Thomond78
Colin Windon (37)
I suggest you go take a look on Youtube for the Munster-AB game two years ago, and then tell us what you consider a bore-a-thon.
Munster v. Australia
- Thread starter Thomond78
- Start date
- Status
I suggest you go take a look on Youtube for the Munster-AB game two years ago, and then tell us what you consider a bore-a-thon.
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
Putting the numbers in:
Munster:
15.Johne Murphy,
14. Doug Howlett,
13. Keith Earls,
12. Sam Tuitupou,
11. Denis Hurley,
10.Paul Warwick,
9. Duncan Williams,
1. Wian Du Preez,
2. Damien Varley,
3. Peter Borlase,
4. Billy Holland,
5.Ian Nagle,
6. Peter O'Mahony,
7. Niall Ronan,
8. James Coughlan (Capt.)
Replacements: Mike Sherry, Stephen Archer, Alan Quinlan/Brian Hayes, Tommy O'Donnell. Conor Murray, Scott Deasy, Barry Murphy.
The back line is the quality of this particular Munster team. Taking into account that there is a lot of rotation in Euro teams they are all regular starters except 11. Hurley who was marked for bigger things a couple of years ago - and scrummie Williams who is 3rd string to O'Leary and Stringer.
We all remember Doug Howlett. He doesn't have the blinding pace of younger days but if anything he is a better footie player than ever. Morahan will have his hands full with Mad Dougie. 14. Murphy is a terrific player but he has missed most of the Munster games this year; so will still be a bit under done.
Watch out for 13 Earls, who has been released from the Ireland squad to be in this game. He is one of the young Ireland galacticos and should be watched like a hawk - and that's before he gets the ball. Slamming Sam has just spent a few weeks in the cooler for a spear tackle and will be ready to go.
10. Warwick will be filling in again at flyhalf as he does regularly when ROG is not available. He doesn't have a big wow factor, and is probably best as a fullback, but sometimes when Munster have these depleted teams he is worth his weight in gold.
The forwards do not compare with the normal Munster pack and Oz could have an edge in the 2nd and back row .
Ma'afu will have his hands full with 1. du Preez though; the SAffer knows what a scrum is all about. It should be a good contest between Daley and 3. Borlase, who has just finished his season with Canterbury in the ITM Cup. Varley has played for Ireland but is usually behind Fogarty and Flannery at Munster if everybody is fit.
The 2nd row will not be stellar with Ryan, DOC and MOD not available and Ireland skipper POC crocked for the last 6 months. In the backrow 6. O'Mahony is the Ireland U20 captain but is not seasoned obviously, 7.Ronan is a good player as is 8. Couglan, but he is no Leamy.
I see that old stager Quinlan is bracketed on the bench. He will have a finess test before the game to assess him. It will be a pity if he doesn't play as he could teach the Oz blokes a few tricks. What he does on the wrong side of rucks makes McCaw and even So'oialo look like babes in the woods. His referee management, though not the captain, is priceless.
Oz have a good chance but if Warwick can launch the likes of Murphy, Howlett and Earls, watch out Oz.
Munster:
15.Johne Murphy,
14. Doug Howlett,
13. Keith Earls,
12. Sam Tuitupou,
11. Denis Hurley,
10.Paul Warwick,
9. Duncan Williams,
1. Wian Du Preez,
2. Damien Varley,
3. Peter Borlase,
4. Billy Holland,
5.Ian Nagle,
6. Peter O'Mahony,
7. Niall Ronan,
8. James Coughlan (Capt.)
Replacements: Mike Sherry, Stephen Archer, Alan Quinlan/Brian Hayes, Tommy O'Donnell. Conor Murray, Scott Deasy, Barry Murphy.
The back line is the quality of this particular Munster team. Taking into account that there is a lot of rotation in Euro teams they are all regular starters except 11. Hurley who was marked for bigger things a couple of years ago - and scrummie Williams who is 3rd string to O'Leary and Stringer.
We all remember Doug Howlett. He doesn't have the blinding pace of younger days but if anything he is a better footie player than ever. Morahan will have his hands full with Mad Dougie. 14. Murphy is a terrific player but he has missed most of the Munster games this year; so will still be a bit under done.
Watch out for 13 Earls, who has been released from the Ireland squad to be in this game. He is one of the young Ireland galacticos and should be watched like a hawk - and that's before he gets the ball. Slamming Sam has just spent a few weeks in the cooler for a spear tackle and will be ready to go.
10. Warwick will be filling in again at flyhalf as he does regularly when ROG is not available. He doesn't have a big wow factor, and is probably best as a fullback, but sometimes when Munster have these depleted teams he is worth his weight in gold.
The forwards do not compare with the normal Munster pack and Oz could have an edge in the 2nd and back row .
Ma'afu will have his hands full with 1. du Preez though; the SAffer knows what a scrum is all about. It should be a good contest between Daley and 3. Borlase, who has just finished his season with Canterbury in the ITM Cup. Varley has played for Ireland but is usually behind Fogarty and Flannery at Munster if everybody is fit.
The 2nd row will not be stellar with Ryan, DOC and MOD not available and Ireland skipper POC crocked for the last 6 months. In the backrow 6. O'Mahony is the Ireland U20 captain but is not seasoned obviously, 7.Ronan is a good player as is 8. Couglan, but he is no Leamy.
I see that old stager Quinlan is bracketed on the bench. He will have a finess test before the game to assess him. It will be a pity if he doesn't play as he could teach the Oz blokes a few tricks. What he does on the wrong side of rucks makes McCaw and even So'oialo look like babes in the woods. His referee management, though not the captain, is priceless.
Oz have a good chance but if Warwick can launch the likes of Murphy, Howlett and Earls, watch out Oz.
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
Not to many boring moments in that game.
Thomond78
Colin Windon (37)
Lee, couple of notes; first off, Johne Murphy has played most of the Munster games this season. He's played 12, 13, 14 and 15, but was 12 against Toulon, where he did dandy. He and Hurley - who has also played both HEC games - will work around each other at 15.
Varley is now, unquestionably, ahead of Fogarty, as is Sherry. Sherry's worth a good look, if he keeps coming the way he has been.
I reckon Murray is better than Williams as a scrum-half, and it'll be interesting to watch.
O'Mahony is a good prospect at 7; if he comes through this well, expect to see a lot more of him, leap-frogging Ronan. Ditto Nagle, who had a superb game against Ulster. Holland is a 4/6, so it'll be interesting there, too.
Varley is now, unquestionably, ahead of Fogarty, as is Sherry. Sherry's worth a good look, if he keeps coming the way he has been.
I reckon Murray is better than Williams as a scrum-half, and it'll be interesting to watch.
O'Mahony is a good prospect at 7; if he comes through this well, expect to see a lot more of him, leap-frogging Ronan. Ditto Nagle, who had a superb game against Ulster. Holland is a 4/6, so it'll be interesting there, too.
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
Thanks for that. On Murphy I had a senior moment perhaps and was thinking of Barry Murphy.
I haven't seen Munster since the Ulster game when they had a lot of players out and were not impressive. How often have they played since and how has the depleted team gone in those matches? Would those games and the Ulster match be a good guide as to how well they will go against Oz?
I haven't seen Munster since the Ulster game when they had a lot of players out and were not impressive. How often have they played since and how has the depleted team gone in those matches? Would those games and the Ulster match be a good guide as to how well they will go against Oz?
Thomond78
Colin Windon (37)
Haven't played since then, but that Ulster game, against a pretty-much full-strength Ulster team in utterly vile conditions in Ravinghell, shouldn't be underestimated. It's a game you'd normally expect us to lose; and Ulster knew it. Ruan Pienaar was not a happy boy up against The Greatest Cunning Midget Since Asterix, and Nagle did damn well.
Plus, things are ticking over; we'll have guys back for the HEC, and people want to put their hands up now for those fights for places.
It's freezing here at the moment, but dry and sunny, btw.
Plus, things are ticking over; we'll have guys back for the HEC, and people want to put their hands up now for those fights for places.
It's freezing here at the moment, but dry and sunny, btw.
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
It was nasty weather wasn't it? One could almost see Ruan Pienaar "rueing" his decision to play for a team based in such a place as he wasn't a happy camper. The score flattered Munster since Ulster was going for a win with madcap play on the bell and suffered an intercept try and lost a losing bonus point for their troubles.
But as you said: it was a game that Munster would have lost in the past with many of their 1st and 2nd stringers out. The commentator mentioned that they had only 16 contracted players left at the club with all the injuries they had, a couple of suspensions and 9 with the Ireland squad. It was a grand effort in that context and just goes to show that a Munster team should not be judged as I judged them - on how many are not regular starters.
It will be strange to be going for the opponents of Munster for a change and I hope that the game reaches somewhere near the level of the All Black match a couple of years ago. It's a pity for our lads that it will be played in the damper and colder evening but being a mid-week game the crowds will probably be bigger after working hours; so it makes sense.
But as you said: it was a game that Munster would have lost in the past with many of their 1st and 2nd stringers out. The commentator mentioned that they had only 16 contracted players left at the club with all the injuries they had, a couple of suspensions and 9 with the Ireland squad. It was a grand effort in that context and just goes to show that a Munster team should not be judged as I judged them - on how many are not regular starters.
It will be strange to be going for the opponents of Munster for a change and I hope that the game reaches somewhere near the level of the All Black match a couple of years ago. It's a pity for our lads that it will be played in the damper and colder evening but being a mid-week game the crowds will probably be bigger after working hours; so it makes sense.
J
James Neil
Guest
The game is on Setanta Sports in Australia. Tomorrow, 7:00am. GO THE WALLABIES!
Bullrush
Geoff Shaw (53)
WTF?!?! I can't understand how Foxtel can't have all the Wallaby games.
(Not to mention the AB vs England game).
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
Woo hoo - it wasn't on the schedule earlier; so thanks for mentioning it.
PS - welcome aboard.
I am not flogging subscriptions for Setanta but as I have mentioned when I signed up it can be well worth it and you can do it in 5 minutes if you already get Foxtel. It has the Magners League, Avira Premiership and Heineken Cup on it (just check with them as I have a few senior moments, and I have Eurosport and ESPN also.)
It also has the Oz game v. Munster of course and it had the Eng v NZ game on it so it's probably the only way to watch the Eng v Boks game live in Oz.
IIRR I pay $19 a month on the "monthly" plan but you have to pay two months for the 1st month. There are cheaper ways to pay longer term but ask them about that. I don't know how long you have to stay in on the monthly programme, which I forgot to ask about, tragic that I am; so if you call them let the forum know. I suspect that you can pull out at any time paying monthly and I will probably pull out eventually as I don't suspect that their summer programme would be of great interest to me.
Again, I have no interest in flogging Setanta except to express my pleasure that I did so. Mind you, being retired I have the time to watch all the games, though it sometimes takes me a while to watch them all.
If anybody is interested in other means of watching the game please send me a PM - I will be back later this arvo.
en_force_er
Geoff Shaw (53)
It's somewhat beyond me that Foxtel randomly screened Springboks V Leinster last year and never did any other "tour games".
Blue
Andrew Slack (58)
Good man I just assumed it wasn't going to be on anywhere.
Who has a Setanta?
Jethro Tah
Bob Loudon (25)
Not I. It sounds like a dodgy Toyota from the 80s.
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
Rudolf.
On the weather front - it's fucking freezing, it's damp, and apparently due to turn into real last-game-of-the-HEC-pool-must-win-game-in-January conditions. Ask LG to translate.
We're f**ked. Our lads will be like strangers in a strange land.
But they had a taste of cold damp conditions in Leicester last week and would have been training in the conditions; so who knows? The Brumbies lads train and play in a similar environment sometimes - if they can remember that far back.
I hope they have been practising mauling and maul defence, counter rucking and countering counter-rucking, box kicks and a bit of good old fashioned 2009 ping pong rugby. :lmao: Tactical kicking and kicking for tries will be on and I am glad again that Barnes will be at the helm.
The rugby should be very narrow but if it does get dished out wide cold hands may cause a few bad passes and clumsy catching of them.
The Munster lads are brought up on playing this kind of rugby in this kind of weather for about 2 months of the year and sometimes longer; so tackle and bash lads - tackle and bash.
Thomond78
Colin Windon (37)
And the wind is now backing around southerly fast - but not getting any warmer. And rising. In other words - INCOMING! It's a four-jumper night in the offing, gentlemen, and it's going to be wet.
Latest rainfall radar pic:
And forecast of full-on gales, with gusts up to 110 km/h.
About the only Aussies who'll be comfortable with it are Warwick and Daddy Jim. Daddy's back! We missed you, Daddy! Don't leave us with the beardy man again, Daddy, he doesn't like mauls! Tell us about mauls again, Daddy, Uncle Axel tells us stories about mauls and we want more!
Latest rainfall radar pic:
And forecast of full-on gales, with gusts up to 110 km/h.
About the only Aussies who'll be comfortable with it are Warwick and Daddy Jim. Daddy's back! We missed you, Daddy! Don't leave us with the beardy man again, Daddy, he doesn't like mauls! Tell us about mauls again, Daddy, Uncle Axel tells us stories about mauls and we want more!
- Status