In terms of our Season, this doesn't make sense. In spite of two excellent wins against Exeter, few fans can claim that we played with great teamwork or attacking flair in either game, possibly with the exception of the first 13 mins of the Sandy Park game. After Munster, we have the unique opportunity (for this season at least) of three homes in succession which provide the ideal emotional and training build-up for our European fixtures.leinsterforever wrote:Assuming it's something like last year and the internationals are only available for one interpro out of two, I 'd like to see us go full-bore against Munster. Obviously rotate a bit after the exertions against Exeter, but I think I'd back the lesser lights to do a job against Ulster, and pick the stronger options v Munster. Does talk of the Ulster game having more relevance because it's an in-conference game really make sense? Is that one game really going to determine whether or not we finish ahead of Ulster?
Select a team to go to Thomond and then select the two sides to face Connacht and Ulster with a view to having the team against Glasgow playing at the top of their game and ready to go to Montpelier five days later. Ideally Exeter might have done us a favour, but regardless of that result, we will be hunting a win in France to optimise our Q/F venue.
Bring our best to Munster, and apart from the injury risk, we would face a fired up team who would play a game which would limit our attacking options. If we send down a team full of players with points to prove, whilst keeping the core of the team against Exeter, training together for a full fortnight, before unleashing them for four games in successive weeks, prior to them splitting up again until almost April.
As both an STH and Irish fan, that's the mind-set I would like to see from Leo, Girv and Burt. Get our Squad playing their best rugby from Jan 1st to 21st, get the necessary results and hand over our 17-20 Irish Squad members to Joe for 8 weeks. Simple really.
