Clermont vs Munster buildup thread **read post one

thomond2006

Lelantos wrote: »

Even a broken clock is right twice a day

touché!

thomond2006

Worth a read for those with French: http://www.rugbyrama.fr/pierre-villepreux_blog105/pierre-villepreux_post1050690/blogpostfull.shtml

thomond2006

Vosloo has also been ruled out, a potential backrow now is Bonnaire, Lapandry and Chouly. Vosloo is an excellent player, Lapandry is more of a traditional openside IIRC.

vienne86

Clermont by 1-10

Best of luck, Munster. Really rooting for ye....we were considered really up against it in Bordeaux last year and look what happened - we're tearing home from the RDS to scream at telly. G'wan Munster!

totallegend

Clermont by 1-10

Vosloo is a big loss, Lapandry is excellent but doesn't have the same physicality.

Buer

thomond2006 wrote: »

Vosloo has also been ruled out, a potential backrow now is Bonnaire, Lapandry and Chouly. Vosloo is an excellent player, Lapandry is more of a traditional openside IIRC.

I'm not sure if people realise what a massive boost that is. Vosloo is someone like Jennings. When he performs, Clermont perform. Vosloo is a more powerful and canny operator than Lapandry who is a more willowy type; he's a good line out option but a little light and I don't think he's suited to the all out madness that this game will be in the trenches whilst Vosloo would relish it.

With Chouly having been carrying a knock all week their back row is looking a lot less dominant all of a sudden.

.ak

Vosloo out is massive. The ASM fans I've talked to reckon he's their SOB actually. When Clermont were stuttering in the first few against Montpellier in the Q4 he grabbed the game by the scruff and literally turned it upside down and shook it like a bully would fishing for loose change of his victim.

I had a dream last night that Munster would win. If they do, you can all buy me a pint.

Otacon

.ak wrote: »

I had a dream last night that Munster would win. If they do, you can all buy me a pint.

F*ck the pint. You can have a nice bottle of 12 year old Glenfiddich on me if Munster win!

Lelantos

Keith Earls is fit & expected to start.

.ak

The balance is tipping in Munster's favour...

.ak

P.S I'm obviously clairvoyant.

Otacon

To get the juices flowing...

Buer

Lelantos wrote: »

Keith Earls is fit & expected to start.

Interesting. Earls has often struggled against big, physical wingers in the past. With his lack of game time, I genuinely wonder if it's the right call as he cannot be match fit. He's a great winger but Nalaga/Sivivatu would have no qualms about running right down his throat. Malzieu had great success with it previously so it won't be an untested tactic for them.

Sabre0001

Munster Rugby ‏@Munsterrugby 12m
MunXV:Jones; Earls,Laulala,Downey, Zebo;ROG, Murray;Kilcoyne,Sherry,Botha;D Ryan,POC capt; O’Mahony,O’Donnell, Coughlan.#MarchToMontpellier

Munster Rugby ‏@Munsterrugby 11m
Replacements: D Varley, W du Preez, J Ryan, B Holland, P Butler, C Sheridan, I Keatley, D Hurley, J Murphy. #MarchToMontpellier

Lelantos

Sabre0001 wrote: »

Munster Rugby ‏@Munsterrugby 12m
MunXV:Jones; Earls,Laulala,Downey, Zebo;ROG, Murray;Kilcoyne,Sherry,Botha;D Ryan,POC capt; O’Mahony,O’Donnell, Coughlan.#MarchToMontpellier

Munster Rugby ‏@Munsterrugby 11m
Replacements: D Varley, W du Preez, J Ryan, B Holland, P Butler, C Sheridan, I Keatley, D Hurley, J Murphy. #MarchToMontpellier

As expected I think, now start a match thread someone!

Otacon

Sabre0001 wrote: »

Munster Rugby ‏@Munsterrugby 12m
MunXV:Jones; Earls,Laulala,Downey, Zebo;ROG, Murray;Kilcoyne,Sherry,Botha;D Ryan,POC capt; O’Mahony,O’Donnell, Coughlan.#MarchToMontpellier

Munster Rugby ‏@Munsterrugby 11m
Replacements: D Varley, W du Preez, J Ryan, B Holland, P Butler, C Sheridan, I Keatley, D Hurley, J Murphy. #MarchToMontpellier

A 24-man squad?

Anyway, a big ask if John Ryan is asked to participate in any way.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Clermont by 1-10

Otacon wrote: »

A 24-man squad?

Anyway, a big ask if John Ryan is asked to participate in any way.

Probably there is doubts about someone's fitness (possibly earls) so an extra was named.

Will this be Earls first start at 14?

Lelantos

When we win this game, will ROG be mentioned as a bolter for the Lions?

.ak

Lelantos wrote: »

When we win this game, will ROG be mentioned as a bolter for the Lions?

Let me sleep on it.

Grimebox

Clermont by 1-10

Probably the last chance I'll be on here till kick-off. Best of luck lads, I'll be rooting for ya

thomond2006

Munster:
F Jones; K Earls, C Laulala, J Downey, S Zebo; R O’Gara, C Murray;
D Kilcoyne, M Sherry, BJ Botha; D Ryan, P O’Connell capt; P O’Mahony, T O’Donnell, J Coughlan.

Replacements: D Varley, W du Preez, J Ryan, B Holland, P Butler, C Sheridan, I Keatley, D Hurley.

with DOCII and Johne Murphy travelling as cover.

Great to see Earls back!

.ak

Good team, weak bench, Munster must win it within the first 60 or else....

jamiedav2011

Clermont team from: http://www.asm-rugby.com/130426-composition-asm.html

1.Domingo, 2.Kayser, 3.Zirakashvili , 4.Cudmore, 5.Hines, 6.Bonnaire ©, 7.Bardy, 8.Chouly, 9.Parra, 10.James, 11.Nalaga, 12.Fofana, 13.King, 14.Sivivatu, 15.Byrne. Substitutes: 16.Paulo, 17.Debaty, 18.Ric, 19.Pierre, 20.Lapandry, 21.Radosavljevic, 22.Buttin, 23.Nakaitaci or thomas.

No Rougerie, King in for him.

Few injuries for them aswell, though still a strong 22.

Bardy is a big tough, physical fcuker so won't take too much away, but Vosloo is a loss.

thomond2006

Lelantos wrote: »

As expected I think, now start a match thread someone!

Just writing one now, should be done by 1pm.

totallegend

Clermont by 1-10

jamiedav2011 wrote: »

1.Domingo, 2.Kayser, 3.Zirakashvili , 4.Cudmore, 5.Hines, 6.Bonnaire ©, 7.Bardy, 8.Chouly, 9.Parra, 10.James, 11.Nalaga, 12.Fofana, 13.King, 14.Sivivatu, 15.Byrne. Substitutes: 16.Paulo, 17.Debaty, 18.Ric, 19.Pierre, 20.Lapandry, 21.Radosavljevic, 22.Buttin, 23.Nakaitaci or thomas Skrela.

FYP there.

Bardy's propensity to give away penalties might be exploited by Munster.

jamiedav2011

Strikes me that that Clermont team is slightly lacking that unquantifiable term 'leadership'?

Only Hines and Bonnaire I would particularly class as leaders, and particularly in the backs, where Parra can be flaky and James too, Rougerie is a big loss.

King is experienced, and will need to step up.

Has he played much for them this season does anyone know?

jamiedav2011

totallegend wrote: »

FYP there.

Bardy's propensity to give away penalties might be exploited by Munster.

Ah, was wondering who Thomas was! Good old Google translate strikes again!

.ak

Bonnaire is the cornerstone to that team. If he plays well, the rest will follow. Can't remember who the nominated European players of the year are, but if Bonnaire is on the short list I'd be nominating him.

Larbre34

Munster by more than 10

jamiedav2011 wrote: »

Strikes me that that Clermont team is slightly lacking that unquantifiable term 'leadership'?

Only Hines and Bonnaire I would particularly class as leaders, and particularly in the backs, where Parra can be flaky and James too, Rougerie is a big loss.

King is experienced, and will need to step up.

Has he played much for them this season does anyone know?

This has got very interesting. I think Munster are a more balanced XV than ASM, if the totems play well and dont let the likes of Bonnaire and James into the game then it could be a momentum thing. Cudmore and Hines will probably get themselves in trouble at some point, Im expecting a hugely physical game from Downey, he loves a good battle royal

I hate to admit it but Im dying to flee the RDS tomorrow (with the result in the bag) and get a good perch for this one. Fascinating.

molloyjh

Munster by 1-10

Larbre34 wrote: »

This has got very interesting. I think Munster are a more balanced XV than ASM, if the totems play well and dont let the likes of Bonnaire and James into the game then it could be a momentum thing. Cudmore and Hines will probably get themselves in trouble at some point, Im expecting a hugely physical game from Downey, he loves a good battle royal

I hate to admit it but Im dying to flee the RDS tomorrow (with the result in the bag) and get a good perch for this one. Fascinating.

I don't know. Looking at those line-ups I think Clermont have the edge pretty much everywhere except the second row. And they most certainly have the edge on the bench. The difference in the second rows isn't huge either. I can't see Munster dominating the line-out like they did against Quins. What platform is going to get them the scores?

Larbre34

Munster by more than 10

molloyjh wrote: »

I don't know. Looking at those line-ups I think Clermont have the edge pretty much everywhere except the second row. And they most certainly have the edge on the bench. The difference in the second rows isn't huge either. I can't see Munster dominating the line-out like they did against Quins. What platform is going to get them the scores?

Agree with all that certainly, I even think Clermont have the edge in 9 out of the 15 positions, theres just something about the balance of Munster on paper that I like, less disturbance to their natural shape perhaps.

Platform wise I dont think they will boss the scrums, I think they will get 50/50 on the lineouts, I think O'Gara and Murray have it in them to pin them back in ways they are not used to and give them good positions to phase cleverly in the Clermont half, and to make the most of indiscipline by Clermont. However I think Munster could give them a huge shock in the dark arts at the ruck. Beyond that a titanic defence and a bit of good luck! Wouldnt be the first time..........

.ak

Match day thread here.