Munster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread II

16-04-2013 09:34PM

athtrasna wrote: »

Non French or Irish Refs/Assistants used in the Heineken Cup includes:

Waynes Barnes (Eng), Greg Garner (Eng), JP Doyle (Eng), Neil Paterson (Sco), Leighton Hodges (Wal) and Nigel Owens (Wal).

Not exactly an inspirational list, think I've missed a few too but it's going to be interesting when the officials are announced bearing in mind there can be no French refs that weekend.

Irish surely?

I know he referees in the AP and the 7s tour but would have thought he was Irish

athtrasna · 16-04-2013 09:37PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Irish surely?

I know he referees in the AP and the 7s tour but would have thought he was Irish

Actually an interesting one. He is Irish but is employed by the RFU which is why the ERC list him as being a referee from England.

Rightwing · 16-04-2013 09:56PM

Podge_irl wrote: »

I'm unsure who would be better mind. Barnes?

Ya, I'd much prefer Barnes.

Owens seems to be a real homer in the H Cup.

phog · 16-04-2013 10:02PM

We've no say in the matter and we're long enough around to know what different refs ref and what they let flow, up to us to be prepared for whoever gets the game.

Our discipline cost us the game last weekend, we can't give Clermont that amount of points from shots at goal.

Podge_irl · 16-04-2013 10:02PM

Rightwing wrote: »

Ya, I'd much prefer Barnes.

Owens seems to be a real homer in the H Cup.

Funnily enough, both Munster and Leinster won their first HECs having been reffed by Owens in the QF, SF and final.

I actually quite like Barnes, but he has plenty of his own foibles.

Rightwing · 16-04-2013 10:05PM

Podge_irl wrote: »

Funnily enough, both Munster and Leinster won their first HECs having been reffed by Owens in the QF, SF and final.

I actually quite like Barnes, but he has plenty of his own foibles.

Didn't know that, but he has been kind to us in the past in TP. I like him, but I think Barnes may handle the pressure better in France.

Cookiemunster · 16-04-2013 10:05PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Irish surely?

I know he referees in the AP and the 7s tour but would have thought he was Irish

Look at Steve Walsh. He was a NZRU ref and he refereed Australia, now he's an ARU ref. Don't think he's reffed the ABs though.

Cookiemunster · 16-04-2013 10:08PM

Podge_irl wrote: »

Funnily enough, both Munster and Leinster won their first HECs having been reffed by Owens in the QF, SF and final.

I actually quite like Barnes, but he has plenty of his own foibles.

Almost right. Munster had him through the knockouts in 08, but didn't have him at all in 06.

Podge_irl · 16-04-2013 10:10PM

Rightwing wrote: »

Didn't know that, but he has been kind to us in the past in TP. I like him, but I think Barnes may handle the pressure better in France.

Its one of his strengths actually. I think Barnes is a bit iffy at the breakdown but he certainly doesn't succumb to pressure from a home crowd.

Podge_irl · 16-04-2013 10:11PM

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Almost right. Munster had him through the knockouts in 08, but didn't have him at all in 06.

Drat. That'll learn me not to trust my memory.

Actually, it probably won't.

Rightwing · 16-04-2013 10:13PM

Podge_irl wrote: »

Its one of his strengths actually. I think Barnes is a bit iffy at the breakdown but he certainly doesn't succumb to pressure from a home crowd.

Ya, I've seen him favour the away team at times. Has to be the best characteristic in a ref that he doesn't succumb to the pressure of the home crowd.

irishbucsfan · 17-04-2013 07:36AM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Irish surely?

I know he referees in the AP and the 7s tour but would have thought he was Irish

Yeah he's Irish but he's an RFU ref.

Don't think he'd be allowed ref English OR irish teams. I suppose reffing with a union other than your native union really limits you professionally.

TheGoldenAges · 17-04-2013 07:41AM

Barnes did a good job last season in Bordeaux in that atmosphere, seems the right man for the job in Montpellier

budhabob · 17-04-2013 07:52AM

Only Just realised Fridays game isnt on the telly. Kinda disappointed considering its likely to be a young team.

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/11834.php

TheVman · 17-04-2013 07:57AM

athtrasna wrote: »

Non French or Irish Refs/Assistants used in the Heineken Cup this season include:

Waynes Barnes (Eng), Greg Garner (Eng), JP Doyle (Eng), Neil Paterson (Sco), Leighton Hodges (Wal) and Nigel Owens (Wal).

Not exactly an inspirational list, think I've missed a few too but it's going to be interesting when the officials are announced bearing in mind there can be no French refs that weekend.

What about the lad who reffed the Wales England last match of the 6 Nations, he was seriously against england in that match, he is non irish and french an aussie or a kiwi i think who now works in europe.

thomond2006 · 17-04-2013 07:58AM

budhabob wrote: »

Only Just realised Fridays game isnt on the telly. Kinda disappointed considering its likely to be a young team.

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/11834.php

If Welsh TV won't broadcast it then there's nothing we can do. Other games being broadcasted will have an impact on the playoffs.

TheVman · 17-04-2013 08:05AM

Podge_irl wrote: »

Its one of his strengths actually. I think Barnes is a bit iffy at the breakdown but he certainly doesn't succumb to pressure from a home crowd.

dont really agree. ive been living here in france (toulouse) since 2004 and from all the different hcup and six nations games ive been to i have to say you cant beat an irish crowd for the noise.
Two examples : munster castres in toulouse last year, the stade ernest wallon was painted red and stand up and fight and the fields vibrated...
leinster clermont in bordeaux (semi) it was blue magic !

i know im generalising but the french are grumpy enough they sit down and watch the match and give out to the irish in front of them for making noise and standing up...

In any case i got me tickets and im off to montpellier on the 27th two extra red jerseys, come on MUNSTER

and

UP TIPP

:pac:

Lelantos · 17-04-2013 08:12AM

budhabob wrote: »

Only Just realised Fridays game isnt on the telly. Kinda disappointed considering its likely to be a young team.

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/11834.php

Afaik, there are no more Munster rabo games being broadcast this season.

Cookiemunster · 17-04-2013 08:17AM

TheVman wrote: »

What about the lad who reffed the Wales England last match of the 6 Nations, he was seriously against england in that match, he is non irish and french an aussie or a kiwi i think who now works in europe.

That was kiwi/aussie Steve Walsh who's an ARU ref and is currently reffing in the S15.

buck65 · 17-04-2013 02:37PM

Lelantos wrote: »

Afaik, there are no more Munster rabo games being broadcast this season.

only 2 game left now anyway. Zebre and Dragons?

who_me · 17-04-2013 02:39PM

Lelantos wrote: »

Afaik, there are no more Munster rabo games being broadcast this season.

Jeez... if we lose against Clermont, we practically disappear off the face of the planet so..

Clareman · 17-04-2013 04:25PM

who_me wrote: »

Jeez... if we lose against Clermont, we practically disappear off the face of the planet so..

We are just a bit spoilt with our success, no hassle getting tickets cause of a massive stadium, no problem seeing them on TV cause we're a massive draw, no problem with getting bored at the end of the season cause we're nearly always in play-offs.

who_me · 17-04-2013 05:31PM

Clareman wrote: »

We are just a bit spoilt with our success, no hassle getting tickets cause of a massive stadium, no problem seeing them on TV cause we're a massive draw, no problem with getting bored at the end of the season cause we're nearly always in play-offs.

Very true, we are lucky. I can scarcely remember the last time a Munster HEC pool game wasn't televised. Now, if only the HEC could subsidise flights and accommodation in Montpellier... (I keeeeed, I keeeed)

Clareman · 17-04-2013 05:58PM

who_me wrote: »

Very true, we are lucky. I can scarcely remember the last time a Munster HEC pool game wasn't televised. Now, if only the HEC could subsidise flights and accommodation in Montpellier... (I keeeeed, I keeeed)

People complain when we're on the red button

Rightwing · 17-04-2013 07:27PM

Clareman wrote: »

We are just a bit spoilt with our success, no hassle getting tickets cause of a massive stadium, no problem seeing them on TV cause we're a massive draw, no problem with getting bored at the end of the season cause we're nearly always in play-offs.

That's a very good point. Yet many people claim we've had a poor season.

Let's bring home the H Cup.

thomond2006 · 17-04-2013 08:02PM

Rightwing wrote: »

That's a very good point. Yet many people claim we've had a poor season.

Let's bring home the H Cup.

Well let's analyse it:

Lost home and away to Leinster (again!).
Got through to the Heineken Cup knockouts despite no standout performance. The group was poor enough with a shambolically bad Edinburgh and a Racing Metro side who obviously thought the season began in January.
Poor losses in Musgrave Park to both Cardiff and Scarlets, ultimately proved costly in the Rabo standings.
Embarrassed in Glasgow in what was a must win game in the playoff race.
Won't make the Rabo playoffs (comfortably), poorest league performance since 2006/2007.
Excellent performance against Harlequins in a must win game.
Mitigating factors: Missing our best player in Paul O'Connell for the majority of the season. Keith Earls missed a lot of rugby also.
Which players have improved / came through this season: Dave Kilcoyne, Mike Sherry, Billy Holland, Peter O'Mahony, Cathal Sheridan, Ian Keatley, JJ Hanrahan - but some of those players only saw spurts of gametime
Mixed impact of Munster's recruits this year*.

*The current management may or may not have had a hand in those signings.

Now maybe I'll be accused of a negative slant here but those are thoughts off the top of my head.

Rightwing · 17-04-2013 08:10PM

thomond2006 wrote: »

Well let's analyse it:
Lost home and away to Leinster (again!).

Got through to the Heineken Cup knockouts despite no standout performance. The group was poor enough with a shambolically bad Edinburgh and a Racing Metro side who obviously thought the season began in January.

Poor losses in Musgrave Park to both Cardiff and Scarlets, ultimately proved costly in the Rabo standings.

Embarrassed in Glasgow in what was a must win game in the playoff race.

Won't make the Rabo playoffs (comfortably), poorest league performance since 2006/2007.

Excellent performance against Harlequins in a must win game.

Mitigating factors: Missing our best player in Paul O'Connell for the majority of the season. Keith Earls missed a lot of rugby also.

Which players have improved / came through this season: Dave Kilcoyne, Mike Sherry, Billy Holland, Peter O'Mahony, Cathal Sheridan, Ian Keatley, JJ Hanrahan - but some of those players only saw spurts of gametime

Mixed impact of Munster's recruits this year*.

*The current management may or may not have had a hand in those signings.

Now maybe I'll be accused of a negative slant here but those are thoughts off the top of my head.

No, I think that's a very fair assessment, but I think people lend too much weight on certain games e.g. Leinster, same amount of points as any other game.
The end all and be all is the H Cup, that has defined our season. If we hadn't beaten Racing by the BP, it'd would have been 1 very poor season. Beat Clermont, and it will be an excellent one,

LeeroyJones · 17-04-2013 08:16PM

Rightwing wrote: »

No, I think that's a very fair assessment, but I think people lend too much weight on certain games e.g. Leinster, same amount of points as any other game.
The end all and be all is the H Cup, that has defined our season. If we hadn't beaten Racing by the BP, it'd would have been 1 very poor season. Beat Clermont, and it will be an excellent one,

Can't agree with this. The H Cup is Priority #1 but not the definition of a season. Domestic week-in week-out Pro12 rugby is the bread and butter; albeit perhaps Priority #2 it still goes a long way in defining a season.

As a Leinster fan I am envious that you guys are facing a H Cup semi but I'm still excited with the Pro12 run-in.

Pro12 needs to be taken into consideration, for better or for worse, when it comes to defining a season

Rightwing · 17-04-2013 08:33PM

LeeroyJones wrote: »

Can't agree with this. The H Cup is Priority #1 but not the definition of a season. Domestic week-in week-out Pro12 rugby is the bread and butter; albeit perhaps Priority #2 it still goes a long way in defining a season.

As a Leinster fan I am envious that you guys are facing a H Cup semi but I'm still excited with the Pro12 run-in.

Pro12 needs to be taken into consideration, for better or for worse, when it comes to defining a season

I respect where you are coming from, but it's a poor, poor league imo.
No relegation, teams walk into the H Cup. Most games are irrelevant.
Yes, you are right to look forward to the play offs, but something needs to be done with it.

Eod100 · 17-04-2013 08:45PM

Rightwing wrote: »

I respect where you are coming from, but it's a poor, poor league imo.
No relegation, teams walk into the H Cup. Most games are irrelevant.
Yes, you are right to look forward to the play offs, but something needs to be done with it.

How would you have relegation without a second league?

Munster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread II

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