Babbling 'brook

Hard to know what positives to take away from Saturday's inept performance against a woeful, woebegone Ulster. Winning is always important. Munster will need to play levels above that to even compete with Sarries methinks. I was really impressed by how they won yesterday. 8 points down with less tha...

Excuses, excuses...

More Dubs than Limerickians in the Munster team yesterday...

Well done Leinster. VDF was phenomenal. Light years ahead of dross like TOD and JOD.

Your form backrow is Leavy/VDF/Conan.

Woefully inept performance. TOD & JOD were simply shocking. Personally, I would start DOC @6 and move POM to 7 for Sarries. Would also consider starting Oliver @7. Lloyd did well for a guy who's been out of the frame all season and has barely seen a minute of game time. Keats was cr@p as usual. ...

Kid'nMe certainly backed the wrong horse in Mushy. In fairness, at that time mobile 6'5 tightheads were all the rage (e.g. Andrew Sheridan). The fact these behemoths couldn't scrummage only became an issue with the arrival of the ELVs. 'Yo' Be One Kid'n'Nobodi has made the same mistake in casting of...

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There's no rule that Ryan can't be picked for Ireland, especially come the RWC. As things stand I very much doubt Billy Holland makes the RWC squad and his ability to cover 6 isn't worth much when we already have versatile backrows and Henderson. Given the age profile of our locks the priority must...

Here's the very strong Connacht 23. Big ask. 15 Tiernan O’Halloran (124) 14 Niyi Adeolokun (55) 13 Bundee Aki (58) 12 Craig Ronaldson (64) 11 Danie Poolman (82) 10 Jack Carty (78) 9 Kieran Marmion (118) 1 Denis Buckley (115) 2 Dave Heffernan (81) 3 Finlay Bealham (79) 4 Quinn Roux (54) 5 Andrew Bro...

Good to see that Munster at least are not demeaning the P12 http://munsterrugby.ie/preview/munster-side-named-for-ulster-2/ Sweetham, JOD and TOD need big performances against a strong, hungry Ulster side. Should be a cracker! Looking forward to seeing Stockdale, Treadwell & the Olding/Marshall ...

On paper it's a very average Clermont team. Rougerie must be pushing 40 and guys like Spedding, Abendenan and Lamerat are so one paced. Foufana & Nakiataki are massive losses. Parra looked a shadow of the man in the QF and Lopez is a bed wetter waiting to happen a la a Brock James. The pack are ...

Can't believe DOC hasn't been mentioned. 6'4, 113kg, great engine, hard tackler and still only 27. I think he'll cement his place in the squad over the next few weeks. That said, the decision to let DRyan go is quite simply unforgivable when we have no like for like replacement and the guy is only ...

Yeah, found some pics online. T seems ok. Some of the sight lines lower down are terrible though. I've been to the Aviva about 10 times for Ireland games now and have yet to see a memorable match...with the athmosphere or lack thereof playing a significant part. I always seem to be surrounded by di...

Can't believe DOC hasn't been mentioned. 6'4, 113kg, great engine, hard tackler and still only 27. I think he'll cement his place in the squad over the next few weeks. That said, the decision to let DRyan go is quite simply unforgivable when we have no like for like replacement and the guy is only n...

Yeah, found some pics online. T seems ok. Some of the sight lines lower down are terrible though. I've been to the Aviva about 10 times for Ireland games now and have yet to see a memorable match...with the athmosphere or lack thereof playing a significant part. I always seem to be surrounded by dis...

My ticket is BLK 114 row T. I think that's the SS. Only ever been E or W stands. What's he view like from there?

So assuming CJ is out who plays in the Munster backrow? And who benches? Deysl has a lot of fitness work to do and I think Oliver has almost done enough for the bench. Start Peter, Tommy, Jack with Deysl as lock cover and Oliver as backrow? Oliver would be the form pick definitely but the 4 back ro...

Joe Schmidt is absolutely traumatised by the last would cup, where he lost 5 of the players that were in his list of 5 players I can not do without, he's on a mission to have player depth for the next world cup, that goes beyond a 1st choice 23. I don't think he's shown any sign of that this season...

Raydollard wrote:Given that we have the best team and squad around, I 'd be surprised if we malfunction and don't win. Playing in France is a bonus for Clermont but not as much as home advantage nor enough for us not to overcome.

Thanks for reaffirming a well-worn stereotype.

Loving your backhanded compliments. An okay team that finished 2nd seeds in the group stages, has gotten past last year's T14 champions, and 4 & 2 times HEC winners along the way. I'm fairness, so did Glasgow. (Apart from Toulouse obviously). Think it says more about the opposition than the pro...