Edinburgh vs Munster, Sat 30th March 12:45pm; VM1/BT Sport 3

thomond2006 · 29-03-2019 12:45pm #1

Edinburgh:
15. Darcy Graham (20)
14. Damien Hoyland (60)
13. James Johnstone (39)
12. Chris Dean (84)
11. Duhan van der Merwe (37)
10. Jaco van der Walt (36)
9. Henry Pyrgos (20)

1. Pierre Schoeman (19)
2. Stuart McInally (133) CAPTAIN
3. WP Nel (130)
4. Ben Toolis (106)
5. Grant Gilchrist (133)
6. John Barclay (1)
7. Hamish Watson (96)
8. Viliame Mata (56)

Replacements: 16. Ross Ford (195); 17. Allan Dell (58); 18. Simon Berghan (63); 19. Magnus Bradbury (61); 20. Jamie Ritchie (61); 21. Charlie Shiel (3); 22. Simon Hickey (17); 23. Mark Bennett (16)

Munster:
Mike Haley; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; Joey Carbery, Conor Murray;
Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne; Peter O’Mahony (C), Jack O’Donoghue, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Jeremy Loughman, Stephen Archer, Billy Holland, Arno Botha, Alby Mathewson, Tyler Bleyendaal, Dan Goggin.

Edinburgh host Munster in the first game of the Champions Cup quarter-final weekend. Munster are looking to reach their first European final since 2008 with Edinburgh playing their first European playoff game since the 2011-12 season.

The big selection surprise sees Jack O'Donoghue starting at openside after making a return from a long term injury. Chris Cloete misses out from the 23 with Arno Botha making the bench as a more versatile bench option. Tyler Bleyendaal retains his bench spot from the Exeter game with Joey Carbery returning from injury to start.

Referee: Pascal Gauz (Fra)
Assistant Referees: Ludovic Cayre (Fra) & Jonathan Dufort (Fra)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)

Sabre0001 · 29-03-2019 12:47pm

Munster: Mike Haley; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; Joey Carbery, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne; Peter O’Mahony (C), Jack O’Donoghue, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Jeremy Loughman, Stephen Archer, Billy Holland, Arno Botha, Alby Mathewson, Tyler Bleyendaal, Dan Goggin.

Former Former · 29-03-2019 12:54pm

Is that a 100% first choice XV? Not a single injury enforced selection? That's remarkable.

thomond2006 · 29-03-2019 12:55pm

Former Former wrote: »

Is that a 100% first choice XV? Not a single injury enforced selection? That's remarkable.

Maybe an in-form TOD would start but otherwise yes. James Cronin would make the bench.

budhabob · 29-03-2019 12:58pm

interesting call with JOD I have to say, although I have been disappointed with Cloete the last few games - hes always liable to a brain fart and a couple of penalties a game these days.

thomond2006 · 29-03-2019 1:28pm

Edinburgh:
15. Darcy Graham (20)
14. Damien Hoyland (60)
13. James Johnstone (39)
12. Chris Dean (84)
11. Duhan van der Merwe (37)
10. Jaco van der Walt (36)
9. Henry Pyrgos (20)

1. Pierre Schoeman (19)
2. Stuart McInally (133) CAPTAIN
3. WP Nel (130)
4. Ben Toolis (106)
5. Grant Gilchrist (133)
6. John Barclay (1)
7. Hamish Watson (96)
8. Viliame Mata (56)

Replacements: 16. Ross Ford (195); 17. Allan Dell (58); 18. Simon Berghan (63); 19. Magnus Bradbury (61); 20. Jamie Ritchie (61); 21. Charlie Shiel (3); 22. Simon Hickey (17); 23. Mark Bennett (16)

Clegg · 29-03-2019 1:34pm

Remarkably, Edinburgh's back row is actually better than Munster's. All three are that good.

troyzer · 29-03-2019 2:10pm

Clegg wrote: »

Remarkably, Edinburgh's back row is actually better than Munster's. All three are that good.

Certainly on current form.

Burkie1203 · 29-03-2019 2:51pm

Eh, where is the game on?

https://twitter.com/Munsterrugby/status/1111615937524973568?s=19

Cookiemunster · 29-03-2019 3:05pm

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Eh, where is the game on?

https://twitter.com/Munsterrugby/status/1111615937524973568?s=19

It's a joke... BA flight lands in Edinburgh instead of Düsseldorf by mistake

LuckyGent88 · 29-03-2019 3:07pm

Cookiemunster wrote: »

It's a joke... BA flight lands in Edinburgh instead of Düsseldorf by mistake

Top banter from them!!!

LuckyGent88 · 30-03-2019 2:26am

Too many Munster supporters here!!! Iv had to speak to people from Waterford!!!! An absolute nightmare:)

Some atmosphere in the city. It is wedged with red

Bridge93 · 30-03-2019 10:43am

Can’t call this. Game of the weekend for me. Munster have the world class operators and experience, Edinburgh have an ever improving squad and form on their side. Home advantage not a factor for me. Can’t wait

LuckyGent88 · 30-03-2019 10:53am

Morning, fair early for a game!!

Going to be very tight. Think the difference will be in Carbery so looking at him to produce some magic hopefully. Scrum will be crucial as Edinburgh are very strong in that department.

Going for a Munster win. 18-16

We never make it easy for ourselves anyway

Buer · 30-03-2019 11:29am

I don't really think Edinburgh are in the form that is being mentioned. They beat a depleted Leinster after bringing back in a rake of their front liners and that was largely due to mincing Leinster in the set piece which won't happen today. Before that they got nothing against Treviso and lost at home to Cardiff. They desperately needed the win last week.

Cockerill would have given his right arm to play this game 2 months ago when Edinburgh were absolutely on a high but that is a long time ago now.

Munster are too long in the tooth to be beaten up today like Leinster's front five were last week. It's going to be a close one but I would say Munster by 5. Bookies have it about right making them marginal favourites.

Former Former · 30-03-2019 11:32am

Munster haven't been playing great but winning all season. Can't see them losing today. I don't think Edinburgh have the experience or strength up front to win.

thomond2006 · 30-03-2019 12:24pm

No sub lock on the bench for Edinburgh. Mata at 6'6 is presumably the option if necessary.

Clegg · 30-03-2019 12:55pm

Mike Haley has been ruled out of the game. Conway moves to 15 and Sweetnam comes into the side to start on the wing having not been in the initial 23 man squad.

sydthebeat · 30-03-2019 12:58pm

Clegg wrote: »

Mike Haley has been ruled out of the game. Conway moves to 15 and Sweetnam comes into the side to start on the wing.

Doesn't make munster any weaker imo.

Who's to the bench?

thomond2006 · 30-03-2019 12:59pm

Clegg wrote: »

Mike Haley has been ruled out of the game. Conway moves to 15 and Sweetnam comes into the side to start on the wing.

It doesn't really weaken the side on paper. Sweetnam is unlucky that Conway and Earls are in situ.

thomond2006 · 30-03-2019 12:59pm

sydthebeat wrote: »

Doesn't make munster any weaker imo.

Who's to the bench?

Goggin. No change.

Buer · 30-03-2019 1:12pm

I'd take Conway over Haley if both were available. Don't think that will weaken Munster much. Sweetnam on form is as good as Haley. Possibly prone to more errors though but has looked decent of late.

troyzer · 30-03-2019 1:42pm

Stadium doesn't look nearly as full as I thought it would.

BBDBB · 30-03-2019 1:44pm

Game is on channel 4

In case it wasn’t mentioned above

ScrubsfanChris · 30-03-2019 1:48pm

troyzer wrote: »

Stadium doesn't look nearly as full as I thought it would.

Around 35000 tickets sold according to BT. Still very decent for a qf

budhabob · 30-03-2019 1:49pm

Smart play by NScannell. Good atmosphere

Clegg · 30-03-2019 1:49pm

Good turnover from McInally.

griffinlee · 30-03-2019 1:50pm

murray slow at the ruck to get it away

BBDBB · 30-03-2019 1:51pm

Edinburgh hitting the ball with real pace, difficult to stop

Clegg · 30-03-2019 1:52pm

griffinlee wrote: »

murray slow at the ruck to get it away

It was the same all throughout the Six Nations. In this instance Edinburgh also counter rucked well.

budhabob · 30-03-2019 1:52pm

Strong defense by Munster, Edinburgh we're being pushed back, but Edinburgh put some pace on the ball.

Edinburgh vs Munster, Sat 30th March 12:45pm; VM1/BT Sport 3

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