Number 6 in the sticks: Munster v Leinster, Saturday April 2

[lucky number 7]

I suppose they need a place to keep all the people who wish they were living in Cork.

Your confusing "Dublin" with lunatic Asylum.

 

[monkeypigeon]

Your confusing "Dublin" with lunatic Asylum.

No.

 

[profitius]

Well we got Ryan at 6
Management see him primarily as a 6 now seen as we have POC DOC Micko Nagle and Foley ally signed up.
I would've liked to see Quinny get a last go at Leinster here or even play O'Mahony or Billy Holland who both have trained excellently in past few week.

What do you think of Holland MM? I think hes underrated and should leave Munster for his own career.

This is a good chance for Donnacha Ryan to show what he can do.

 

[monkeypigeon]

Leinster up by 11 at half time. They have played better but the ref who's generally been ok has really lacked consistency for the last 10 minutes of the half...plus the Sean O'Brien block for the Horgan try.

Leinster back row has been better. Key difference.

 

[Peat]

Conor Murray looks quite good. I am therefore now going to proceed on the assumption he's actually Scottish and you've poached him.

 

[durbutter]

Whats the excuse lads, i'm sure ye've plenty?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Good match that!
Wish there were a few more tries, but it was entertaining enough!

 

[SpanishBob]

Munster won the penalty lottery. That's all.

 

[monkeypigeon]

Munster take it to the last kick for a lovely 24-23 win.

May have been 8 penalties, but what can yer do.

 

[dangandan]

awful second half. seemed like Leinster just gave it away.

 

[lucky number 7]

Munster well and truly dicked Leinster in the second half ..ground out a win through brute ignorance and ill disicpline of les bleus , shame to see POC injured Muffin will reveal all in good time I'm sure

 

[monkeypigeon]

Wallace has looked absolutely brilliant in the last few matches. It's going to be a very sad day when he retires.

Jones and Earls looked very sharp again. Was happy enough with that. Murray sort of reminds me of Reddan, so hopefully he'll turn into a good player. He certainly has the potential.

What was up with Heaslip today? Looked more interested in making runs down the wing than getting stuck in at ruck time. I enjoyed him getting thrown into touch by Earls with a tooitoopoo assist.

Edit: who's in charge of the Munster backs? It looks like they have absolutely no imagination 9 times out of ten.

 

[coonor]

Munster seemed to want it more. Simples.

 

[profitius]

Edit: who's in charge of the Munster backs? It looks like they have absolutely no imagination 9 times out of ten.

Jason Holland. Munster have gone backwards since hes taking that over. Somebody with new ideas is needed.

 

[munstermuffin]

Well lads what a game and what a great way to restore passion in Thomond Park. Really think we deserved it on 2nd half display and well wasn't in the changing room but POC, ROG and Axel Foley really spoke and whatever was said seemed to work because the lads came out with fire. My points on game or whatever:

Munster.
- Paulie still in hospital at moment and well I dont know exact prognosis at this stage but a dislocated ankle or a fracture are the fears at the moment. Will update when I hear offically.
- Keith Earls I think finally is showing he is going to be a world class wing and has a perfect tutor in Howlett who has been there and done that.
- Felix Jones is a superb athlete and was sharp tonight and if he stays fit I think he will be in an Irish shirt in next 2 years.
- Donnacha Ryan did well at 6 tonight and well was selected tonight as requested by Declan Kidney because Ireland plan on bringing 4/5 locks to the World Cup and want one to be able to cover backrow. (Rumour is the spot is between McLaughlin and Ryan - Hence McLaughlin playing games at lock)
- David Wallace is a superb human and tonight again showed he will be badly missed when he goes.
- The way Munster picked it up and played even more driven when Paulie went off (refused a stretcher and wanted to leave field on feet) was super to see
- And finally ROG was excellent tonight. He kicked some fine pens (especially one from halfway) but the last one really was a pressure kick and he nailed it. I know people say he cant tackle and tonight I had to throw some glue on the guy but really he put body on line. Sean O'Brien rattled him early on and he felt it but he did return for more and made good hit on Strauss straight away. I just felt he deserved credit for a superb performance.
- Probably a con but Johne Murphy got shown up at 13 today and we need to fix that area I feel. Coughlan too I think deserves credit for a solid performance.

Leinster.
- No boasting as it was a game that could've went either way. Their defense was well organised and I think it's 7 games we've failed to score a try against them (Stat may be wrong). But it was a joy to see them offloading and play superb rugby. They were much more stronger and skillful than us at times it seemed.
- I know Leinster fans may disagree with this but I've watched a few games of Leinster lately in DVD and well I think Nacewa is the key man in that backline. He is a class act and while Horgan took the try well it was Nacewa who did the work.
- Sean O'Brien is a class act and well no more can be said a beast of a man who was immense tonight.
- Sexton played well too just missing 1 kick and well did well but I just feel when Reddan came on his game dipped slightly.
- Heaslip is a player that Leinster should be concerned for, A super player but hasn't played well in a while and this must be a concern.

Best of Luck to Leinster next week in the Aviva but now all roads lead to Brive

 

[profitius]

Special mention for Connor Murray too. He was outstanding and it looks like he could be Munsters no 1 from next season on.

 

[munstermuffin]

Special mention for Connor Murray too. He was outstanding and it looks like he could be Munsters no 1 from next season on.

From next season????
ROG reacting to Sexton challenge in Ireland has improved him.
Now O'Leary has to get his way back past Stringer and Murray and well Duncan Williams is there too hungry.

Murray was good tonight and I'm delighted for him and Felix Jone because both will improve so much from this game and benefit from the experience

 

[profitius]

From next season????
ROG reacting to Sexton challenge in Ireland has improved him.
Now O'Leary has to get his way back past Stringer and Murray and well Duncan Williams is there too hungry.

Murray was good tonight and I'm delighted for him and Felix Jone because both will improve so much from this game and benefit from the experience

He should be no 1 now. Maybe he convinced them after tonights display but they're very conservative and Kidney will want TOL playing... unless hes planning on bringing Murray to the world cup.

 

[King_D'Arcy]

Totally **** match! Both sides were rubbish! Don't convince yourselves otherwise. Munster were no better than Leinster at all. One of the worst refereeing performances I've seen. Seemed to be just making calls at random. Sending off Murphy for that offence was a joke but sending off O'Driscoll for that non-offence at the half way line was a complete sham. And how did he not send off Buckle in the 1st half? He was so easily influenced by the crowd. ****** moron!

 

[munstermuffin]

King that is not accurate. Both teams were in a pressure filled environment and well performed well.
Johne Murphys offense was in my opinion not a yellow because it was early but Leinster got alot of warnings and when BOD got carded he accepted it because he knew he was on top and arguably couldn't roll.