Munster v Leinster St Stephen's Day 3.15 TG4 & Sky Sports

[neiliog93]

not to labour a point repeatedly but we need strong officiating for this one to give that half back combo space

Yeah, Munster tend to be very competitive (often illegal) at the breakdown against us in the Thomond fixture. It's ruined a few of the games, including ones we've won. Hopefully the ref does his job.

[neiliog93]

That 9/10 ain’t winning in Thomond unfortunately.

Munster are definitely favourites and have been in good form, but it's a stronger than expected Leinster selection and they definitely could pull off a win.

I think the scrum could be key. Kilcoyne is sometimes vulnerable in the scrum, and Michael Bent is a dark horse as a destructive scrummager. You would also think that Jack McGrath will get the better of Archer, and ex-prop James Tracy should beat Marshall in their scrummaging head-to-head. Toner and James Ryan are both noted as strong-scrummaging second rows also, while Billy Holland is undersized for the position for Munster. Now, scrum battles often confound expectations, but on paper, we can exert pressure at scrum time, which might give us a good platform from which to win the game.

[Donny B.]

It's not a bad Leinster selection, but we said the same thing last season and they were duly stuffed. Munster to win by 15+. Real shame the way the new IRFU policy has led to uncompetitive games.

It's the first time in around 10 years I'm not heading down for the match. Not worth going to that hassle on St. Stephen's day hassle to watch the kind of bullshit mismatch we saw last year.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

I can't wait for this, it's a good selection and my favourite fixture of the year...as long we perform that is.

I'm happy that we've gone for a mixed selection instead of one strong one and one weakened one over Christmas, but with Munster at full strength up front and with Murray behind them I think they'll have too much of an advantage for us to impose ourselves enough. Really looking forward to seeing James Ryan, hope he announces himself to everyone.

I'm just excited about seeing our talented young forwards and the prospect of Ross Byrne and Larmour putting themselves in the Ireland reckoning. If Munster do get on top and we struggle to get into our patterns then Lowe and Larmour might need to pull a rabbit out of a hat, they're capable of it though.

Edit: It'll be interesting to see the difference between our fresher team and how Munster do after two big weeks. Maybe the extra recovery time will mean it doesn't matter but I'm looking forward to the likes of Ryan, Leavy, Lowe, and Larmour tearing into Munster after not playing much recently.

[simonokeeffe]

not to labour a point repeatedly but we need strong officiating for this one to give that half back combo space

Yeah, Munster tend to be very competitive (often illegal) at the breakdown against us in the Thomond fixture. It's ruined a few of the games, including ones we've won. Hopefully the ref does his job.

I was thinking more of offside line but that too

IIRC Killer v Bent tends to be a collapsey penalty fest

[limecat]

Match Preview

Leinster made life very hard for themselves last week against Exeter with a rubbish first half performance. But they showed some character at least to recover in the second half and earn the win to put them back in pole position.

Read more...

[Peg Leg]

Not much of a preview.
Looking forward to this myself as i don't think we'll take a step backwards down there.
You would have to question why van Graan is going full metal jacket against a team thats not in there conference. Particularly in light if tonights result.

[blockhead]

Not much of a preview.
Looking forward to this myself as i don't think we'll take a step backwards down there.
You would have to question why van Graan is going full metal jacket against a team thats not in there conference. Particularly in light if tonights result.

26K fans deserve respect. Munster are giving them that, we have picked the b-team. It's not Leinsters fault I know.This should be one of the biggest days of the year. IRFU need to re-think this.

[leinsterforever]

I can't wait for this, it's a good selection and my favourite fixture of the year...as long we perform that is.

I'm happy that we've gone for a mixed selection instead of one strong one and one weakened one over Christmas, but with Munster at full strength up front and with Murray behind them I think they'll have too much of an advantage for us to impose ourselves enough. Really looking forward to seeing James Ryan, hope he announces himself to everyone.

I'm just excited about seeing our talented young forwards and the prospect of Ross Byrne and Larmour putting themselves in the Ireland reckoning. If Munster do get on top and we struggle to get into our patterns then Lowe and Larmour might need to pull a rabbit out of a hat, they're capable of it though.

Edit: It'll be interesting to see the difference between our fresher team and how Munster do after two big weeks. Maybe the extra recovery time will mean it doesn't matter but I'm looking forward to the likes of Ryan, Leavy, Lowe, and Larmour tearing into Munster after not playing much recently.

Interesting point. I'll always remember Ireland's Summer tour in 2006. After performing excellently twice against New Zealand, Eddie O'Sullivan made only one (enforced) change for the final game against the Aussies, changing the fullback. Ireland duly ran out of steam, and lost heavily. It's often difficult for a team to perform three weekends in a row versus tough opposition if there's not a bit of re-shuffling to freshen things up. If, hypothetically speaking, Leinster had a third game against Exeter this weekend, I think we could well have seen McGrath coming in for Healy (if he wasn't banned), Tracy coming in for Cronin, and Ryan coming into the starting XV.

[ronk]

Not much of a preview.
Looking forward to this myself as i don't think we'll take a step backwards down there.
You would have to question why van Graan is going full metal jacket against a team thats not in there conference. Particularly in light if tonights result.

26K fans deserve respect. Munster are giving them that, we have picked the b-team. It's not Leinsters fault I know.This should be one of the biggest days of the year. IRFU need to re-think this.

IRFU dont mind seeing home wins in fixtures like this. I dont think they're ready to ditch conferences yet.

Personally I'd prefer conferences with a single overall league table because we still play every team at least once and 2 interpros.

[COYBIB]

We have 3, maybe 4 first choice players starting and they're sending out their champions cup squad.

Anyone else getting a little sick of how this fixture is treated from our end? Basically one no different than if we were sending a team to Dragons in February.

Really devalues the fixture and hands a rival a moral boost when they think (or convince themselves) they're playing our 1sts.

This is a very satisfying fixture to win and we've barely lost to them when playing full strength over the last 7 years or so (with the exception of MOC), I suppose the IRFU directive to keep the locals interested and returning each year is important to their target of being able to pay their own electricity bill by 2020.

[CiaranIrl]

We have 3, maybe 4 first choice players starting and they're sending out their champions cup squad.

Anyone else getting a little sick of how this fixture is treated from our end? Basically one no different than if we were sending a team to Dragons in February.

Really devalues the fixture and hands a rival a moral boost when they think (or convince themselves) they're playing our 1sts.

This is a very satisfying fixture to win and we've barely lost to them when playing full strength over the last 7 years or so (with the exception of MOC), I suppose the IRFU directive to keep the locals interested and returning each year is important to their target of being able to pay their own electricity bill by 2020.

Healy is banned. McGrath isn't a step down anyway. Not very much between Tracey and Cronin. Sexton is injured. O'Brien is injured. Ruddock is injured.

In the back three, I'm not so sure Larmour, Daly, Lowe is much of a step down from Kearney, McFadden, Nacewa

Luke McGrath, Ringrose, Fardy definitely a loss, but it's not such a dramatic selection that it warrants offence.

[COYBIB]

We have 3, maybe 4 first choice players starting and they're sending out their champions cup squad.

Anyone else getting a little sick of how this fixture is treated from our end? Basically one no different than if we were sending a team to Dragons in February.

Really devalues the fixture and hands a rival a moral boost when they think (or convince themselves) they're playing our 1sts.

This is a very satisfying fixture to win and we've barely lost to them when playing full strength over the last 7 years or so (with the exception of MOC), I suppose the IRFU directive to keep the locals interested and returning each year is important to their target of being able to pay their own electricity bill by 2020.

Healy is banned. McGrath isn't a step down anyway. Not very much between Tracey and Cronin. Sexton is injured. O'Brien is injured. Ruddock is injured.

In the back three, I'm not so sure Larmour, Daly, Lowe is much of a step down from Kearney, McFadden, Nacewa

Luke McGrath, Ringrose, Fardy definitely a loss, but it's not such a dramatic selection that it warrants offence.

We've made 12 changes to our starting 15 against Exeter..

[OSS]

We have 3, maybe 4 first choice players starting and they're sending out their champions cup squad.

Anyone else getting a little sick of how this fixture is treated from our end? Basically one no different than if we were sending a team to Dragons in February.

Really devalues the fixture and hands a rival a moral boost when they think (or convince themselves) they're playing our 1sts.

This is a very satisfying fixture to win and we've barely lost to them when playing full strength over the last 7 years or so (with the exception of MOC), I suppose the IRFU directive to keep the locals interested and returning each year is important to their target of being able to pay their own electricity bill by 2020.

Healy is banned. McGrath isn't a step down anyway. Not very much between Tracey and Cronin. Sexton is injured. O'Brien is injured. Ruddock is injured.

In the back three, I'm not so sure Larmour, Daly, Lowe is much of a step down from Kearney, McFadden, Nacewa

Luke McGrath, Ringrose, Fardy definitely a loss, but it's not such a dramatic selection that it warrants offence.

We've made 12 changes to our starting 15 against Exeter..

Nordi, Leavy and Conan bullying POM, TOD and O'Sheasaimh would be a result enough for me tbh...

[Peg Leg]

We have 3, maybe 4 first choice players starting and they're sending out their champions cup squad.

Anyone else getting a little sick of how this fixture is treated from our end? Basically one no different than if we were sending a team to Dragons in February.

Really devalues the fixture and hands a rival a moral boost when they think (or convince themselves) they're playing our 1sts.

This is a very satisfying fixture to win and we've barely lost to them when playing full strength over the last 7 years or so (with the exception of MOC), I suppose the IRFU directive to keep the locals interested and returning each year is important to their target of being able to pay their own electricity bill by 2020.

Healy is banned. McGrath isn't a step down anyway. Not very much between Tracey and Cronin. Sexton is injured. O'Brien is injured. Ruddock is injured.

In the back three, I'm not so sure Larmour, Daly, Lowe is much of a step down from Kearney, McFadden, Nacewa

Luke McGrath, Ringrose, Fardy definitely a loss, but it's not such a dramatic selection that it warrants offence.

This

[Peg Leg]

Nordi lmfao

[CiaranIrl]

We have 3, maybe 4 first choice players starting and they're sending out their champions cup squad.

Anyone else getting a little sick of how this fixture is treated from our end? Basically one no different than if we were sending a team to Dragons in February.

Really devalues the fixture and hands a rival a moral boost when they think (or convince themselves) they're playing our 1sts.

This is a very satisfying fixture to win and we've barely lost to them when playing full strength over the last 7 years or so (with the exception of MOC), I suppose the IRFU directive to keep the locals interested and returning each year is important to their target of being able to pay their own electricity bill by 2020.

Healy is banned. McGrath isn't a step down anyway. Not very much between Tracey and Cronin. Sexton is injured. O'Brien is injured. Ruddock is injured.

In the back three, I'm not so sure Larmour, Daly, Lowe is much of a step down from Kearney, McFadden, Nacewa

Luke McGrath, Ringrose, Fardy definitely a loss, but it's not such a dramatic selection that it warrants offence.

We've made 12 changes to our starting 15 against Exeter..

Yes, we did. I noticed that too. That's why I addressed it in my post. Everything I said still stands.

[paddyor]

Nordi lmfao

Just got it

[wixfjord]

When are people going to get it into their heads that due to IRFU player management and the Pro14 conference structure this was always going to be our selection for this game!
There's absolutely no surprise here, and we've rightly gone for a weakened side. It's a pragmatic selection.

It is what it is.

I for one am looking forward to seeing that pack go toe to toe with Munster's Champions Cup one. Imagine the excuses if we get the upper hand.

[simonokeeffe]

Worth noting Munster are arguably missing their first choice 10 12 13