Glasgow Warriors v Munster, Scotstoun, Friday 29 March, 20:05 hrs

First topic message reminder :

Huge game for the Warriors. Shaping up to be bitterly cold. Ints all back for both sides. C'mon Munstermen. Youse have been awful shy recently

WARRIORS

Other than Ryan (for DOC presumably), POM and Connor Murray, is this not full strength (injuries aside)?

It is - Missing through injury Earls, Hurley & Zebo. Zebo will be back next week though.

I disagree that this is a full strength Munster team - this is definitely a concession with one eye to the HC next week. Pack is still very strong, though.

Williams against Matawalu is one of the most eye-popping mismatches I've seen this season.

If we can't take all the points here with that Glasgow team playing at home, then we really cannot consider ourselves legitimate title contenders.

Mickado wrote:Williams and ROG - ouch.

If Munster win this I would be very surprised! They've obviously got one eye on next week.

You'd think they would do us and Ulster a favour.

Ok, so not really a selection "with an eye on next week", but rather full strength with three exceptions, and arguably Murray is being rested after picking up a knock on Ireland duty.

funnyExiledScot wrote:Ok, so not really a selection "with an eye on next week", but rather full strength with three exceptions, and arguably Murray is being rested after picking up a knock on Ireland duty.

You say 'potato'...

George Carlin wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:Ok, so not really a selection "with an eye on next week", but rather full strength with three exceptions, and arguably Murray is being rested after picking up a knock on Ireland duty.

You say 'potato'...

You mean I'm right and you're wrong.

Oh god why Williams!

red_stag wrote:Oh god why Williams!

I've not seen this guy play, but in Matawalu he'll have his hands full. Matawalu is an extremely aggressive attacking scrum half, and completely unorthodox. The Munster 9 will need his wits about him. Boss was excellent against Matawalu in the Leinster match.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

George Carlin wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:Ok, so not really a selection "with an eye on next week", but rather full strength with three exceptions, and arguably Murray is being rested after picking up a knock on Ireland duty.

You say 'potato'...

You mean I'm right and you're wrong.

FES I can't describe how bad Duncan Williams is. No player turning in the level of dross every week that he does ever deserves this many chances.

funnyExiledScot wrote:Ok, so not really a selection "with an eye on next week", but rather full strength with three exceptions, and arguably Murray is being rested after picking up a knock on Ireland duty.

One key exception - Murray. With no Murray, any analysis that Quins will do will be pointless!

(Murray did seem to think he was fit for this weekend in an interview).

Munster haven't a hope of making the playoffs now.

Great to see that 'the 3rd Irish team' can draw the biggest crowd for Glasgow this season.

I'd imagine we will be a very different animal next week when we bring in Conor Murray, Donnacha Ryan, Peter O'Mahony and probably Simon Zebo.

Not great preparation for next week at all.

red_stag wrote:FES I can't describe how bad Duncan Williams is. No player turning in the level of dross every week that he does ever deserves this many chances.

Total agree Stag. What is sheridan like. i saw his offload for POC last week but other than that know nothing about him

He's a good player. Doesn't look international class to me but has a good pass and knows a thing or two about tempo. One dimensional enough but good at what he does. With Stringer away he is our clear backup to Murray.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

MacKnocked-on wrote:Who's the goal kicker in the Glasgow team, Horne and Jackson aren't exactly reliable? Does Toonie think we can go for a try fest against Munster?

I personally would go with Jackson ahead of Horne, but I agree that goal kicking could be an issue here. I can only assume that Toonie wants his 5 points. It does have the feel of a "going for broke" team selection. There was a strong case to go with Pyrgos and Weir to start - a bit more structure.

Still, can't wait to see this one unfold. Both sides will be looking for 5 points, as Munster have quite a bit of ground to make up to get into the playoffs, and will want to get the 1st XV firing on all cylinders going into the HC.

Apparently Rhubarb's kicking %s have been good in training, so lets hope he can maintain that under pressure.

I hope this doesn't come across as arrogant - if Glasgow don't take 4 table points from this, the. They don't deserve to make the playoffs - this is as good a chance as they'll get against Munster and after last week, it would seem that the squad are keen to put the show back on the road

If i was Munster coach, i would have gone full strenght same team that will start against Quins. Also, where is Stander? He isn't going to adapt to NH rugby if he isn't given gametime.

As for Glasgow, I'm really surprised to see Ofa, i would have Reid or even Kalman ahead of him, maybe they wanted to give him a last go before he leaves.

Can I request a favour of the Glasgow fans?

Can you put the name of the player you’re talking about in your post. Naming players purely using Nicknames (rather than abbreviations) makes it pretty tough to follow who you’re talking about!

I would also include Scarlets fans in that.

Much obliged.

Will ROG be 1st choice against Quins if he is starting tomorrow?

And should he be?

the-goon wrote:Will ROG be 1st choice against Quins if he is starting tomorrow?

Probably will.

the-goon wrote:And should he be?

I don't really think so (though credit to him he played well against Connacht)

jimbopip wrote:So first up... Welcome groundsman. You seem genuinely weird and borderline deranged. You'll feel at home here.
Secondly... Mrs Pip has eviscerated a raven and studied the entrails and it seems we are safe to travel northwards by public highway on Friday morn. I broached the subject of donning posh frocks and nosebags for a birthday treat that evening and she said to leave it till Saturday. I began to hint that maybe I would give her and her mother time alone to peruse the old one's latest ASBO when Mrspip cried out, "Where's the game?"
And some men say their wives don't understand them.
So it's Scotstoun for me on Friday I think.
Schiz, if your offer's still open let me know. Anyone else fancy a shandy?

Jimbo old son,

have PMed ya

Toonie quote for ASBO and fES benefit re

“There are a number of players unlucky to miss out this week, notably the likes of Ed Kalman and Peter Murchie who put in big performances against Leinster. Mark Bennett has been in cracking form for Scotland U20s and been doing well in training so he deserves his chance to be involved tomorrow night.

Mickado wrote:Can I request a favour of the Glasgow fans?

Can you put the name of the player you’re talking about in your post. Naming players purely using Nicknames (rather than abbreviations) makes it pretty tough to follow who you’re talking about!

I would also include Scarlets fans in that.

Much obliged.

Mick, apologies, I am almost certainly the worst culprit, Rhubarb is Jackson, Meatball is Weir, AlphabetSoup is DtH vdMerwe, Toonie is Townsend, the Ruck Inspector is Kellock, the Messiah is Bennett (the new BOD), Schlong is S Lamont, China is R Lamont, Swinsonator is Swinson, Wrecking Rob is Harley - think that's it

Cus is Cusiter, not Cusack, who's Coo.

Pat_Mustard wrote:Cus is Cusiter, not Cusack, who's Coo.

Is Coo = Cusack? Because we pronounce it "Queue Zack" perhaps the Scots call it "Coo Sack" like the yanks

Well that's how I say it but it's probably wrong. Is it an Irish name? The only other one I know is John Cusack, so I say it the way I've heard his name pronounced.

'Ofa' is Fainga'anuku, or 'sir' if you value your ability to walk.
'G-Dog' is Morrison, though only he knows why.
'Fozzy' is Chris Fusaro
'Bluto' is Josh Strauss

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

Pat_Mustard wrote:Cus is Cusiter, not Cusack, who's Coo.

Is Coo = Cusack? Because we pronounce it "Queue Zack" perhaps the Scots call it "Coo Sack" like the yanks

Coo is slang for cow (ie a highland coo), and is more to do with the fact Mike Cusack weighs in at almost 21 stone.

Niko is Mr N. Matawalu, 12 stones of Fijian firecracker gallusness.

The Ginger Tackle Monster is Mr Robert Harley, 17 stones of Stirlingshire daisycutter.

Big Gordy is Mr Gordon Reid, our young Ayrshire tighthead.

Gezzy is Mr Gerwyn Price, our excellent young hooker from Cross Keys.

And the Bag of Sh!te is Mr Graham Morrison.

GC,

Bob Harley is from Milngavie, Dunbartonshire

Gordon Reid =Shrek

Pat_Mustard wrote:Well that's how I say it but it's probably wrong. Is it an Irish name? The only other one I know is John Cusack, so I say it the way I've heard his name pronounced.

According to Wiki

"Cusack is an Irish family name of Norman origin, originally from Cussac in Guienne (Aquitaine), France. The surname died out in England, but is common in Ireland, where it was imported at the time of the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century."

We deffo pronounce it "Queue Zack" over here, but the yanks call it "Coo Sack"

Mick - you're right. We do use quite a lot of nicknames.

GC, Price has gone back to Wales now, but has been invited to return to train with the Warriors during summer pre-training with the possibility of a full contract on offer

Gordon Reid is also Goon, for his propensity to pull faces like a goon... Good lad though, and I'd not get on his bad side!

Muzza is Moray Low. Patman is McArthur

It seems like the only player we don't have a nickname for is Mr Maitland.

Might I suggest 'No Maits'?

Hornee furra linee !!
Itza as in it's a bit Murchie.
No, even I want to apologise for that last one.

Don't apologize Jimbo old man!

I have a recording of the Alba commentator shouting 'Matawalooo' as my text ringtone. My colleagues are... confused.

Nice buzz in here.

Id have had Warriors as large favourites for this one. POC coming back so strong will make it more difficult. He envigorates Munster like BOD does Leinster.

But Glasgow have already proved who they really are v last years HC Finalists.

They are the real deal.

Watched the Leinster game again. Warriors really feicin blew it.

Given the amount of possession they own in games, if only could they get even more clinical in attack, they could win this whole gig.

Glasgow by 10.

Plug
Church
Jenno
Reddser
BOD
SOB
Iosa
Locky
Sexytoes
Maddser
Dorce
Loverug
Shaggy
Chilli
K II
Ferg
Domo
Anto
Jizz
Moisty

The Leinster list goes on.

Gibson wrote:Plug
Church
Jenno
Reddser
BOD
SOB
Iosa
Locky
Sexytoes
Maddser
Dorce
Loverug
Shaggy
Chilli
K II
Ferg
Domo
Anto
Jizz
Moisty

The Leinster list goes on.

Gib - if there isn't already a student band called 'Loverug and Moisty', then there really should be.

Gib, did you make Jizz and Moisty up, you naughty man

There's nothing worse than people making up their own nicknames - G-dog sounds a prime example and I'm pretty sure Mike Blair gave himself the 'Blade' nickname - hence we he had the urine taken out of him for during the last lions tour!

An interesting one for me is the Irish players abbreviations.

I don't know anyone who calls Sean O'Brien "Sob" yet on forums we often abbreviate it to SOB. It isn't a nickname per say.

Same with Paul O'Connell. His nickname is and always has been Paulie. Its how he is known by the other players. Although we write POC nobody calls him "Pock"

However Ronan O'Gara has always been "Rodge" - the phonetic of ROG.

The nickname that stuck more than any other I think is Peter "Claw" Clohessy. I don't know anyone who calls him anything other than Claw.

Bull Hayes is another.

Stag - I think people like to use abbreviations because DoC is a lot easier to write than Donncha O'callaghan!

The nickname that I think describes a player perfectly has to be 'Chunk' - aka Alan Jacobson!

RDW - I use abbreviations all the time for the same reason.

Just making the point that the abbreviations we use are often not their nicknames.

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:Gib, did you make Jizz and Moisty up, you naughty man

I believe he doesn't "make jizz" as much any more. The best he can manage is to "moisty up" a couple of times a week.

On the game itself, ROG was half decent last week but still annoyed to see him start. As for Williams how he is playing professional rugby is a mystery, he doesn't have one outstanding characteristic and is average at most things. Decent enough team besides that, capable of winning but probably won't

Thomond wrote:On the game itself, ROG was half decent last week but still annoyed to see him start. As for Williams how he is playing professional rugby is a mystery, he doesn't have one outstanding characteristic and is average at most things. Decent enough team besides that, capable of winning but probably won't

You're being far too kind there Thomond. He is useless at most things. If he was average he would be somewhat acceptable.

Our of interest Thomond what do you think our best 23 man squad is at the minute.

My own view is that our best team is:

01 Dave Kilcoyne
02 Mike Sherry
03 BJ Botha
04 Donnacha Ryan
05 Paul O'Connell
06 Peter O'Mahony
07 Tommy O'Donnell
08 James Coughlan
09 Conor Murray
10 Ian Keatley
11 Simon Zebo
12 James Downey
13 Keith Earls
14 Doug Howlett
15 Denis Hurley

16 Damien Varley
17 Wian du Preez
18 Stephen Archer
19 Donncha O'Callaghan
20 CJ Stander
21 Cathal Sheridan
22 Ronan O'Gara
23 Casey Laulala

Its actually not that far off what we have out against Glasgow. We have most of our starting pack which is always a good sign. The pack decides if you win or lose, the backs decide by how much is the old adage.

However we have two big issues IMO. One is our lack of pace in the backline and the second is a horrendous half back pairing.

If Munster are to win this game it will be by strangling the Glasgow pack and nailing every penalty opportunity that comes their way.