The Munster Rugby Thread 24/25

[junior footballer]

McMillan being told to rebuild the team and getting his third choice at best attack coach……

 

[How bad boy]

At least Fineen is back. He's been playing well and is good doing the lineout calls.

I think we might go :-

Loughman, D Barron, Alaalatoa, Fineen, Ed, Ahern, Hodnett, Gav, Casey, Jack, SOB, Nanks, Kelly, Daly, Haley

Subs :- Milne, Barron, Ryan, Fineen. Gleeson, Kendellan, O Donovan & AN Other

Hopefully he's up to speed (and he'd really want to be as he's both starting and on the bench ).

That 2nd row is a long way short of Beirne and Kleyn.

Think Edogbo needs the pre-season to go from return to play to actually performing. He's been good, but he's effectively playing his first full season of pro rugby.

Personally, would start with Fineen & Ahern as 4 & 5, Gleeson, Hodnett and Coombes 6-8, with Ed, JOD and Kendellan on the bench. That way, you've got plenty cover for injuries, and a bit of weight with Ed to come on later in the game. Ahern, Gleeson and Coombes are decent sizes, but Fineen & Kendellen are reasonably lightweight.

Tighthead prop really is a pity of a position at Munster, isn't it? With Ryan (too old), Jager & Salanoa (too injured) and Alaalatoa (just not good enough), there's an unbelieveable dearth of quality there. Unfortunately at 30 years old and 4 appearances, it doesn't look like Bartley will make it. Foxe has had a total of 15 minutes this season, when the scrum has been an absolute disaster zone, so I wouldn't hold my breath for him either.

 

[Barry K O Bama]

Hopefully he's up to speed (and he'd really want to be as he's both starting and on the bench ).

That 2nd row is a long way short of Beirne and Kleyn.

Think Edogbo needs the pre-season to go from return to play to actually performing. He's been good, but he's effectively playing his first full season of pro rugby.

Personally, would start with Fineen & Ahern as 4 & 5, Gleeson, Hodnett and Coombes 6-8, with Ed, JOD and Kendellan on the bench. That way, you've got plenty cover for injuries, and a bit of weight with Ed to come on later in the game. Ahern, Gleeson and Coombes are decent sizes, but Fineen & Kendellen are reasonably lightweight.

Tighthead prop really is a pity of a position at Munster, isn't it? With Ryan (too old), Jager & Salanoa (too injured) and Alaalatoa (just not good enough), there's an unbelieveable dearth of quality there. Unfortunately at 30 years old and 4 appearances, it doesn't look like Bartley will make it. Foxe has had a total of 15 minutes this season, when the scrum has been an absolute disaster zone, so I wouldn't hold my breath for him either.

My bad on Fineen.
I also forgot about Smith - he's done ok so should start.

I think we'll go 5:3 so maybe SOB on Bench. Maybe Quinn or Evan O Connell coming in.

Hard to know how this will pan out.
You'd hope that the players will seize the opportunity. 4th is in our own hands and 4 pts in Galway plus 5 in TP would see us edge out Bulls.

Everyone is fully aware that a trip to South Africa is best avoided. This is a great opportunity to send a message to the Dublin Media Tramps. Hopefully our lads will produce

Bad news on the ref - it's the Novice Norrie, Martin - he was completely out of his depth in TP in Dec against Leinster.
He's capable of doing anything.

 

[MerchantOfEnnis]

I was chatting a man earlier who would really know his rugby, and he said Jager is done. That's two concussions now?

The poor fella hasn't been able to stay injury free since he got here. I'm glad he got his Ireland cap, and he had a fine career in NZ including playing against the Lions.

Hopefully he's back but that could be a tough one to return from.

The team photos were taken up in Thomond this morning. Lots of smiles, but I didn't see Tom Farrell. Probably still in serious recovery mode

 

[How bad boy]

Crowley out unfortunately, as is Milne. Bartley getting on the bench ahead of Ryan, which is good to see.

Not a bad team, that Ulster dead rubber was unfortunate.

Munster Rugby: Mike Haley; Shane Daly, Alex Nankivell, Dan Kelly, Andrew Smith; JJ Hanrahan, Craig Casey (C); Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Michael Ala’alatoa; Edwin Edogbo, Fineen Wycherley; Tom Ahern, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Lee Barron, Josh Wycherley, Conor Bartley, Jack O’Donoghue, Brian Gleeson, Ben O’Donovan, Seán O’Brien, Alex Kendellen.

 

[jeepers]

Team is out. No Jack. As we already knew, no Tadhg or Jean either. EdEd and Wycherly in the second row, big ask for them. Back row of Ahern, Hodnett, Coombes.

Craig is captain, JJ at 10.

We're fucked

 

[jeepers]

Crowley out unfortunately, as is Milne. Bartley getting on the bench ahead of Ryan, which is good to see.

Not a bad team, that Ulster dead rubber was unfortunate.

Munster Rugby: Mike Haley; Shane Daly, Alex Nankivell, Dan Kelly, Andrew Smith; JJ Hanrahan, Craig Casey (C); Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Michael Ala’alatoa; Edwin Edogbo, Fineen Wycherley; Tom Ahern, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Lee Barron, Josh Wycherley, Conor Bartley, Jack O’Donoghue, Brian Gleeson, Ben O’Donovan, Seán O’Brien, Alex Kendellen.

Major doubts about the second row and the bench is as weak as piss. We'd better be running the legs off them, cos we're not going to out muscle them

 

[Jukka]

A losing BP while picking up a try BP would be a very good outcome for us here. We’ll still probably go into the last weekend with a shot at top 4 depending on other results, and potentially already be safe in the Top 8.

 

[How bad boy]

Major doubts about the second row and the bench is as weak as piss. We'd better be running the legs off them, cos we're not going to out muscle them

There's a decent amount of heft in the pack with Ed, Ahern and Coombes, it's a shame Alaalatoa has proven to be so poor.

I'd say the bench front row is weak but the rest are grand.

Connacht are missing Hansen, Forde, Blade and Heffernan are doubtful, so they're potentially a bit injury hit too.

Historically, it'd be one where Munster would be at an 80%+ chance of victory. Connacht are favourites but not by a huge amount.

 

[Barry K O Bama]

I'd be reasonably confident if we had Jack but We'll struggle with JJ.

He's devoid of confidence right now - scared to try anything - just shuffles the ball sideways and our centres have no space. Easy for the rush defence as they know exactly what JJ will do.

His kicking off the tee was brutal v Ulster.

I'd be happy enough with the other 22. I'm ok with 6:2 now as we don't have many options in the backs.

We could ship a bad defeat here