Following on from here
New Munster chat thread folks. warning deserved there. https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=109477571#post109477571
Munster the much stronger team so far. Need make more from their opportunities though.
The pack are well on top so far.
Rule 1 on how the get a messy, scrappy & unwatchable game of rugby? Appoint a French ref.
That does seem mad aright. I think Ashton was with Toulon when we played them in 17-18 tho, so he get plenty stick that day too. ;)
12 years since we've played the Saints? That seems nuts, seems only recently with the hatred towards Hartley and Ashton!
Ref change for the game, it's now Pierre-Baptiste Nuchy
Team v Northampton looks like they are saving game time for Casey TBH
What would it cost to rent and run a rig like that for the few days leading up to the game?
Surely not the 100s of thousands (even millions?) it will cost Ulster to refund tickets, rent the replacement venue and all the other travel/relocation expenses anyway.
Saints doing what a ton of other clubs had to do over the last week or so to ensure games go ahead
Like the idea of Crowley at 12 with Frisch outside him. Let's see how that goes. Joey seems to be finding a touch of spark again, slowly but surely. This back line looks decent. Murray back at 9 is interesting, Casey still hasn't quite made it.
Hodnett a little unlucky to be benched. Always shows huge workrate. Maybe not a game changer but he plays the 7 roles really well. The bench worries me slightly, an early injury to Kleyn or Beirne and we're goosed. Not sure what Rory Scannell offers us off the bench.
We're rightly screwed when John Ryan moves on. I still can't fathom how this came to pass. Maybe the damage was done by JvG. But we're letting a a 20 something cap international go who is playing and relying on a few young lads who haven't delivered anything near the level required and an even older prop who van be a penalty machine and was never mentioned for Ireland honours. It stinks tbh.
Ian Madigan was just never really good enough to make it at the top level.
Hook had a very good career, he won about 80 caps and went on a Lions tour. I dunno what trophies he won but he must have won a couple of 6Ns in there. Any young Irish back can emulate that they'll be doing well.
i think thats fine short term but longer term its not a good thing, players like ian madigan and james hook became jack of all trades since they kept moving between positions. its fine for now but id hope by next season he focuses on 10 (or 12/15)
He is second choice 10. I'm happy with him getting starts where he can get it at 12 and 15 when he isn't starting at 10.
There isn't a massive amount of minutes for the second choice ten (Leinster is different as Sexton is a starting international and 38).
its great that hes getting minutes but i kinda want him to stick with one position and try and nail it down, i dont think the constant swapping between 10,12 and 15 is the best in the long term
Haley's had a few injuries alright, but I checked and he's still started 6 games. His injuries came during the EI when we were down to the bare bones in the back 3 and that just made his absence all the more obvious. He's almost always fit for us, which is hugely valuable.
For me, over the last 3 years, I'd probably say Tadhg Beirne has been our best player. Tho POM's form from Sept '21 to July '22 was pretty phenomenal. And I'd say CJ (tho obviously didn't play last season at all) and Gav Coombes deserve a mention as well.
Yea! He's been very good. Casey is thereabouts also.
My perception is that haley has missed quite a bit through injury this season. But that's probably completely wrong.
I'd have haley as the best munster player over the last 3 years for sure.
Unusually, this’ll be a start for Crowley in each of 10, 12 and 15 this season.
His form is demanding selection tho, really putting his hand up.
The fact that we have no 2nd row cover on the bench again is a worry but I guess Eoin O Connor isn't at that level yet.
The rest of the selection should be enough to take the Saints
Casey for me (tho Haley defintely in the conversation) and you'd nearly have to say Edogbo deserves a mention too, which is huge testament to him.
Hodnett has been great this year to be fair, almost always puts in a shift. Can't remember which game, but one recently he came on as a sub for 18 mins and made 15 tackles.
And tbh after last weeks display, JOD is lucky to be there ahead of either Hodnett and Kendellen.
Murray was always going to start this one.
Have to say JOD is lucky to be there, and seems a bit harsh on Hodnett.
Crowley at 12 is very interesting, he looked decent there last week.
Our best player this year has been Haley but I understand your point re Casey/Murray.
How strong/weak is that Northampton team anyone know? I see Lawes, Furbank, Ludlam who'd all be first choice but dunno about the remainder.
Saints team.
15 George Furbank, 14 James Ramm, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 Tommy Freeman, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell
1 Alex Waller, 2 Sam Matavesi, 3 Ehren Painter, 4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 5 David Ribbans, 6 Courtney Lawes, 7 Lewis Ludlam (c), 8 Juarno Augustus
Replacements:
16 Mikey Haywood, 17 Emmanuel Iyogun, 18 Alfie Petch, 19 Alex Moon, 20 Angus Scott-Young, 21 Aaron Hinkley, 22 Callum Braley, 23 Fraser Dingwall
Murray going straight back in is disappointing. Its not because i don't like Murray, but because Casey has been our best player this year and this doesn't reward that form.
Good team outside of that. Haley, Frisch, Crowley, Carberry and earls are all capable of stepping in as playmaker so should be exciting to watch.
Would've prefered to see Casey starting, but excited to see Crowley at 12, think he's earned it and has a level of abrasiveness for the position.
That looks a pretty impactful bench too, in the forwards at least, tho hopefully we'll see a few returns from injury in the 2nd row soon.
Earls starts on the wing along with Crowley at 12. Murray straight back in at 9. Killer returns on the bench. Still no sign of Fekitoa.
Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Jack Crowley, Keith Earls; Joey Carbery, Conor Murray; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne; Jack O’Donoghue, Peter O’Mahony (C), Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Dave Kilcoyne, Roman Salanoa, John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen, Craig Casey, Rory Scannell, Shane Daly.
Leinster game sold-out when moved back to Stephen's Day slot, no great surprise.
For all the articles of concern about the reduced attendance for the post-Covid re-scheduled game, I think this was always likely.
Shoulder injury against Leinster. Out for several months.
Where's Ahern, is he out for long?
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