Munster v Leinster

First topic message reminder :

The Leinster squad trained in UCD on Monday afternoon as attention switched back to the RaboDirect PRO12 and Saturday evening's interprovincial clash against Munster in Thomond Park (KO: 6.30pm)...

Brian O'Driscoll is available for selection after his unavailability in recent weeks and he could be joined by out-half Jonathan Sexton who has stepped up his rehabilitation in recent days after suffering a tear to a tendon in his foot last month.

With Shane Jennings in the frame after his late withdrawal from last Friday night's 48-28 Amlin Challenge Cup quarter final victory, the imminent return of the Ireland trio provides the squad with a major boost as they bid to secure a Play-off berth.

Fergus McFadden and Sean O'Brien completed their first full stint with the province after the Six Nations in High Wycombe in a game which also marked Mike Ross' first try of his professional career. Ian Madigan's 28-point haul has now taken him to 202 points in all competitions, in 26 games so far this season.

With the province's 'A' team booking a place in the British & Irish Cup semi finals on Sunday afternoon following their 30-26 victory over Bristol, Leinster will have two sides in action in the last weekend of April. There are no major injury concerns arising from that game though Andrew Boyle (knee) and Mark Flanagan (foot) will be assessed by the medical team this week after suffering knocks.

The Leinster team to face Munster will be named on Friday lunchtime.

Munster: F Jones; D Hurley, C Laulala, J Downey, S Zebo; I Keatley, C Murray; D Kilcoyne , D Varley, S Archer; Donncha O’Callaghan, P O’Connell capt; P O’Mahony, T O’Donnell , J Coughlan. Replacements: M Sherry, J Cronin, BJ Botha, B Holland, Dave O’Callaghan, C Sheridan, JJ Hanrahan, I Dineen.


LEINSTER:

15: Rob Kearney
14: Dave Kearney
13: Brian O'Driscoll
12: Gordon D'Arcy
11: Isa Nacewa
10: Ian Madigan
9: Isaac Boss

1: Cian Healy
2: Sean Cronin
3: Mike Ross
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Quinn Roux
6: Sean O'Brien
7: Shane Jennings
8: Jamie Heaslip

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Richardt Strauss
17: Jack McGrath
18: Michael Bent
19: Devin Toner
20: Kevin McLaughlin
21: John Cooney
22: Andrew Goodman
23: Andrew Conway

Jenno showing TOD the way at 7.

3 from 3. 0-9.

Here's what happened, tough call, 99% certain he grounded it but the footage isn't conclusive. 9-5 Leinster. Munster making some errors but look threatening going wide, Keatley is in for a try.


Here's the non-try, http://ballsdot.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/kearney.gif

Now La-la-la offloads. Good try Munster. Basterds.

Story T?

Correct link for non-try: http://balls.ie/rugby/gif-how-the-hell-did-rob-kearney-not-get-this-grounded/?utm_campaign=twitter&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitter


Also, Mike Ross, must be a Munster spy, urine poor attempt at a tackle.

Pishin down now. That suits Munster big-time.

Munster really can't play backs oriented rugby, now can they..........

Trip on a Leinster player! Ref!

Can someone PM me a decent link? My usual bets aren't working and I cant watch RTE outside of Ireland...

I distinctly remember Isa doing that a few years ago in Thomond, payback is a b!tch.

Mon Leinster. Get hauld of the ball.

Toner on is good. He should have started. Unmissable at the lineout.

Sent you one there RDW, but I'm on RTE HD so don't know what they're like.

Thomond wrote:Munster really can't play backs oriented rugby, now can they..........

Feic off you!

Playing good rugby T. Fair dues.

Munster back row totally dominating! Zebo having a stormer

Nigel owens having a bad game for once.

All week on here, and for the past two months at the club I have been talking about balance beating talent in the backrow, Munster's is as balanced as any club side in Ireland or Britain at the moment in my opinion.

Well Gibson, Shane 'Plays well against the turnip munchers' Jennings has been anonymous thus far.

Munster back row doing well, Leinster very calm in defence and exploiting turnover and turning them into territory.

Wind a massive factor! Owens getting on my wick now

WHAT? Jenno is dominating TOD. I dunno what game ye are watching at all.

A couple of reficulous calls by Nigel has cost us in this half but Munster are playing well.

Howya doin Blue? :LargeGuinnessOfDeTopShelf:

Lovin this add! Its brilliant!

Dominating, wouldn't agree, is he doing better yes, being a good number 7, is more than just poaching ball, it's about consistently slowing ball down about and being at pretty much every ruck when your team is going forward.


Ridiculous calls? RK try was inconclusiv. Jones' try, was obstruction, but Leinster have got a couple of those their way in time gone past (Chiefs game this year away, ISA got one a couple of years ago in Thomond), call it payback Karma or what have you.


Also since when have Leinster had a leaky defence? They are not defending well at all recently.

Some of the refereeing calls have really got under my skin, Kearney's should have been a try and Jones' shouldn't have been in my opinion. It has annoyed me I must say!

The first try shouldnt have been a try. The Munster player was clearly off his feet.

It balances out Isa's from a few years back. As for RK, 99% certain he scored but the footage was inconclusive, I blame the camera man. http://balls.ie/rugby/gif-how-the-hell-did-rob-kearney-not-get-this-grounded/

Why was jones not a try? And he has given a penalty against Pom for nothing!

2 tries to nil says it all

the way people are talking about it saying that he was standing his ground really pisses me off, he clearly took 2 steps to his left to make the block

Ah lads lets not turn into the Welsh here. Stop moanin about Nige.

I blame his backup on the touch-lines and in the Video room.

Good game so far. So much higher level than the Jeff.

Biggest game in the NH to be fair.

Thomond wrote:It balances out Isa's from a few years back. As for RK, 99% certain he scored but the footage was inconclusive, I blame the camera man. http://balls.ie/rugby/gif-how-the-hell-did-rob-kearney-not-get-this-grounded/

T, mate, I hate to say this, but you are slowly turning into SIN E with yer instant stats.

Nigel is one of the best refs in the world imo. Which is why its such a surprise he is missing these things.

Munster have the wind in the second half. Leinster need a massive performance to overcome that.

Munster defo the better team in the 1st half. But, we are a 2nd-half team TF.

Joe will ate them!

George hook just confirmed what I said Munster back row playing Leinster off the pitch

Ah Gibson, there is only one Sin E!

Notch wrote:Munster have the wind in the second half. Leinster need a massive performance to overcome that.

Just need to run more with the ball Notch. Simple.

Blocking has been creeping into the game for about 2 years (Leinster have used it several times, so don't be going all high and mighty now lads!) it is really annoying, surely the linesmen are seeing it at least sometimes?


To be fair this stat is in favour of Leinster, Sin's stats don't tend to be! The footage is unsure, it's extremely likely he got it down but you can't be sure.


Blue, Munster's backrow are playing well, but George Hook is not the source you want to be backing you up. He thought ROG gave a masterclass against Cardiff Blues in Musgrave Park this year ffs.

BlueMuff wrote:George hook just confirmed what I said Munster back row playing Leinster off the pitch

Well Blue... It must be so...

Great stuff Archer. We need him to come thorugh. Badly.

Gibson wrote:

BlueMuff wrote:George hook just confirmed what I said Munster back row playing Leinster off the pitch

Well Blue... It must be so...

Sin e

And now front row dominating

great play for Munster in build up to that penalty

SOB is a gobshite!

Tommy o donnell is an animal

Score and gametime please.

Great kick Keatley.

Gibson wrote:

Notch wrote:Munster have the wind in the second half. Leinster need a massive performance to overcome that.

Just need to run more with the ball Notch. Simple.

It's goal kicking could be the issue. Plus your lineout has been creaking. Sorry- I see this going the way of the Munster men!

Rub my face in it if I'm wrong.

Must start Toner in every game. Bit more aggression and he'll be de biz.

Why are we taking off Healy!?!?!

Notch wrote:

Gibson wrote:

Notch wrote:Munster have the wind in the second half. Leinster need a massive performance to overcome that.

Just need to run more with the ball Notch. Simple.

It's goal kicking could be the issue. Plus your lineout has been creaking. Sorry- I see this going the way of the Munster men!

Rub my face in it if I'm wrong.

Oh I will bud. I will.

Leinster starting to gel now.

Love the Munster crowd. Hushing the newbees at place kicks. Respect.

Strauss in. Game on.

Gibson wrote:

Notch wrote:

Gibson wrote:

Notch wrote:Munster have the wind in the second half. Leinster need a massive performance to overcome that.

Just need to run more with the ball Notch. Simple.

It's goal kicking could be the issue. Plus your lineout has been creaking. Sorry- I see this going the way of the Munster men!

Rub my face in it if I'm wrong.

Oh I will bud. I will.

Leinster starting to gel now.

Love the Munster crowd. Hushing the newbees at place kicks. Respect.

Strauss in. Game on.