Munster v Ulster

First topic message reminder :

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

Thomond wrote:I agree with that, I love ROG but I think his time is up.

Absolutely no reason why he can't do for Munster what he is doing for Ireland. Keeping the 10 on his toes

I wouldn't disagree with this, if Ian gets into the team and stays there gains confidence and consistency he could be very good. He has a lot to learn re: game management still IMO.

I don't think Lualala can play 12 tbh never seen it anyways. It may be good having a heavy hitter at 12 anyways.

Good article there Stag.

I dont think Keatley will make the step up just yet. We need him to but I just have my doubts.

As I said earlier in this article it is Hanrahan I can see ending up at 10.

I agree again don't think Keatley is ready and there may well be a run of great game for him and people will think he has taken over the guard but then he may run into a bad spell and people will damn him, I think he just needs time in the team (the first team) in the big games and he has to learn. he has the potential.

Agree with the synopsis on earls it may just be a better fit, he may get the 14 shirt if Howlett can't come back as strong.

Any other ideas in terms of backs attack?
Discuss things they have to start doing rather than stop doing?

Thomond wrote:He will get cited I imagine. I thought it was a lot worst the first time I saw it. A couple weeks at most.

I am worried he will be cited and I think he should be. It was dangerous, and... ah feic it all. We need him!

Pete, its as simple as just working harder off the ball and running top support lines.

One of Leinsters tries at weekend was a joy to behold.

- 5 man lineout passed to Reddan. Reddan has got Sean O'Brien and Heaslip and the backline as options.

- He passes to Heaslip. Heaslip can pass to O'Brien, charge forward himself or pass to the backline.

- He passes to the backline, to Sexton. He has got Darcy and O'Driscoll as flat options for crash ball or loop, Kearney and Nacewa as a deep option for a long pass and Fitzgerald running an inside line.

- He passes inside to Fitz who has O'Drsiscoll on his right and has a 2 on 1 with Halfpenny. Easy try for BOD.

Its all about hard bloody work off the ball. What Musnters tries are coming from in the backs is a very simple but predictable passing through the hands.

Howlett is not just about pace. I rate him up there with the best wingers of all time because he was not only super quick but he has the brains and guile of BOD.

red_stag wrote:Pete, its as simple as just working harder off the ball and running top support lines.

One of Leinsters tries at weekend was a joy to behold.

- 5 man lineout passed to Reddan. Reddan has got Sean O'Brien and Heaslip and the backline as options.

- He passes to Heaslip. Heaslip can pass to O'Brien, charge forward himself or pass to the backline.

- He passes to the backline, to Sexton. He has got Darcy and O'Driscoll as flat options for crash ball or loop, Kearney and Nacewa as a deep option for a long pass and Fitzgerald running an inside line.

- He passes inside to Fitz who has O'Drsiscoll on his right and has a 2 on 1 with Halfpenny. Easy try for BOD.

Its all about hard bloody work off the ball. What Musnters tries are coming from in the backs is a very simple but predictable passing through the hands.

Thomond wrote:Do people remember Afoa's spear on Jones? Any thoughts on it? I think there might have been a stamping incident too,could have a big effect on the team for the semis. I thought it was a clear red and he deserves to be a gone for a good few weeks. Poite missed that one but he was decent enough throughout. Munster need Stringer back ASAP to teach Murray how to deliver quick ball, we're missing Howlett's vision in attack a lot and we need ROG to attack the gainline if we are to keep him.

Found a clip of the tackle not great quality but better than nothing

Spoiler:

I think this will not be cited. The tip was backwards, rather than Afoa forcing Jones forward. It will be argued that Jones' forward momentum contributed to the tip.

BTW the Leinster try I am referring to is here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbTtWEOdVrE

Skip to 2 minutes into vid.

It was a very well executed try Stag, it's a simple enough move to learn too.

Well not sure how much hard work was involved in that try Stag, that was very definitely a set play, no doubt about it. I understand what you mean though, I posted a description of backs moves we used to run earlier in this thread, with multi options so every option is not only an option but a decoy. Once they have done their job they turn into carrier/support player.

The moves were designed to work as such. The 10 (or 12 at times) then has to look for the space, the whole in the defence or the mismatch. A good 10 does that in a second and a bit while moving to the gainline.

Making set plays is one thing but doing them off the cuff and running intelligent lines by looking at the defence and the runs of other players on your team is obviously much harder to do because it is improvised.

Doing drills like 5 on 4's is the best training for that kinda thing albeit the success rate can be low

I'm a backs nerd ok!

red_stag wrote:BTW the Leinster try I am referring to is here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbTtWEOdVrE

Skip to 2 minutes into vid.

Man that is some sexy stuff

red_stag wrote:BTW the Leinster try I am referring to is here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbTtWEOdVrE

Skip to 2 minutes into vid.

Stag I thought it was poetry in motion. I referred to it on another thread as to how Ireland should be playing but with a different coach but got rebuked.

The first try is actually a better example.

Dummy run by a backrow creating the space and then another backrow works hard to create an added option in support. That is off the cuff and much harder to teach.

Rav, two conflicting styles fo play won it for Irish team this weekend. Ulster won it the Declan Kidney way (it's certainly the way Ireland play, maybe not the way Munster played under Deccie)

Ulster had a 9 who can control the game like few others though and in its simplest form it really was a game of two teams just bashing eachother. Seriously seriously intense though

Thomond I prefer to think that Ulster won it the only way they could on the day. The days for the loose play will come in the Semi-Final and Final

good man Rava!

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:good man Rava!

Especially against Leinster

It was really, it was easy to defend against but you have to admire Ulster's resolve and fitness in holding Munster at bay when so many others havent.

Oi now Rava we'll have none of that!

Also have to admire the discipline that is what normally wins Munster those games, huge physicality wave after wave leading to a penalty gaining points or territory

Yep. Not saying Ulster were saints but they did keep the Penalty count low in the areas where it mattered.

When Pienaar missed the penalty of the scrum binding I thought Ulster's cage was going to be rattled too much I guess that what's good about having so many leaders throughout the team.

Humphreys is a HUGE weak link though, he just isn't a top quality player!

Looking at the supporters site, there saying there's people in Fermanagh and from all over who want to go down to the game. I'm in heaven reading that! It takes a good run of form to get the bandwagon rolling, but when it does it brings the game of rugby to a whole new audience. What a wonderful few days it's been.

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:When Pienaar missed the penalty of the scrum binding I thought Ulster's cage was going to be rattled too much I guess that what's good about having so many leaders throughout the team.

Humphreys is a HUGE weak link though, he just isn't a top quality player!

Unfortunately Pete I have to agree. Can we go on and win a HC with him at 10? I don't really know.

Notch there were lads from Fermanagh beside us at the Tiger game. I also saw a few auld faces I recognised from round my way too. Met some fans from derry/londonderry(whatever ) at the hotel too.

The more successful Ulster are and the more publicity they get then the more fans they will attract, from across the spectrum. The sport is really growing in Letterkenny too.

In terms of Ulster tactics and attacking play.... its worth noting that we scored one more try than the mighty Leinster did at Thomond last weekend

I'll second Rodders on the Letterkenny thing! Guess the crap the Donegal GAA team have been playing has brought quite a few to the rugby playing ranks! But there'll be ones from all over the place on their way to Lansdowne. I'm hoping to get over from Glasgow!

Rava wrote:

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:When Pienaar missed the penalty of the scrum binding I thought Ulster's cage was going to be rattled too much I guess that what's good about having so many leaders throughout the team.

Humphreys is a HUGE weak link though, he just isn't a top quality player!

Unfortunately Pete I have to agree. Can we go on and win a HC with him at 10? I don't really know.

Bollix mes amis.

Twice Munster have been beaten at Thomond in the HEC EVER and IHumph is the common denominator. Coincidence?? I think not chaps, I think not......

I love you Rodders

Humphreys did alright yesterday and with a guy like Pienaar you can win a title with iHumph.

Interesting side note, I have cousins called David and Ian Humphreys. David is the older one too...

Thomond

There was an artical a while back that asked who would the next Irish talisman be once BOD retired. Well up step Ferris, the man is going to lead Ireland in the future without a doubt and will be a huge talisman.

roddersm wrote:Twice Munster have been beaten at Thomond in the HEC EVER and IHumph is the common denominator. Coincidence?? I think not chaps, I think not......

... and don't forget Thomond in January 09! Obviously Munster realise he's crap, target him in their team meetings and so forget about the other 14 on the pitch. Why can't every team be so accommodating?