The other semi

[domhnallj]

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.

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!

[kermischocolate]

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.

I'm fairness, so did Glasgow. (Apart from Toulouse obviously). Think it says more about the opposition than the pro12 teams.

[Cor. Ind.]

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.

I'm fairness, so did Glasgow. (Apart from Toulouse obviously). Think it says more about the opposition than the pro12 teams.

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.

[ronk]

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.

[CiaranIrl]

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.

[Golf Man]

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?

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 us

If Munster are at full strength, I think they will win, and win well.

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 beat

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 -

[Cor. Ind.]

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?

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 us

If Munster are at full strength, I think they will win, and win well.

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 beat

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 -

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.

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.

[olaf the fat]

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.

For sure.

[simonokeeffe]

any idea how many tickets Sarries returned? will their contingent be stuck in the South Stand or would that be too big for them?

[Cor. Ind.]

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?

[Dave Cahill]

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

[Leoslovechild]

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?

T is a good bit back...was in J for the Wasps game and that is fine too

[Cor. Ind.]

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.

[olaf the fat]

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.

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.]

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.

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!

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.

[Leoslovechild]

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.

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!

[cormac]

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

[Peg Leg]

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

A wall of sound the like of which I have never physically felt since.
I felt like the lollipop lads on the USS Nimitz at the start of top gun.

[The Doc]

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'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.

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.


Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

[simonokeeffe]

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'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.

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.

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

Ah theyve mostly played enough international rugby IMO

Poite refereeing it will add to the noise though!