm

Joey clearly fancies another shot from the touchline!

Cardiff Blues vs Munster, Fri 21st Sept 7:35pm; Eir Sport

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