Munster Team Talk Thread - Beirne After Reading

phog

Its only a few games back that John Ryan got a yellow card, after the game he was cited and banned meaning he missed out on the Last 16 in the Champions Cup and the trip to SA.

jcon1913

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122214682#Comment_122214682

the reasons that was not a YC

another player had already tackled the Ulster player so there was low momentum

Ulster player was falling making a player look higher in the collision

Ulster player had just changed direction two steps before the collision

Ulster player did not leave the pitch for a HIA - in my opinion this alone implied that he was milking it

Tipp1991

There is good news on the injury front for Diarmuid Barron (foot), Josh Wycherley (face) & Antoine Frisch (leg/groin) as they all return to training this week.

We wish Rory Scannell a speedy recovery as he will undergo surgery next week after suffering an ankle injury against Ulster.

Tom Ahern suffered an ankle/lower leg injury against Ulster and will go for a scan today, he is unavailable for the coming weeks.

Joey Carbery suffered a thumb injury versus Ulster and will be unavailable this week.

Continuing to rehab: Dave Kilcoyne (shoulder), Roman Salanoa (knee), Jean Kleyn (knee/eye), Paddy Patterson (knee), Patrick Campbell (shoulder), Alex Nankivell (ankle).

https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2024/06/03/squad-update-munster-prepare-for-thomond-quarter-final/

theVersatile

Oh for crying out loud.

Never the easy way with us is it?

Potential XXIII for Friday?

Loughman, Scannell, Archer,

Beirne, RG,

POM, Kendellan, JOD,

Craig, Crowley,

O'Brien, Frisch

Daly Zebo Nash

Barron, John Ryan, Jager, Fineen, Coombes, Murray, Butler, Hodnett

letowski

Very mixed news, getting Frisch back is important, but losing Carbury makes us vulnerable if anything were to happen to Crowley this weekend. And the Ahern injury sound like a possible season ender, given the competition ends in less that 3 weeks.

Brief_Lives

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/arid-41408504.html

can the cork lads , STFU now, and concentrate on the QFs.

you asses think we already through to the final.

Mod: Post warned.

leakyboots

That's a dose about Carbery, Aherne and especially poor Rory Scannell. Good news on Barron, good impact sub to bring on, he's got serious wheels when he gets going. Frisch's return is very timely.

I do think we'll have enough to beat Ospreys this week but any semi or a final I'd love to see the likes of Haley, Nankivell and Frisch return/stay healthy.

Coombes is providing brilliant bench impact but for a potential semi or a final I'd like to see him start, same with Hodnett. It's an interesting experiment they've tried in recent weeks but Coombes is our best backrow player and can usually go the 80 or almost.

phog

There was never a doubt about Scannell needing surgery, losing Carbery as well is a bummer and then Aherne looks to be out for our games and possibly the tour to SA

pickarooney

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122215861#Comment_122215861

I'd love to see Coombes come on to replace Gleeson at some stage. Batter the opposition for 50 minutes and reload.

Hank the DJ

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122215730#Comment_122215730

Wouldn't be dropping Clarke, he's been excellent and a big part of the scrum.

Rest is probably spot on.

Akrasia

That's a heavy toll after 1 game.

Good thing Fineen has been playing so well. Frisch returns without a moment to spare with Carbery getting hurt

Neil3030

I can't see a 6-2 if Butler (more of a specialist 10) is the only backs cover.

5-3 with Coombes or Hodnett starting alongside POM and AK.

three back replacements, Murray, Butler and Shay McCarthy maybe?

Akrasia

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122217376#Comment_122217376

If Butler comes on, Crowley moves to 12 or another back 3 position. (If Crowley is the one who gets injured, then that is a serious setback for the rest of the season unless Carbery's thumb injury is only a 1 week deal.)

Might be more difficult with Ahern missing because he was also an auxiliary winger while Fineen doesn't have that in his repertoire.

Brief_Lives

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122215855#Comment_122215855

Mod Edit

Warning and Ban issued.

Number 137

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122208006#Comment_122208006

Fair enough. But a poor performing referee will affect both sides.

Number 137

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122207976#Comment_122207976

I have. Both live and on TV. I presume you don't rate him and would be curious to know why? And not just some vague, general observation that could be made about any referee.

50HX

Like you I have seen him live & tv & yes I don't rate him

I find him inconsistent with players offside & at ruck time, that's my view of him, I'm not trolling saying that nor am I goin to trall through footage of him with timeliness of games to reference for you.

In the same way there are players I wouldn't rate from watching as well.

There is a collective sigh when his name is appointed to matches unlike a lot of other refs.

It would be interesting to get a non irish perspective on him

Cookiemunster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122218718#Comment_122218718

Mod: if you've an issue with a mods decision taken it to PM. Do not take it up on thread.

theVersatile

https://inpho.ie/assignment/hjCxfknIEVDPLbDYm6wiIA..a?wosid=zW5K9KvpSQ6vtcd2Upuh00&woinst=2&ts=4V5pRcSF1onRF80Rm1t_Kw..a

Lots of young looking NTS (or unannounced academy entrants) here. Anyone have some names? I recognise Stephen Kiely and Eanna McCarthy but that's about it.

letowski

https://twitter.com/rosscohamilton/status/1797960711693647922?s=46

Pretty incredible the stats Coombes puts up.

snotboogie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122220359#Comment_122220359

There are about 10 Munster players away with the Ireland 20's for WC prep so probably opened a lot of spots for training.

pickarooney

Ahern out for Ireland's tour to SA apparently.

budhabob

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122223451#Comment_122223451

Luckless if true.

leakyboots

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122222755#Comment_122222755

Considering he's played at 8 and 4 and been bench impact in recent games that's mad. He's a machine

Number 137

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122219849#Comment_122219849

Fair enough. In his defence, offside is largely left to ARs and only the glaringly obvious will get picked up by referees. I also believe that a huge amount of perceived offside actually isn't. With regards to the ruck, there is a lot of grey there. I guess there can be two right answers sometimes and perhaps some referee interpretations wont be as well received as others. I think one reason why he may not be popular is because his communication style can be quite sharp. Nigel Owens for example wasn't a very technically good referee, but he could communicate his way out of trouble. I think the players actually really respect Frank Murphy, and that speaks volumes for me.

Always interesting to hear different perspectives on referees. We won't all agree and that's fine.

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122224265#Comment_122224265

Yeah glaringly obvious and offsides that are material to play will be called. And yeah a lot of perceived offside isn't at all. Totally agree on that.

Water John

Rugby more than most sports plays to the referee. Once the ref is consistent, most players don't have an issue.

50HX

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122224265#Comment_122224265

Yeah he is fairly sharp with the tongue alright at times, like you said it prob garners him alot of respect from the players

Nigel Owens was a huge fan favourite I thought esp latter years of his career

I think a good ref is one who is not referred to post match

Ben Bailey

Have never had any issue with the general standard of Frank's refereeing. Like all refs he makes errors, but not more noticeably than other officials.

Everyone who steps onto a pitch will make errors. We seem to hold officials, particularly refs, to a higher standard than we apply to players.

oppiuy

Just had a look at ticket master this morning and looks like it will be a poor attendance friday night

Jofspring

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122225273#Comment_122225273

Ya awful kick off time. Rules out a lot of families, people that work until 6 and travelling support from cork etc..

Cookiemunster

Lifted from Munsterfans to put Fridays possible attendance into perspective.

just for giggles looked back at attendances in playoffs last year.

Stormers attendances were phenomenal - 44K, 47k and 56k in QF, SF F

Ulster had 13k v Connacht, Leinster had 14k v Sharks, Glasgow had 7k vs us

Leinster Munster semi had 27k in Avivia

The previous year Bulls had 22k in their home QF v Sharks, Ulster had 10k vs us, Leinster had 9k in RDS vs Glasgow.
Leinster had 11k for their semi v Bulls and Stormers had 30k for their semi and 31k for the final

In the context of those kind of numbers, and with Ospreys not exactly an enticing draw, and the short time plus an inconvenient Friday evening 15k would actually be a pretty decent turn out and would surpass all other QFs the past two years apart from Stormers (Capetown population 4.7 million) and Bulls

Cookiemunster

A number of changes for tomorrow. Frisch is back. Coombes and Hodnett start. Barron returns on the bench. The split is 5/3 with Tony Butler covering 10.

Munster: Simon Zebo; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Seán O’Brien, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; RG Snyman, Tadhg Beirne (C); Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, John Ryan, Oli Jager, Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Conor Murray, Tony Butler, Mike Haley.

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122226067#Comment_122226067

Harsh on Clarke who’s been playing very well, but Barron definitely adds something.

Light on 2nd row cover with Kleyn, Edogbo and Ahern injured (is Fineen available?) so presumably Coombes covering there.

John Ryan continuing as a loosehead solution too, after he went well last weekend.

Jump_In_Jack

Interesting that Archer starts, Casey starts, Barron gets a chance to prove fitness, Ryan instead of Donnelly at loose-head prop, Haley gets a chance to prove fitness.
All in all it's a good selection in terms of building towards the next round should we get there.
It's a good enough team to win, Nankivell probably the one player that would make a difference.
No lock cover on the bench interesting also, two back rows, so could be looking for Coombes to cover lock if injury there, or else O'Donoghue and Kendellen to come on for O'Mahony and Hodnett with 30 to go and hope Beirne, Snyman and Coombes last the full 80, that might be a bit risky, particularly if we don't want to flog Beirne or Snyman.
Wonder if Fineen is injured, as would probably prefer to be less risky and start Fineen with Beirne and have Snyman to come on for impact. Maybe just O'Donoghue as back row cover then, rather than the 6-2 option.

Eod100

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122225306#Comment_122225306

Yeah Friday evening when a significant amount of support travels from outside Limerick was aleays going to impact attendance. People might be hoping we win and go to the semi instead if on a better time. Its an election day too but not sure that would have big impact . And from a team POV our match was 1 of the 2 last games of weekend so a 6 day turnaround.

letowski

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122226093#Comment_122226093

We've just had no luck with second row health this season. Bench looks a little light now, but at least we've experience in the front row.

aloooof

I'm not sure I've seen any update on Fineen with regards an injury.

Recently, he hadn't quite hit the same form that he did this time last year (where he was great for us in the run-in - one super lineout steal on our 5m line late in the game comes to mind?) so might just be a selection call?

Hank the DJ

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122226232#Comment_122226232

He was with the squad during the warm up last weekend.

clsmooth

Is Ruadhan Quinn injured/been injured for a large portion of the season?

Cookiemunster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122226139#Comment_122226139

It's been mentioned to me too that the Munster Hurling Final is on in Thurles in Sunday. Clare and Limerick fans may already have committed their funds to going to that.

pickarooney

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122226326#Comment_122226326

He's listed with the A squad for the game against Ireland u20s.

aloooof

Gameday, looking forward to this one 2nite now. You'd expect Ospreys to get after us at the breakdown, and we're short in the 2nd row department which has me a little worried - familiar theme this season, and was a huge factor in some of the results prior to our 10-game winning URC run.

But we should have enough to get over the line 2nite, hopefully. Facing into the pointy end of the season without Edogbo, Kleyn and Ahern is far from ideal tho…

Cookiemunster

We're much stronger than we were early season even with the new injuries. Outside of Butler, we've a strong bench again tonight. And I wouldn't worry about him coming on and playing with a full strength team around him.

Munster are 1/12 with the bookies and the handicap is -15.

letowski

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122229482#Comment_122229482

I agree, but we are dangerously thin in some position groups now, LHP, Lock, Out-half, center. An injury to one of the starters will make things difficult for the last two rounds.

Cookiemunster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122229517#Comment_122229517

We're grand at LHP. Ryan is well able to play there. It's where he started his career. And Josh Wycherly is back from injury.

Nankivell will be back available next week if needed and the likes of Daly and Coombes can cover if really needed, so the center is covered.

Fineen Wycherly is fit and wasn't picked and Cian Hurley is getting a game for the A team tonight, so while it would be a quality step down the second row is covered too.

I agree about 10. If something happens to Crowley we're screwed. Butler on the bench is fine, but I wouldn't want to be dropping him into the starting 10 role for a semi or a final.

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122229771#Comment_122229771

I'd agree on the LH and 2nd row cover with Fineen, say, but I'm not sure how comfortable I'd be with Daly or Liam Coombes having to start at centre for us, if Nankivell returns and we picked up another injury there.

I'd assume we'd see 10. Carbery (who's been going really well late) 12. Crowley and 13. Frisch, but another injury there and we'd be in trouble.

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122229797#Comment_122229797

Carbery is done for the season.

Cookiemunster

Carbery has played his last game for Munster thanks to the hand injury. Leamy confirmed it at the press conference on Tuesday.

We'd only need to see Daly or Coombes at center if two of SOB, Frisch and Nankivell aren't available. Surely even Munster can't be that unlucky again 🙊

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122229878#Comment_122229878

Complete brainfart, sure I knew Butler was at 10….