HEC Semi-Final Toulon v Munster, Stade Velodrome, Marseille

First topic message reminder :

KO 16.30 (local time; 15.30 YTC) Sunday April 27th.  Yet another Day of Destiny for Munster Rugby.

So far the only participants we know for definite are
Referee:  Wayne Barnes

ARs:  JP Doyle; Luke Pearce

TMO: Graham Hughes.

All the officials are from England.

Friday 25th - edited with team announcements.

Toulon
Delon Armitage;
Drew Mitchell, Mathieu Bastareaud, Matt Giteau, Bryan Habana;
Jonny Wilkinson (c), Sebastien Tillous-Borde;
Xavier Chiocci, Craig Burden, Carl Hayman,
Danie Rossouw, Jocelino Suta,
Juan Smith, Juan Fernandez Lobbe, Steffon Armitage.
Remplaçants : Jean-Charles Orioli, Alexandre Menini, Martin Castrogiovanni, Virgile Bruni, David Smith, Maxime Mermoz, Michael Claassens, Konstantine Mikautadze.

Munster
Felix Jones;
Keith Earls, Casey Laulala, James Downey, Simon Zebo;
Ian Keatley, Conor Murray;
Dave Kilcoyne, Damien Varley Capt., BJ Botha;
Dave Foley, Paul O'Connell;
CJ Stander, Sean Dougall, James Coughlan.
Replacements: Duncan Casey, James Cronin, John Ryan, Donncha O'Callaghan, Tommy O'Donnell, Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan, Denis Hurley.

As my stomach is already churning when I think of Sunday, I thought I would start the ball rolling on the topic.

Munster Abú

Great kick to settle the nerves

3-3 Game on

Nice choke tackle.

Felix 'Mr Gass' Jones getting hit hard by Basteruad is not what you want to see

Anyone understanding Barnes' rulings at the scrum? The franch commentators also seem bemused...

Nope, but it needs to be sorted out quickly. Havent completed one yet.

Yellow card looming from Barnes. I am not so sure about his control at the scrums to be honest.

Gah...Killer needs to be subbed...if the ref dont like you thats it....its actually the main difference at the moment.

The Munster loose head is 'hinging' rather than stepping back when the pressure comes on. That's what Barnes is seeing/saying anyway.

Nachos Jones wrote:Yellow card looming from Barnes. I am not so sure about his control at the scrums to be honest.

I'm not so sure of Kilcoyne's ability to scrummage, he can't stay up.

Its just silly stuff at the moment from Munster...tighten up ffs.

ME-109 wrote:Gah...Killer needs to be subbed...if the ref dont like you thats it....its actually the main difference at the moment.

100% agree. I cant see what he is doing to be honest but it looks as if Barnes has targeted him so maybe an early bench for him.

Barnes needs to get control pf the game.

Yellow card for that?

He was going for the ball, totally unintentional.

I think that is the correct decision

Wow thats harsh

I got the impression the TMO didn't think it warranted a yellow card.

Big 10 minutes from for Munster here.  Need to take advantage and put points on the board and go in ahead at the break.

Rugby Fan wrote:I got the impression the TMO didn't think it warranted a yellow card.

I suspect you are correct.

Munster had to collect that.

nice dg

Crazy decision to give a yellow. Why are refs giving cards for accidental collisions these days? Why does the Toulon player get a yellow and not the Munster player? Both involved in an accidental collision.

Is it possible that the scrums are now worse than last year?

Scrums are a lottery

I think it's worthy of a yellow because it was a cynical bit of play coming in from the side with Munster on the front foot in the opposition 22 not because of the collision.

Good from Keatley. Keeping his bottle so far

cakeordeath wrote:I think it's worthy of a yellow because it was a cynical bit of play coming in from the side with Munster on the front foot in the opposition 22 not because of the collision.

I am a Munster fan and in no way did that warrant a yellow card. Barnes has given the yellow card for the collision, not for coming in at the side. Poor decision to be honest.

But Barnes gave it for the collision. he said he wasnt careful enough but because there was no 'intent' it was only a yellow.

Harsh yellow but however...

Still stupid mistakes from Munster....

cakeordeath wrote:I think it's worthy of a yellow because it was a cynical bit of play coming in from the side with Munster on the front foot in the opposition 22 not because of the collision.

Fair enough, it was very cynical. But the ref said he gave the card because he collided accidentally with Murray. Stupid reason to send someone to the bin imho.

Yeah feckless I agree. That's why I clarified my earlier post.

Munster are making far too many mistakes. They have to tighten up at half time

Too many unforced knockons from munster

Great kick.

Already too much to do I feel. Toulon are simply too strong.

Barnes is having a mare though, for both sides. Has zero control in this match.

Deplorable game of rugby and it has a lot to do with the scrums. They really are beginning to destroy the game.

It is a shoite game and neither team look capable of breaking the defence. Too many mistakes and not enough control of the ball for Munster....disappointing because they are there for the taking.

Feckless Rogue wrote:

cakeordeath wrote:I think it's worthy of a yellow because it was a cynical bit of play coming in from the side with Munster on the front foot in the opposition 22 not because of the collision.

Fair enough, it was very cynical. But the ref said he gave the card because he collided accidentally with Murray. Stupid reason to send someone to the bin imho.

Totally agree,it's consistent with the Payne ruling but imo it's ruining the game if you can't compete for the ball.It was a yellow for the cynical nature of the foul but not the collision.

Very scrappy so far.

Wouldnt mind seeing TOD on in the second half. Munster need to compete at the breakdown better.

TOD on from the start....Cronin and JJ on with 30 to go.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Deplorable game of rugby and it has a lot to do with the scrums. They really are beginning to destroy the game.

I agree somewhat with that but its also inconsistent refereeing of the scrums that causes this confusion and ruins games. For me, Barnes is one of the worst at scrum time.

Even Leinster were only 6-6 at half time and they had been under the cosh completely. Toulon have only got in our 22 once and are 9 points up

That was some kick by armitage!

If Munster don't tighten up they could lose by 25+ without Toulon crossing the try line.

Time for behind the Sofa for the second half...

True ME but Munster's only chance in this match is to shut down the handling errors and gain some element of control. This is where we miss POM the most.

As much as I want Munster to win, I also would like to see Jonny Wilkinson bow out with another HC victory, have so much respect for the man.

Nachos Jones wrote:True ME but Munster's only chance in this match is to shut down the handling errors and gain some element of control. This is where we miss POM the most.

Leadership on the field is missing for sure....

Jaysus, that was not good from Earls...

No try

Earls.......................................................................

ZEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeebbbbbbbbbbbbooooooooooooo