Harlequin FC vs Munster - the Heinken Cup QF at the Stoop

First topic message reminder :

Munster, 4 times HEC Champions but a team in flux, take on Quins, past Amlin Champions and Aviva Premiership Champions, at the Stoop on 2pm on Sunday. The two have met before, in Ireland, when Quins surprised the rugby world in beating Munster en route to winning the 2nd tier European Cup in 2011. This time Quins are the favourites but in shaky form and on the back of 3 defeats in the Premiership in a row, whilst Munster were trounced by Glasgow last week. Munster know what it takes to win at this level and could easily upset Quins to win but Quins looked to have their attacking mojo back and just lacked compusure toward the end against Gloucester. THe last time Quins were at this stage in the HEC, it was against an Irish side, Leinster, and the Bloodgate scandal from that match saw them fall from grace and Dean Richards banned form the game for 2 years. The Quins side is quite similar to that disgraced team and the man who was caught cheating, Tom Williams, starts in what will be an epic but hopefully non-controversial encounter

Quins-

"Harlequins have announced the team that will play Munster at The Stoop in the Heineken Cup quarter-final on Sunday, kick-off 2.00pm (live on Sky Sports 2).Related Multimedia
There are four changes to the team that played Gloucester Rugby last Friday. Among the backs, Tom Williams and Ugo Monye return to start on the wings, with Mike Brown continuing at full-back.

George Lowe will make his 100th senior appearance for the club and partners Tom Casson in the centre.

In the forwards, the front five remain unchanged, while Maurie Fa'asavalu and captain, Chris Robshaw return to the flanks.

Tom Guest has recovered from illness and is named among the replacements.

This fixture will be the biggest that the Twickenham Stoop has ever held. With a 15,000 capacity crowd attending, Harlequins are encouraging supporters from both teams to arrive with plenty of time. Gates will open at 12pm for the 2pm kick-off.

Harlequins team

15. Mike Brown
14. Tom Williams
13. George Lowe
12. Tom Casson
11. Ugo Monye
10. Nick Evans
9. Danny Care

1. Joe Marler
2. Rob Buchanan
3. James Johnston
4. Olly Kohn
5. George Robson
6. Maurie Fa'asavalu
7. Chris Robshaw (C)
8. Nick Easter

16. Joe Gray
17. Mark Lambert
18. Will Collier
19. Charlie Matthews
20. Tom Guest
21. Karl Dickson
22. Ben Botica
23. Matt Hopper"

Munster - "Good news for Munster in that Simon Zebo has been passed fit to take his place in the starting line-up for the Quins Heineken Cup quarter final game but Doug Howlett misses out with an injured shoulder, his place on the wing going to Denis Hurley.It’s Zebo’s first game for Munster since the Racing Metro game on January 20thafter which he injured a foot in the second game of the RBS Six Nations against England.
Howlett damaged a shoulder in the act of reaching for the line to score a try last weekend against Glasgow Warriors. He sat out Tuesday’s session in Musgrave Park before finally accepting today that he wouldn’t make the starting line.

Back into the side however come internationals Conor Murray, Peter O’Mahony and Donnacha Ryan who was also mentioned on Tuesday as a doubt forthe trip to The Stoop.

Like Murray and O’Mahony, Ryan hasn’t kicked a ball in anger since the Italy encounter for which he was considered doubtful because of a shoulder/back injury that had been affecting him during the RBS.

Nevertheless he gets the nod over Donncha O’Callaghan to partner Paul O’Connell in the second row while Cathal Sheridan and Ivan Dineen both named among the replacements get a first taste of Heineken Cup fare.

In Howlett's absence, Paul O'Connell will wear the captain's armband.

Munster: F Jones; D Hurley, C Laulala, J Downey, S Zebo; R O’Gara, C Murray; D Kilcoyne , M Sherry BJ Botha; D Ryan, P O’Connell capt; P O’Mahony, T O’Donnell , J Coughlan. Replacements: D Varley W du Preez, S Archer, Donncha O’Callaghan, P Butler, C Sheridan, I Keatley, I Dineen.

"

Bring it on

I would be hugely frustrated if I was a Quins fan. Munster are playing exactly as everyone and their dog suspected and the Quins players look shellshocked and havent a clue how to change the flow of the match. How on earth could this have been unexpected to them?

According to the stats, the Harlequins have only beaten ONE defender. Three guesses who that defender might be also.

Quins need to get hauld of the ball and relieve this pressure. They are playing right into Munsters hands.

Quins must score soon. Another couple of pens or a try for Munster and its over.

Where is O Shea now? They are being tactically shafted.

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:I would be hugely frustrated if I was a Quins fan. Munster are playing exactly as everyone and their dog suspected and the Quins players look shellshocked and havent a clue how to change the flow of the match. How on earth could this have been unexpected to them?

SNAP.

Gibson wrote:Quins need to get hauld of the ball and relieve this pressure. They are playing right into Munsters hands.

Quins must score soon. Another couple of pens or a try for Munster and its over.

Where is O Shea now? They are being tactically shafted.

We will find out today he gets the Irish job!

Also, Tommy O'Donnell has been tremendous once again.

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:Also, Tommy O'Donnell has been tremendous once again.

He deserves an irish call up, he has deserved one all year.

The joke was the choke tackle where Marler's knees hit the floor but instead of releasing the tackler they dragged him up and the red 7 came in from miles offside to join the maul from the wrong side. How that is a maul I don't know. Ref is shocking, though Johnston does nearly always bind on the arm.

formerly known as Sam wrote:The joke was the choke tackle where Marler's knees hit the floor but instead of releasing the tackler they dragged him up and the red 7 came in from miles offside to join the maul from the wrong side. How that is a maul I don't know. Ref is shocking, though Johnston does nearly always bind on the arm.

Johnston has always binded on the arm, but the ref is only reffing one side of the scrum.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:Also, Tommy O'Donnell has been tremendous once again.

He deserves an irish call up, he has deserved one all year.

Couldn't agree more. Irish backrow, unbalanced an ineffective. Munster backrow with inferior players is balanced and outstanding. It's not rocket science. Round pegs, round holes.

this is going to be an interesting ending

Game still there for the taking for Quins. Need someone in the pack to stand up and take it by the scruff of the neck as PO'C and PO'M have for Munster.

POC, POM and Murray are playing their way into the Lions squad. Zebo, given a few more games, could be too.

Far better by Quins now. They must score from this visit. Must.

If Murray played in green the way he has in red this season then he would be in contention Gibbo. Unfortunately for many Irish players the incompetencies of Kidney will cost them a place.

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:Also, Tommy O'Donnell has been tremendous once again.

He deserves an irish call up, he has deserved one all year.

Couldn't agree more. Irish backrow, unbalanced an ineffective. Munster backrow with inferior players is balanced and outstanding. It's not rocket science. Round pegs, round holes.

The fact Ireland can't create a balanced back row with O'Mahony and O'Brien is ridiculous.

One needs to play 8, one needs to play 6.

Gibson wrote:POC, POM and Murray are playing their way into the Lions squad. Zebo, given a few more games, could be too.

Far better by Quins now. They must score from this visit. Must.

They've certainly done their chances no harm at all! Wouldn't promote them to starters based on this performance.

How old is POC?

Another bind on Marlers arm...

nathan wrote:Another bind on Marlers arm...

So will Connor O'Shea 'ask the IRB for clarification' after the match?

mikey_philVIII wrote:

nathan wrote:Another bind on Marlers arm...

So will Connor O'Shea 'ask the IRB for clarification' after the match?

Don't know, you'll have to ask him.

ROG started the game dreadfully. Now Munster and ROG have discovered a time machine and rolled back the clock. Outstanding commitment from the Munstermen. Ulster should be taking notes.

Comparing these Munster back row forwards to what we've seen from Heaslip this season really doesn't reflect well on the Ireland captain. There's also been a lot of people suggesting Robshaw at 6, but not on this display.

So it took a Quins player to point it out to the linesman...

I'm so jealous of how Munster turn it on come the Heineken cup.

Well Nathan, I think Murray is outplaying Care. And POM is the best backrower on the field. Robshaw? Who's he? POC will go and make the Test team. Vast experience and a return to form will nail it for him.

POM will be taken too. He's a controlled looney.

A Quins try could yet turn this game on its head.

Last Chance Cafe...

Munster will shove it up their jumpers now. And why not?

t1000advancedprototype wrote:I'm so jealous of how Munster turn it on come the Heineken cup.

I know, it's the experience they've built up over the years playing at the top.

Munster have made a mockery of their form this season. Quins have been taught an absolute lesson today in how to control a match. More than that some of the performances have shown tactically and selection wise just how wrong Kidney had been getting it for Ireland.

Gibson wrote:Well Nathan, I think Murray is outplaying Care. And POM is the best backrower on the field. Robshaw? Who's he? POC will go and make the Test team. Vast experience and a return to form will nail it for him.

POM will be taken too. He's a controlled looney.

A Quins try could turn this on its head.

Last Chance Cafe...

Munster will shove it up their jumpers now. And why not?

Have they not shoved it their jumpers from the start?

a controlled looney is a pretty good description lol. You're probably right about the Care/Murrey but i don't think Care was penciled in to be a lions starter anyway and the Munsters forwards have been well on top in this game so you'd expect Murrey to be on top.

POC's presence always seems to raise the game of the entire pack.

Nathan, I think he's about 33? There's so little mileage on his clock in the last few years I'd be hopeful Ireland will get 2 more top quality seasons out of him. If he stays injury free. Or maybe he could do a Shaw and go a bit longer than that.

The awk moment when RoG gets motm over PoC.

Just kidding.

Gatland is there watching. Two captains on display, POC and Robshaw. It wasn't even a competition.

From a rabid Leinster fan to all Munster fans, magnificent lads & lassies. Ye reeled back the years. Truly magnificent.

I reckon ASM would have far preferred to have faced Quins. A fired-up Munster wont suit them at all. Good.

Man, I love de Heino.

that must of been the last chance for quins.

MUNSTER YOU LEGENDS!

Thing is if Mike Phillips is going on the tour, Murray is a very similar player. But Danny Care brings something different.

Superb second half from Munster, well done to them.

Munster

Well done Munster! Some real dog about the forwards, some good old 10 man rugby.

what a game Well done Munster.

How can you not want this competition. Best competition in the world end of.

Congratulations Munster, flying the flag for the Irish teams. Couple of great individuals there and hopefully they can kick on and go the distance

Feckless Rogue wrote:Thing is if Mike Phillips is going on the tour, Murray is a very similar player. But Danny Care brings something different.

Yeah, his Madigan-style haircut.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:How can you not want this competition. Best competition in the world end of.

I don't think there's anyone who doesn't want it?

POC sounds like a true gent.

What can I say.

Munster seemed to want that so much more than Quins, at times it looked as if they had 3 or 4 more men on the pitch. However at the same time there was not a lot more to their game other than that passion - and you can see why they are in 6th spot in the Rabo.

Quins need to do something fast - losing 3 on the bounce in the premiership now this, they are in danger of seeing their season spiral into nothing.

POC- What a player and What a Man!

"Im sure Clermont are happy that its us they will be playing instead of Quins"

Wouldnt be so sure of that.

Huge performance by Munster, amazing intensity. Quins quite disappointed with that performance from them, lack of physicality and were dominated by the kicking game from ROG and co.

There will be one almighty pisshup in aul Laahndaahn Tawn tonight lids.

Enjoy!

Man I love Paulie. Cometh the hour...

Gibson wrote:From a rabid Leinster fan to all Munster fans, magnificent lads & lassies. Ye reeled back the years. Truly magnificent.

I reckon ASM would have far preferred to have faced Quins. A fired-up Munster wont suit them at all. Good.

Man, I love de Heino.

+1

From an Ulsterman too congratulations. SUFTMM! Munster should never be written off. Hope they make the final and teach Sarries a lesson too.... Munster vs Munster wannabes