The Munster Rugby Thread 24/25

[Coogee]

The temperature here in Northampton is c-c-cold, the type of cold that'll get into yer bones in no time.

Coldest game I was at in a long time. Nothampton town centre is a bit of a kip. Lads at work say some of the villages in the outskirts are lovely though. Met some very friendly Northampton fans and to be fair they deserved the win. Frankins Gardens is a fine spot and the set up there with bars/food etc was very good.

Rugby wise Munster have a lot of work to do to get back to challenging in knock out games in Europe. Cant see anything but a sound beating in La Rochelle.

Good to see Crowley doing the buisness yesterday. Has to start against England. Nash didnt do his chances any harm either and Beirne as always was good. Cant see POM starting the six nations on that form although Murray may get a few more caps from the bench.

Some decent young players in the pack like Quinn, Edogbo, Ahern, Kendellen, Gleeson but without a front row they will struggle. Not sure how that problem gets fixed int he next two seasons without bringing a few if Leinster's young guns down.

 

[nelly sham]

Definitely signs of improvement and signs that other areas need to improve.

 

[How bad boy]

I'd be surprised if Beirne isn't injured, shipped a few heavy hits and looked in pain a few times.

La Rochelle away for the next round. Castres have Benetton at home, showing what a disaster losing that match was.

 

[Meridian]

I have no doubt that the ghoys " fans " are delighted we are up against ROG next time around.

I expect La Rochelle will indeed show us the door, but I reckon it will be a great respectful occasion.

We can then get behind either La Rochelle, or Toulouse or whoever the ladyboys end up playing and I hope again they bawk yet again.

 

[keamoresouth]

I have no doubt that the ghoys " fans " are delighted we are up against ROG next time around.

I expect La Rochelle will indeed show us the door, but I reckon it will be a great respectful occasion.

We can then get behind either La Rochelle, or Toulouse or whoever the ladyboys end up playing and I hope again they bawk yet again.

Toulouse putting 80 on Leicester earlier is ridiculous, themselves and Bordeaux are playing a different game to everyone else including Leinster. But the knockouts are 10 weeks away, and who knows what will happen between now and then.

 

[Handy Run]

Well at least Crowley showed why he is the first choice Ireland 10, rather than that string of misery D4 media darling.

I think you'll find the irfu couldn't give a shite

 

[Nollaig O Muracu]

Where am I?

How did I get in here?

Are those my shoes?

 

[Handy Run]

Where am I?

How did I get in here?

Are those my shoes?

Munster would be right up your street. Another team in red with a storied history but a fairly shite present.

Cork
Munster
Arsenal/Utd

 

[How bad boy]

From Ruaidhri O'Connor on Bluesky:
Leinster's path to the final:
R16: Harlequins (h)
QF: Glasgow/Tigers (h)
SF: Saints/Clermont/Castres/Benetton
Munster:
R16: La R (a)
QF: Bordeaux (a)/Ulster (h)
SF: Toulouse(a)/Sale(h)/Toulon(a)/Saracens (h
Ulster:
R16: Bordeaux(a)
QF: Munster/La Rochelle (a)
SF: Toulouse/Sale/Toulon/Saracens (a)

Leinster are halfway to the final already with that path, Munster would need 3 miracles in a row to get to the final, having to beat La Rochelle, Bordeaux and Toulouse away.

La Rochelle are beatable, albeit I don't think Munster will do it, Ulster are as good as out already.

 

[outdagap]

Coldest game I was at in a long time. Nothampton town centre is a bit of a kip. Lads at work say some of the villages in the outskirts are lovely though. Met some very friendly Northampton fans and to be fair they deserved the win. Frankins Gardens is a fine spot and the set up there with bars/food etc was very good.

Rugby wise Munster have a lot of work to do to get back to challenging in knock out games in Europe. Cant see anything but a sound beating in La Rochelle.

Good to see Crowley doing the buisness yesterday. Has to start against England. Nash didnt do his chances any harm either and Beirne as always was good. Cant see POM starting the six nations on that form although Murray may get a few more caps from the bench.

Some decent young players in the pack like Quinn, Edogbo, Ahern, Kendellen, Gleeson but without a front row they will struggle. Not sure how that problem gets fixed int he next two seasons without bringing a few if Leinster's young guns down.

Yeah it was bitter, though that was the most amount of alcohol I've drunk for a long time, over two days. We drank in the St James WMC next to the ground before and after the game, and the prices were way better than in the centre.

It's a nicer town than Leicester or Gloucester but it could do with a bit of a rejuvenation. The Guild Hall is a lovely building and some of the buildings around there are nice too. What was odd to me was the lack of people out shopping.

We should be stuffed in La Rochelle but ROG being there might significantly up the ante for the players to put one over on him, and if we can get as many of Loughman, Kleyn, Hodnett (badly missed on Saturday), Nankivell and Casey back, then that will improve the team.

We do need to get Gleeson involved a lot sooner, he's definitely going to be there years. Kendellen is a good player but Hodnett is outstanding.