Munster v Leinster

The clearout that (eventually) ended Leavy's career wasn't particularly dangerous either though. It was a freak accident.

I think Munster should instigate the odd handbags every now and then where lines may have been crossed.

There were plenty of complaints but zero replay angles. The best we had at the time was filmed by a spectator if I recall. Would have been a bigger deal if there were proper replays of it

I think Toners clear out was illegal. He came in at an angle. It was a penalty for Munster, imo. I doubt Toner was purposely trying to hurt Coombes.

After rewatching the match, there was lots of side entries! By both teams. I thought the ref was good, but the rucks were a free for all.

All the talk of Munster needing to be vicious and violent are extremely stupid. Munster need to improve the tight 5 skills. That's the difference, imo. Munster's tight 5 were lacking skill and are not very good at link play. This is an area where Beirne excels. He was sorely missed.

The likes of Scannell and Wycherly are not skilled players. They play like Munster of old. I watched the difference between Treacy and Scannell and it's like night and day. Treacy can hoof it up just like Scannell but, he can add running lines and can link up with the play.

The difference in skill level is absurd. Munster go 3 phases and they pause and lack direction. Leinster can go 3 phases, reset and continue building using the front row.

I do hope Coombes makes a speedy recovery. I'm glad it wasn't his knee that was injured.

Yeah but Dunne is behind younger guys in Baird and McCarthy, and the 27-year old Ross Molony.

And that difference is that by playing in a more succesfull team you get more opportunity because more players are away during international windows.

Upon rewatch, Carbery had a worse game than I'd originally thought. He's not a good 10. Munster just don't look particularly threatening in attack when he's there. They were marginally better in attack with him as an extra passing option at 15, but his defence was dreadful. Also, he still takes too much out of the ball. When he receives the ball he shapes up like he's about to make a run with it, rather than a pass. It wastes a second in attack and allows the defence to regroup.

He also made two awful attempts at tackling in the backfield. One on JOB was particularly bad. It was a one on one where JOB made a sidestep. Carbery didn't commit to make a hit nor did he try to follow the side step. He just fell forward and flapped at the carrier who easily breezed past him.

I don't know what to say about Carbery anymore. Just seems like the chance to become a top level player has passed him by. He doesn't do anything particularly well and has too many glaring frailties.

So who in munster is being blocked by mediocre auld lads?

Maybe Casey was seen as better use coming off bench and that was seen as a tactic? Not that Murray is seen as better.

Healy has played a lot this season. Started lot more recently. Not really an issue.

Campbell was playing Irish 20s for 2 months.

I agree about the tighthead props. The rest isnt so true. Okeke had a few injuries since december. No? Definitely missed good few weeks with an injury or two.

If you go a few frames forward from this, you'll see as Lowe gets up, he puts his elbow/forearm on Murrays throat as he's lying on the ground

At least thats how it looked to me.

I'm not saying he should be banned for life, I'm saying Leinster came to play a brutal physical game, and Munster came to follow the rules and play 'tough but fair'

Its no different from when Ireland play the All blacks, The All blacks think they're better than everyone else and they play on the very edge, and often beyond the laws and they typically get away with it because when you're winning and look like you're dominant, the referees often reward that (not always, some referees are happy to blow for everything, but that tends to ruin the spectacle)

Ireland only looked like beating NZ when we stopped taking beatings and hit them back as hard as they hit us