Munster vs Zebre, Sat 23rd March 7:45pm; Live on ES1

thomond2006 · 22-03-2019 12:36pm #1

Munster:
Mike Haley; Darren Sweetnam, Dan Goggin, Rory Scannell, Alex Wootton; JJ Hanrahan, Alby Mathewson;
Jeremy Loughman, Rhys Marshall, Stephen Archer; Fineen Wycherley, Darren O’Shea; Jack O’Donoghue, Chris Cloete, CJ Stander (C).

Replacements: Niall Scannell, Liam O’Connor, John Ryan, Jean Kleyn, Arno Botha, Duncan Williams, Tyler Bleyendaal, Chris Farrell.

Zebre:
15 Edoardo Padovani*
14 Gabriele Di Giulio*
13 Giulio Bisegni
12 Tommaso Boni*
11 James Elliott
10 Carlo Canna
9 Guglielmo Palazzani
8 Renato Giammarioli*
7 Jimmy Tuivaiti
6 Maxime Mbandà*
5 George Biagi (cap)
4 David Sisi
3 Roberto Tenga
2 Oliviero Fabiani
1 Andrea Lovotti*

16 Luhandre Luus*
17 Daniele Rimpelli*
18 Marco Ciccioli
19 Leonard Krumov*
20 Apisai Tauyavuca
21 Marcello Violi*
22 Francois Brummer
23 Mattia Bellini

As Munster chase Glasgow for the top spot in Conference A, a TBP win will be needed against the struggling Zebre who are winless in the Pro14 since October.

It's an intriguing lineup as Billy Holland is left out of the 23 alongside the absence of Tadhg Beirne. Wycherley and DOS get the start in the row. Duncan Williams is on the bench ahead of Neil Cronin, making his first appearance since the end of November. With POM rested and Wycherley at lock, JOD makes a start at blindside.

Referee: Dan Jones (WRU)
Assistant Referee: Adam Jones (WRU) & Mark Patton (IRFU)
TMO: Colin Stanley (IRFU)

thomond2006 · 22-03-2019 12:50pm

https://munsterrugby.ie/preview/team-named-munster-side-to-face-zebre-at-thomond/

aloooof · 22-03-2019 12:53pm

CJ starting is surprising. Not much wing cover there either, with Farrell on the bench.

thomond2006 · 22-03-2019 12:54pm

aloooof wrote: »

CJ starting is surprising. Not much wing cover there either, with Farrell on the bench.

CJ hasn't played a lot since his injury against England.

aloooof · 22-03-2019 12:55pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

CJ hasn't played a lot since his injury against England.

Did he not play against Wales?

Cookiemunster · 22-03-2019 12:57pm

aloooof wrote: »

Did he not play against Wales?

Wales and France. But he had 4 weeks off between England and France.

thomond2006 · 22-03-2019 12:57pm

aloooof wrote: »

Did he not play against Wales?

Sure and against France too. I'm sure they wouldn't play him if he needed a rest.

aloooof · 22-03-2019 1:02pm

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Wales and France. But he had 4 weeks off between England and France.

thomond2006 wrote: »

Sure and against France too. I'm sure they wouldn't play him if he needed a rest.

Ah ya, absolutely. Good to see JOD getting a start; if he goes well, I wonder is he in with a shout of getting a bench spot next week ahead of Botha, say.

thomond2006 · 22-03-2019 2:23pm

https://www.zebrerugbyclub.it/nove-azzurri-nel-xv-delle-zebre-per-la-sfida-del-thomond-park-contro-munster/

Tomtom364 · 22-03-2019 2:50pm

aloooof wrote: »

CJ starting is surprising. Not much wing cover there either, with Farrell on the bench.

JJ to 15 and Haley to wing. Been a pretty regular use of the bench this seen

aloooof · 22-03-2019 2:54pm

Tomtom364 wrote: »

JJ to 15 and Haley to wing. Been a pretty regular use of the bench this seen

Aye, I recall Scannell and Goggin in the 23 jersey on occasion as well where this happened, so this is the most likely alternative. Even think Goggin might've ended up on the wing at one stage?

Tomtom364 · 22-03-2019 4:39pm

aloooof wrote: »

Aye, I recall Scannell and Goggin in the 23 jersey on occasion as well where this happened, so this is the most likely alternative. Even think Goggin might've ended up on the wing at one stage?

Yeah Goggin has moved out to the wing a few times this season and last.

And strangely, I cant remember which match, but Chris Farrell has moved out to the wing in a game where he Arnold and Scannell were all on the pitch, remember thinking at the time it was odd to put Farrell on the Wing and not Arnold.

Mike Oxlong · 22-03-2019 4:42pm

Tomtom364 wrote: »

Yeah Goggin has moved out to the wing a few times this season and last.

And strangely, I cant remember which match, but Chris Farrell has moved out to the wing in a game where he Arnold and Scannell were all on the pitch, remember thinking at the time it was odd to put Farrell on the Wing and not Arnold.

He did it while at Grenoble, actually started 1 game on the wing,

Tomtom364 · 22-03-2019 4:44pm

Mike Oxlong wrote: »

He did it while at Grenoble, actually started 1 game on the wing,

Ah I see.
This I did not know. I don't follow Top 14.
Cheers for the info.

thomond2006 · 23-03-2019 7:10pm

Mild weather conditions. BP is a must tonight. Fingers crossed Cheetahs can do something in Glasgow.

razorblunt · 23-03-2019 8:52pm

I prefer Wycherley as a second row, he gets around like a back row anyway.

razorblunt · 23-03-2019 8:56pm

Great start by Zebre

thomond2006 · 23-03-2019 8:56pm

Zebre have started well.

Buer · 23-03-2019 8:58pm

Entertaining start. Zebre showing a little endeavour with some good tip on passes.

Munster looked physical and up for it but a few system errors in defence leaving big gaps which allowed Zebre eat up handy yards before being taken down. Munster need to get their spacing right in defence.

JJH needs to forget about kicking away good ball for a while. Has kicked it straight into opposition twice.

Munster back row look well up for it anyway. All of them showing good energy and physicality.

Buer · 23-03-2019 9:03pm

Munster will surely win comfortably but they look decidedly uncertain in the backline defence.

thomond2006 · 23-03-2019 9:03pm

Whew, that was close to a second Zebre try.

budhabob · 23-03-2019 9:05pm

Folks, been dragged to a musical so I'd appreciate your sympathy And regular detailed updates.

Buer · 23-03-2019 9:05pm

Jesus Christ.

Better this week than next. Canna is playing excellently and his passing on the gain line is superb.

ScrubsfanChris · 23-03-2019 9:05pm

Great hands from Haley

Clegg · 23-03-2019 9:05pm

0-12 to Zebre.

I still expect Munster to win this well, but this game reminds me of those early season performances when they basically took 50 minutes to wake up and by then the game was already lost. Zebre aren't a great side so they won't keep it up however.

razorblunt · 23-03-2019 9:06pm

Munster are far too passive. They’re still in the dressing room it seems.
Canna has the backline on a string with runners offering lovely lines.

Buer · 23-03-2019 9:06pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

Whew, that was close to a second Zebre try.

Perish the thought...

thomond2006 · 23-03-2019 9:06pm

Buer wrote: »

Perish the thought...

Who asked you Buer?

Buer · 23-03-2019 9:09pm

Archer playing with fire there bumping Canna in offside position while getting back onto his side. Referee looking other way.

Buer · 23-03-2019 9:09pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

Buer wrote: »

Perish the thought...

Who asked you Buer?

The people demand the truth.

razorblunt · 23-03-2019 9:10pm

I can’t tell if that’s a bunch of girls screaming or if Toland is taking his fangirling to a new level.

Clegg · 23-03-2019 9:11pm

Jaysus that was a monster hit on Sweetnam. They Zebre ruck over and steal the ball. Second or third time they've successful stolen Munster ball on the deck.

Buer · 23-03-2019 9:11pm

I see JJH declined my advice...

razorblunt · 23-03-2019 9:11pm

Toland refusing to criticise players, Haley’s knock on was inexcusable and now JJ with an awful grubber.

He’s sitting there assuming a Munster bounce back is coming.

ScrubsfanChris · 23-03-2019 9:12pm

If JJ has to start next week, we're screwed.

thomond2006 · 23-03-2019 9:12pm

Bill Johnston is the winner so far. JJ has done little to justify his extension.

Buer · 23-03-2019 9:13pm

Zebre a mile offside in defence a few times.

Clegg · 23-03-2019 9:14pm

Zebre are starting to give away a lot of penalties.

Buer · 23-03-2019 9:15pm

I think JJH trying to bounce the ball to himself as he waited to kick to touch and spilling it sums up his showing thus far.

razorblunt · 23-03-2019 9:16pm

Jesus, JJ missed that grubber it was technically a knock on.

Clegg · 23-03-2019 9:16pm

Munster make good yardage off a 22 lineout. Generate quick ball and they go wide to the backs. JJ gets it, shapes to kick and misses the ball.

razorblunt · 23-03-2019 9:18pm

Zebre messing at rucks, deliberately slowing it down the whole time. Playing the ref well.

Clegg · 23-03-2019 9:19pm

Munster play loose, go wide to the touchline, winger gets pushed out further and offloads to nobody. Zebre intercept it and win 70 metres from what could've been a try conceded.

Munster aren't playing poorly, but they're making bad decisions in Zebre's 22.

ScrubsfanChris · 23-03-2019 9:20pm

Clear Munster penalty.

Clegg · 23-03-2019 9:20pm

Good turnover steal from Zebre from what was a promising Munster attack.

Toland is wrong that the Zebre player wasn't supporting his own weight. He went down to his elbows, but by then he had already been latched on to the ball for a second or two. Enough time for a penalty to go his way.

razorblunt · 23-03-2019 9:24pm

Clegg wrote: »

Good turnover steal from Zebre from what was a promising Munster attack.

Toland is wrong that the Zebre player wasn't supporting his own weight. He went down to his elbows, but by then he had already been latched on to the ball for a second or two. Enough time for a penalty to go his way.

Erra Toland is watching a different game entirely. He couldn’t see why Stander was pinged just there. He’s basically sat there delighted Zebre have a head start to be chased down.

Buer · 23-03-2019 9:24pm

Munster seem to be coming up hard outside to cut off the midfield attack but Zebre have repeatedly just checked back inside. The inside defence isn't working across quickly enough to shut that door. Or the carrier just pulls it back and Munster look iffy when it goes wide and there is loads of space.

Larbre34 · 23-03-2019 9:25pm

I think all provinces will agree Toland is a dreadful analyst.

thomond2006 · 23-03-2019 9:26pm

I love Alby but that's absolute bull**** from him.

eigrod · 23-03-2019 9:26pm

Zebre did the very same thing in previous penalty but he didn’t reverse that???????

ScrubsfanChris · 23-03-2019 9:26pm

That's just braindead from Alby

Munster vs Zebre, Sat 23rd March 7:45pm; Live on ES1

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