RaboDirect Pro12: Munster - Newport-Gwent Dragons (03-09-2011, 19:45 GMT)

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Musgrave Park, Cork (03-09-2011, 19:45 GMT)

Referee: Stefano Penne (FIR, 4th competition game)
Assistant Referees: David Wilkinson, Brian MacNeice (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Eugene Ryan (IRFU)
TMO: Seamus Flannery (IRFU)

Honours were even in the two encounters between the two sides last season, with each team winning its respective home encounter, whilst the Dragons' in this RaboDirect PRO12 game will be hoping to add to their only previous win on Munster soil: 16-6 at Thomond Park on 12 March 2004.

Reigning champions Munster finished last season with ten successive victories, but have begun the season at home just three times before and been victorious each time. The Munstermen's most recent home defeat in the tournament came on 24 April 2010 to Ospreys at Thomond Park.
Newport Gwent Dragons have won their opening fixture in four of the last six seasons, but lost two of their final three matches last season. The Dragons have lost their last four games against Irish provinces.

(source: RaboDirectPro12.com)


[TABLE="class: grid"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD]Munster[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Newport[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Johne Murphy[/TD]
[TD]15[/TD]
[TD]Steffan Jones[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Doug Howlett[/TD]
[TD]14[/TD]
[TD]Adam Hughes[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Danny Barnes[/TD]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]Tom Riley[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Lifeimi Mafi[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]Ashley Smith[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Denis Hurley[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]Mike Poole[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Ian Keatley[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]Jason Tovey[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Peter Stringer[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]Joe Bedford[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]James Coughlan[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]Tom Brown[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Niall Ronan[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]Gavin Thomas[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Peter O'Mahony[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]Andrew Coombs[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Mick O'Driscoll[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]Robert Sidoli[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Billy Holland[/TD]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]Adam Jones[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Stephen Archer[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]Ben Castle[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Mike Sherry[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]Tom Willis[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Marcus Horan[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]Phil Price[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Damien Varley[/TD]
[TD]16[/TD]
[TD]Rhys Buckley[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Wian du Preez[/TD]
[TD]17[/TD]
[TD]Nathan Williams[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]John Hayes[/TD]
[TD]18[/TD]
[TD]Dan Way[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Dave Foley[/TD]
[TD]19[/TD]
[TD]Jevon Groves[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Tommy O'Donnell[/TD]
[TD]20[/TD]
[TD]Hugo Ellis[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Duncan Williams[/TD]
[TD]21[/TD]
[TD]Wayne Evans[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Scott Deasy[/TD]
[TD]22[/TD]
[TD]Pat Leach[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Simon Zebo[/TD]
[TD]23[/TD]
[TD]Martyn Thomas[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

 

[profitius]

Looking forward to the season starting again.

I see Peter O'Mahony is Munsters new Pro12 captain.

 

[munstermuffin]

O'Mahony is flying in training and don't be surprised to see him making the 7 jersey for big games.
He is also a natural leader and will hugely benefit from this experience while the other lads are away on international duty.

Also Keatley has been in excellent form and well Mick Sherry has really taken big strides and earned the 2 jersey tomorrow night.

 

[profitius]

I'm expecting those 3 to have good seasons. Archer has come on a bit too.

Hows Scanlon getting on?

Delighted to see POM going well and getting starts. I wonder what influence Axel Foley is having on the selection.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Placed a bet, albiet a tiny one, on the Dragons, simply because Tovey's playing, and I believe he could be the man to turn the game in the Gwent region's favour.

 

[munstermuffin]

I'm expecting those 3 to have good seasons. Archer has come on a bit too.

Hows Scanlon getting on?

Delighted to see POM going well and getting starts. I wonder what influence Axel Foley is having on the selection.

Sean is going well but has a bit of competition in front of him but well the lad still only turned 23 so still plenty of time.

Axel has full control of the pack and has a big input on who starts in the pack. POM has always had the potential and just needed the chance. People do say Wally's injury will hurt us and to a certain extent it will because even at his age now he is still a world class player but now we will get a few guys blooded and will be better off in longer term.

Archer is our best scrummaging TH available, We know what the Bull can do and well chances are Bull will leave when the IRFU contract is up in Nov so Archer deserves his reward for good form.

 

[Thingimubob]

Like the look of Mike Poole, got a bit of pace on him and seems quite powerful. Cage fighter too apparently.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I didn't realise this game was on - good old S4/C

 

[TRF_Olyy]

That was a brilliant try by Barnes (and everyone else in the run up to it)!

 

[King_D'Arcy]

Has Tomas O'Leary's career taken an extraordinary nose dive?

 

[monkeypigeon]

Has Tomas O'Leary's career taken an extraordinary nose dive?

apparantly hiss back hurts.

Second try was very nice too.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Ref is inconsistent as.

 

[monkeypigeon]

Ref is inconsistent as.

REF'S Just a bad ref. Mystery penalty in every second ruck.

 

[CJL]

They did score two nice tries allright. great angle by Barnes and great run by Murphy.

Lucky Munster have an embarresment of riches at scrum half because TOL could have this back problem hanging over him for a good bit.

 

[monkeypigeon]

Well, what started out as a good rugby match turned into a one man whistling contest...bring back James Jones please!!!

Munster were good value for their win overall but NGD had their moments also.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Well, what started out as a good rugby match turned into a one man whistling contest...bring back James Jones please!!!

Munster were good value for their win overall but NGD had their moments also.

Oh dear ...

 

[monkeypigeon]

Oh dear ...

Who'd have thought the day would come...

What did you think of tonights ref?

 

[profitius]

The first half was good. In the second half there were too many players going in off their feet and that turned it into a scrap. Its something the refs need to look at and maybe be stricter to allow a more open game.

Typical early season game really.

 

[profitius]

Who'd have thought the day would come...

What did you think of tonights ref?

He seemed to blow up alot but yet the breakdown was still very scrappy.

I thought he was wrong on a few scrum decisions (early engagements) but overall he wasn't too bad.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Who'd have thought the day would come...

What did you think of tonights ref?

Lost control of the breakdown and was handing out yellow cards like it was Christmas.