Munster v Scarlets, Sunday November 21

[Draggs]

Musgrave Park, Cork
Sunday, November 21, Kickoff 1735.

Munster: J Murphy; D Howlett, B Murphy, S Tuitupou, D Hurley; P Warwick, D Williams; W du Preez, D Varley, P Borlase; B Holland, I Nagle; A Quinlan, N Ronan, J Coughlan.

Replacements: M Sherry, D Ryan, S Archer, P O'Mahony, T O'Donnell, C Murray, T Gleeson, S Deasy.

Scarlets: Daniel Evans; Morgan Stoddart, Gareth Maule, Regan King, Lee Williams; Rhys Priestland, Martin Roberts; Iestyn Thomas, Ken Owens, Peter Edwards, Lou Reed, Dominic Day, Aaron Shingler, Johnathan Edwards (capt), Ben Morgan.

Replacements: Emyr Phillips, Phil John, Simon Gardner, Damian Welch, Jonny Fa'amatuainu, Tavis Knoyle, Dan Newton, Scott Williams.

 

[coonor]

I think that Scarlets play a great open play attacking game a they have really benefitted from the rule changes and they are in top 4 in league but I still think that Munster will win this. If Munster keep it tight and keep possession in the forwards they will win this game no problem but if Scarlets get the ball wide they may cause an unpset. Its great to see Murphy start and I hope Nagle can continue his brilliant form. This is great opportunity for Scarlets but I think Munster are playing some of their best rugby at the moment and they look to be building strength in depth so I think with home adventage Munster will win this by 10-15 points.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Scarlets playing better with Munster at fullstrength than with 14men
Thought they were down and out after conceding two tries in as many minutes,
1pt in it, 15mins to go

B. Murphy has been quality for Munster tonight

 

[dullonien]

Scarlets should have won this game, but two lapses of defensive concentration cost them really in an otherwise excellent performance. Again Priestland's only downside was his two missed kicks at the beginning of the game, don't care what others think, I'd have him at fullback for Wales in a heartbeat over the other options, even Byrne, as he is at least willing to take on defenses.

Jonathan Edwards has been playing some decent stuff of late. Looks like he's put a bit of weight on which is really helping his game. Will never be good enough for Wales, but he's a good player for the Scarlets to have in their ranks.

Poor reffing from James Jones to dissallow Ben Morgans try in the first half. Didn't see anyone go off their feet untill after the ball had popped out the side. Warwick stupidly took the ball in, and he should have been punished for it.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Agree about Priestland, when I was watching it I was wondering when he'll get called up to Wales/what he has to do to get called up

Morgan and Maule both had good games for the Scarlets too

 

[monkeypigeon]

Thought both teams played well really.

Scarlets were really good, thought James Jones was bad in general (as per usual). Ben Morgan try in the first half should have been given and for the last 15 minutes when he was trying his best to let Scarlets win the match. Missed so many Scarlets infringements at the end of the match after sin binning Peter O'Mahony for exactly the same thing.

And Munsters second and third tries were due to poor defence/lack of concentration, but I'd say the same about the first Scarlets try. That where tries come from really.


Was really impressed by Priestland actually. Very enjoyable match.

 

[Jockstap]

Good game, Scarlets played well but you could tell Munster had the Aussies 5 days ago. They looked noticeably knackered around the 60 min mark. It seems all of Munsters youngsters are starting to step up recently, Mike Sherry looks an awesome prospect, he's one hell of a ball carrier.

 

[munstermuffin]

Lads considering we lost players (big players) to injury so close to kick off in an already depleted team and still got a result is excellent.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Munster, Ospreys and Leinster all winning shows great strength in depth for the three biggest teams in the league at a time when they're ravaged by international call ups.

I didn't see this game. Mike Sherry is getting rave reviews and Barry Murphy apparently played well too. Did anyone else stand out?

 

[munstermuffin]

These 2 stood out and well Sherry is viewed by some in Garryowen (The club of both Varley and Sherry) as been better so I'm sure he will improve with a few games.
Barry Murphy was superb and really took his try well. Sam Tuitupou was very good to and proving to be a fine signing.
It has been a very encouraging week for us in Munster because of many reasons.
- We beat Aus
- We got to really test our younger guys and well they have done well and well 2 wins from 2 is good too
- We played in 2 different conditions that could occur come Heineken Cup time and performed too
- We are still top

 

[coonor]

A good game where both teams showed good qualities. Munster had a strong defence with some great tackles and Munster now look very dangerous with ball in hand. I think the Scarlets lacked penetration and that can be similar when Wales play but the Scarlets have alot of potential.

Munster's stand out players IMO:
Barry Murphy- A good come back from injury with a nice try and some good hits.
Tuitupou- Made some good beaks and stong in defence.
Coughlan- Made some great runs and was very physical but he had good ball skills aswell.

 

[munstermuffin]

Great news also in that T. O Leary and Paul O Connell are back. Paulie will play for Young Munster in Thomond Park the weekend before facing Cardiff next weekend while TOL will see some ML action this weekend.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

That is great news, especially about O'Connell. Would it be wrong of me to say O'Leary hasn't especially been missed though? Stringer is on form and both Williams and Murray have taken their chances in O'Leary's absence.

 

[munstermuffin]

Snoop couldn't agree more and well on both it good news.
Paul will play just in AIL as we need him right for Heineken Cup so preferably his next 3 games will be in Thomond Park (vs Shannon, Cardiff and Ospreys) before away leg of pool vs Ospreys. His leadership and lineout skill is massive for us.
Tomas as you said has been out and not seen 1 but 3 guys put it up to him for his spot and well having seen both sides I delighted as been involved for a while it the first time we really have 2 scrum halves experienced and well horses for courses.
Stringer has been on fire lately and if McGahan wants to play rugby the way he generally does then Stringer is our man and then if we have to close out a game or play 10 man game Tomas who is like a 4th backrow is the fella. But Duncan Williams displays especially against Aus show he can't be frozen out either.

 

[lynam1104]

Munster wna send a SH our way?

 

[coonor]

I also think O'mahony has played well lately and Dave Ryan did well coming off the bench against Scarlets with a good wrk rate and good scrummaging he could be a good future prop.

 

[munstermuffin]

Ryan will be better than brother Timmy and that is a fact.
As for O'Mahony he will wear red of Munster for a long time yet.

 

[MunsterMan]

James Coughlan, Mike Sherry and Conor Murray the highlights. Sherry looks a future international, excellent ball carrier, I see a few years at Connacht in his future though, with Flannery and Varley ahead of him, as well as Fogarty and Cronin likely to return when Fla retires. O'Mahony looks on track too

Conor Murray actually won MoM, was refreshing to watch a young scrum half do the basics so well, hope he keeps his place. Coughlan is our best number eight full stop. should have no trouble keeping his place for the rest of the season with the form he is in. No forward in the country can offload out of the tackle like he can.

Tuitupou and Howlett in excellent form, brilliant to see "mercenaries" showing such a desire to win and putting their bodys on the line time and time again in a "meaningless" game.

 

[munstermuffin]

Coughlan agreed is in fine form and always an excellent squad member.
As for Sherry I'd personally have him ahead of Fogarty who is rumoured to being looked at by Leinster.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Conor Murray actually won MoM, was refreshing to watch a young scrum half do the basics so well, hope he keeps his place.

How was his passing? When he played for Ireland u20s his passing let him down big time and coloured my opinion of him. Hopefully he's got that part of his game up to scratch because Ireland desperately need a competent scrum half.