Treviso v Munster, Sunday 13th February

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Munster: S Deasy; D Howlett, T Gleeson, L Mafi, S Zebo; P Warwick, D Williams; D Hurley, D Varley, S Archer; I Nagle, D Foley; B Holland, T O'Donnell, J Coughlan.
Replacements: M Sherry, W du Preez, P Borlase, M O'Driscoll, D Ryan, C Sheridan, S Tuitupou, D Hurley.
<!-- E BO -->
No sign of a Treviso team being named yet. Tony McGahan has opted to throw the kids in en masse for Munster. It'll be difficult for them as a result but should stand to them in future. Hurley, Zebo and the second rows are who I'll be looking out for. The rednecks have picked a powerful bench which could turn the game in their favour.

 

[munstermuffin]

Just in Treviso now but lovely weather for it and think Nagle and Foley have big chance to set a marker

 

[monkeypigeon]

20 minutes of set-piece, 5 minutes of play and 5 minutes of bad kicking...dull match so far.

 

[monkeypigeon]

I don't think James Jones has ever reffed a good match.

 

[Gavin]

Treviso 19 vs 18 Munster Final Score

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Good win for Treviso (though very much a second string Munster)

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

It's a great result for the league. Had Munster won they would pretty much have top spot in the table sewn up already. Treviso's win was their 7th in 13 games showing that they well and truly belong in this league.

From Munster's perspective, despite the defeat there were plenty of positives. Tony McGahan now has a much better idea about the depth in his squad. I thought Foley and O'Donnell put their hands up for further selection while Archer and Gleeson showed that maybe they're not up to this level. Howlett and Coughlan were excellent.

 

[profitius]

Any time I've ever seen Archer he's gone backwards in the scrums. I'd be shocked if he was to turn out to be a half decent scrummager. I hope Munster are playing some of those players to have a final look at them.

 

[munstermuffin]

Lads got in late from Italy so just writing now. James Jones was a joke yesterday but was poor for Treviso too and he can't be used as an excuse. There are none and despite loosing as Snoop said it was good for league but excellent for us. We took a chance on youth and people have to expect the risk of a loss when 2 yellow cards and so much youth are put in together. I remember writing a long time ago after Archer played well against Ulster last season that he won't make it. He struggled last week in AIL. Gleeson is same.
As for our backrow I thought they had fine game and our 2nd row went well. Howlett is a class act full stop but at least now we know our centres are big concern in backs and we are bit more wiser