Toulon vs Munster buildup/ticket discussion

Riskymove

Molester Stallone wrote: »

Celebrating with the girlfriend so?

The sheep are very worried

thomond2006

Ah yeah I'll just ignore the above!

Toulon's 23 man squad for the trip to Barcelona to play Perpignan. This could be a must win match for USAP if they want to stay up, as their final match is away to Clermont! Toulon are competing with Montpellier and Clermont for two direct semi-final spots.

Les avants (13) :
Steffon ARMITAGE– Virgile BRUNI – Levan CHILACHAVA – Xavier CHIOCCI - Juan Martin FERNANDEZ LOBBE - Pierrick GUNTHER - Carl HAYMAN – Alexandre MENINI – Benjamin NOIROT - Konstantin MIKAUTADZE - Jean-Charles ORIOLI – Jocelino SUTA – Joe VAN NIEKERK.

Les arrières (10) :
Delon ARMITAGE – Mathieu BASTAREAUD - Michael CLAASSENS - Matt GITEAU – Bryan HABANA - Frédéric MICHALAK - Drew MITCHELL - Maxime MERMOZ – David SMITH - Sébastien TILLOUS-BORDE.

Burden, Fresia, Castrogiovanni, Bakkies, Williams, Rossouw, Juan Smith, Wilkinson and Wulf are absent.

Rightwing

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Been reading some stuff from over yonder. They are delighted to be in red and many supporters have been buying tickets through ticketmaster.ie

I think that's an advantage.

They are also probably buying tickets from Munster.

.ak

Rightwing wrote: »

I think that's an advantage.

They are also probably buying tickets from Munster.

Really?

former legend

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Been reading some stuff from over yonder. They are delighted to be in red and many supporters have been buying tickets through ticketmaster.ie

It will be interesting to see if Ticketmaster actually cancel tickets bought with a French address (as they said they would); one suspects not.

Rightwing

.ak wrote: »

Really?

Absolutely. The stadium will be full of red. No need to ask any Munster person which colour they'd prefer.

.ak

Rightwing wrote: »

Absolutely. The stadium will be full of red. No need to ask any Munster person which colour they'd prefer.

What's the supporters got to do with it? It's not like the Munster supporters are going to turn up in Navy just because the team jersey is navy on the day.

Riskymove

.ak wrote: »

What's the supporters got to do with it? It's not like the Munster supporters are going to turn up in Navy just because the team jersey is navy on the day.

I think the idea is that as the stadium is full of red there is no negative effect on the players like there would be if there was very little

Rightwing

.ak wrote: »

What's the supporters got to do with it? It's not like the Munster supporters are going to turn up in Navy just because the team jersey is navy on the day.

Many will.

Teams always prefer to play in their home colours. There's a reason for it.

former legend

thomond2006 wrote: »

Burden, Fresia, Castrogiovanni, Bakkies, Williams, Rossouw, Juan Smith, Wilkinson and Wulf are absent.

The absence of Botha this weekend is massive for Munster; he'll either be missing the Munster game or be very short on match practice when it comes around. I presume Williams has no chance of playing.

.ak

Rightwing wrote: »

Many will.

Teams always prefer to play in their home colours. There's a reason for it.

What reason?

.ak

Riskymove wrote: »

I think the idea is that as the stadium is full of red there is no negative effect on the players like there would be if there was very little

Right. So Munster will see a sea of red, without knowing who's who's fans. Don't see how it'd make a difference that Munster have to wear their away strip.

Riskymove

.ak wrote: »

Don't see how it'd make a difference that Munster have to wear their away strip.

I don't either other than any general idea of just familiarity

Munster won a HEC in their away gear

Micky Dolenz

former legend wrote: »

It will be interesting to see if Ticketmaster actually cancel tickets bought with a French address (as they said they would); one suspects not.

Money talks. All is fair in love, war and rugby, I suppose.

Rightwing

.ak wrote: »

What reason?

Support.

.ak

Rightwing wrote: »

Support.

What does that even mean?

How will wearing navy effect the Munster team? Both sets of fans will be wearing red so what does it matter?

Micky Dolenz

.ak wrote: »

What does that even mean?

How will wearing navy effect the Munster team? Both sets of fans will be wearing red so what does it matter?

Navy clashes with POC's eyes.

Riskymove

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Money talks. All is fair in love, war and rugby, I suppose.

it didn't accept french addresses..perhaps they got people elsewhere to buy them

I also know someone in Brussels who went to buy and would be charged €22 to DHL it - post not available

thomond2006

former legend wrote: »

The absence of Botha this weekend is massive for Munster; he'll either be missing the Munster game or be very short on match practice when it comes around. I presume Williams has no chance of playing.

The fact that Rossouw has been rested this weekend says a lot. They are keeping him fresh for Munster. While Bakkies being out is a blow Rossouw has really stepped up to the plate, he was immense against Leinster. He turns 36 in the summer but it wouldn't surprise me if another club wanted him around a la Hines going to Sale Sharks.

Rightwing

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Navy clashes with POC's eyes.

I'm afraid it will this time. I see Toulon @ -8 as a great bet.

thomond2006

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Navy clashes with POC's eyes.

Fair play to him for getting through the '08 final!

Micky Dolenz

thomond2006 wrote: »

Fair play to him for getting through the '08 final!

rumour has it, contacts will be worn again

Cookiemunster

Wayne Barnes confirmed as the ref.

.ak

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Wayne Barnes confirmed as the ref.

Tough break. Although really he didn't effect the Leinster game much, but you'd always rather Owens.

Cookiemunster

.ak wrote: »

Tough break. Although really he didn't effect the Leinster game much, but you'd always rather Owens.

Not a fan of Barnes, but I think Munster are used to him at this stage and at least it isn't Doyle. Owens is doing to other semi.

Rightwing

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Not a fan of Barnes, but I think Munster are used to him at this stage and at least it isn't Doyle. Owens is doing to other semi.

Happy with Barnes, he certainly didn't do leinster any damage.

Micky Dolenz

With every passing day my hope decreases.

Riskymove

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CatFromHue

Not sure I'll ever get the infatuation with refs, most are fine and certainly Barnes is.

It's the same ref for both teams

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDQSF1vUKS4

Rightwing

CatFromHue wrote: »

Not sure I'll ever get the infatuation with refs, most are fine and certainly Barnes is.

It's the same ref for both teams

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDQSF1vUKS4

Some refs are complete homers though.

Grimebox

Which refs are homers?

Rightwing

Grimebox wrote: »

Which refs are homers?

Owens is a great ref to have at home.

pickarooney

How much are you paying for your seats and where are you sitting?

thomond2006

It's very interesting to see Habana not featuring.

thomond2006

That team above put Perpignan to the sword and could have scored two or three more tries.

Habana had a slight knock and wasn't risked, Laporte said if the match was a final he would played. So it looks like he'll be available for Sunday.

http://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/coupe-d-europe/2013-2014/h-cup-toulon-bryan-habana-devrait-etre-operationnel-contre-le-munster_sto4220217/story.shtml

dtpc191991

Grimebox wrote: »

Which refs are homers?

Joubert I believe. After the England game this year (think he reffed it can't remember for sure) but whoever the ref was when he officiates the home team wins 80% of the time.

CatFromHue

dtpc191991 wrote: »

Joubert I believe. After the England game this year (think he reffed it can't remember for sure) but whoever the ref was when he officiates the home team wins 80% of the time.

I remember that stat coming out all right.

When it was looked into though the home team for games he reffed were usually massive favourites as it was Ire v Ita or Eng v Scot and games like that.

Rightwing

CatFromHue wrote: »

I remember that stat coming out all right.

When it was looked into though the home team for games he reffed were usually massive favourites as it was Ire v Ita or Eng v Scot and games like that.

But in a way that's a misleading stat, home advantage is just huge in rugby. I would say probably 80% of home teams win. That's roughly the q/f success rate of home teams in the H cup.

thomond2006

The lineout is their weakness, it was mentioned during the Perpignan match that Toulon has one of the worst lineouts in France. Leinster couldn't really take advantage of it as their own lineout went to pieces. Craig Burden was outstanding against Leinster in open play but his throwing is suspect. If POC can produce a Harlequins-like performance then Munster could dominate. Toulon's Virgile Bruni is one of their best lineout options (think he is one of the top opposition lineout poachers in the Top14) but he'll probably only make the bench with a Smith-Armitage-Lobbe starting trio.

The lineout was poor against Connacht, would Penney be tempted to start Duncan Casey in a match like this? His darts are savage.

Mahatma Geansai

thomond2006 wrote: »

The lineout is their weakness, it was mentioned during the Perpignan match that Toulon has one of the worst lineouts in France. Leinster couldn't really take advantage of it as their own lineout went to pieces. Craig Burden was outstanding against Leinster in open play but his throwing is suspect. If POC can produce a Harlequins-like performance then Munster could dominate. Toulon's Virgile Bruni is one of their best lineout options (think he is one of the top opposition lineout poachers in the Top14) but he'll probably only make the bench with a Smith-Armitage-Lobbe starting trio.

The lineout was poor against Connacht, would Penney be tempted to start Duncan Casey in a match like this? His darts are savage.

POM is a huge loss in the lineout, and it leaves us without any great options in the backrow. Couple that to Ryan looking likely to be missing, and it really has to be the POC show.

RoundBox11

thomond2006 wrote: »

It's very interesting to see Habana not featuring.

Can anyone explain why Armitage is playing at 8 with Lobbe on the flank? I would've thought they'd be better the opposite way.
Armitage was fantastic as an openside but hes a but short for an 8 no?

thomond2006

RoundBox11 wrote: »

Can anyone explain why Armitage is playing at 8 with Lobbe on the flank? I would've thought they'd be better the opposite way.
Armitage was fantastic as an openside but hes a but short for an 8 no?

Chris Masoe is injured and Armitage moving to 8 allows Juan Smith to start at 6. Last year Armitage wasn't a regular starter.

phog

For those of you lucky enough to be heading over

HEC SEMI-FINAL MEETING POINTS:

For those travelling this weekend the following are designated meeting points.

Shamrock Pub, 16-17 Quai de Rive Neuve, 13007 Marseille .

O'Malleys, 9 Quai de Rive Neuve, 13001 Marseille .

O'Bradys, 378 Avenue de Mazargues, 13008 Marseille .

On Sunday we will be joined by Toulon Supporters club at O'Bradys where we are invited to travel to the stadium with their supporters in a Red double deck coach.

All venues will show the 1st Semi final on Saturday. to be going

It must be. A huge coach

thomond2006

phog wrote: »

For those of you lucky enough to be heading over




It must be. A huge coach

Perfect place to display my John Hayes Ligind banner before I bring it into the ground.

phog

thomond2006 wrote: »

Perfect place to display my John Hayes Ligind banner before I bring it into the ground.

When are you heading over?

thomond2006

phog wrote: »

When are you heading over?

Thursday to Tuesday

phog

thomond2006 wrote: »

Thursday to Tuesday

Lovely.

Enjoy it.

[Jackass]

I hope you bash seven shades of sh*ite out of these lads at the weekend.

Leinster were spineless and directionless over in Toulon, but with the game moved to Marsaille and with a blue print of what not to do from the Leinster game as well as a good video of what Toulon will want to do against Munster (more or less exactly the same plan for them I'd imagine), I give Munster every chance in this one.

I think the most sickening thing losing to them was that fear definitely lost it for Leinster. We lost the game before we set foot on the pitch, but only realised during the game that these mercenaries are eminently beatable.

I think Toulon stand for everything that's wrong with modern rugby and Munster stand for the tradition and integrity of the game.

Give 'em hell and redeem the Irish reputation over there, left in tatters by Leinster unfortunately.

thomond2006

phog wrote: »

Lovely.

Enjoy it.

Cheers, I won't make it to Cardiff if we win (my rugby budget is more than used up now!) and hopefully supporters will have another trip before the end of May.

So...teams anyone? By the looks of things Laulala will be fit so Earls will be back on the wing. Downey needs to be on Stop Bastareaud duty, not a duty I think any player would be envious of! He needs to go around smashing bodies a la Mike Brown last year. A big hit on the likes of Rossouw or Juan Smith wouldn't go amiss either!

phog

thomond2006 wrote: »

So...teams anyone? !

Well CJ seems to taken the 6 jersey in POMs absence, Dougall might have won the 7 jersey. If JJ isn't fit Conway might have done enough last week to stake a claim on the bench along with either Murphy or GdvH or will Penney use the spot for an extra forward.