Leinster v Munster, URC Final Round, Sat. 21st May, 7:15pm, Aviva

[TrapperChamonix]

Bookies have it Leinster 2/1, Munster 1/2 and a handicap of 5 points.

I wonder what the turn out will be?

[johng]

Bookies have it Leinster 2/1, Munster 1/2 and a handicap of 5 points.

Might change when the teams are named.....

[D'original]

In case everyone regards this as a dead rubber I hope our match day squad take into consideration the likelihood that 99% of their opponents on Saturday evening will probably be shouting against them a week later, wishing for a La ROGelle win! Just saying it may be worth remembering in the heat of battle!!

[ronk]

In case everyone regards this as a dead rubber I hope our match day squad take into consideration the likelihood that 99% of their opponents on Saturday evening will probably be shouting against them a week later, wishing for a La ROGelle win! Just saying it may be worth remembering in the heat of battle!!

I wouldn't trust that figure. Lots of Leinster fans would be shouting for Munster if it was the other way around and fans of their fans are similar. That's only a minority.

There's plenty of motivation even if this was a dead rubber. But it's a big game in Aviva and crowds are still a novelty. We always want bragging rights. There are players leaving who want to put on a big show, but there's also the fact that the season isn't over.

Regardless of how the final goes Leinster are likely to be resting players in the URC QF. These lads are all still fighting to get picked for knockout rugby. A rainy October in a Welsh town might matter for the league but we usually have some room, this is Munster in May in Aviva and they're coming hard at this.

[mildlyinterested]

Munster: Mike Haley; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Dan Goggin, Keith Earls; Joey Carbery, Conor Murray; Josh Wycherley, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Thomas Ahern; Fineen Wycherley, Alex Kendellen, Jack O’Donoghue (C).

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Jeremy Loughman, Keynan Knox, Jason Jenkins, Jack Daly, Craig Casey, Ben Healy, Rory Scannell.

[mildlyinterested]

Leinster Rugby team to face Munster (appearances in brackets):

15. Jordan Larmour (71)
14. Rob Russell (4)
13. Jamie Osborne (19)
12. Ciarán Frawley (53)
11. Rory O’Loughlin (96)
10. Harry Byrne (34)
9. Cormac Foley (4)

1. Ed Byrne (84) CAPTAIN
2. Seán Cronin (204)
3. Thomas Clarkson (17)
4. Joe McCarthy (7)
5. Josh Murphy (60)
6. Ryan Baird (36)
7. Scott Penny (40)
8. Max Deegan (83)

Replacements:

16. John McKee (2)
17. Peter Dooley (103)
18. Cian Healy (245)
19. Devin Toner (279)
20. Alex Soroka (4)
21. Ben Murphy (0)
22. David Hawkshaw (11)
23. Adam Byrne (65)

[wixfjord]

Mmmm, Healy benching at 18 doesn't augur well for Tadhg.

[D4surfer]

Munster: Mike Haley; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Dan Goggin, Keith Earls; Joey Carbery, Conor Murray; Josh Wycherley, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Thomas Ahern; Fineen Wycherley, Alex Kendellen, Jack O’Donoghue (C).

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Jeremy Loughman, Keynan Knox, Jason Jenkins, Jack Daly, Craig Casey, Ben Healy, Rory Scannell.

[D4surfer]

We need a big game from Harry Byrne

[blockhead]

Mmmm, Healy benching at 18 doesn't augur well for Tadhg.

I would say the opposite. Tadgh a doubt, Healy is nowhere near that 23.

[wixfjord]

That's a nice looking side from us though. Lots of carry in the pack and potential in the backs.

Frawley/Larmour in a play off for the #23 jersey next week you'd imagine.

Interested to see how McCarthy/Baird go too.

Big opportunity for Foley/Byrne to make a mark against that Munster duo.

Can't see us winning as Munster are desperate and we don't need anything, but the sides aren't that far apart on paper imo.

[wixfjord]

Mmmm, Healy benching at 18 doesn't augur well for Tadhg.

I would say the opposite. Tadgh a doubt, Healy is nowhere near that 23.

Don't know what that means.

What I'm saying is the fact we're again trying Healy at TH isn't a good sign for Tadhg's fitness for next week. No way we'd be trying that otherwise. It looks like a trial run for Cian to come off the bench at TH in the final.

[Blue not red blood]

Hopefully just being smart in giving Cian a run at TH in case Furlong is a Doubt

[mildlyinterested]

Dont like Baird at 6. Hope he proves me wrong.

[blockhead]

Mmmm, Healy benching at 18 doesn't augur well for Tadhg.

I would say the opposite. Tadgh a doubt, Healy is nowhere near that 23.

Don't know what that means.

What I'm saying is the fact we're again trying Healy at TH isn't a good sign for Tadhg's fitness for next week. No way we'd be trying that otherwise. It looks like a trial run for Cian to come off the bench at TH in the final.

Sorry, I get ye now.

[curates_egg]

Mmmm, Healy benching at 18 doesn't augur well for Tadhg.

My thoughts as soon as I saw that squad.
Everything else is meh, although I would have like Toner to start and lead out the side.

Healy at tighthead benching sets off major alarm bells.
The statos here will know, but I can remember him getting only two outings there, not since October (if not September), and only a cumulative total of less than an hour I guess.

[cormac]

Dont like Baird at 6. Hope he proves me wrong.

Don't understand why he's at 6 with Murphy at 5.

[carlow man]

What's the crack with Adam Byrne? Guy has been fit afaik for weeks yet no game time at all. I know he's off to connacht but so is rol yet he's getting minutes. Sticking russell in at 14 and not even putting Byrne on the bench is a bit strange. Unless he's downed tools in training but can't see leinster allowing that to happen. Bizarre.

[D4surfer]

What's the crack with Adam Byrne? Guy has been fit afaik for weeks yet no game time at all. I know he's off to connacht but so is rol yet he's getting minutes. Sticking russell in at 14 and not even putting Byrne on the bench is a bit strange. Unless he's downed tools in training but can't see leinster allowing that to happen. Bizarre.

Adam Byrne is on the the bench

[cormac]

What's the crack with Adam Byrne? Guy has been fit afaik for weeks yet no game time at all. I know he's off to connacht but so is rol yet he's getting minutes. Sticking russell in at 14 and not even putting Byrne on the bench is a bit strange. Unless he's downed tools in training but can't see leinster allowing that to happen. Bizarre.

you need to take a closer look at the bench