Zebre v Munster - Fri 13th Sept @ 18:30

I don't think this is going to be televised outside of Italy. Which is a shame really as the Munster team named for it looks very interesting. I'd be particularly interested in seeing how the backrow of CJ Stander, Tommy O'Donnell & Paddy Butler fare.

Details of the teams below:

Munster:
15. Denis Hurley
14. Johne Murphy
13. Casey Laulala
12. Ivan Dineen
11. Andrew Conway
10. JJ Hanrahan
9. Cathal Sheridan

1. Dave Kilcoyne,
2. Damien Varley Capt.
3. John Ryan
4. Donnacha Ryan
5. Ian Nagle
6. CJ Stander
7. Tommy O’Donnell
8. Paddy Butler.

Replacements: Mike Sherry, James Cronin, Stephen Archer, Dave Foley, Niall Ronan, Duncan Williams, Ian Keatley, James Downey.


Zebre
15 Ruggero TREVISAN*
14 Leonardo SARTO*
13 Kameli RATUVOU
12 Gonzalo GARCIA
11 Giovanbattista VENDITTI*
10 Luciano ORQUERA
9 Brendon LEONARD
8 Samuela VUNISA
7 Andries VAN SCHALKWYK
6 Filippo FERRARINI*
5 Marco BORTOLAMI (cap)
4 Quintin GELDENHUYS
3 Luca REDOLFINI
2 Andrea MANICI*
1 Salvatore PERUGINI

A disposizione :
16 Davide GIAZZON
17 Matias AGUERO
18 Dario CHISTOLINI
19 George BIAGI
20 Filippo CRISTIANO
21 Alberto CHILLON*
22 Tommaso IANNONE*
23 Dion BERRYMAN

Nice to see a decent amount of rotation in the squad. I'd imagine that a few of the guys who did so well against Edinburgh but aren't playing in this one will be selected against Treviso.

Munster's pack is full of very exciting combinations so it'll be interesting to see how they get on against what looks like a fairly grizzled Zebre 8.

For those interested here's a link to interviews with Penney, Dineen and Donnacha Ryan about this game and also their mini tour of Italy.

http://www.redfm.ie/news/sport/preview-munster-v-zebre-treviso/

Much change for Munster. Penney taking a small gamble but they'll playing well and there seems to be a lot of positivity coming out of the camp.

I'm looking forward to watching Conway, Hanrahan, Stander and TOD the most. They could be core members of the Munster team for years to come.

Zebre 18 - 29 Munster

Munster were 18 - 9 down at the break so a much better second half. Theres about 15min to go.

21-43 full time score. Munster did well to come back

34-3 in the second half says it all really. Munster were the architects of their own downfall in the first half. Likewise it was their composure that allowed them to win so convincingly in the end. It's worrying that they gave Zebre a 9 point lead after 40 minutes though - against a better team that could have been insurmountable.

Thoughts from the game were that Varley and Sheridan didn't have great games, Varley in particular. JJ did OK in general play but really excelled at converting his kicks. CJ Stander had a quiet 1st half but really turned it on in the second.

Tommy O'Donnell's injury didn't look good, I hope I'm wrong.

Special mention to Johne Murphy who's been our best back so far this season, albeit very early days yet. All in all it's 5 points and job done. Treviso will provide a much sterner test next weekend.

Good win in the end. I was having flashbacks to last season there for a while.


JJ got MOTM. Got 8/8 or 7/7 kicks I think... which bodes well. Treviso next week is the big test.

Was this game on TV?

CJ Stander is scoring tries for fun! Honestly, his try tally is like that of a winger!

What happened to TOD?

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Was this game on TV?

CJ Stander is scoring tries for fun!  Honestly, his try tally is like that of a winger!

What happened to TOD?

It wasn't on TV. Highlights on RTE tomorrow at 5pm.

Tod hobbled off and Conway went off injured after a spear tackle I think.

I thought Sheridan was outstanding really quick snappy pass and covered a huge amount of ground all evening great back up to Murray.

Cj is just a try machine he is going to get better and better

JJ and keatley is going to turn into a nice battle for the 10 jersey. Max points from 2 games is a satisfactory start to the season

Zebres hooker scored a nice try. Although the defence was questionable.

Not sure if youll be able to see this but anyway.....

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=155226234685231&set=vb.368022903211562&type=2&theater

I have to say - It looks as if the likes of Jared Payne and CJ Stander really are going to be irish players one day when they qualify. If we are to base it on their talents in rugby, and ignore the fact they aren't actually irish..

They are a step ahead of the rest.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:I have to say - It looks as if the likes of Jared Payne and CJ Stander really are going to be irish players one day when they qualify.  If we are to base it on their talents in rugby, and ignore the fact they aren't actually irish..

They are a step ahead of the rest.

we don't need them. they would be handy but we dont need them, nor do we need strauss, bent, roux or van derheever

They are better than the competition though. Not to mention too good to be ignored. Strauss, Bent and Roux are not.

How can you say Stander is above the rest? He hasn't even played HC rugby? He'd be lucky to even be compared one day to SOB.

You do realise that he has played a level above HC.. the Super 15.  He seemed very highly rated at the Bulls and rated as a potential Springbok. By the end of this season, you will see why.

There are more competitions out there you know!

Rory, you are very taken on CJ and he is definitely showing potential, but last year he was very meh. This year he is looking good but to be honest he is still not as good as Coughlan at 8 and he isn't going to displace POM who is streets ahead (and who should be the next Irish captain).

Good win tonight after checking the score at halftime I wasn't thinking positive thoughts.

I think Stander will be used as an impact sub mainly this season for the big games. Coughlan was very good last week and what Stander has to do is improve on all the little things like catching the ball, breakdown work etc. He is a young player with time on his side.


He has some try scoring record. He seems to have an Ian Rush ability to sniff out try scoring opportunities.

I wouldn't be too excited about a forward scoring a lot of tries, if they are on the wing waiting for the ball, they aren't doing the dirty work like rucking, tackling...

Very good support for his first try though.

profitius wrote:I think Stander will be used as an impact sub mainly this season for the big games. Coughlan was very good last week and what Stander has to do is improve on all the little things like catching the ball, breakdown work etc. He is a young player with time on his side.


He has some try scoring record. He seems to have an Ian Rush ability to sniff out try scoring opportunities.

Coughlan is good and I rate him a lot (he has been the most consistent 8 in Ireland, and generally has looked better than Heaslip in my opinion) but Stander has that dynamism and explosiveness that Coughlan will never have. With a good offload to boot.

His work rate will improve with time, although it isn't exactly bad. Most of his tries seem to be in midfield rather than from the wing.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

profitius wrote:I think Stander will be used as an impact sub mainly this season for the big games. Coughlan was very good last week and what Stander has to do is improve on all the little things like catching the ball, breakdown work etc. He is a young player with time on his side.


He has some try scoring record. He seems to have an Ian Rush ability to sniff out try scoring opportunities.

Coughlan is good and I rate him a lot (he has been the most consistent 8 in Ireland, and generally has looked better than Heaslip in my opinion).

Ah here. Nick Williams won player of the year. Never mind Jamie. coughlan is a good solid player. but best in Ireland?

I will be very dissapointed if Heaslip is still Irish 8 in the AI's . POM, Coughlan, SOB, Murphy all look better.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

profitius wrote:I think Stander will be used as an impact sub mainly this season for the big games. Coughlan was very good last week and what Stander has to do is improve on all the little things like catching the ball, breakdown work etc. He is a young player with time on his side.


He has some try scoring record. He seems to have an Ian Rush ability to sniff out try scoring opportunities.

Coughlan is good and I rate him a lot (he has been the most consistent 8 in Ireland, and generally has looked better than Heaslip in my opinion).

Ah here. Nick Williams won player of the year. Never mind Jamie. coughlan is a good solid player. but best in Ireland?

Sorry I should have stated "out of the irish qualified number 8s". Williams is indeed the best out of the provincial 8s.

Which means the main 3 contenders are McKeown for Connacht, Heaslip for Leinster and Coughlan for Munster. For me, Coughlan is the winner there. I agree with Gleeson also, I would like to see another 8 get a chance.

Is Rory still gushing over Stander and Jared Payne?  

The Saint wrote:Is Rory still gushing over Stander and Jared Payne?  

Nope I had finished a while ago, but for some reason you have brought it back up..

..Payne did get MOTM last night though.  

I can see Stander taking over from Coughlan but he will need to be playing consistently well

ME-109 wrote:I can see Stander taking over from Coughlan but he will need to be playing consistently well

Don't see any reason why he won't last year he was unlucky with injury and it looked like a conscious decision was taken to rest him as he had a busy year before he came here! Even then he has an unreal try record! Can't wait to see him in hc as like many players I think he will shine on the big big occasions

I genuinely think he would have been a Springbok at this point.  Arno Botha seemed to take his place in the Bulls, who is now a Springbok.  He was on a list of young forwards whom Meyer noted had great potential to play for SA over the next season.

To be honest, it makes me wonder why he decided to come here.  He must have been offered a pretty hefty contract.  I know the Bulls weren't able to match it anyway.

That's debatable. I seen Stander play for the Blue Bulls a few times and he was excellent. However, SA have unbelievable depth in that position. I believe he would need to be playing in SA for a few years before he got international recognition. It was the same with Alberts, Louw, etc.

The Saint wrote:That's debatable. I seen Stander play for the Blue Bulls a few times and he was excellent. However, SA have unbelievable depth in that position. I believe he would need to be playing in SA for a few years before he got international recognition. It was the same with Alberts, Louw, etc.

Coetzee, Kolisi and Botha (who were all included on that list of players I spoke about, as far as I know) have all now been capped. Botha would have been behind Stander for the Bulls. This was before Vermeulen and Louw really got their chance.

I can't recall Stander starting a game in the Super 15, unlike Botha. Though I could be wrong. Louw was capped a while ago, but had to wait for Burger, Smith to get innjured and the Potgeiter brother to fall out of favour.

The Saint wrote:I can't recall Stander starting a game in the Super 15, unlike Botha. Though I could be wrong. Louw was capped a while ago, but had to wait for Burger, Smith to get innjured and the Potgeiter brother to fall out of favour.

You are wrong again  

Stander has 11 starts in Super rugby v. Blues (win), The Reds (win), Stormers (lose), Crusaders (w), Lions (w), Brumbies (w), Rebels (w), Tahs (w), Highlanders (L), Chiefs (L) Stormers (L).

The Bulls have won 7 of their 11 games he started in. The Bulls also won 4/4 of the other games he was a sub for. He has scored 4 Super Rugby Tries. Overall he has scored 24 tries in 44 professional starts. The lad is a try machine - our new Axel Foley (all time top try scoring forward in the Heineken Cup).

Stander hasn't a bad Super Rugby carer at all. The Bulls only started benching him when he signed for Munster.