Munster vs Ulster, Fri 7th May 8:15pm, Eir Sport

aloooof

Akrasia wrote: »

Lol, POM shafted there

Very harsh from the replay by the looks of it.

Akrasia

aloooof wrote: »

Don't question it. #NotToland

I miss Toland, he should commentate every match

To be fair to ulster since they got back to 15 theve dominated territory but theve done nothing with it.

Akrasia

Beirne should have been MOM. By far the best player on the pitch

bluedex

Akrasia wrote: »

Lol, POM shafted there

Yeah the four previous warnings should have been ignored. Poor Pete!

theVersatile

Lovely stuff

Akrasia

bluedex wrote: »

Yeah the four previous warnings should have been ignored. Poor Pete!

He didn’t change his bind, it wasn’t a penalty

Akrasia

Akrasia wrote: »

He didn’t change his bind, it wasn’t a penalty

He did to be fair

aloooof

Was hoping we'd win, but didn't think it'd be by that margin. Lots of positives from that, especially in the first half, some very positive stuff especially off early phases. Gav Coombes seems to be in the running for Man of the Match every time he plays lately..

Jump_In_Jack

Akrasia wrote: »

He didn’t change his bind, it wasn’t a penalty

Rewound it back to check, he was told by the ref to get out of the maul as he had changed his bind, a few seconds and then he gave the penalty when O’Mahony stayed in the maul.
Once he let go of Murphy he had to back out of the mall and he didn’t.
Fair call.

Akrasia

Lara Kind Armchair wrote: »

He did to be fair

I didn’t see anything in the replay, maybe need to look at it again

bluedex

Akrasia wrote: »

I didn’t see anything in the replay, maybe need to look at it again

Yes, have a look.

TomsOnTheRoof

Good win. Coombes and Beirne were the pick of the pack. I'm a little surprised Ulster didn't have more fight. Regardless of what people think of this competition it's silverware and it's basically an interprovincial series. Neither ourselves or Ulster can afford to be picky about what we win.

Shaka Hislop

BJ "No Doubt" Botha has a very gentle, calming voice.

shootermacg

Daly starting to get over the rust from the Irish camp. I'd almost forgotten about Goggin, great option if he stays fit.

thomond2006

The game disintegrated in the second half but in the first half Munster played at a ferocious pace. It was great to watch.

Akrasia

JJ had a great game, Rory Scannell played brilliantly, Niall Scannel made an absolute nuisance of himself, Cloete was great, Goggin and Daley both played really well, , John Ryan played really well and Loughman looked really assured and confident when he came on

Klein continued his excellent season with another strong performance off the bench but the big Kudos has to go to Fineen Wycherley , Gavin Coombes and the legend Tadhg Beirne

leakyboots

I'm enjoying the Rainbow Cup, glad we're taking it seriously, would love to see some silverware. You play to win. It's a pity the original incarnation couldn't take place as planned but there's bigger things to be worried about in the wider context of the last 14 months.

Daly looked sharp, he's played very little this season. Beirne and Coombes were the pick of the bunch, Coombes is just so dynamic and powerful - he looks to be worth a punt to see is he international standard, I suspect he will be. POM showed some lovely touches with ball in hand, he's just so skillful. I loved how we looked to keep the ball alive and our tempo was superb.

Murray is back in good form too, great to see. Some nice snipes and kept the play buzzing along. I thought Rory Scannell had a fine game in his preferred position of 12, he's been used at 13 a lot I think?

No idea how this tournament progresses in terms of who meets who but I'd love another cut at Leinster with full teams in a final

Akrasia

leakyboots wrote: »

No idea how this tournament progresses in terms of who meets who but I'd love another cut at Leinster with full teams in a final

Preferably at Thomond Park (for a change)

shootermacg

Looking to next season, Munster should be able to field a very big physical team. Some seriously big men in the squad. Can really see them ramping up the physicality.

Jump_In_Jack

shootermacg wrote: »

Looking to next season, Munster should be able to field a very big physical team. Some seriously big men in the squad. Can really see them ramping up the physicality.

What’s your take on the KBA approach that was very evident last night?
It’s fantastic when the ball goes to hand, but I wonder whether we can actually play like that in important matches against the top European sides.
If the answer to that is yes, and we also have the physicality to hold up the set piece and not soak tackle too much up front, then I’d back Munster against any side.

Shaka Hislop

Seems that after 2 years of coaching Munster, Larkham has adapted his coaching style after watching 2 ROG interviews

Clegg

I think the provinces are going to struggle in Europe for the next few years. With respect to Munster and Ulster, their packs are inferior to Leinsters by a wide margin. Their tactics work against most Pro 12 sides and some European side, but not against the better European ones. Leinster are similarly starting to struggle against the best French and English (Saracens) packs. We all share the same issue in that we're too rote in our play and can't improvise when our forwards aren't dominant.

Jump_In_Jack

Shaka Hislop wrote: »

Seems that after 2 years of coaching Munster, Larkham has adapted his coaching style after watching 2 ROG interviews

Yeah, it does seem that way alright.
I just think we have the skills to play like that, so why not just go for it.
Look at what Japan were able to achieve.
Just needs the coaches to back it, and to change from box kicking by default whenever a big pack drives us backwards.

Jump_In_Jack

Just to name check a few skilful guys that are excellent at KBA,
O’Byrne, Beirne, O’Mahony, Coombes, O’Donoghue, and there are high hopes for the likes of O’Sullivan and Hodnett and more besides.
The backs have great hands when they decide to play expansively, Murray, Scannell, Goggin, Daly, Haley, Earls, and add in De Allende and Zebo, you’ve got the makings of a champagne rugby back line.
Again, IF the culture moves to adopt that approach, the coaches have to back it, and it’s very frustrating when they haven’t already just gone for it.

theVersatile

Pfftt. Munster have been doing KBA since before it was cool and trendy. :P

https://youtu.be/Pzz66JtMoxM

aloooof

Shaka Hislop wrote: »

Seems that after 2 years of coaching Munster, Larkham has adapted his coaching style after watching 2 ROG interviews

Jump_In_Jack wrote: »

Again, IF the culture moves to adopt that approach, the coaches have to back it, and it’s very frustrating when they haven’t already just gone for it.

To be fair, I think we have seen it in spells this season. Look at the try that won try of the year vs Cardiff; there were more offloads in those few phases than we had in full whole games a couple of years ago. (EDIT: theVersatile got there before me).

We’ve seen John Ryan throw an offload and Archer throw a pop pass off the deck, for example.

It stuck particularly well last night, but I don’t think that means it’s something completely new.

shootermacg

Clegg wrote: »

I think the provinces are going to struggle in Europe for the next few years. With respect to Munster and Ulster, their packs are inferior to Leinsters by a wide margin. Their tactics work against most Pro 12 sides and some European side, but not against the better European ones. Leinster are similarly starting to struggle against the best French and English (Saracens) packs. We all share the same issue in that we're too rote in our play and can't improvise when our forwards aren't dominant.

I think the Munster pack has been in transition. Throw in Knox/Salanoa, Killer, Kleyn, Snyman, Beirne at 6, Coombes at 8 with Fineen/Thomas Ahern/Jenkins on the bench and I doubt Leinster will have the upper hand in physicality at all.

Then you'll have the backs, Haley, Daly, Zeebo, DDA, Farrell / Goggin, Murray (all 6'2+). Give the backs go-forward ball and it will be a long, long day for the opposition.

TomsOnTheRoof

shootermacg wrote: »

I think the Munster pack has been in transition. Throw in Knox/Salanoa, Killer, Kleyn, Snyman, Beirne at 6, Coombes at 8 with Fineen/Thomas Ahern/Jenkins on the bench and I doubt Leinster will have the upper hand in physicality at all.

Then you'll have the backs, Haley, Daly, Zeebo, DDA, Farrell / Goggin, Murray (all 6'2+). Give the backs go-forward ball and it will be a long, long day for the opposition.

If Knox or Salanoa come good we're only missing a top class hooker in the pack.

thomond2006

Clegg wrote: »

I think the provinces are going to struggle in Europe for the next few years. With respect to Munster and Ulster, their packs are inferior to Leinsters by a wide margin. Their tactics work against most Pro 12 sides and some European side, but not against the better European ones. Leinster are similarly starting to struggle against the best French and English (Saracens) packs. We all share the same issue in that we're too rote in our play and can't improvise when our forwards aren't dominant.

When you say 'struggle' though, the reality is you're really only referring to a few sides that are probably better than Munster. Munster should be making the QF stage, after that comes down to the draw and the performance on the day.

As for the pack, if Snyman can return fit and available and Jenkins is a success, then Munster should be able to compete. We are reliant on Knox or Salanoa making a breakthrough at TH however and I agree with Tom that we are lacking at hooker. I think a NIE signing there will be a priority next summer.

Clegg

I'm definitely referring to the better Champions Cup sides in my post. I just don't see where the provinces can make up for the shortfall in power. If it prompts a switch to a more all round style of play then I'm all for it. There's a lack of invention in Irish rugby right now.

I'm more pessimistic on Munster's outlook as I am with Leinster's. Going forward we can't rely on the South African contingent staying long term at Munster and the front row becomes a problem once Kilcoyne starts to decline through age. Leinster similarly lack that bit of power in the second row and other than a top quality signing, which isn't guaranteed to happen, I can't see where that extra grunt comes from.

thomond2006

Clegg wrote: »

I'm definitely referring to the better Champions Cup sides in my post. I just don't see where the provinces can make up for the shortfall in power. If it prompts a switch to a more all round style of play then I'm all for it. There's a lack of invention in Irish rugby right now.

I'm more pessimistic on Munster's outlook as I am with Leinster's. Going forward we can't rely on the South African contingent staying long term at Munster and the front row becomes a problem once Kilcoyne starts to decline through age. Leinster similarly lack that bit of power in the second row and other than a top quality signing, which isn't guaranteed to happen, I can't see where that extra grunt comes from.

I think there will always be a need for Munster to sign powerful forwards from elsewhere. I imagine Munster will try to retain one of Snyman or Jenkins and then look to make a signing in the front row depending on how Wycherley, French, Barron, Knox and Salanoa are performing in their respective positions.

Snyman's loss to Munster this year can't be overstated. Skelton's performance against Leinster was the kind of dominance you'd hope Snyman would have delivered.

phog

Have to say I'm very happy with our performance on Friday evening, weather turned bad during the game but we played good rugby, albeit against a very underwhelming Ulster team. Like others have said the ref was good and has shown he's a capable ref in his previous games, like most officials he missed a few things but in general I think he did a good job. How good is Coombes, he's a beast, a joy to watch.

My motm would have been a forward the pack won that game for us but hard to crib about Haley getting it either.

Rinse and repeat again next week against Connacht and it will be a great start to the competition for Munster.

leakyboots

Haley has had a very impressive season, he's far more consistent now and I just love him with ball in hand - great stepper and capable of a bit of magic out of nothing. Zebo has a big fight on his hands for the 15 jersey

phog

leakyboots wrote: »

Zebo has a big fight on his hands for the 15 jersey

This is exactly what we want for every position, be great if we had players of the caliber of Haley and Zebo fighting it out for places across the starting 15.

Shaka Hislop

There's also a very good chance that Zebo has been brought back as a winger

Jerry Attrick

Shaka Hislop wrote: »

There's also a very good chance that Zebo has been brought back as a winger

Missing h there?

Shaka Hislop

Jerry Attrick wrote: »

Missing h there?

Jerry hAttrick ?