Champions Cup Quarter-Final: Munster v Toulon

[Groundhog]

Thomond Park, 31/03/18, 3.15pm
Feeling confident after we daddy'd up on Scarlets, although Toulon did blast a Clermont side that apparently had better things to do that evening.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I think this could be tight, Toulon have been in great form domestically lately. Munster should shade it and will try to expose Ashton at 15 and the Fijian wings by kicking smartly, but Toulon's backline could rip them apart, Belleau - Basta - Fekitoa is far better than anything Munster can throw out in the three quarter line and the wings are different beasts with ball in hand.

 

[Groundhog]

I think this could be tight, Toulon have been in great form domestically lately. Munster should shade it and will try to expose Ashton at 15 and the Fijian wings by kicking smartly, but Toulon's backline could rip them apart, Belleau - Basta - Fekitoa is far better than anything Munster can throw out in the three quarter line and the wings are different beasts with ball in hand.

Yeah and I think you got taken apart by Ospreys on Saturday you loser.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Without mini Bane Cloete Munster will lose IMO.
Saying that the irish guys will be rested so I will prob be proven wrong as per usual.

Yeh i expect a lot of tactical kicking from Munster in this one.

 

[Hanley!]

I'm nervous. This one is a toss up for me. I fancied Munster to pick up the win back at the end of the pool stages, but that was before seeing our injury crisis deepen and Toulon's surge in form. Hopefully home advantage will help us grind out a win, but I'm struggling to be optimistic for this match.

I really hope we can get the job done. I thought the semi-final was our ceiling again this year, but Racing and Clermont both look beatable at the moment. If we can get past Toulon, we have a shot at making it all the way to the final, which would be crazy given the coaching change over, the injuries, and our form over the last couple of months.

 

[Groundhog]

I actually think we'll win this and have no reason to fear Toulon. It's Munster in Thomond in Europe. Betting man backs them. That said we're short in certain areas and Keatley needs to eliminate the brain farts and have a really good day or we'll get beaten well. Loss of Cloete and O'Donnell is bad, but I've confidence in replacements. Would rate even Oliver to have a very good game.
We're one or two injuries away from being absolutely screwed though. Like below Kleyn and Arnold for example the drop off in quality would be massive. Same for Keatly, I wouldn't trust any of our other 10s in a domestic game.

 

[munstermuffin]

May be a surprise selection if training is what lines out.
We owe Toulon 1 for last meeting plus I think we are in a good place and injuries will benefit us in time.

 

[Groundhog]

Munster:

15. Simon Zebo
14. Andrew Conway
13. Sammy Arnold
12. Rory Scannell
11. Alex Wootton
10. Ian Keatley
9. Conor Murray

1. Dave Kilcoyne
2. Rhys Marshall
3. Stephen Archer
4. Jean Kleyn
5. Billy Holland
6. Peter O'Mahony (captain)
7. Jack O'Donoghue
8. CJ Stander

Replacements:

16. Niall Scannell
17. James Cronin
18. John Ryan
19. Gerbrandt Grobler
20. Robin Copeland
21. James Hart
22. JJ Hanrahan
23. Darren Sweetnam

Toulon:

15. Chris Ashton
14. Josua Tuisova
13. Mathieu Bastareaud
12. Ma'a Nonu
11. Semi Radradra
10. Francois Trinh-Duc
9. Eric Escande

1. Florian Fresia
2. Guilhem Guirado
3. Marcel Van Der Merwe
4. Juandre Kruger
5. Dave Attwood
6. Raphael Lakafia
7. Facundo Isa
8. Duane Vermeulen

Replacements:

16. Anthony Etrillard
17. Xavier Chiocci
18. Emerick Setiano
19. Romain Taofifenua
20. Anthony Belleau
21. Malakai Fekitoa
22. Alby Mathewson
23. Samu Manoa


Really strong team despite all the injury reports. My compliments to the chef @munstermuffin. Slightly surprised to see O'Donoghue get the nod, but he's played some 7 in his time. Not our most balanced back row, but it's still 2/3 of a dominant grandslam winning trio.
Equally Toulon are sending a really strong squad. I don't think our bench will let us down this time to be honest. The bench front row is arguably stronger than our starting one, Copeland is pulling up trees. Back bench options not tops, but good men to chase a game if needed.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Trinh-Duc over Belleau? Munster by however many points Francois gifts them!

 

[munstermuffin]

Munster:

15. Simon Zebo
14. Andrew Conway
13. Sammy Arnold
12. Rory Scannell
11. Alex Wootton
10. Ian Keatley
9. Conor Murray

1. Dave Kilcoyne
2. Rhys Marshall
3. Stephen Archer
4. Jean Kleyn
5. Billy Holland
6. Peter O'Mahony (captain)
7. Jack O'Donoghue
8. CJ Stander

Replacements:

16. Niall Scannell
17. James Cronin
18. John Ryan
19. Gerbrandt Grobler
20. Robin Copeland
21. James Hart
22. JJ Hanrahan
23. Darren Sweetnam

Toulon:

15. Chris Ashton
14. Josua Tuisova
13. Mathieu Bastareaud
12. Ma'a Nonu
11. Semi Radradra
10. Francois Trinh-Duc
9. Eric Escande

1. Florian Fresia
2. Guilhem Guirado
3. Marcel Van Der Merwe
4. Juandre Kruger
5. Dave Attwood
6. Raphael Lakafia
7. Facundo Isa
8. Duane Vermeulen

Replacements:

16. Anthony Etrillard
17. Xavier Chiocci
18. Emerick Setiano
19. Romain Taofifenua
20. Anthony Belleau
21. Malakai Fekitoa
22. Alby Mathewson
23. Samu Manoa


Really strong team despite all the injury reports. My compliments to the chef @munstermuffin. Slightly surprised to see O'Donoghue get the nod, but he's played some 7 in his time. Not our most balanced back row, but it's still 2/3 of a dominant grandslam winning trio.
Equally Toulon are sending a really strong squad. I don't think our bench will let us down this time to be honest. The bench front row is arguably stronger than our starting one, Copeland is pulling up trees. Back bench options not tops, but good men to chase a game if needed.

Can't take all the credit. Backrow was originally Copeland at 8 but well it was just unbalanced.
The reason behind frontrow is to pile 3 lads on together at 55-60 mins.

 

[FrenchFan]

Toulon:

15. Chris Ashton
14. Josua Tuisova
13. Mathieu Bastareaud
12. Ma'a Nonu
11. Semi Radradra
10. Francois Trinh-Duc
9. Eric Escande

1. Florian Fresia
2. Guilhem Guirado
3. Marcel Van Der Merwe
4. Juandre Kruger
5. Dave Attwood
6. Raphael Lakafia
7. Facundo Isa
8. Duane Vermeulen

Belleau shud be in all day. Started more games and showed much better form than FTD. Galthié showing his conservatism and why the jury is still out on his coaching ability. Toulon are not the sum of their parts (yet)...

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Penalty try, yellow card at firt viewing.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

That's a pretty clear slap out of play, don't see how they can say it's anything else?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Shocking call by the officials.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

That's lucky, no way was Zebo trying to play the ball and if his hand wasn't there it's a try.

What the **** was he doing before the kick? All the room in the world for the kick.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Wow, absolutely horrible call

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Zebo, you're joining the other French quarter finalist full of mercs, you'd be stupid to throw this game!

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Bad decision by Murray

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I hate Munster games on Sky. The commentary is always so one sided.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Why even check that obviously wasn't a try.