Munster v Leinster St Stephen's Day 5.30 Sky/TG4

[LeRouxIsPHat]

If a kicking game doesn't work it's not always the fault of those doing the kicking. Whilst we mixed the good with the bad in terms of kicking, the chase was equally mixed

Don't disagree but thought we had them out wide and struggled to get the ball back off them once they had it so don't know why we didn't look to hang onto it.

[curates_egg]

If a kicking game doesn't work it's not always the fault of those doing the kicking. Whilst we mixed the good with the bad in terms of kicking, the chase was equally mixed

That is 100% true. But some of the kicking was so atrociously bad there was no way to chase it: low and into the stomachs of the defending back three. It looked like Byrne was trying to channel ROG with low angled kicks to pin them back. It worked the very first time he tried it and it didn't again.
I don't want to pick on him: he's shown lots over the past month for us to be confident about but he will need to quickly learn from this. If he is starting or significantly involved against Montpellier, which I would say is on the high end of the probability spectrum unless he also succumbs to our outhalf injury curse, he will not be getting the type of ball he was against Northampton, so needs to know how to use it better.

[Xanthippe]

Powder puff pack. Inept scrum half. Poor tactics executed poorly.

End of summary.

Powder puff pack? We had 7 internationals in our pack - since when do we disrespect our own players like that? It's bad enough to see claims like that in the papers and to hear Munster suppirters saying it but surely we have more respect for our team than that?

Jaysis, Xan. Not much point in a forum if it's just rah-rah-rah, bum-te-diddly-tum all the time, surely?

The pack got manhandled through a combination of personnel available, our intensity and Munster being that good.

JGP is adapting to NH rugby, which is a big change for ascrummie I'd say. It almost looked like he was forcing himself to play a style that doesn't suit him. The results weren't great. We needed to just go at Munster instead of tiptoe around them like we did with box kicks, garryowens and one-outs. When Reid came on, things picked up but it was too late.

We were poor and under powered up front. I don't see any other way of summarising it...

Ah Jez, I'm not expecting us to be an unquestioning raa-raa club all the time but most people here (and on twitter) were happy enough with the chosen pack when team was announced but now we've been tonked by the auld enemy some seem to be happy to write off our lads as a 'B' team.

[ronk]

Powder puff pack? We had 7 internationals in our pack - since when do we disrespect our own players like that? It's bad enough to see claims like that in the papers and to hear Munster suppirters saying it but surely we have more respect for our team than that?

Jaysis, Xan. Not much point in a forum if it's just rah-rah-rah, bum-te-diddly-tum all the time, surely?

The pack got manhandled through a combination of personnel available, our intensity and Munster being that good.

JGP is adapting to NH rugby, which is a big change for ascrummie I'd say. It almost looked like he was forcing himself to play a style that doesn't suit him. The results weren't great. We needed to just go at Munster instead of tiptoe around them like we did with box kicks, garryowens and one-outs. When Reid came on, things picked up but it was too late.

We were poor and under powered up front. I don't see any other way of summarising it...

Ah Jez, I'm not expecting us to be an unquestioning raa-raa club all the time but most people here (and on twitter) were happy enough with the chosen pack when team was announced but now we've been tonked by the auld enemy some seem to be happy to write off our lads as a 'B' team.

It was a good pack. Tackled and carried well and won some good turnovers. Well beaten in a few mauls and started to fade a bit during that early 20 minutes in the 2nd half where we kicked possession away very badly, knocked on as soon as we got the ball or conceded penalties. They did a great job of shutting down Stander.

Their pack was better in the day

[All Blacks nil]

A lot of people banging on about the strength of Munster's selection and how it will be unfair if their internationals be rested for Connacht.
As flagged earlier in the thread there will be 12-14 changes for the Connacht match. Why impose 2x 6 day turnarounds before the Racing game. Munster picked their strongest available team against Leinster and will rest their 1st string in Galway. The way the fixtures fell dictated this with the refixed Racing match being the pivotal game.
Some here would like Munster to play 5 games back to back with 2x 6 day turnarounds so as to suit Leinster.
That was never going to happen.
Get over it

[All Blacks nil]

Any Leinster view on Rhys Ruddocks display v Munster.
Numbers didn't look to impressive.
6 carries for no gain
11 tackles was on the low side when his back row colleagues racked 18 and 22 each, his starting hooker 17 in 63 mins, the starting second rows 15 and 16 apiece. Two pens and one turnover conceded.
Completely overshadowed by all those around him especially his back row colleagues Conan and Leavy
Has his spell in the second row affected his play in the back row?

[Oldschoolsocks]

A lot of people banging on about the strength of Munster's selection and how it will be unfair if their internationals be rested for Connacht.
As flagged earlier in the thread there will be 12-14 changes for the Connacht match. Why impose 2x 6 day turnarounds before the Racing game. Munster picked their strongest available team against Leinster and will rest their 1st string in Galway. The way the fixtures fell dictated this with the refixed Racing match being the pivotal game.
Some here would like Munster to play 5 games back to back with 2x 6 day turnarounds so as to suit Leinster.
That was never going to happen.
Get over it

I'm aware you might be from a more sparsely populated area than the capital, but two or three people never qualify as "a lot".

Over egging the pudding as ever NZ0


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[All Blacks nil]

Mea cupla although I do count 4 with DonnyB in particular needing counselling.

[carlow man]

Any Leinster view on Rhys Ruddocks display v Munster.
Numbers didn't look to impressive.
6 carries for no gain
11 tackles was on the low side when his back row colleagues racked 18 and 22 each, his starting hooker 17 in 63 mins, the starting second rows 15 and 16 apiece. Two pens and one turnover conceded.
Completely overshadowed by all those around him especially his back row colleagues Conan and Leavy
Has his spell in the second row affected his play in the back row?

Ruddock has been out of form for a couple of seasons which is down to injuries more than anything. He doesn't seem to be able to use his size to dominate the opposition anymore though which is a worry. Game passed him by on Saturday imo. Other back rowers have overtaken him I think. Shame as he is a talented player.

[Oldschoolsocks]

Mea cupla although I do count 4 with DonnyB in particular needing counselling.

The fact that you bothered to count is slightly worrying, it's almost as if you have a bit of a persecution complex?


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[Oldschool]

A lot of people banging on about the strength of Munster's selection and how it will be unfair if their internationals be rested for Connacht.
As flagged earlier in the thread there will be 12-14 changes for the Connacht match. Why impose 2x 6 day turnarounds before the Racing game. Munster picked their strongest available team against Leinster and will rest their 1st string in Galway. The way the fixtures fell dictated this with the refixed Racing match being the pivotal game.
Some here would like Munster to play 5 games back to back with 2x 6 day turnarounds so as to suit Leinster.
That was never going to happen.
Get over it

In terms of Munster's schedule over the next few weeks you are spot on.
Munster; selection wise, did what they control (and got it right)
Leinster's selection "difficulties" are not Munster's problem.
Given some of our big games coming up, it's maybe not the worst thing to have some of our issues highlighted.
For example some were of the opinion that JGP was the second coming.
Both he and Luke McGrath are still very much a WIP.

[Ruckedtobits]

Any Leinster view on Rhys Ruddocks display v Munster.
Numbers didn't look to impressive.
6 carries for no gain
11 tackles was on the low side when his back row colleagues racked 18 and 22 each, his starting hooker 17 in 63 mins, the starting second rows 15 and 16 apiece. Two pens and one turnover conceded.
Completely overshadowed by all those around him especially his back row colleagues Conan and Leavy
Has his spell in the second row affected his play in the back row?

Rhys, like almost every backrow needs gametime to optimize his contribution. When a player is only getting sporadic game time and some of it out of position, his timing of tackles / carries / clearouts goes out of kilter and becomes de-powered. If he can get three games in a row (as previously siggested about this entire back-row) he will re-ignite. Rhys is also a brilliant lifter and that part of his game was subpar on Monday.

He'll be back if Joe doesn't grab him for Irish Squad as a multi-tasking back five cover.

[CiaranIrl]

Hopefully we'll meet again in Europe and get a chance to put things right. It's been too long since the last European derby.

[molloyjh]

It is clear for the world to see that Leo sent a team out that had close to no hope of getting a result.
His selection handed Munster a 5 point lead at the top of the table.

Effectively Leinster threw the match, which imo is wrong, and seriously undermines a proud fixture.

We always see squad rotation for these derbies, but Leo made far too many changes to effectively compete.

Imo it is sad that it is necessary for sports people to keep their answers so PC, but have seen the abuse rog used to get an earls got recently you can see why.

Leo was disrespectful to the fixture and the league with his squad, and Munster with his comments.

Look at the end of the day it is just a sport, and I will not lose a single minutes sleep over this, I am just giving an opinion.

Bear in mind that internationals will only be allowed play 1 game in the 2 interpros and there is a 5 day turnaround to the next game and there really was little other choice. You have to win your home games and you have to field strong teams at home. Add to that the fact that Ulster will have very few players on the player welfare programme and also have an 8 day turnaround and they'll be able to name close to a full strength squad for the game on Saturday.

Leo did what he felt he had to do based on player availability and crappy scheduling. Nothing more. All this guff about Leo being disrespectful is just nonsense. It was a crappy position for Leinster to be in. When Munster rest a load of guy for the trip to the league champions will you, Tony Ward and whoever else be saying the same of Munster?

[Laighin Break]

Well the Munster team for tomorrow's game against Connacht just reeks of disrespect.

15. Andrew Conway
14. Keith Earls
13. Francis Saili
12. Dan Goggin
11. Ronan O’Mahony
10. Ian Keatley
9. Duncan Williams
1. James Cronin
2. Rhys Marshall
3. Stephen Archer
4. Jean Kleyn
5. Dave Foley
6. Billy Holland
7. Tommy O’Donnell
8. Jack O’Donoghue
Replacements:
16. Dave Kilcoyne
17. Kevin O’Byrne
18. Thomas Du Toit
19. Robin Copeland
20. Conor Oliver
21. Te Aihe Toma
22. Rory Scannell
23. Jaco Taute

[matt]

It is clear for the world to see that Leo sent a team out that had close to no hope of getting a result.
His selection handed Munster a 5 point lead at the top of the table.

Effectively Leinster threw the match, which imo is wrong, and seriously undermines a proud fixture.

We always see squad rotation for these derbies, but Leo made far too many changes to effectively compete.

Imo it is sad that it is necessary for sports people to keep their answers so PC, but have seen the abuse rog used to get an earls got recently you can see why.

Leo was disrespectful to the fixture and the league with his squad, and Munster with his comments.

Look at the end of the day it is just a sport, and I will not lose a single minutes sleep over this, I am just giving an opinion.

Sending a mostly second string team to an away fixture to get hammered by a first strength team, just getting a consolidation try at the end? Why, that's exactly what Munster did a few months ago. Just shows how disrespectful Munster rugby is so. They started the trend!

I'm looking forward to seeing Munster's selection for the weekend. Assuming they will rest a good few players and thus be disrespecting the competition and Connacht.

No further comment necessary

[munster#1]

Well the Munster team for tomorrow's game against Connacht just reeks of disrespect.

15. Andrew Conway
14. Keith Earls
13. Francis Saili
12. Dan Goggin
11. Ronan O’Mahony
10. Ian Keatley
9. Duncan Williams
1. James Cronin
2. Rhys Marshall
3. Stephen Archer
4. Jean Kleyn
5. Dave Foley
6. Billy Holland
7. Tommy O’Donnell
8. Jack O’Donoghue
Replacements:
16. Dave Kilcoyne
17. Kevin O’Byrne
18. Thomas Du Toit
19. Robin Copeland
20. Conor Oliver
21. Te Aihe Toma
22. Rory Scannell
23. Jaco Taute

If it were a European match tomorrow, 17 of that 23 would be in the match day squad. Hardly comparing like with like.

[bails]

*** Edited by mod ***

[munster#1]

*** Edited by mod ***

And there my friends is what many believe is what a real Leinster fan is like.

Munster also have fans like this, so don't try claim ownership on this trait.

[molloyjh]

*** Edited by mod ***

And there my friends is what many believe is what a real Leinster fan is like.

Munster also have fans like this, so don't try claim ownership on this trait.

Well I'd hope most know we're not. That was utterly bang out of order from bails.