Munster v Scarlets, Pro 12 fixture

Munster v Scarlets, 19.45 on Saturday evening.

Munster Squad: J Murphy, D Hurley, S Deasy D Howlett, D Barnes, L Mafi, T Gleeson, S Zebo, I Keatley, D Williams, P Stringer; W du Preez, D Fogarty, M Sherry, D Varley, BJ Botha, J Hayes, M Horan, S Archer, D Foley, B Holland, M O'Driscoll, T O'Donnell, P O'Mahony, N Ronan, J Coughlan

Scarlets haven't picked their squad yet.



Munster are looking for their 12th straight victory over the Scarlets in all competitions and also hoping to stretch their Celtic League winning streak to 13 consecutive victories. Home advantage will serve them well, however discipline remains a problem with the team conceding a whopping EIGHT yellow cards in the last three matches. The scrum has also been a source of concern but it will be interesting to see the wily duo of Iestyn Thomas and BJ Botha go head to head.



Scarlets are no doubt still reeling from their last gasp defeat in Galway. However, even with their internationals missing they are still a big threat especially from the book with Dan Newton scoring 25 points from the kicking tee in their last two outings. If Munster infringe, he will punish them. However, if Musnter don't slow down the ball, expect the Scarlets to put pace on the game.



Should be a good match both sides eager for the win.

I think Munster just have the edge here, mainly in the backs (can't believe I just typed that...) where they have the likes of Howlett and Keatley still available to them.

If the Scarlets keep playing with the same commitment that they have shown in the first two games though they should be able to sneak a win perhaps. Handling needs to improve dramatically though as that cost us points in both our previous matches. I want good weather for this match, but not keeping my hopes up!

Its a funny old match. It seems as though Scarlets may have edge up front while Munster has it in the backline. For what its worth I expect this to be Munsters team:

Wian du Preez, Mike Sherry, BJ Botha

Mick O'Driscoll, Billy Holland

Peter O'Mahony, James Coughlan, Niall Ronan

Peter Stringer, Ian Keatley

Lifeimi Mafi, Danny Barnes

Simon Zebo, Johne Murphy, Doug Howlett

Subs: Damien Varley, Marcus Horan, Stephen Archer, Dave Foley, Tommy O'Donnell, Duncan Williams, Scott Deasy, Denis Hurley

however discipline remains a problem with the team conceding a whopping EIGHT yellow cards in the last three matches

Is that their discipline getting worse or refs getting better?

ooooh, cheeky

To be honest it's discipline getting worse, all the good refs are in NZ at the moment, in the first three weeks of the Pro12 the refs have an average of 14 games experience.

They have young Peter O'Mahony as captain (bizarrely ahead of Mick O'Driscoll, James Coughlan or Doug Howlett) but they have been sloppy at the breakdown and most of these cards have been fair calls.

Does anyone know what the stats were for yellow cards last year? Would be interessing to see and I'm too lazy to look them up myself

That looks like a very strong Munster side - it's going to be a big ask for the Scarlets, but hopefully with our Kiwi SH and Maule back in the side we can cause Munster some problems - with the little of the Connaught game I saw Liam(is it) Williams looked quite good, and if Newton can knock over enough points we may just be able to edge it - though to be honest i'm hoping for another LBP

greybeard wrote:ooooh, cheeky

To be honest it's discipline getting worse, all the good refs are in NZ at the moment, in the first three weeks of the Pro12 the refs have an average of 14 games experience.

Or the refs that can work out that harming Munster harms their chances of progress?

Now that was cheeky!

I think that there'll we won't see all that much of "old Munster".



Hayes is retiring soon, Flannery and Wallace look to have career threatening injury etc.

It's going to be even more of a season for change for Munster this season then last isn't it, with a few of your really experienced guys going/injured. Great opportunity for you to bring your youngsters through

I'm with smirnoff on this, will be very happy if we leave with a LBP.

I was thinking tho if reynolds and fenby r back then our backline isnt too bad kiwi sh(soz cant remember his name), newton, liam wil, reynolds, maule, lee wills, fenby. All except liam have top flight exp last year and there shouldnt b as many handlin errors with those centres

Fingers crossed anyway. Maule should be sarting coz I'm pretty sure he played against Connacht. Not so sure about Fenby or Reynolds though. The more game time these youngsters get together though, the better they'll get, and quickly.

Hoping for a good game,excited to see these Scarlets youngsters and more mof Munster's minis.

I just hope we give a better account of ourselves that the Dragons did out there.

Mike Sherry's season begins now. Massive few weeks for him with Varley gone half way across the world. Let's hope he can nail down that spot as he has great potential. Could be threatening Best in the 6nations if all goes to plan (not that Fla being out would be part of the plan exactly). Should be a good match, and I'd expect Munster to win, but probably only be by a score. LB point at least for Scarlets I reckon.

I think Munster will wallop the Scarlets to be honest.
You couldn't really gauge the Scarlets at the Aironi game because of the rain, and the fact it went from a warm summers day to a hurricane in about 30 minutes which messed both sides up.
But there is no way the Scarlets should of struggled in Connaght, very poor to be honest, they have their first choice pack near enough, so there is no excuse to lose that match.

I wouldn't be suprised if Munster get a bonus point win, based on what I have seen so far.

I'll give you fair warning Alyn - I'm going to shove that comment up your arse if we win.

why shouldn't we have struggled out in Connacht? we hadn't won there in 10 previous visits, and the conditions were dreadful. We've lost out there with much better teams to be honest. Granted on this occassion we were in the position to win, but a LBP out in Connacht is not to be sniffed at with this v young side.

I am with Glas on this one

I wouldn't expect us to wallop Scarlets. We couldn't hammar Dragons or Glasgow. It will be a tough game that I think we will win.



Connacht is a tough place to travel BTW - Scarlets had the winning of that match though.

Stag thats a really strong front row for Munster if its picked and assuming Botha is fully fit. Could potentially be a scrummaging machine that we have lacked in recent years.

3 wins from 3 would be a super start to the season continuing on from last year. You have to hand to McGahon if nothing else he has built a good squad and instilled consistency.

It will be a tough game that I think we will win.

I think so too. However Scarlets results are usually determined by the heart not the head.

Any more word on Will Chambers? Has he signed for us yet?

Dan Evans has broken a bone in his hand and is out for 4 weeks.

Liam Williams has a family commitment so is unavailable to play.

That's 2 more players out of our already depleated backline

Fanby should be fit (fingers crossed he is!) but we might have to start Aled Thomas at FB, or move Dan Newton there. EIther way, it's looking more and more like we're there for the taking.

Am hoping the forwards put in a really dominant display and try and starve Munster of the ball. And I hate the fact I just had to type that. It's so completely un-Scarlet.

Am hoping the forwards put in a really dominant display and try and starve Munster of the ball. And I hate the fact I just had to type that. It's so completely un-Scarlet.

And what's more it just ain't gonna appen.

Munster announce their Team:

Horan, Sherry, Hayes
Foley, O'Driscoll
O'Mahony, Coughlan, Ronan
Stringer, Keatley
Mafi, Gleeson
Hurley, Murphy, Howlett

Subs: Fogarty, du Preez, Botha, Holland, O'Donnell, Williams, Deasy, Zebo

Interesting team. Hard to know what to make of it really - a front row packed with experience or one that is over the hill??? Maifi and Gleeson - is Barnes injured?

Barnes has small hand injury - decided not to play him.

Du Preez and Botha are great front row subs to introduce.

Have the Scarlets forgotten this match? The website is all about taking Leinster on at home in the next match!

ha I know! There's a video to the side with Nige looking ahead to Munster. Guess the recent withdrawels in our backline has led to the delay in announcing the team. Hopefully we'll get it just after lunch today

Scarlets:

15 Dale Ford, 14 Lee Williams, 13 Rhodri Gomer Davies 12 Gareth Maule, 11 Andy Fenby, 10 Dan Newton, 9 Ruki Tipuna, 1 Iestyn Thomas (capt), 2 Kirby Myhill, 3 Rhys Thomas, 4 Lou Reed, 5 Dominic Day, 6 Rob McCusker, 7 Josh Turnbull, 8 Ben Morgan.

Replacements: Emyr Phillips, Phil John, Rhodri Jones, Aaron Shingler, Johnathan Edwards, Gareth Davies, Aled Thomas, Lee Rees.



Iestyn Thomas gets his 200th cap

1. I don't know who Dale Ford is.
2. Surprised Myhill is starting over Phillips
3. Glad Fenby is back starting
4. Congratulations to Iestyn!
5. We may very well get steam rollered.

Got to say am not that happy with those backs - if that is the team. And like Dreamer says I'm suprised Emyr isn't starting otherwise forwards is as expected. I hope Gomer can find, beg, steal or borrow some form and handling skills from somewhere.

Its a good set of forwards.

Smirnoff I cant see that Munster team hammering Scarlets. I would expect home advantage will see us take the win but its obviously almost two unrecognisable experimental teams.

Yeah I didn't think hammered but even though we've got a good set of forwards our backs are pretty shaky - and their handling has been poor in the last 2 games, so I was thinking a close loss (or even a win!) but now I think it will be a little bit more comfortable, not a hammering though

Smirnoff, you can easily win games with a better pack and shoddy backs. Its not so easy to do it other way around. Forwards win you games.

red_stag wrote:Smirnoff, you can easily win games with a better pack and shoddy backs. Its not so easy to do it other way around. Forwards win you games.

but we've been bred to do it the difficult way - we're not used to having shaky backs and a solid pack!!!

We're used to living off scraps and dancing around people! LOL

Also even though our pack is good I can't see us totally dominating you upfront as you have a pretty good team yourself.

Nobody was sin binned

How close to full strength was that scarlets pack? It must be slightly worrying how they were bullied around the pitch by a munster pack missing a few key players.

From an Irish point of view I thought that pom, sherry and keatley were very good. Hopefully when the hec cup starts pom will be starting at 7 until wally is back and will have shown enough in that time to keep a place in the backrow whether at 6 or 8. Sherry should be challenging for the Irish 22 by the six nations if he continues the way he is going.

A decent weekend for the Irish teams, even if we only went 2/4, some of the younger players are showing that they have the ability to step up to international level and hopefully a few of them will soon enough.

Watched it back again Sober today.... Sherry was superb and is nailing the the first choice spot (depending if we see Flan again)

P OMahony had another good game as did Coughlan. Am very impressed with Keatley who is proving me wrong.

Scrum looked like a weapon last night.

Its early days but it looks like our dominence of the ML is going to continue.

Good result somehow didn't get very wet at the match. I was impressed be Keatly he controlled the game very well. Young Gleeson looks handy as well.

Haven't seen the game but that was roughly Scarlets full strength pack except for Rees (or Owens behind him, or Emyr Phillips behind him) so our 4th choice Hooker. Am very disappointed with the score line, but can someone tell me if it was as bad as it sounds?