Toulon v Munster Sun 16th Jan. KO 16:00 Local Time (15:00 Irish Time)

TheHighRoad wrote: »

O'Connell is the complete wrong call. Hes had less than 10minutes of rugby for Munster in which he was instantly sin binned. How in gods name is the man deemed match fit for such an important game? He hasn't played any rugby for months. I hope to be proven wrong but don't think I will be. I am shocked that he can just walk back into the squad for a game like that especially when Mick O'Driscolls there I don't care who he is.

Dont agree. O'Connell is a leader and galvaniser. Munster (and Ireland) need him on the pitch from the start

The Rooster wrote: »

Yeah, they also have covered the bases a bit by having both O'Driscoll and Ryan on the bench in a 6-2 forwards-backs split.

Clearly expecting an up front battle. Only questionable decision is Tuitupou starting, felt Mafi had done enough to hold onto his place. 6 of one, half dozen of another I guess.

CouchSmart wrote: »

To be fair no Hayman just means they can have a backrow of Lobbe, Smith and van Niekerk as well as playing Contepomi. If anything it's a bad thing for Munster Hayman isn't playing.

Seeing that Toulon team I'm not too confident anymore of a Munster win

We can compete in the backrow. We cannot compete in the scrums... Im happier what that, to be honest.

I think it's an interesting Munster selection. Picking O'Connell feels like the right call. Let him run himself into the ground and you've a steady hand in Mick O'Driscoll to close out the game once he runs out of puff. I'd say he's like a caged beast and will give 50 minutes of seriously abrasive rugby.

Strings is an interesting one. I'd normally be clamouring for him to play, because I think O'Leary is awful, but looking at that Toulon back-row, I have to wonder if this is one of those games you'd like O'Leary to be there.

Looks like Munster will try to move the lumbering Toulon pack around, (perhaps like Leinster did to Clermont?) but the question is - will their pack be able to get around and join up the play?

It's going to be some game. Incidentally, I've backed Munster, I think they're way too long at >2.6 on betfair.

Interesting to see stringer in there. I think his quick service will give ROG time to shoot the corners.

Leave strings on for 60/65 mins then get TOL on to keep the tiring Toulon pack honest at the base?

Quint2010 wrote: »

Ah that explains the Hayman ommission. Looking at the Toulon team I think this is a huge ask for Munster but if they can stay with Toulon for an hour I think they can win it in the last 20. Is a bonus point enough for Munster to keep them in it?

Assuming L Irish beat Ospreys (Ospreys don't get a BP) and Ospreys beat Toulon (no BP for Toulon) and Munster bear L Irish with a BP

A BP will be enough if Munster is incredibly lucky, there is no real hope if Munster rely on it

Well they wouldn't have their destiny in their own hands as they say and the probability of the other event happening seems to be so low, they are probably justified in saying it.

BoarHunter wrote: »

I think Munster will do it. This match is far more important than it is for Toulon whose real goal is the Brennus. Munster have aways produced when needed ( perpignan last year ). this match has Munster written all over it. Toulon will fancy their chances but experience is on Munster side big time.

Sorry but i think your heart is ruling your head. Yes munster have pedigree and much experience when it comes to tricky away fixtures like this but you cannot ignore their below par performances this season, their obsession with up the jumper rugby is killing any creativity and their scrum is poor. Certainly POC will give them a boost but i cant see his addition turning around munsters rudderless play. Yes they are top of the magners but in truth thats not saying much, you kind of feel they are just through the motions in the magners, playing from memory, such is the standard of the opposition. However, in the HC where the standard of opposition is higher Munster havent had it all their own way and I think munster will come unstuck this weekend and fail to qualify for the next round.

some_dose wrote: »

I think I can speak on behalf of a few of us when I say could Thomand2006 please hurry up with the preview! I've been waiting all week to see it!

Toulon:
15 Rudi Wulf, 14 Paul Sackey, 13 Gabi Lovobalavu, 12 Felipe Contepomi, 11 Christian Loamanu, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Pierre Mignoni,
8 Joe van Niekerk (c), 7 George Smith, 6 Juan Fernandez Lobbe, 5 Dean Schofield, 4 Christophe Samson, 3 Davit Kubriashvili, 2 Sebastien Bruno, 1 Laurent Emmanuelli.

Replacements: 16 Jean-Charles Orioli, 17 Saimone Taumoepeau, 18 Mehdi Merabet, 19. Joe El Abd, 20. Fotu Auelua, 21 Rory Lamont, 22 Laurent Magnaval, 23 Kris Chesney.

Munster:
15 Paul Warwick, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Johne Murphy, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Peter Stringer,
8 Denis Leamy (c), 7 David Wallace, 6 James Coughlan, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 John Hayes, 2 Damien Varley, 1 Wian du Preez.

Replacements: 16 Mike Sherry, 17 Darragh Hurley, 18 Tony Buckley, 19 Mick O'Driscoll, 20 Donnacha Ryan, 21 Niall Ronan, 22 Tomas O'Leary, 23 Lifeimi Mafi.

Date: Sunday, January 16
Venue: Stade Félix Mayol, Toulon
Kick-off: 16.00 (15.00 GMT)
Referee: Dave Pearson

Munster travel to Toulon for the first time in its history, for a do or die contest to survive in the Heineken Cup. It is simply win or bust, there are no second chances. Munster must leave Stade Mayol with at least four points. Over 1000 troops of the famous Red Army are expected to descend into the infamous ground to cheer their heroes on from the sidelines. There is nowhere left to hide for Munster, they must deliver another houdini act or face the prospect of their worst performance in the Heineken Cup for a long, long time and a post mortem on the current management stucture similar to the Nazi War Trials.

First, allow me to set a bit of context. Once upon a time Munster possessed two proud records, both of paramount importance to their envied history of fame and success in the Heineken Cup. The first, Munster were undefeated at the celestial Thomond Park in the Heineken Cup. The second, since the 1998/99 season Munster have advanced to the knockout stages of the Heineken Cup, that is an incredible 12 consecutive years in a notably competitive tournament. They have been a model of consistency in European rugby. When the Six Nations ends in March and the Heineken Cup wagon rolls back into town in April, you know Munster is one of the passengers.

Record number 1 fell on 20th January 2007. Leicester came with a monster pack including Shane Jennings and Leo Cullen and successful beseiged Fortress Thomond. The Munster faithful looked in shock as Munster were bullied off the park by the Tigers. They had the 'cheek' to do what no other team dared. Munster still progressed to the quarter-finals but something they held dear was lost forever. 16th January 2011 could well be the date that Munster's second proud record is broken. No team deserves to saunter through to the knockouts, they must earn it. Can Munster prove themselves worthy yet again?

So, to the match itself. First of all, one can write off the reverse fixture in October, it will have no bearing on the result on Sunday. Toulon's mindset was very different then, I don't think they fancied the Heineken Cup at that stage. It seemed a typical stance of a disinterested French team: Let's win our home games and try not to disgrace ourselves away from home. Munster, fuelled by bitterness after a lacklustre away to a poor London Irish side (who at the time of writing cannot buy a win), went out all guns blazing against a Toulon side where many players looked as if they missed the warmth of the Cote D'Azur. In front of a typically boisterous Thomond Park faithful, Munster 'bate' Toulon out the gate. Suddenly Munster were back and Toulon looked doomed in the pool.

Of course, Heineken Cup pools containing Munster are never predictable. Toulon dispatched London Irish home and away to put themselves back in contention while Munster's 5 points gained against the Ospreys has meant that this game is a do or die for both sides, particularly Munster. To Toulon’s credit, they have managed to bounce back and top the pool when everyone has written them off.

While top of the league and getting the results, Munster haven’t displayed a cutting edge. They have won games through a staunch defence that concedes few tries. Their back play has been rather stagnant, the first choice partnership of Sam Tuitupou and Keith Earls has never truly clicked. Munster have also ran slow ball far too often, they have been their own worst enemy at times because of their decision making in possession. While they have been grounding out results against ‘mickey mouse’ opponents, at the big occasions they have ultimately failed to deliver on the big occasions: against Leinster in the Magners League and away to Ospreys in the Heineken Cup. The old brigade is getting older by the day, it remains to be seen if this Munster side can produce a special performance yet again. Toulon at home aside, we have yet to see a stormer from Munster.

Toulon have been up and down this season. Lying sixth in the Top 14 (9 wins and 7 losses), they are not where they would expect to be with their resources. Their high profile owner Mourad Boudjellal has personally bankrolled the majority of the squad and now he wants immediate results. They play to win and nothing more, Jonny Wilkinson is the current leading drop goal scorer this season, scoring more drop goals (14) so far this season than the whole of the Aviva Premiership (13). When there is 3 points on offer, they take it. Their weaknesses are exposed when Wilkinson has a bad day, thankfully that is very rare. His deep stance negates his outside backs’ time and space. However, that is not to say Toulon’s backs are dangerous if given a platform. On the contrary, they possess very little threat: they lack pace and are mostly pedestrian. Of course their failings could be well down to Phillipe Saint Andre’s conservative attitude. For all their strengths, Toulon are no Clermont or Toulouse. They don’t (yet) possess a true winner’s pedigree and this lack of collective experience could be their undoing if the match comes down to a crucial moment in the game. They may have individual matchwinners but individuals don’t win games.

While Munster’s defence has been for the most part excellent, their disclipine has been an issue. Too many times players are sent to the sinbin or cheap penalties are given away. If Munster infringe in their own half, Wilkinson will punish them and the scoreline will tick over and over. It is essential that O’Gara keeps Toulon pinned inside their half, they don’t have the ammunition out wide to pose a threat from deep in their own half. Munster must stay disclipined at the breakdown, their defence is strong enough to force Toulon into errors, therefore dubious decisions at the breakdown must be avoided for fear of hearing the whistle sound.

The inclusion of Peter Stringer over Tomas O'Leary will be a huge deciding factor in this game. It shows that the management will try and move the ball wide quickly and play an attacking game. O'Leary would have been a defensive asset against the Toulon backrow. If the pack can give Stringer his platform, he will as always deliver the cleanest pass in Europe. For a management team that has been pilloried for a conservative gameplan, this looks to be a positive decision.

The verbals between both sides have served to simmer the pot of bitterness between both sides. Donnacha O’Callaghan described Toulon as “mercenaries” while Mourad Boudjellal replied that Munster “were financed by the IMF”. There is however a level of respect there, Boudjellal was so impressed with Thomond Park’s famous silence for kickers that Toulon have launched “Operation Silence”, in an attempt to mirror Thomond’s silence at Stade Mayol. One wonders how the home fans (known as “La Horde Sauvage) will react to this, they are certainly not known for being silent at any stage.



Words and Translation of Pilou Pilou here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stade_Mayol

The Coaches:


Tony McGahan: Only a man who lives on pressure would want to be in the Australian's shoes. This is the biggest challenge of his coaching career to date, he must guide a group of mostly aging players to victory over a fearsome French opposition who also have everything to play for. Last season at Perpignan, he guided his side to arguably their finest win ever on French soil. McGahan and his management have received a lot of criticism for Munster's struggling set-piece and their passive style of play. With murmurs of discontent among support (losing five in a row to bitter rivals Leinster hasn’t helped), he must send out a side that is capable of winning. You would fear for his future should Munster fail to win on Sunday. One Magners League title in 3 seasons doesn't cut the mustard down south these days. Like Perpignan, this is a serious litmus test of McGahan’s abilities.

Phillipe Saint-André: It wasn't an easy task to come and take charge of a bankrolled team where instant success is expected a la Manchester City. However the former French international winger has displayed a level of shrewdness in putting a structure (albeit highly conservative) around a very multi-cultural squad. Taking 3 points when on offer in the opponents half and a tight game revolving around an immense backrow have become the Toulon gameplan. Very much a pragmatist, he sends out a team to win games, not to be a razzle-dazzle spectacle to entertain the crowd. He will have his own personal duel with Munster, any side he has sent to Thomond Park (Gloucester, Sale twice and this season Toulon) have left Limerick with the tails between their legs.

Man of the Moment:

The return of Paul O’Connell is massive, was there was never any doubt that he would start this game? If he’s only good for 50 minutes, that will do just fine. His leadership qualities are vital, his return will resemble a new marquee signing for Munster. It’s important he starts so he can impose his presence with the captain’s armband on. If Munster ever needed a kick up the backside from within it is now and O’Connell will be the catalyst. It is not the personal impact he will make, it is the impact he will make on the other 14 players. He can bring his side’s performance up a gear when at times this season Munster have looked bereft of direction.

Key Battle:

Every position is a matchup in itself but I feel the tussle between the backrows will be nothing short of amazing to watch. Between the 6 players they hold 307 test caps, with James Coughlan the only uncapped player of the six. The Toulon backrow has a fine balance to it: Van Niekerk and Lobbe are excellent ballcarriers with huge physicality while George Smith is your typical groundhog openside flanker. The Munster trio of Coughlan, Wallace and Leamy must have the games of their lives. Coughlan and Leamy have been playing well this season while Wallace has been rather quiet. Wallace must produce the form that got him his Lions test caps. If Van Niekerk and Lobbe dominate the close exchanges, Munster haven’t got a prayer in this game. I don’t think the Munster backrow will dominate themselves but if they can achieve parity (to borrow a scrummaging term) then Toulon’s fulcrum will be shut down.

Prediction: The bookies have installed Toulon as favourites and given their record at home and the form of both sides, it would be hard to disagree. Munster have the European pedigree, Toulon do not. The set piece is vital, if Munster can hold up in the scrum and lineout and stop Toulon’s 6-10, they will win this game. That is a huge if though. Regardless of how seriously Toulon are taking the Heineken Cup, they are at home in front of a racuous crowd who demand victory. The fear of not qualifying for the first time in 12 years will be a huge motivating factor for Munster, they probably cannot fathom the consequences of not winning. Therefore they must win. I go Munster to shade it by a score because I believe they have another performance left in them.

Normally I’d end a match preview with my prediction but after seeing this quote in the press I felt that Donnacha O’Callaghan sets the scene perfectly: "This is what we love lads. The last two weeks with everything on the line. Cup final rugby, love it, reared on it - bring it on."

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Team lineups, refs, time taken from Planet Rugby.
Pictures come from RTE, Sky Sports and Planet Rugby sources.

On a personal level, I cannot wait for this. To be lucky enough to be close to Toulon on a big match weekend is a privilege, I'm very thankful for it. I'll put up a few pictures after the match! I'll be in the Tribune Delangre if anyone wants to say hi!

I never thought of it in that way.

Thomand2006- you're a true legend. That was newspaper worthy!

thomond2006 wrote: »

Paulie taking the mick out of Jonny already!