The lets make alooo(o)f regret it in his first week Munster v Leinster Build up Thread

Nearly every Leinster team is a good team these days but look at all the players who were missing. VDF, Sexton, JGP, Doris, Furlong, Ryan would have made the team a lot stronger. The form he's in I think Doris alone would have made a huge difference.

I remember listening to a few podcasts in the build up to Leinster vs Racing and every show were in agreement that the only way to beat Leinster is to prevent them from having the ball. They're so good in possession that they when they're dialled in they just don't make silly unenforced errors.

The yellow card seemed to galvanise the squad and they went up a level in intensity. Munster couldn't match it.

A few things. The argument about Carberry being Ireland's second 10 should be put to bed. Byrne has consistently outplayed him when they have played each other and did again tonight.

Coombes is rapidly developing into a real quality player. He and Deegan deserve time with the 6n squad/

Frisch is an interesting add for Munster, but he isnt at the stage that some of the young Leinster lads are at.

Murray is past it. Healy's only shot is if we only have 5 props on the plane. To be fair to him, he has worked hard to add TH to his list of skills, but its a huge ask.

Good game and seeing how Munster have lost to teams closer to Leinster thirds than seconds in recent years, this was a step up.

Still, Ulster is a huge game for their season. Any chance of a home quarter depends on a win in Ravenhill

Squad size was changed to bring 9 front rows to RWC

I’m a bit baffled why Casey isn’t starting for Munster, it could have changed the result had he been on longer.

Ringrose was the classiest player on the pitch again, his reading of the game is just on a different level.

Munster for a home quarter final? Surely you mean 8th place. Munster must win against ulster to have any chance of a top 8. Don't forget benatton play zebra again with another 5 points in the bag.

Fantastic game to watch...in open play...if you ignored some laws...as Busby did! LOL

Ref was sh!te for both teams. Needs to work on his footwork. Not sure he has the spatial awareness necessary.

* Blue-tinted glasses here.

Not a terrible performance. Socks were pulled up in second half.

Big Joe might just become great.

Osbourne any day over Frisch.

BOD was a decade ahead of his time and dragged Leinster and Ireland into the professional era but Ringrose is consistently better. * Sue me. LOL

On to Munster...

Even a blind man can see that Casey should be #9. And in Irish 23. Murray's finished. Casey and Patterson should be 9/21 Feck the rumours of contractually assured places.

Great to see Coombes on rampage again. Fantastic player.

Get Crowley to 10 ASAP. He has a great future ahead of him. Carbery's future is behind him.

Rowntree's interview was very telling. He knows that there are lads not pulling their weight in his squad - it's the older generation IMO. Youngsters are great.

* I like Rowntree and hope that he gets his chance to bring the youth through. And not just there to get rid of the old guard for PR purposes before ROG's return.

Whatever, trust youth.

High intensity game. Enjoyable. You can see green shoots in Munster's play. They are still lacking in a couple of areas and I think there are 1 or 2 players who are no longer at the level required.

If you didn't know why Ireland/Leinster are investing a lot of time into McCarthy well you should now. He's a physically imposing lock who has good hands and quick. He still has plenty of wrinkles but he has a massive ceiling. Osbourne looks a prospect too.

Ringrose is playing at a super high level at the moment. Is there a centre in world rugby playing as well?

Why would he necessarily pick either at the moment?

I mean the 37 man Irish Squad for the 6N. Agreed, they wouldn't make the matchday 23.

Munster have definitely turned a corner. They will be kicking themselves for that sin bin period. Though Leinster just seemed to shift a couple of gears at that point. That’s the most evenly matched Derby game with Munster in a long time.

How Casey didn’t start I don’t know. Between snipping and quick passes out beyond the 15, he was keeping Leinster guessing in defence. Munster attacked so much better with him on. For the most part Munsters defence was excellent too. Thought it went awol in that 10 minutes. Plenty of positives in that game for Munster to build on. Yet it also shows them how far they have to go.

"Munster have definitely turned a corner"

For sure...

BUT they still look unsure when they go past 12 through the hands. It's bizarre. Is that why Murray kicks it? The only way he thinks the wingers might get their hands on the ball?

* Great to see that little prick-ly bollix, Casey, ordering and organizing pods around him. I'd have him on my team any day.