Good man, I'm enjoying it also. However, I think if Munster get their A-players back and motoring they have enough to take Sarries. Fingers crossed!Cor. Ind. wrote:I'm loving the arrogance on this thread. Oh, hear ye Mocker Gods? Dave Cahill has opined between morsels of KFC chicken, spice bags and Big Macs...
Munster will be lucky if they manage to get nil on the scoreboard.
The other semi
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Re: The other semi
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Re: The other semi
I'm fairness, so did Glasgow. (Apart from Toulouse obviously). Think it says more about the opposition than the pro12 teams.Cor. Ind. wrote:
Loving your backhanded compliments. An okay team that finished 2nd seeds in the group stages, has gotten past last year's T14 champions, and 4 & 2 times HEC winners along the way.
Re: The other semi
True, but then we got past you 4 times too and Glasgae make up the bulk of a Scotland team that beat Ireland and Wales.kermischocolate wrote:I'm fairness, so did Glasgow. (Apart from Toulouse obviously). Think it says more about the opposition than the pro12 teams.Cor. Ind. wrote:
Loving your backhanded compliments. An okay team that finished 2nd seeds in the group stages, has gotten past last year's T14 champions, and 4 & 2 times HEC winners along the way.
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Re: The other semi
Even if Munster beat us in the final, I wouldn't regret hoping they beat Saracens.
Usually when an all Irish final is lined up in the semis, an all Irish final doesn't happen so it's not something I think is likely.
Usually when an all Irish final is lined up in the semis, an all Irish final doesn't happen so it's not something I think is likely.
Re: The other semi
If Munster are at full strength, I think they will win, and win well. They're a fantastic team this year. Erasmus has done a phenomenal job with them considering where they were last year. If Munster lads make sure that not too many indifferent Leinster fans get tickets, the stadium will be electric. I'm not sure how Saracens will cope with the 16th man.
The flip side of all this - if Murray, Tyler and Stander are missing, it might be a bridge too far.
The flip side of all this - if Murray, Tyler and Stander are missing, it might be a bridge too far.
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Re: The other semi
Oliver would be the form pick definitely but the 4 back row options might be a little lightweight without stander. I would imagine that DOC would be almost guaranteed to be on the bench as lock/6 cover - Kelyn and Foley gone so the only options are Deysel, DOC and O Shea - I know who I'd be going with. I'm a fan of DOCs - think he could become a Holland like figure for usTimbit wrote:
So assuming CJ is out who plays in the Munster backrow? And who benches? Deysl has a lot of fitness work to do and I think Oliver has almost done enough for the bench. Start Peter, Tommy, Jack with Deysl as lock cover and Oliver as backrow?
Not seeing that - at full strength, with the crowd, we have a good chance - winning well - don't see that at all tbh - Sarries are used to not having travelling support and are as equipped as any team to deal with - they are like us a difficult team to beatCiaranIrl wrote:If Munster are at full strength, I think they will win, and win well.
I do have an impending sense of doom about the rest of the season though - the depth of the squad is really really being tested -
Re: The other semi
If CJ is out then I think Rassie will go like for like and bring JOD in at 8. Starting DOC would mean moving POM to a position he's not played in a few seasons. Also DOC is our only real lock cover. DOS won't be in the squad. There's an argument to be made for starting an athletic DOC alongside DR, as they are a comparable combo to Itoje & Hamilton. Holland would be a good player to bring on with Deysel on 60mins.Golf Man wrote:Oliver would be the form pick definitely but the 4 back row options might be a little lightweight without stander. I would imagine that DOC would be almost guaranteed to be on the bench as lock/6 cover - Kelyn and Foley gone so the only options are Deysel, DOC and O Shea - I know who I'd be going with. I'm a fan of DOCs - think he could become a Holland like figure for usTimbit wrote:
So assuming CJ is out who plays in the Munster backrow? And who benches? Deysl has a lot of fitness work to do and I think Oliver has almost done enough for the bench. Start Peter, Tommy, Jack with Deysl as lock cover and Oliver as backrow?
Not seeing that - at full strength, with the crowd, we have a good chance - winning well - don't see that at all tbh - Sarries are used to not having travelling support and are as equipped as any team to deal with - they are like us a difficult team to beatCiaranIrl wrote:If Munster are at full strength, I think they will win, and win well.
I do have an impending sense of doom about the rest of the season though - the depth of the squad is really really being tested -
TOD really needs to put a marker down against Ulster. Oliver was excellent last week and made some crucial turnovers. That said, if CJ's out and JOD's starting, the only way Oliver makes the bench is if Rassie goes with a 6/2 split.
This game will be all about defence and not giving away penalties on the gainline. Every Munster player will need to play at a level above anything they've managed this season. Saracens were exceptional against Glasgae. Those RL screens they ran through the back line were incredibly innovative and but for a lick of paint they could have had three tries in the first 20mins.
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Re: The other semi
For sure.ronk wrote:Even if Munster beat us in the final, I wouldn't regret hoping they beat Saracens.
Usually when an all Irish final is lined up in the semis, an all Irish final doesn't happen so it's not something I think is likely.
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Re: The other semi
any idea how many tickets Sarries returned? will their contingent be stuck in the South Stand or would that be too big for them?
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Re: The other semi
My ticket is BLK 114 row T. I think that's the SS. Only ever been E or W stands. What's he view like from there?
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Re: The other semi
Depends on how far back you are tbh - if you're far enough back and elevated then its okay I guess - not so great near the front where the subs warming up can block your view of the pitch
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Re: The other semi
T is a good bit back...was in J for the Wasps game and that is fine tooCor. Ind. wrote:My ticket is BLK 114 row T. I think that's the SS. Only ever been E or W stands. What's he view like from there?
Re: The other semi
Yeah, found some pics online. T seems ok. Some of the sight lines lower down are terrible though.
I've been to the Aviva about 10 times for Ireland games now and have yet to see a memorable match...with the athmosphere or lack thereof playing a significant part. I always seem to be surrounded by disinterested event junkies who spend the entire match running back and forth to the bar and not emerging till 10mins into the 2nd half completely inebriated.
The lack of singing is also a real issue. Seeing guys shushing people trying to start up the Fields is pretty disheartening. Long gone days in ol' Lansdowne Rd when in spite of us getting hockeyed by France or England you could always rely upon a faithful rendition of Molly Malone by all & sundry.
I've been to the Aviva about 10 times for Ireland games now and have yet to see a memorable match...with the athmosphere or lack thereof playing a significant part. I always seem to be surrounded by disinterested event junkies who spend the entire match running back and forth to the bar and not emerging till 10mins into the 2nd half completely inebriated.
The lack of singing is also a real issue. Seeing guys shushing people trying to start up the Fields is pretty disheartening. Long gone days in ol' Lansdowne Rd when in spite of us getting hockeyed by France or England you could always rely upon a faithful rendition of Molly Malone by all & sundry.
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Re: The other semi
Thats the nature of the beast now. The words "event manager", "matchday experience" and "corporate hospitality" have done more than just push up the price of a ticket. On the other hand, do you remember things like the crush of the tunnels under the stand or the crush at the bar in Wanderers? apart from not winning very often, we did put up with a lot!Cor. Ind. wrote:Yeah, found some pics online. T seems ok. Some of the sight lines lower down are terrible though.
I've been to the Aviva about 10 times for Ireland games now and have yet to see a memorable match...with the athmosphere or lack thereof playing a significant part. I always seem to be surrounded by disinterested event junkies who spend the entire match running back and forth to the bar and not emerging till 10mins into the 2nd half completely inebriated.
The lack of singing is also a real issue. Seeing guys shushing people trying to start up the Fields is pretty disheartening. Long gone days in ol' Lansdowne Rd when in spite of us getting hockeyed by France or England you could always rely upon a faithful rendition of Molly Malone by all & sundry.
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Re: The other semi
Ha, don't get me wrong I'm no morbid sentimentalist. Lansdowne Rd was an ugly concrete dump, but the atmosphere once you got to your seats was great. iirc that upper terraced area in the South Stand was a death-trap as well.olaf the fat wrote:Thats the nature of the beast now. The words "event manager", "matchday experience" and "corporate hospitality" have done more than just push up the price of a ticket. On the other hand, do you remember things like the crush of the tunnels under the stand or the crush at the bar in Wanderers? apart from not winning very often, we did put up with a lot!Cor. Ind. wrote:Yeah, found some pics online. T seems ok. Some of the sight lines lower down are terrible though.
I've been to the Aviva about 10 times for Ireland games now and have yet to see a memorable match...with the athmosphere or lack thereof playing a significant part. I always seem to be surrounded by disinterested event junkies who spend the entire match running back and forth to the bar and not emerging till 10mins into the 2nd half completely inebriated.
The lack of singing is also a real issue. Seeing guys shushing people trying to start up the Fields is pretty disheartening. Long gone days in ol' Lansdowne Rd when in spite of us getting hockeyed by France or England you could always rely upon a faithful rendition of Molly Malone by all & sundry.
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Re: The other semi
Agree with this entirely.had a guy come in at 10 minutes into the second half of the wasps game and walk down to the middle of our row where i was sitting claiming I was sitting in his seat.Had just arrived.He promptly got told to Foxtrot Oscar!Cor. Ind. wrote:Yeah, found some pics online. T seems ok. Some of the sight lines lower down are terrible though.
I've been to the Aviva about 10 times for Ireland games now and have yet to see a memorable match...with the athmosphere or lack thereof playing a significant part. I always seem to be surrounded by disinterested event junkies who spend the entire match running back and forth to the bar and not emerging till 10mins into the 2nd half completely inebriated.
The lack of singing is also a real issue. Seeing guys shushing people trying to start up the Fields is pretty disheartening. Long gone days in ol' Lansdowne Rd when in spite of us getting hockeyed by France or England you could always rely upon a faithful rendition of Molly Malone by all & sundry.
Re: The other semi
Going from a stadium where the majority were standing to one where everyone is sitting was always going to have an impact on the atmosphere. The one improvement is that when the crowd does get really into it the noise levels are far louder than in the open-ended old stadium. The last few minutes of the 2013 game against NZ was deafening
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Re: The other semi
A wall of sound the like of which I have never physically felt since.cormac wrote:Going from a stadium where the majority were standing to one where everyone is sitting was always going to have an impact on the atmosphere. The one improvement is that when the crowd does get really into it the noise levels are far louder than in the open-ended old stadium. The last few minutes of the 2013 game against NZ was deafening
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Re: The other semi
I'm not a huge fan of the Aviva generally but for this game I don't think you need to worry if the crowd are even half of what they were in 06. I came out of that with my ears ringing like a concert.Cor. Ind. wrote:Yeah, found some pics online. T seems ok. Some of the sight lines lower down are terrible though.
I've been to the Aviva about 10 times for Ireland games now and have yet to see a memorable match...with the athmosphere or lack thereof playing a significant part. I always seem to be surrounded by disinterested event junkies who spend the entire match running back and forth to the bar and not emerging till 10mins into the 2nd half completely inebriated.
The lack of singing is also a real issue. Seeing guys shushing people trying to start up the Fields is pretty disheartening. Long gone days in ol' Lansdowne Rd when in spite of us getting hockeyed by France or England you could always rely upon a faithful rendition of Molly Malone by all & sundry.
If the crowd are at all up for it, nobody in the Sarries team will have encountered it before. I think that could be a critical factor if its anyway close.
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Re: The other semi
Ah theyve mostly played enough international rugby IMOThe Doc wrote:I'm not a huge fan of the Aviva generally but for this game I don't think you need to worry if the crowd are even half of what they were in 06. I came out of that with my ears ringing like a concert.Cor. Ind. wrote:Yeah, found some pics online. T seems ok. Some of the sight lines lower down are terrible though.
I've been to the Aviva about 10 times for Ireland games now and have yet to see a memorable match...with the athmosphere or lack thereof playing a significant part. I always seem to be surrounded by disinterested event junkies who spend the entire match running back and forth to the bar and not emerging till 10mins into the 2nd half completely inebriated.
The lack of singing is also a real issue. Seeing guys shushing people trying to start up the Fields is pretty disheartening. Long gone days in ol' Lansdowne Rd when in spite of us getting hockeyed by France or England you could always rely upon a faithful rendition of Molly Malone by all & sundry.
If the crowd are at all up for it, nobody in the Sarries team will have encountered it before. I think that could be a critical factor if its anyway close.
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