Leinster v Munster Semi final Build up thread

Larbre34

aloooof wrote: »

At least there'll be a few more at it than the paltry turnout for the homecoming in Donnybrook yesterday.

(We're all allowed one in this thread, aren't we? )

Its fair comment. Same happened in 2011, so many still making their way back from Cardiff that the RDS homecoming that time was sparse. Likewise Bilbao now.

Still a sense of unfinished business too methinks!

durthacht

Squidgy Black wrote: »

I can't understand how anyone could say the Pro14 isn't a measurement or goal for Leinster this season.

If that was the case we certainly wouldn't have been top of the conference.

Professional athletes aren't going to just say "ah f*ck it we've done enough" and discard a legitimate chance at winning their domestic league because they've already won a title this season.

In fairness, the 2011 team kinda did. After their mammoth effort against Northampton they barely showed up for the League final in Thomond.

But I really doubt they would do that again, and I'd be disappointed if they did. As someone said to do the double would eclipse the previous teams so surely that is worth achieving. So I don't understand the apathy to the League and the talk about rotating players and playing a bunch of the second string guys who were comprehensively beaten this month by Treviso and Connacht. This a semi final and it's absolutely vital.

Having said that, if Leinster have to take the field without Henshaw, and potentially Sexton and/or Nacewa then they would be massively weakened; especially with Byrne, Carbery and Reid all struggling for form. In that case, even in the RDS, Munster must be favourite.

davo2001

aloooof wrote: »

Nope, they finished top. Either that or Betfair paid out to me incorrectly!

Haha, you're actually totally correct, I was check in the "Rugby" app in Android and it hasn't been updated since the second last round. :mad:

Podge_irl

davo2001 wrote: »

Haha, you're actually totally correct, I was check in the "Rugby" app in Android and it hasn't been updated since the second last round. :mad:

Leinster have been top since the 6N period.

They finished on the same number of points as Scarlets though so it is possible the app is not calculating the tie-breakers correctly.

thomond2006

I'd like to see:
Kilcoyne, Marshall, Ryan, Kleyn, Grobler, POM, Cloete, Stander,
Murray, JJH, Keet, Scannell, Arnold, Sweetnam, Zebo

Scannell, Cronin, Parker, Holland, JOD, Hart, Keatley, Taute

Assuming D Williams and Conway are out.

Squatter

thomond2006 wrote: »

I'm growing more and more confident. Leinster down a few players and Munster arrive in the long grass after a week off.

As long as ye get Nigel, you'll be home and dry. Nigel gets very upset when Munster lose.

Buer

thomond2006 wrote: »

I'd like to see:
Kilcoyne, Marshall, Ryan, Kleyn, Grobler, POM, Cloete, Stander,

Not nearly enough spite and bitterness in that pack.

Former Former

Squidgy Black wrote: »

I can't understand how anyone could say the Pro14 isn't a measurement or goal for Leinster this season.

If that was the case we certainly wouldn't have been top of the conference.

Professional athletes aren't going to just say "ah f*ck it we've done enough" and discard a legitimate chance at winning their domestic league because they've already won a title this season.

They won't say that, but if you've been through the wringer of a game like the one on Saturday, then out on the beer afterwards, then the homecoming, then you get a few injuries - it all just adds up. These guys are not machines.

As a measurement or goal - yes, they would definitely have targeted it, but Pro14 is not the standard by which Irish provinces are judged. It just isn't. Matt O'Connor won one and he's widely regarded as the worst coach we had since Kidney.

Obviously I hope we win on Saturday, but if we don't, it's still an incredibly successful season for Leinster. If we'd lost against Racing, there would be a lot more emphasis on winning.

AdamD

If anyone's interested in 3 tickets in the Grandstand pm me. Season ticket holders who can't go.

Bridge93

Who thought in 2008/2009 that Munsters strongest pack would contain only 3 munstermen...

brocbrocach

Looks like James Ryan won't be walking, never mind running, for a while.
https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/champions-cup/comment-james-ryan-could-be-totemic-talisman-to-launch-new-era-of-greatness-36903236.html

dregin

brocbrocach wrote: »

Looks like James Ryan won't be walking, never mind running, for a while.
https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/champions-cup/comment-james-ryan-could-be-totemic-talisman-to-launch-new-era-of-greatness-36903236.html

What?

Zzippy

Deleted User wrote: »

Yup, it's no fun at all throwing the towel in this early. These sorts of posts should be kicked out of the thread...

Hahaha!! Who was that?

Squatter

Zzippy wrote: »

Hahaha!! Who was that?

It was O'Gara of course. Duncan McRae's old pal! Got cited for it and was suspended for a game.

Zzippy

Zzippy wrote: »

Hahaha!! Who was that?

O'Gara!

Cox had left the shoulder in a few minutes earlier so it wasn't completely out of the blue. Think he got cited but can't remember if there was a ban.

Zzippy

I thought it might be but couldn't remember ever seeing that clip before. LOL.

Did something similar in a hurling match once so I understand the frustration. No cameras or citing officer though

acucobol

Why has game not been moved to the Aviva?

thomond2006

acucobol wrote: »

Why has game not been moved to the Aviva?

Munster just returned some of their allocation. That is an indication of why.

stephen_n

acucobol wrote: »

Why has game not been moved to the Aviva?

Because theres no need.

.ak

acucobol wrote: »

Why has game not been moved to the Aviva?

Too soon to organise a match there, needs a bigger turn around and also time to sell 45,000 tickets...

Clegg

More Communions down south this weekend?

Diabhal Beag

If there even was a slim chance to move it to the Aviva it would have immediately been killed by the Munster turnout for their home quarter against Edinburgh.

irishbucsfan

Clegg wrote: »

More Communions down south this weekend?

Sports days, loads of them

jacothelad

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Great photo of the best fullback in Ireland.

Yes but you can only see his left arm.....;)

ScrubsfanChris

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

If there even was a slim chance to move it to the Aviva it would have immediately been killed by the Munster turnout for their home quarter against Edinburgh.

There was never a chance really. It was the RDS well before any playoff game took place.

Boscoirl

I watched that Mun v Edin gif about 10-15 times before I saw the trip

Boscoirl

Boscoirl wrote: »

I watched that Mun v Edin gif about 10-15 times before I saw the trip

Dark Arts TM

Tefral

I have a season ticket and I have been to every Munster home game, spent money and travelled to Bordeaux, but i just couldnt be bothered travelling up to the RDS. Most people I know in the exact same boat are the same. I just shelled out for next years season ticket too so my Munster spend this year is maxed.

Ill cheer them on from the local and be delighted i dont have to deal with the traffic going up and down to dublin because its just too expensive to stay up there.

Zzippy

Tefral wrote: »

I have a season ticket and I have been to every Munster home game, spent money and travelled to Bordeaux, but i just couldnt be bothered travelling up to the RDS. Most people I know in the exact same boat are the same. I just shelled out for next years season ticket too so my Munster spend this year is maxed.

Ill cheer them on from the local and be delighted i dont have to deal with the traffic going up and down to dublin because its just too expensive to stay up there.

May as well move the final to the RDS if Munster qualify so, if that's the attitude! :P

Boscoirl

I am going driving a Porsche around Mondello on Sat

stpauli

Save me from the thieving bastard Dublin hotels !
€€€€€€€

connemara man

Tefral wrote: »

I have a season ticket and I have been to every Munster home game, spent money and travelled to Bordeaux, but i just couldnt be bothered travelling up to the RDS. Most people I know in the exact same boat are the same. I just shelled out for next years season ticket too so my Munster spend this year is maxed.

Ill cheer them on from the local and be delighted i dont have to deal with the traffic going up and down to dublin because its just too expensive to stay up there.

#bestfansintheworld

prawnsambo

Boscoirl wrote: »

I watched that Mun v Edin gif about 10-15 times before I saw the trip

A trip?

Buer

Obviously some people have never paid for a hotel in Cork or Kerry where the local industry has moved on from fleecing sheep to fleecing anyone who happens to be native to elsewhere!

Herpes Free Since03

Buer wrote: »

Obviously some people have never paid for a hotel in Cork or Kerry where the local industry has moved on from fleecing sheep to fleecing anyone who happens to be native to elsewhere!

I got 5 nights in Brussels and flights for what 3 nights would have cost me in Jury's on Parnell St... Dubs could be world shearing champions

sydthebeat

Herpes Free Since03 wrote: »

I got 5 nights in Brussels and flights for what 3 nights would have cost me in Jury's on Parnell St... Dubs could be world shearing champions

Ah but who the fcuk wants to go to Brussels!!!

Herpes Free Since03

sydthebeat wrote: »

Ah but who the fcuk wants to go to Brussels!!!

Beer and chocolate

awec

Buer wrote: »

Obviously some people have never paid for a hotel in Cork or Kerry where the local industry has moved on from fleecing sheep to fleecing anyone who happens to be native to elsewhere!

I notice you didn’t mention limerick...

prawnsambo

Herpes Free Since03 wrote: »

I got 5 nights in Brussels and flights for what 3 nights would have cost me in Jury's on Parnell St... Dubs could be world shearing champions

Try London. You'd be staying in a flea pit with one tarnished star for twice the price of Parnell St.

irelandrover

prawnsambo wrote: »

Try London. You'd be staying in a flea pit with one tarnished star for twice the price of Parnell St.

Dublin is the third most expensive city in europe for hotels, ahead of london.

https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2018/05/amsterdam-hotels-are-most-expensive-european-survey-finds/

Former Former

Yes! Pointless bickering about something totally unrelated to rugby, NOW it's a Leinster-Munster build-up thread.

irishbucsfan

irelandrover wrote: »

Dublin is the third most expensive city in europe for hotels, ahead of london.

https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2018/05/amsterdam-hotels-are-most-expensive-european-survey-finds/

Ah well if Cheaprooms.com say it's true it must be true!

McGrath
Tracey
Furlong
Toner
Ryan
Ruddock
Leavy
Conan
McGrath
Carbery
Lowe
Nacewa
Ringrose
Larmour
Kearney

Bench
Healy
Cronin
Porter
Fardy
Murphy
McCarthy
Byrne
O'Loughlin


At a guess.

irishbucsfan

Deleted User wrote: »

McGrath
Tracey
Furlong
Toner
Ryan
Ruddock
Leavy
Conan
McGrath
Carbery
Lowe
Nacewa
Ringrose
Larmour
Kearney

Bench
Healy
Cronin
Porter
Fardy
Murphy
McCarthy
Byrne
O'Loughlin


At a guess.

Apart from the absolutely atrocious, embarrassing, shameful attempt at spelling, I would be very happy with this team.

stephen_n

Deleted User wrote: »

McGrath
Tracey
Furlong
Toner
Ryan
Ruddock
Leavy
Conan
McGrath
Carbery
Lowe
Nacewa
Ringrose
Larmour
Kearney

Bench
Healy
Cronin
Porter
Fardy
Murphy
McCarthy
Byrne
O'Loughlin


At a guess.

I’d switch Fardy and Toner but other than that I’d say that’s probably what it’s going to be. Fardy will have the summer off, so I’d say he is the least likely to be rested.

Squidgy Black

Deleted User wrote: »

McGrath
Tracey
Furlong
Toner
Ryan
Ruddock
Leavy
Conan
McGrath
Carbery
Lowe
Nacewa
Ringrose
Larmour
Kearney

Bench
Healy
Cronin
Porter
Fardy
Murphy
McCarthy
Byrne
O'Loughlin


At a guess.

I think that's a good balance of starters and rotation. Very strong team.

+1 Venjur good job.

scott1974

stephen_n wrote: »

I’d switch Fardy and Toner but other than that I’d say that’s probably what it’s going to be. Fardy will have the summer off, so I’d say he is the least likely to be rested.

I'd think we need Fardy, although Luke McGrath is likely injured.. so Lowe might miss out again, which would be hugely disappointing..
ISA may be injured too..

scott1974

scott1974 wrote: »

I'd think we need Fardy, although Luke McGrath is likely injured.. so Lowe might miss out again, which would be hugely disappointing..
ISA may be injured too..

Think Isa should be grand, haven't heard anything about McGrath other than he was subbed as planned, not through injury.

Think there is an injury update today, they'll confirm Henshaw is done for the season, Sexton unlikely to be available but being given every chance to prove fitness before the weekend.

I think we'll see a decent few changes though, mix of players brought back in and bench switches.

randomrb

scott1974 wrote: »

I'd think we need Fardy, although Luke McGrath is likely injured.. so Lowe might miss out again, which would be hugely disappointing..
ISA may be injured too..

I could be wrong but i think those rules on eligibility only apply to European games

Podge_irl

randomrb wrote: »

I could be wrong but i think those rules on eligibility only apply to European games

They don't - they also apply to Pro14.