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Clermont vs Munster buildup thread **read post one

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Comments

  • #392
    CIARAN_BOYLE
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,595 ✭✭✭✭CIARAN_BOYLE


    Clermont by 1-10
    .ak wrote: »
    If you're lucky enough to get a puncture on Rue Vaucanson, Aurélien Rougerie will change your tire for you.

    really??

    Remember a few years ago one of the bridges near Donnybrook was inpassable due to snow and BoD and some other Leinster players pulled cars across the bridge for a few hours


  • #393
    .ak
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,308 ✭✭✭✭.ak


    CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »
    really??

    Remember a few years ago one of the bridges near Donnybrook was inpassable due to snow and BoD and some other Leinster players pulled cars across the bridge for a few hours

    Sounds believable.


  • #394
    jamiedav2011
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,906 ✭✭✭jamiedav2011


    thomond2006 wrote: »
    John Ryan

    Jaysus that's a big ask, Botha will likely have to last 80 mins against two top quality LHs then. Du Preez and Ryan against Debaty and Kotze could spell trouble.


  • #395
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Conor George reporting that Earls will be fit. That'd be a colossal boost for Munster.


  • #396
    Rightwing
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,101 ✭✭✭Rightwing


    Munster by more than 10
    wittycynic wrote: »
    Conor George reporting that Earls will be fit. That'd be a colossal boost for Munster.

    He has no game time tho, I don't think he can be thrown straight in for what will be a really demanding game.


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  • #397
    Jermaine Breezy Squadron
    Posts: 24,798 ✭✭✭✭ Jermaine Breezy Squadron


    Clermont's PR machine rolling along well...

    BIhxIy2CAAAnCAT.jpg


  • #398
    thomond2006
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 45,433 ✭✭✭✭thomond2006


    Rightwing wrote: »
    He has no game time tho, I don't think he can be thrown straight in for what will be a really demanding game.

    He goes straight in, Munster will have to take risks and need their best attacking players. If Howlett is out, Earls on the wing. If Howlett is fit, Earls at 13.


  • #399
    Rightwing
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,101 ✭✭✭Rightwing


    Munster by more than 10
    thomond2006 wrote: »
    He goes straight in, Munster will have to take risks and need their best attacking players. If Howlett is out, Earls on the wing. If Howlett is fit, Earls at 13.

    I think it would be madness putting both in, can't be match fit.


  • #400
    trouttrout
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,234 ✭✭✭trouttrout


    Rightwing wrote: »
    I think it would be madness putting both in, can't be match fit.

    They wouldn't be available if they weren't match fit. Medical staff know what they're doing


  • #401
    jamiedav2011
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,906 ✭✭✭jamiedav2011


    trouttrout wrote: »
    They wouldn't be available if they weren't match fit. Medical staff know what they're doing

    How could Earls possibly be 'match fit'? When was the last time he played?

    Now perhaps he's fit, but it takes a very special player (BOD or POC) to come straight back from an injury and slot back into the white heat of an away HEC semi. There's no way he's match fit.


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  • #402
    Buer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,258 ✭✭✭✭Buer


    I don't think being named in a team means that a player is necessarily fit at all. It's a judgement call often enough. I think we've all seen players being rushed back for big games and breaking down. David Wallace, for example, was never fit to take the field last year against Ulster. Luke Marshall wasn't fit to take the field against Italy. Earls is an important player and, if he's 80%, I think they'll play him.


  • #403
    totallegend
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,234 ✭✭✭totallegend


    Clermont by 1-10
    jamiedav2011 wrote: »
    How could Earls possibly be 'match fit'? When was the last time he played?

    The Ireland game in Rome AFAIK
    jamiedav2011 wrote: »
    Now perhaps he's fit, but it takes a very special player (BOD or POC) to come straight back from an injury and slot back into the white heat of an away HEC semi. There's no way he's match fit.

    Agreed, suppose it's a question of whether getting 50-60 minutes from an unfit Earls is better than starting with Hurley. I'd risk it.


  • #404
    jamiedav2011
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,906 ✭✭✭jamiedav2011


    totallegend wrote: »
    The Ireland game in Rome AFAIK



    Agreed, suppose it's a question of whether getting 50-60 minutes from an unfit Earls is better than starting with Hurley. I'd risk it.

    Absolutely, I'd definitely start Earls.

    However, the idea that he's match fit, or even that he wouldn't be passed by medical staff if he wasn't doesn't stand up.


  • #405
    Rightwing
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,101 ✭✭✭Rightwing


    Munster by more than 10
    jamiedav2011 wrote: »
    How could Earls possibly be 'match fit'? When was the last time he played?

    Now perhaps he's fit, but it takes a very special player (BOD or POC) to come straight back from an injury and slot back into the white heat of an away HEC semi. There's no way he's match fit.


    Unfortunately that's it. He'll be fit but not match fit. The game v Dragons would have been ideal for both himself and Howlett.

    I expect to see them on the bench.


  • #406
    shuffol
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,883 ✭✭✭shuffol


    IMO Earls usually takes a few games to get up to speed, he could end up being a liability if thrown straight in, particularly if at center.


  • #407
    Rightwing
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,101 ✭✭✭Rightwing


    Munster by more than 10
    shuffol wrote: »
    IMO Earls usually takes a few games to get up to speed, he could end up being a liability if thrown straight in, particularly if at center.

    Putting him in at centre would be absurd seeing how well they played there v Quins, I can see why maybe someone might like to see Earls/Howlett on the wing.


  • #408
    totallegend
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,234 ✭✭✭totallegend


    Clermont by 1-10
    shuffol wrote: »
    IMO Earls usually takes a few games to get up to speed, he could end up being a liability if thrown straight in, particularly if at center.

    Ah he'll definitely play on the wing if he's picked.

    14. Earls
    13. Laulala

    is unquantifiably better than

    14. Hurley
    13. Earls


  • #409
    .ak
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,308 ✭✭✭✭.ak


    Yeh plus Lualala's form from the Quins game should be rewarded.


  • #410
    totallegend
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,234 ✭✭✭totallegend


    Clermont by 1-10
    Earls, Howlett and DOC are in training anyway but no indication of how much heavy work or contact they're doing
    http://www.sportsfile.com/more-images/1304154/


  • #411
    Grimebox
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,997 ✭✭✭Grimebox


    Clermont by 1-10
    Risks have to be taken for this game. Earls ahead of Hurley for me. When can we expect the team to be announced?


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  • #412
    ssaye
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,650 ✭✭✭ssaye


    Grimebox wrote: »
    Risks have to be taken for this game. Earls ahead of Hurley for me. When can we expect the team to be announced?

    Friday lunch I presume


  • #413
    thomond2006
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 45,433 ✭✭✭✭thomond2006


    .ak wrote: »
    Yeh plus Lualala's form from the Quins game should be rewarded.

    Tell him to stop throwing around dumb offloads, error count must be near zero. They will pounce on anything.


  • #414
    little173
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 474 ✭✭little173


    thomond2006 wrote: »
    Tell him to stop throwing around dumb offloads, error count must be near zero. They will pounce on anything.

    Yes - their pace and counter attacking is frightening. It will be interesting to see the game plan all round, the intensity and physicality has to be there but surely Munster have to keep it fairly tight.


  • #415
    trouttrout
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,234 ✭✭✭trouttrout


    LLL was an improvement against Quins, but I still felt he half butchered a try at one stage. Would have Earls ahead of him if fit enough


  • #416
    Podge_irl
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 30,413 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    Clermont by 1-10
    It's not a straight decision between Earls and LLL though. You also have to factor in whether LLL at centre is better than hurley on the wing.


  • #417
    thomond2006
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 45,433 ✭✭✭✭thomond2006


    Podge_irl wrote: »
    It's not a straight decision between Earls and LLL though. You also have to factor in whether LLL at centre is better than hurley on the wing.

    If the other players are on song with what Laulala is doing (most of time they're not) then Laulala at 13 is better than Hurley at 14.

    I've seen a few Clermont matches with Regan King at 13, the difference is noticeable. His teammates are generally aware of what he will try and are in the right position to capitalise.


  • #418
    Rightwing
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,101 ✭✭✭Rightwing


    Munster by more than 10
    Problem wasn't with LuaLua, it was Munster's gameplan. Stick to what we did v Quins and he'll do just fine.


  • #419
    trouttrout
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,234 ✭✭✭trouttrout


    Rightwing wrote: »
    Problem wasn't with LuaLua, it was Munster's gameplan. Stick to what we did v Quins and he'll do just fine.

    The ridiculous offloads and missed tackles that have blighted his season didn't have much to do with the gameplan


  • #420
    thomond2006
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 45,433 ✭✭✭✭thomond2006


    Rightwing wrote: »
    Problem wasn't with LuaLua, it was Munster's gameplan. Stick to what we did v Quins and he'll do just fine.

    I don't think passing or offloading into touch forms the part of any gameplan.


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  • #421
    who_me
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,669 ✭✭✭who_me


    Munster by more than 10
    thomond2006 wrote: »
    Tell him to stop throwing around dumb offloads, error count must be near zero. They will pounce on anything.

    I can understand it though. Leinster's defence in his last game was outstanding, we really needed offloads in order to speed up our phase play. Every time the ball went to ground the defence reset and we were getting nowhere.

    If Clermont's defence is as good/better, we'll need offloads in order to have any chance of breaking them down.


This discussion has been closed.
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