Following on from here
New Munster chat thread folks. warning deserved there. https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=109477571#post109477571
Much better evening here at Thomond Park than I expected when looking at the long term forecast. Pitch was covered until last night or this morning so it's probably a bit stodgy but looking good for this time of year. No wind either so aside from a wet ball conditions are good
Its not just another province..its from leinster.
I would have also taken their 4th choice 10 who recently went on loan.
Barron is a great signing imo.
Gus in fairness took his chance in the AI's but it was some stroke of good fortune the way the injuries fell at Leinster up to that Barron was ahead if him.
Age profile is good. I think he's going to be very high quality player. I would put money on him nailing the starting spot in his first season and let's be honest the Munster have 2 hookers who look like they won't make the top level either through talent or injury.
The Barron signing I don't get, why sign a 4th or 5th choice from another province when you have same quality already. I could understand signing a 2nd choice from another province
My hope for the game is to see the lads be very competitive and a improvement in the errors, it’s just a matter of time and the team click and the results will come, the people complaining here have to realise there has no luck on the injury front so far this season and players don’t make mistakes on purpose.
Very much a game munster can win, if the lineout functions and the scrum is par at least. But reckon saracens will sneak it by 3-5 points
is that a gulp-inducing team? I think the teams are pretty evenly matched on paper and home advantage should be a big factor.
Munster to win.
Can't see where the bookies are getting the odds for this, perhaps putting an excessive amount of weight on the old munster v english team at home factor, great odds on saracens if you wanted a punt.
I think we'll be competitive for a large part, Nanks is a massive loss, but ultimately unless they have a serious off day I don't see us beating them
I don't get the split with crowley,burns & scannell all covering 10.
Anyways hoping for one of those old style munster performances & result
I'd say with Milne joining, we probably don't re-sign Blueler, which would be a pity imo. Think the Barron signing makes sense, as Clarke and Buckley are only signed up to the summer. I don't think Munster intend on re-signing either, Clarke was an unused sub in Belfast a few weeks back, and I don;t think we've see Buckley this season.
Probable LHP depth chart next season: Loughman, Milne, Wycherly, Donnelly. Hooker: Scannell, both Barrons, and I'd expect Munster would be looking to get Danny Sheahan exposed to senior rugby too. On the THP side, I hope we can get John Ryan for another year. But with Archer turning 37 at the end of the month, and Salanoa's injury situation, I think we're going to need to make a signing there too. I don't know any IQ THPs available. Foxe is coming through the academy too, but is going to take time obviously.
It's hard to see anything other that a tough evening tomorrow unfortunately. That team has enough quality to contend in this competition. But at least we should be up for the game.
If Milne (as rumoured) had come down last season he'd have had a lot more game time under his belt this season. He must be a bit peeved at how things worked out by staying.
For me the jury is out on Burns but there was glimpses of hope from him in the game v Leinster over Christmas.
I thought Burns was quite good against Leinster tbh. He was finding a lot of space against our rush defence with some smart kicking etc.
No idea what to expect from this match to be honest but Munster need to win it in many respects. Sarries defence almost certainly won't be as aggressive/good as Leinster's so Munster should at least be expecting to score more.
Probably the strongest team we could have named with the injury list. I'd rather Butler on the bench to burns - the argument for experience is cancelled out when his form is in the toilet.
BPs are seldom useless and in particular in this format of the ERC.
Michael Milne and Lee Barron joining from Leinster next season according to Murray Kinsella.
https://www.the42.ie/milne-barron-leinster-munster-4840349-Jan2025/
Munster may already have enough points to make the top 16. Another two points and they'll definitely qualify. Remember that the top 4 teams make the last 16. And Bulls and Stade Francais are currently on 0 points.
For a chance of a home last 16 game then yes a win is needed.
Probably but Munster are home and slight favourites, given the group standings, bonus points are effectively useless. Even with two losing bonus points we'd probably still need to go and win in Northampton. I would really hope there has been no thought given to bonus points with the bench selection.
I understand that, I also think Sarries are currently a better team than us.
Need to win this game realistically.
Yes but equally we might get some momentum for the last ~30 mins and manage to get some points from the game.
Might be well over before the finish for the finishers!
I'm assume Munster see him as a finisher with Hodnett and Gleeson, like you tho I think Sarries will be too strong for us tomorrow.
Bring back Joey!
And Cronin….I see Milne is moving from Leinster! Good move for him.
Why is Ahern not starting?
Saracens: Daly; Williams, Lozowski, Tompkins, Cinti; Burke, van Zyl; Brantingham, George, Riccioni; Itoje (c), Wilson; Gonzalez, Earl, Willis
Reps: Dan, Mawi, Clarey, Eke, Michelow, Simpson, Hartley, Elliott
POM is big loss. Cant see Munster winning this.
Gulp! 🙈
15 Elliot Daly, 14 Liam Williams, 13 Alex Lozowski, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Lucio Cinti Luna, 10 Fergus Burke, 9 Ivan van Zyl
1 Phil Brantingham, 2 Jamie George, 3 Marco Riccioni, 4 Maro Itoje (c), 5 Harry Wilson, 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7 Ben Earl, 8 Tom Willis
Replacements
16 Theo Dan, 17 Eroni Mawi, 18 Alec Clarey, 19 Max Eke, 20 Nathan Michelow, 21 Gareth Simpson, 22 Olly Hartley, 23 Tobias Elliott
Munster should be all over Charlie Tector imo, to take over the Rory Scannell role for two seasons with a view to becoming the starting 12 at the end of Nankivell's contract.
No POM, 6-2 split on the bench, Kendellen starts with Hodnett on the bench, along with Ahern & Gleeson
Must have been some calf bruise for POM
Team for tomorrow
Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Rory Scannell, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley, Conor Murray; Dian Bleuler, Niall Scannell, Oli Jager; Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (C); Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, John Ryan, Stephen Archer, Tom Ahern, John Hodnett, Paddy Patterson, Billy Burns, Brian Gleeson.
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