Munster v Ulster URC round 7 Match thread

Has Thomond Park got a new surface, a hybrid similar to the Aviva Stadium?

Kendellen back? That's timely. Not a bad 15 all things considered. Evan O'Connell on the bench too, you'd be delighted for him.

Combined 8 competitive professional rugby appearances for the 4 second rows named in the Munster match day squad!

The one unknown is how much the bug will have, em, taken out of Ulster, if you will. They look stronger on paper, but a 1 score game seems about right. Could be a good one.

Maul does seem a huge weapon for Ulster and it's an area we've struggled in when Kleyn hasn't been on the pitch.

Will be interesting to see if we contest (JOD probably our best option there) or just get set for maul d earlier.

Ulster coming back from a dose of the scutters could help Munster. Hopefully, Ulster can keep their shite together, no pun intended.

Haley and Kendellen back for Munster! Crowley at 10! Should be a good watch.

I remember in the last 2-3 seasons of the JvG era, there were probably 4-5 games where the match thread would contain at least 1 Leinster fan proclaiming Munster as favourites. The bookies invariaby had an entirely different view....

I most looking forward to klendennen schooling vermuelen. Worth the entry price alone that one.

And then there is the forever overhyped ulster backline to get over excited by only to be left down miserably by burns on every occasion.

Munster BP by halftime and empty the bench on 60 minutes in a 32- 12 win.

The main thing for Munster tomorrow evening is to stop giving Ulster an opportunity to kick to the corner. Probably easier to stop that than stop their maul

Yep, like imagine proclaiming Munster as favorites against Leinster C and academy team last year. WUM’s the lot of them. :)

I don't share the Ulster optimism here.

We aren't missing as many as Munster but we seem to be down about 10 players who all realistically would have a chance of starting. Herring, O'Toole and Timoney are big misses up front, although in saying that I've every confidence in Tom Stewart at hooker. But given the players missing for Munster we shouldn't expect much sympathy here.

Without doubt the biggest unknown is the impact of the bug on the players. I've normally dropped 3 or 4 kilos in the past on the back of stomach bugs and while it goes back on quickly enough it is bound to have impacted those affected. That said Glasgow did OK last night.

Then there's the fact Munster are at home and need the win more.

Also that Munster back row may not be the most experienced in Kendellan and Hodnett, but they are outstanding talents.

This will be a tough game. 50/50 at best for Ulster.

Nice for Munster fans to build it up as a potential miracle match to build morale should they win!!!

I mean, you've a lad above talking about a "miracle match" when the bookies have the handicap at 4 points...

A lot of the kilos lost is dehydration more than muscle or fat. It’s water weight really. When you rehydrate properly it goes straight back on. I would imagine they will have been drinking lots of electrolyte drinks this week.

The biggest impact may be the lack of training this week, or disruption to it. If Ulster cab limit the mistakes, they should be ok.

Ulsters defence has looked questionable at times but so has Munsters attack. So they should equal out. I think Ulster by 10.

Its a lot more than just water weight when people are sick, your describing something closer to a fighters weight cut while an illness like ecoli leaves its mark on the digestive system, it stops the person eating for a number of days which isnt weight thats immediately put back on, it takes time for energy levels to return, concentration levels are effected and those impacts are hard to handle for someone in a regular environment not to mind someone operating at elite level sport, couple that with some long haul flights its very possible a good amount of the ulster players are not anywhere near 100%.

I can’t say I recall that conversation, but if you asked me now, I could only agree tbh. (Not saying it didn’t happen btw, just in case it comes across that way).

Munster have, what, 2 wins in the last 13 or something akin to that? That’s no longer a rivalry, in any real terms really…

Hopefully it can get back to close to what it was, but that seems a way off at the moment.

I think with Lancaster and Sexton out at effectively the end of this season as well, it could bring the teams that bit closer; that's a lot of rugby IQ out the door in one season.

I think it could be next season before we beging to see the gap closing, but Leinster aside, 2nite's a big game in the context of this season for Munster.

Can't see Munster doing anything. Looking like Challenge Cup for them next year. That will be some shock to the system