Munster 2016-2017

[paddyor]

It was a good start but the quality of the play has gone down hill.

[paddyor]

Murray really missed so far. Neither Bleyendaal or Williams having great games.

[Dexter]

Worrying for Munster. Way too one dimensional, slow ruck ball. Saracens also butchered a try.
Big improvement needed in second half.

[ronk]

13-3 to Saracens

[paddyor]

Bleyendaal having a mare.

[ronk]

This always seems to happen when Irish sides are lined up in opposite semi finals

[ronk]

16-3. Scrum penalty

[bamboozle]

Bleyendaal having a mare.

Fully agree, awful game.
Tactics are dreadful, they know how saracans play, yet have shown zero ingenuity, its awful, predictable one out carries. I thought CJ seemed to be limping in the first half, he's not having much of an impact.
Difference in quality at halfbacks is huge.

[simonokeeffe]

Poite letting Saracens be offside the entire time isnt exactly helping but both shots at goal (and dropgoal attempt) were the wrong calls at the wrong times

[paddyor]

Poite letting Saracens be offside the entire time isnt exactly helping but both shots at goal (and dropgoal attempt) were the wrong calls at the wrong times

Ah would ye stop. Their halves have been dire.

[ronk]

23-3. Keatley on fog Bleyendaal.

POM concussed.

[johng]

This always seems to happen when Irish sides are lined up in opposite semi finals

Like when Ulster played Embra in Lansdowne road in 12 and we played Clermont in bordeaux?

[simonokeeffe]

Poite letting Saracens be offside the entire time isnt exactly helping but both shots at goal (and dropgoal attempt) were the wrong calls at the wrong times

Ah would ye stop. Their halves have been dire.

that is also true
but what I said is true

[wixfjord]

Well, this is awful.

Munster completely devoid of any attacking flair or incision.
Rassie said beforehand they had a plan for Sarries, was the plan to kick the ball continiously into the air?

Almost all of Munster's 'big' players have been poor. Ryan, Stander, Kilcoyne etc.

POM, Zebo and TOD the three best performers.

The less said about Bleyendaal's performance the better.

[simonokeeffe]

I think they missed Kleyn, not to mention Murray and POM

[Dave Cahill]

Saracens 1 thru 10 individually and collectively comprehensively outplayed their opposite number. They were actually brilliant, so well coached, so well drilled - watching the scrum that led to the penalty for 3-6, it was a thing of beauty, as one they lowered, held for a beat, then drove.

[Hippo]

Very game but incredibly toothless from Munster, looked that way from early on when they couldn't score against 14.

[bamboozle]

Well, this is awful.

Munster completely devoid of any attacking flair or incision.
Rassie said beforehand they had a plan for Sarries, was the plan to kick the ball continiously into the air?

Almost all of Munster's 'big' players have been poor. Ryan, Stander, Kilcoyne etc.

POM, Zebo and TOD the three best performers.

The less said about Bleyendaal's performance the better.

I think Stander was struggling with his ankle from early on. No guile to Munster's game. The game plan to me seemed to be a mixture of box kicks and one out carries, which raises the question how do you beat Sarries?
Leinster/Clermont have stronger scrums and should expect to fair better, both have much stronger halfbacks and a lot more ingenuity to the back play, whether that's enough to beat sarries I'm not sure but at the very least they should be tested more and potentially their big forwards would be tired out by a more lateral game plan.

[wixfjord]

Well, this is awful.

Munster completely devoid of any attacking flair or incision.
Rassie said beforehand they had a plan for Sarries, was the plan to kick the ball continiously into the air?

Almost all of Munster's 'big' players have been poor. Ryan, Stander, Kilcoyne etc.

POM, Zebo and TOD the three best performers.

The less said about Bleyendaal's performance the better.

I think Stander was struggling with his ankle from early on. No guile to Munster's game. The game plan to me seemed to be a mixture of box kicks and one out carries, which raises the question how do you beat Sarries?
Leinster/Clermont have stronger scrums and should expect to fair better, both have much stronger halfbacks and a lot more ingenuity to the back play, whether that's enough to beat sarries I'm not sure but at the very least they should be tested more and potentially their big forwards would be tired out by a more lateral game plan.

One thing we have that Munster don't is fast forwards with good hands and sidesteps. TOD made a bit of hay today by being smart before contact. Stander, while not fully fit, and Kilcoyne both tried to go through the guts. That doesn't work.

We'd need big performances from the likes of VDF, Leavy, Furlong, Cronin, Conan (just like we will tomorrow ironically).

[simonokeeffe]

Well, this is awful.

Munster completely devoid of any attacking flair or incision.
Rassie said beforehand they had a plan for Sarries, was the plan to kick the ball continiously into the air?

Almost all of Munster's 'big' players have been poor. Ryan, Stander, Kilcoyne etc.

POM, Zebo and TOD the three best performers.

The less said about Bleyendaal's performance the better.

I think Stander was struggling with his ankle from early on. No guile to Munster's game. The game plan to me seemed to be a mixture of box kicks and one out carries, which raises the question how do you beat Sarries?
Leinster/Clermont have stronger scrums and should expect to fair better, both have much stronger halfbacks and a lot more ingenuity to the back play, whether that's enough to beat sarries I'm not sure but at the very least they should be tested more and potentially their big forwards would be tired out by a more lateral game plan.

Its like playing the All Blacks: you keep your foot on their kneck and dont let them concede 3 points instead of tries, you get near their line and they will infringe like crazy