round 14

[ajwffc]

FRIDAY, MARCH 5

Munster v Connacht – KO 19:35

Thomond Park, Limerick

Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU, 5th competition game)

Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace, Eoghan Cross (both IRFU)

TMO: Joy Neville (IRFU)

Live on eir Sport 1, Premier Sports 1, Super Sport (SA), ESPN+ (USA), pro14.tv.

Deferred: 21:30 TG4

SATURDAY, MARCH 6

Zebre v Glasgow Warriors – KO 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA

Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma

Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 12th competition game)

Assistant Referees: Matteo Liperini, Clara Munarini (both FIR)

TMO: Stefano Pennè (FIR)

Live on DAZN, Premier Sports 2, eir Sport 1, Super Sport (SA), ESPN+ (USA), pro14.tv.

Ulster v Leinster – KO 19:35

Kingspan Stadium, Belfast

Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU, 42nd competition game)

Assistant Referees: Seán Gallagher, Robert O'Sullivan (both IRFU)

TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)

Live on Premier Sports 1, eir Sport 1, Super Sport (SA), ESPN+ (USA), pro14.tv.

Deferred: 21:30 TG4

Ospreys v Dragons – KO 19:35

Brewery Field, Bridgend

Referee: Craig Evans (WRU, 18th competition game)

Assistant Referees: Nigel Owens, Dan Jones (both WRU)

TMO: Rhys Thomas (WRU)

Live on S4C, Premier Sports 2, Super Sport (SA), ESPN+ (USA), pro14.tv.

SUNDAY, MARCH 7

Edinburgh v Benetton – KO 17:15

BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh

Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU, 13th competition game)

Assistant Referees: Ben Blain, Ian Kenny (both SRU)

TMO: Hollie Davidson (SRU)

Live on Premier Sports 1, eir Sport 1, DAZN, Super Sport (SA), ESPN+ (USA), pro14.tv.

 

[Groundhog]

Munster:

15. Mike Haley
14. Andrew Conway
13. Chris Farrell
12. Rory Scannell
11. Shane Daly
10. Ben Healy
9. Craig Casey

1. James Cronin
2. Niall Scannell
3. Stephen Archer
4. Fineen Wycherley
5. Billy Holland (captain)
6. Jack O'Donoghue
7. Chris Cloete
8. Gavin Coombes

Replacements:

16. Kevin O'Byrne
17. Jeremy Loughman
18. John Ryan
19. Jean Kleyn
20. Jack O'Sullivan
21. Nick McCarthy
22. Joey Carbery
23. Damien de Allende

Connacht:

15. Tiernan O'Halloran
14. John Porch
13. Tom Daly
12. Bundee Aki
11. Matt Healy
10. Jack Carty
9. Caolin Blade

1. Denis Buckley
2. Dave Heffernan
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Ultan Dillane
5. Gavin Thornbury
6. Jarrad Butler (captain)
7. Conor Oliver
8. Paul Boyle

Replacements:

16. Shane Delahunt
17. Matthew Burke
18. Jack Aungier
19. Niall Murray
20. Eoghan Masterson
21. Kieran Marmion
22. Sean O'Brien
23. Alex Wootton

Both sides pretty full strength bar a couple of notables for Munster. Surprised we're benching De Allende, Kleyn and Hanrahan drops entirely. I know DDA and Kleyn can't play every game, but you'd think we put this one away and then rest them over the next two weeks. Also surprised Wootton drops for Connacht. If Carty picks up a knock I think they'll struggle with Daly at 10. They've also not included Papali'i maybe afraid he'll get himself carded again.

On paper we should win this one, although they dealt with Cardiff way better than us. Could see their centers giving us a lot of trouble, we leak way too many tries through there. Would hope our set piece and pack will give us the win though.

 

[big ginger 8]

Glad to see Healy getting a go but if I was Connacht I'd be sending Aki down his channel all day. He's a poor enough tackler and potentially looks a bit nervous there since his injury from the cheap shot.

Should be a decent game as long as Carty doesn't get injured.

Any word on Ahern's progress through the RTP?

 

[Groundhog]

Glad to see Healy getting a go but if I was Connacht I'd be sending Aki down his channel all day. He's a poor enough tackler and potentially looks a bit nervous there since his injury from the cheap shot.

Should be a decent game as long as Carty doesn't get injured.

Any word on Ahern's progress through the RTP?

They said he's due to complete his RTP this week. Probably available next game

 

[munstermuffin]

They said he's due to complete his RTP this week. Probably available next game

He passed his RTP but too little time on training pitch with it being a Friday game.
DAA being is rotated as he has played too much rugby.
Kleyn had ****le so being monitored.

There'll be no fear of Ben at 10. A better defensive presence than given credit for. But regardless of who plays these are usually tight ****ly affairs

 

[The Seeker]

Munster
Glasgow
Ulster
Ospreys
Benetton

 

[big ginger 8]

Leinster:

15. Max O'Reilly
14. Cian Kelleher
13. Jimmy O'Brien
12. Rory O'Loughlin
11. Dave Kearney
10. Ross Byrne
9. Luke McGrath (captain)

1. Ed Byrne
2. James Tracy
3. Michael Bent
4. Devin Toner
5. Scott Fardy
6. Rhys Ruddock
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Scott Penny

Replacements:
16. Seán Cronin
17. Peter Dooley
18. Thomas Clarkson
19. Ross Molony
20. Josh Murphy
21. Rowan Osborne
22. Jamie Osborne
23. Jack Dunne

Ulster:

15. Michael Lowry
14. Robert Baloucoune
13. James Hume
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. Jacob Stockdale
10. Ian Madigan
9. John Cooney

1. Eric O'Sullivan
2. John Andrew
3. Tom O'Toole
4. Alan O'Connor
5. Kieran Treadwell
6. Nick Timoney
7. Jordi Murphy (captain)
8. Marcell Coetzee

Replacements:
16. Adam McBurney
17. Andrew Warwick
18. Marty Moore
19. Cormac Izuchukwu
20. Sean Reidy
21. Alby Mathewson
22. Stewart Moore
23. Rob Lyttle

We're down to the barebones in the backs, Ulster absolutely should run riot there. Quite surprised Toner starts ahead of Moloney, think he must be carrying a knock.

 

[Groundhog]

 

[Groundhog]

Search your heart. You know it to be true

 

[Jakedood]

ANd itll

Leinster:

15. Max O'Reilly
14. Cian Kelleher
13. Jimmy O'Brien
12. Rory O'Loughlin
11. Dave Kearney
10. Ross Byrne
9. Luke McGrath (captain)

1. Ed Byrne
2. James Tracy
3. Michael Bent
4. Devin Toner
5. Scott Fardy
6. Rhys Ruddock
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Scott Penny

Replacements:
16. Seán Cronin
17. Peter Dooley
18. Thomas Clarkson
19. Ross Molony
20. Josh Murphy
21. Rowan Osborne
22. Jamie Osborne
23. Jack Dunne

Ulster:

15. Michael Lowry
14. Robert Baloucoune
13. James Hume
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. Jacob Stockdale
10. Ian Madigan
9. John Cooney

1. Eric O'Sullivan
2. John Andrew
3. Tom O'Toole
4. Alan O'Connor
5. Kieran Treadwell
6. Nick Timoney
7. Jordi Murphy (captain)
8. Marcell Coetzee

Replacements:
16. Adam McBurney
17. Andrew Warwick
18. Marty Moore
19. Cormac Izuchukwu
20. Sean Reidy
21. Alby Mathewson
22. Stewart Moore
23. Rob Lyttle

We're down to the barebones in the backs, Ulster absolutely should run riot there. Quite surprised Toner starts ahead of Moloney, think he must be carrying a knock.

And it'll still be pointless due to the fact that Leinster's marauding try scoring all year and ridiculous BP rate has them almost untouchable, they've just been lights out sadly

 

[big ginger 8]

The only fit and available senior players not in the Leinster 23 are Dan Sheehan and Hugh O'Sullivan. Pretty crazy that we still have 12 capped players in the 23 and one who played an uncapped international.

 

[big ginger 8]

Hayden Hyde has gone to Harlequins, pity he didn't stay in Ireland.

 

[big ginger 8]

Connacht second rows are going well.

 

[Groundhog]

We're playing very badly right now. Connacht have their game plan right and are disrupting us very well. Few lads would want to catch a hold of themselves. Pretty disappointed in our half backs.

 

[Redman7]

Mike haley!

 

[big ginger 8]

Carty is so frustrating, does beautiful things like that but also has stuff like the aimless into the corner a minute beforehand.

Wouldn't mind Blade in an Ireland squad.

Haley did well for his try.

EDIT: Boyle has a great habit of popping up when Connacht need him to.

 

[Groundhog]

Jaysus way too tense. Connacht did well I thought. Thornbury had a career game there and he's been very good all season. Kind of sucks for the Westies they won't get to play any knockout rugby because they've ramped up massively in the last few months. Blade was also really handy and Dillane shone pretty well too.

For us the half backs were frustrating although Casey definitely stepped up in the second half. Healy poor enough although he defended bravely. Daly was really quite poor and doesn't look an international winger at all. Haley obviously the star of the show though he was absolutely class. Not just the try but he just femdommed every high ball they put on him. Thought Cronin was really good too he had some class hits and Cloete was top notch too. The yellow was not on him it was Billy lost his feet.

Also have to say Busby is a good referee. Gap at the lineout was a hit of a mess but he was very clear I felt.

 

[munstermuffin]

Great game. We were lucky but this fixture is always tight. Said elsewhere Haley is a star 15 not rated enough well tonight he showed it again. Joey was the perfect tonic at 10 when he came on.
James Cronin was very good again for us too and bench played a part.

On Connacht I think it is strange. You seen why they are frustrating. As they make some awful choices but also show when they click they're some team. Carty showed when it comes off he is a talent and thought their pack was very good.
Aki got a yellow that I was shocked at. Just a pen as there was no real potential break on and plenty of cover

 

[Leinster Fan]

Liked the ref.

Haley is probably the second best fullback in the country right now. Blade should be in the Ireland squad.

 

[munstermuffin]

Also should say a heavily rotated team playing poorly against a fully loaded team playing well and we won.

Our set piece was poor except for naul but tonight may suit us as others will possibly write us off but it can be argued only 4 of our strongest XV started tonight and we still managed to grind out a win