Munster v Ulster

Well what a difference a few days make. Leinster stroll past Munster in Thomond, Ulster cruise past Airioni and now definitely fancy their chances on Sunday and rightly so.

My Munster team if players available would be

1. Wian Du Preez
2. Mike Sheery
3. BJ
4. DOC1
5. POC
6. DR
7. POM
8. Coughlan
9. Murray
10. ROG
11. ZEBO
12. Maifi
13. Earls
14. Hurley
15. Jones

Pretty much picks itself bar hooker and back row. Line out was just so bad that Varley has to pay the price. May not have been all his fault but Sherry has been knocking on the door and deserves a shot at this level.

DOC2 had a solid game but I think the partnership of POC and DOC should stand us well. DR to the back row.

Rodders Ulster team

15 Terblanche
14 Trimble
13 Cave
12 Wallace
11 Gilroy
10 IHumph
9 Pienaar
8 Wannenburg
6 Diack
7 Henry
5 Touhy
4 Muller
3 Afoa
2 Best
1 Court

I like the team BM. I suppose bench is then Varley, Horan, Archer, O'CallaghanV2, O'Donnell, O'Leary, Keatley, Murphy

What is the story injury wise...my understanding is DR and POC will be available but Murray is struggling...

What about Hurley as he cried off the team last weekend as well.

Otherwise its the best possible team available

DOD, I thought it was Ryan and Murray who would play but POC is struggling.

What I want to know about is Wallace? Did he get a new injury. He's played two matches for us. Will he make the bench?

Story on Wallace was that the Knee didnt hold up (dont think it was a new injury) so that he wasnt 100%....could be an associated muscle injury with it or something - or maybe just precautionary.

So he will be definitely out?

Judging on him not even on the bench on Sat I think you can safely rule Wallace out.

POC must start no matter what. Even if 70% fit and I would not normally advocate that type of desparation.

Hurley has been having a great season and his physicality was missed on Sat. Really hope he is back.

Bench looks weak enough but with all the injuries its the best we have.

Don't think the Rabo games will have much bearing on this BlueMuff, Munster will start as heavy favourites. Ulster have almost a full deck and are in good form though.

I think the Ulster team will be something like:

15 Terblanche
14 Trimble
13 Cave
12 Wallace
11 Gilroy
10 IHumph
9 Pienaar
8 Wannenburg
6 Diack
7 Henry
5 Touhy
4 Muller
3 Afoa
2 Best
1 Court

Bench: Macklin, Kyriacou, Fitzpatrick, Stevenson, Faloon, Marshall, Whitten, D'arcy

Should be a cracker

Rodders - surely Ferris will be playing?

Not sure stag, BM said he was a serious doubt after the Aironi game.

Haven't heard any news since.

Twisted his ankle - not sure how serious it is.

IT STARTS.

Honestly, I think that Munster have lost a little bit more of their aura this season.

It started a while back, but when Harliquins beat them in Europe in Thormond took a lot of shine off Munsters invinceable aura, then the loses to Aironi and Leinster, mean that Ulster will go into this game thinking that a win is very possible.

A few years ago a team going to Thomond wouldn't have had so much belief.

Ulster are the form team in the League, I think Munster will be wary but not worried by Ulster. (only team that worries them is Leinster, and they worry everyone).

for me if Ferris isn't fit

15 Terblanche
14 Trimble
13 Cave
12 Wallace
11 Gilroy
10 IHumph
9 Pienaar
8 Wannenburg
6 Henry
7 Faloon
5 Touhy
4 Muller
3 Afoa
2 Best
1 Court

Bench: Macklin, Kyriacou, Fitzpatrick, Stevenson, Diack, Marshall, Whitten, D'arcy

I think a win is very much possible... but it will take a performance of epic proportions to have a chance, even better than we played in Clermont.

Anything else and we'll be tanked I fear.

This isn't the Munster side of a few seasons ago but they didn't finish top seeds for nothing and they are above us in the Rabo too. They have some seriously good players and plenty of pace out wide.

We are up against it but there is more steel and maturity about this Ulster side than last season.

If Ferris isn't fit Faloon must start, I would not fancy Diack starting that game.

No I don't think so Rory. Henry will be training all week at 7 so its more disruptive to switch him and bring in Willy, whos such a different player.

It sounds like we are going to take on the Munster pack and are preparing to focus on defense rather than throw the ball around like we did against Aironi.

I think Diack will be used as a like for like replacement at 6.

Ferris will be a big loss as a ball carrier, hence I think Tuohy will get the nod ahead of Stevenson.

Ulster are favourites and rightly so, Ferris will play, I'm 90% certain he will.

Thomond, Im not sure most people are considering Ulster to be favourites.

roddersm wrote:No I don't think so Rory. Henry will be training all week at 7 so its more disruptive to switch him and bring in Willy, whos such a different player.

It sounds like we are going to take on the Munster pack and are preparing to focus on defense rather than throw the ball around like we did against Aironi.

I think Diack will be used as a like for like replacement at 6.

Ferris will be a big loss as a ball carrier, hence I think Tuohy will get the nod ahead of Stevenson.

How does that work? Diack is an 8, not a 6 (rubbish at both). Henry can play all across the back row, while Faloon is a 7.

How can Ulster be favourites against Munster at Thomond Park??

Sounds like there's some mind games afoot here....

Plus, Faloon, Henry and Wannenburg did really well in Ferris' absence the other day, would you not say?

Rory_Gallagher wrote:
How does that work? Diack is an 8, not a 6. Henry can play all across the back row, while Faloon is a 7.

Diack has played 6 more than 8 this season. I think we will go for size rather than mobility. I wouldn't mind seeing Faloon but I think that would mean adjusting the gameplan.

Fair enough rodders, I am just not really a fan of Diack these days. I thought Faloon and co did brilliantly the other day.

paddy power

Munster 1/3
Ulster 23/10

William Hill

Munster 2/7
Ulster 5/2

Bet fair
Munster 1.4
Ulster 3.15


Ulster not even close to being favourites, can actually say that Ulster are definatly underdogs for this game.

Ulster come in with form, of course they are favourites. Munster missing 2 more starters and half a team through injuries, they are underdogs. Bookies, only tell you so much Kingshu.

Maybe you're right Rory. Personally I'd just prepare if Ferris is fit!

roddersm wrote:Maybe you're right Rory. Personally I'd just prepare if Ferris is fit!

I've read different opinions on his condition. Not sure who to believe..

Jeebus Thomond I hope you're right sir! 5/2 on the favourites! Could be a tough weekend for William Hill

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

roddersm wrote:Maybe you're right Rory. Personally I'd just prepare if Ferris is fit!

I've read different opinions on his condition. Not sure who to believe..

What have you heard Rory?

Hey where the flip is Geoff??????

Well apparently his ankle was a lot more swollen than they thought after seeing the incident, and a man of his size rolling his ankle, that is a one way ticket to a stress fracture on the metatarsal.. on the other hand I have heard reports that he should pull through. A few people on here have said things about it over the past few days, so hopefully they will pop in and tell us

To be fair Diack may just need a big game to get worked up for and return to being the player he was, maybe turing out against glasow etc just doesn't get him going. A run out in a big game against a big team, get worked up play his best game ever, and rediscover his love for the game, meaning he puts the effort in against the likes of Glasgow next year.

Thomond,

Most people still think Munster will win. They have vastly more experience in HEC knockout rugby, they have the Thomond Park factor and they are doing better than Ulster in both Europe and Pro 12 this year.

Recent form and injuries to key players makes it a very very nervy weekend for us Munster fans but really the neutrals will consider us favourites.

Stag, of course I know that, the informed people will think differently. I am pretty afraid to be honest.

Kingshu wrote:To be fair Diack may just need a big game to get worked up for and return to being the player he was, maybe turing out against glasow etc just doesn't get him going. A run out in a big game against a big team, get worked up play his best game ever, and rediscover his love for the game, meaning he puts the effort in against the likes of Glasgow next year.

Diack has improved with ball in hand for sure, he is starting to show some of that old skill he once had. My main problem with him though is his tackling. He has really been weak in the tackle, and what summed it up for me was the Leinster-Ulster match with the young ones, where Diack was missing tackles that teenagers and players in their early 20s were able to make, despite being much smaller.

Is it fair to say that the pressure is on Munster here? They are at home and a loss for them would be much worse than for us?

under pressure... dum dum dum de de dum... under pressure ....

Im afraid before every big Munster match. Its part of the fun.

Honestly during most Munster matches I go through about 100 different emotions, my face turns 8 different colours and I have to change my pants twice each half.

I'm usually screaming at a ref/resident by-stander. I end up punching a programme/someone at times. It's not as bad as Cork Gaa/Cork City matches though. On a bad day, you don't want to know what happens.....

Stag I agree with Thomond. Most neutrals I talk with are tipping Ulster to win. Bookies are half going on Munsters record in Thomond in HC but this means nothing on Sunday.

This is where Munster have to dig deep and go to the well one more time.

Crowd also have a huge part to play. If it gets tense and nervy the players will sense this. We must get right behind them.

Thomond wrote:Ulster come in with form, of course they are favourites. Munster missing 2 more starters and half a team through injuries, they are underdogs. Bookies, only tell you so much Kingshu.

True bookies only tell you so much.

The itnial odds are framed by professionals, with expert rugby knowledge, with the likley propablites (weighted to make profit), these starter odds are then influenced by the weight of public opinion (in the form of hard cash) to get prob the closest realistic probablites we can get.

But you can't relastically argue in any way shape or form that Munster are under dogs.

If you reverse the odds and give me 5/2 on Munster for £10

I'll hold £10 on Ulster at 2/7 for you.

Munster are favourites because they are home and it will less than five points either way.

Are we going to talk each other up all week and compete for the battling underdogs tag? Because both sets of fans love it when they can claim to have won against the odds. It's so much more satisfying.

And for Ulster, the odds are certainly against us. We're going into the lions den, the fortress of European Rugby, and to come away with a win would truly be the stuff of legend. The legacy of Thomond Park, the weight of being favourites, is probably quite a lot of pressure on Munsters shoulders.

I agree Notch, if Ulster win it would be maybe the greatest win in the professional era.

If Munster win it would be business as usual.

No way are Munster underdogs.

red_stag wrote:Thomond,

Most people still think Munster will win. They have vastly more experience in HEC knockout rugby, they have the Thomond Park factor and they are doing better than Ulster in both Europe and Pro 12 this year.

Recent form and injuries to key players makes it a very very nervy weekend for us Munster fans but really the neutrals will consider us favourites.

Well this neutral considers Munster still favourites despite their dire performance on Saturday - but at 23/10 against Ulster is a bloody good bet especially if Ferris is fit to play. Huge amount depends on POC and Ryan being fit - if they're not then Muller and Tuohy could cause as much havoc with your lineout as Thorn, Toner and Cullen did no Saturday. And if Munster really want to with they really have to start du Preez - the thought of Horan against Afoa is a scary prospect given the number Mike Ross did on him on Saturday.

The fact that Munster never looked like scoring a try on Saturday is a real worry and if the same happens v Ulster then they're going to be looking to ROG to kick them to a win. Despite all that, still Munster will win - but I'm still sticking a tenner on Ulster!!!

brennomac Ulster 3/1 with boyle sports

Thomond sorry if came across badly earlier I agree that the bookies have this priced up wrong, Ulster at 3/1 if far to big, and well worth a £10, but while I agree it's wrong I don't think a case can be made for Ulster being underdogs.

If you want to offer Munster to win at 10/11 and Ulster at 11/10, then you would be inundated with people wanting to back Munster, and thats still with Ulster being the underdog, there isn't ever a chance its that close.

I don't think 3/1 is too long odds for a side that hasn't reached a SF in 13 seasons.

Definitely worth a flutter though .

I agree with everything Brenomac has posted. Munster are certainly favourites but theres plenty of reasons to fancy Ulster to pull off an upset.

roddersm wrote:I don't think 3/1 is too long odds for a side that hasn't reached a SF in 13 seasons.

Definitely worth a flutter though .

I agree with everything Brenomac has posted. Munster are certainly favourites but theres plenty of reasons to fancy Ulster to pull off an upset.

Thats the way I feel about it too.

BlueMuff wrote:Stag I agree with Thomond. Most neutrals I talk with are tipping Ulster to win. Bookies are half going on Munsters record in Thomond in HC but this means nothing on Sunday.

This is where Munster have to dig deep and go to the well one more time.

Crowd also have a huge part to play. If it gets tense and nervy the players will sense this. We must get right behind them.

The performance was very disappointing on Sat. I still think the issue is momentum with this team and building of confidence. Ulster will be as physical as Leinster and could cause a lot of problems for us if we are not able to counter it. We need big games from the leaders...50/50 in my view.

Just noticed this thread for the first time, saw there was 40 + comments so had a look. Realize it’s mostly Munster fans saying that Ulster are favourites and Ulster fans saying Munster are favourites.

I’ll drop back in when the teams are out.

Mickado wrote:Just noticed this thread for the first time, saw there was 40 + comments so had a look. Realize it’s mostly Munster fans saying that Ulster are favourites and Ulster fans saying Munster are favourites.

I’ll drop back in when the teams are out.

Kidney has taught us all well.

Excuse me I climbed down from the fence had a look and climbed back up and said 50/50...

Im surprised by your 50-50 call DOD.

I think Munster will win the game in spite of everything but we will have to ride our luck somewhat.