Connacht vs Munster

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Connacht (v Munster)
15 Gavin Duffy
14 Troy Nathan
13 Niva Ta’auso
12 Keith Matthews
11 Fionn Carr
10 Ian Keatley
9 Frank Murphy
1 Brett Wilkinson
2 Sean Cronin
3 Jamie Hagan
4 Michael Swift
5 Bernie Upton
6 John Muldoon (captain)
7 Johnny O’Connor
8 George Naoupu

Replacements:
16. Adrian Flavin
17 Ronan Loughney
18 Michael McCarthy
19 Mike McComish
20 Conor O’Loughlin
21 Miah Nikora
22 Aidan Wynne


Munster: Scott Deasy; Simon Zebo, Tom Gleeson, Paul Warwick, Danny Barnes; Declan Cusack, Peter Stringer; Dave Ryan, Damien Varley, Tony Buckley; Mick O'Driscoll capt; Billy Holland; Nick Williams, Niall Ronan, James Coughlan. Replacements: Denis Fogarty, Julien Brugnaut, Dave Foley, Peter O'Mahoney, Conor Murray, Jeremy Manning, Sean Scanlon.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Tony McGahan is often criticised for not playing enough young players. Those critics should be happy now!!! Zebo, Barnes and Cusack all make their first appearance from the start while Foley, O'Mahoney, Murray and Scanlon are on the bench and have yet to start for the senior team. I'm looking forward to seeing how Barnes, Zebo and O'Mahoney, if he get on, fare. Dave Ryan also has a big opportunity to make an impact at loosehead prop.

Connacht's full strength team should be too powerful for Munster.

 

[munstermuffin]

It's a big game for Williams at 6 to fight his way in to H'Cup team as it's a straight fight between him and Coughlan for 8.
Coughlan had a fine game though last week.
But now I looking forward to the trip up to Galway Sunday as youth is getting a chance.
My only fear is that maybe there is too much youth.
Zebo is big powerful and pacy and hope he can make a big impression.
O'Mahony, I can guarantee, will get relevant game-time.
Cusack (while not seen much) is supposed to be a good prospect and this is a good test.
Scanlon is in good form of late at training sessions.

I glad alot of first team regulars are rested as bodies must be hurt after last week and the recovery extension will be good.
I just hope we put up a good show and have a good cut off a Connacht team on form. (Seen as even at full-strength we always struggle up there)

But for Connacht what an opportunity -
IF Connacht win and Ulster loose then both are level on points (ignoring BP's) and Connacht's game in hand against Leinster at home midweek.
10 Days before H'Cup Semi-Final (You can be sure Leinster will have similar team to Munster's out) now Connacht will never have a better chance for H'Cup qualification.

In other are's this will be nightmare for Ulster with the new signings etc.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

I wonder what the thinking behind picking Warwick at 12 is. With JDV moving back to South Africa and with the Riki Flutey trail running cold, could Warwick switch to inside centre more often next season? Scott Deasy and Felix Jones may get a chance to fight for the fullback spot. How about a backline of:

15. Jones
14. Howlett
13. Earls
12. Warwick
11. Hurley
10. O'Gara
9. O'Leary
Bench: J Murphy, Mafi, Stringer

 

[munstermuffin]

I wonder what the thinking behind picking Warwick at 12 is. With JDV moving back to South Africa and with the Riki Flutey trail running cold, could Warwick switch to inside centre more often next season? Scott Deasy and Felix Jones may get a chance to fight for the fullback spot. How about a backline of:

15. Jones
14. Howlett
13. Earls
12. Warwick
11. Hurley
10. O'Gara
9. O'Leary
Bench: J Murphy, Mafi, Stringer

Snoop, the word is Johne Murphy was signed to be a starter and show the scoring touch from Leicester. And well having seen both Deasy and Gleeson lately they have both to impress me as of yet.
But really think it unlikely Warwick will be kept at 12 it just putting him in to put some experience behind scrum.
Munster will sign some big name be it Flutey or someone else and well Felix Jones will be slowly brought back into the fold too.
But Warwick's future is at 15 as he has allthe attributes and well I don't think he'd be able to trigger his running game from there. Mafi will be 12 next season unless a name is signed.
Warwick will be 15 next season then slowly move into 10 with ROG being impact sub.
Also Warwick has played 12 before on alot of occasions so isn't a stranger to that position but think it mainly just to help youngsters and support Cusack (who can be poor from place-kicking)

Also you leaving out Dowling who'll be fighting for a spot and well don't be surprised to see Duncan Williams take over from Stringer.

 

[coonor]

can anyone tell me where I can watch this game online?

 

[dangandan]

can anyone tell me where I can watch this game online?

try justin.tv or this thread http://www.myp2pforum.eu/threads/36157-Rugby-this-week-13-19-April

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

0-6 Munster lead after 10 minutes. They've been very impressive so far.

On a side note, Donal Lenihan only pays attention to how Munster players are doing. He's very one eyed.

Edit - Connacht try. Johnny O'Connor, 7-6.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Half time. Munster lead 7-11 through two Paul Warwick penalties and a Niall Ronan try.

For the home side, Duffy, Keatley, Naoupu and Cronin have been impressive. Cronin in particular is everywhere. Munster's best performers have been Buckley, Williams, O'Driscoll and Coughlin. Cusack has looked nervous and kicked too much possession away. Munster's counter rucking has been the strongest aspect of their game thus far.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Final score: 12-18

Munster deserved their win

 

[durbutter]

Opinion on the youngsters Snoop? missed the game.....

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Deasy did well in the lead up to his try but otherwise I thought he was quite poor. He has a couple of tries for Munster now so he clearly knows where the tryline is though. Has some raw talent but is far from the finished article. 6/10

Barnes made one mistake (a knock on) but was very eager for work and put his tackles in. Needs to develop physically as he looks quite small. He didn't stand out but the experience will stand to him. 6/10

Gleeson was very effective in defense and tidy in attack. Could pass out Barry Murphy and be a very solid squad player at Magners League level. 7/10

Zebo was unlucky to be sin binned and did all that was asked of him. He made a decent half break and good offload for Deasy's score. 7/10

Cusack was very nervous, kicking badly. Warwick stepped into 10 quite a bit. The Thomond player will be better for the experience. 5/10

Ryan was comfortable at loosehad, less so at tighthead. Put himself around and was a menace at rucktime. He looks like a very good player and should see a lot of gametime next season. 8/10

Foley and O'Mahoney weren't on long enough to gauge how they did. Perhaps they'll get another chance before the end of the season.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Missed this one unfortunetly, a poor result for Connacht anyway. On the plus side they hung on to a bonus point which keeps them in contention for the 3rd Heineken cup spot. What withe Leinster being likely to send a 2nd string team to the Sportsground and a trip to Ravenhill to come, they're still in with a fighting chance.

 

[An Tarbh]

I was thinking about that as well and wonder whether Leinster will send the stronger side to Galway, who knows what's going to happen with this cloud and you'd rather send the youngsters over on the boat and coach than the first team.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

I think Leinster will put their best available team out against Connacht. They've had 5 days to prepare for this game whereas Connacht have a smaller squad and only 3 days to prepare. Leinster should be fresher than their hosts and thus good enough to pick up 4 points.

Send a weaker team to Glasgow and give the full team an extra couple of days to prepare for Toulouse.

 

[Feicarsinn]

It's completely concievable that Cheika will send out two weakened teams of course. Personally I expect him to send out two middling strength. After the disaster that was the Dragons game of earlier in the season he'll no doubt be very wary of sending a greatly understrength team out in either game, what with the risking of halting the squad's momentum prior to one of the biggest games of the season.

 

[munstermuffin]

Lads just back from Galway and well delighted with win.
Was going up thinking that given the team we had against what they sent out and well historically we always struggled up there that a BP would be great.
Connacht got a great try too but well I happier now about our prospects than before.

ON Munster:
- Buckley did well and I happy to say he has been most improved player i think in past 3months.
- Williams is FINALLY looking like he can offer us something serious and his power is a massive asset and would not rule him out of starting in San Sebastien.
- Zebo is really looking a serious prospect and Deasy did ok

But Snoop agree with you about Ryan and well both Ryan's (Timmy with Toulon too) will develop into International props and he has showed great potential through-out the season.

But lads Declan Cusack (and this not based on today) will never make a provincal player, he is an adequate 10 at AIL level and nothing more. He will improve after today and is a good lad but we seriously have 2/3 better options in club scene.

Was talking to Quinny also today lads regarding Connacht vs Leinster and he had info that Leinster will send strong team to Galway and train hard in Ireland as Cheika does not want interruptions regarding sailing the players over to Glasgow.
But if air-space was re-opened he'd prefer Glasgow game to test full-strength team.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Dave Ryan looks a better bet than his brother. He seems to have passed Darragh Hurley in the pecking order and with Marcus Horan getting on in years, he'll see quite a bit of action next season. I won't say he'll be an international until he's established himself but he certainly looks like he can be a very useful provincial player.

Timmy Ryan isn't worth getting excited about. He was excellent around the field while with Munster but he carried a lot of weight and was a poor scrummager. He's getting virtually no gametime with Toulon. When he does, he still reverses in the scrum. At 26, he's not worth wasting time on in my opinion. There's no need for bringing him home and hoping he improves. Munster are better off trying to get Stephen Archer up to speed since he's 5 years younger than the France based player.

Next season Jeremy Manning is reportedly being shipped out. Declan Cusack needs to move to a better club (AIL 1A or 1B) and also play a lot for Munster A before he can be considered a decent option as 3rd string flyhalf. Today's game has given him a taste of the level he needs to rise to. Hopefully he's up for the challenge.

 

[munstermuffin]

Agree Dave Ryan is the better brother and yes he has over-took Hurley and is covering the bench alot more too (even in H'Cup) and seems to be Munster's choice for future.
Manning is been shipped although he also want to return to NZ as he has this funny thought he'll play Super 14. But Cusack will not make it at a top club in Limerick. Some say he refused to move to likes of Shannon or Garryowen or Munsters but fact is he wasn't really chased. And having seen them play I must say Thomond are a good side and Cusack wouldn't be much better if with AIL 1a or 1b team.
Archer is another who has been slightly over-hyped and needs to convince more that he can be a decent player.

Zebo looked good today and Barnes (although I still think he may be too small) may carve bit of game-time. Deasy is supposed to be a new star on block but between him and Gleeson I'm still to be convinced.

Personally, maybe I bias, but Cork based players are getting far more coaching and players been put through development system.

Shannon, Garryowen and Thomond have many great young players with potential to develop. And I think Cusack was put in there today just for Limerick to get a representive.
Now don't get me wrong I want best players for Munster and if they from Cork ok, thing is though some of these aren't our best. I not saying they all better in Limerick but some are.

 

[roscommon guy]

Where is Simon Zebo from. He dosen't look to irish.