Grahamunster - Graham Rowntree's Munster 2022/2023

[ronk]

Given how strong Munster have gone for these two games, they're going to need to rest some players in a big game further down the line. The mention before Connacht was that in the next 10 game block Irish guys can only play 7. They've already played POM, Beirne, Joey, Casey etc in two games, they'll rest guys against Lions & Benetton, but that leave one other game they can't play the full whack.

I wonder will we see a weaker side go to Belfast on NYD or might they mix and match against us and Northampton?

One might almost say that they at risk of flogging their international players.

[munster#1]

Given how strong Munster have gone for these two games, they're going to need to rest some players in a big game further down the line. The mention before Connacht was that in the next 10 game block Irish guys can only play 7. They've already played POM, Beirne, Joey, Casey etc in two games, they'll rest guys against Lions & Benetton, but that leave one other game they can't play the full whack.

I wonder will we see a weaker side go to Belfast on NYD or might they mix and match against us and Northampton?

I personally would have rested Beirne for this game.
Out of the internationals, he is the only one you could say requires a rest.

The remaining players, I’d say the attritional nature of the game will probably account for a couple of missed games, but I don’t think Munster would be detrimentally affected by them being missing.

Crowley was only on the bench last week, and hasn’t really played a massive amount this season thus far, and will likely be rotated with Healy anyway.
Casey is in a similar position, as he hasn’t really been over played, and once Murray returns he will require some gametime.

POM hasn’t really played a massive amount of Minutes, he only played 3 games in November, and all 3 were far from 80 mins if I remember correctly. Even then I would like to see JOD play some more minutes at 6 anyway.

Munster are really up against it, and imo are likely to lose the Ulster game anyway as Ulster are very strong at home.
Additionally, Munster are unlikely to catch Ulster barring an implosion up north, so I think that should be looked at as a game to get the young lads some additional exposure.

[ronk]

Munster are 2 points off 8th with 10 games to go. With Welsh and Scottish (& Italian) teams ahead of them it doesn't matter whether they pass the top team in each Shield.

Home matches and good seeding are getting harder, but they should breeze into the knockouts and HC with a modest run of games.

[ronk]

The Benetton and Lions games are the big ones in their calendar because they need them to lose too.

Passing Edinburgh is a stretch goal or a backup if Benetton hit form.

[cormac]

Given how strong Munster have gone for these two games, they're going to need to rest some players in a big game further down the line. The mention before Connacht was that in the next 10 game block Irish guys can only play 7. They've already played POM, Beirne, Joey, Casey etc in two games, they'll rest guys against Lions & Benetton, but that leave one other game they can't play the full whack.

I wonder will we see a weaker side go to Belfast on NYD or might they mix and match against us and Northampton?

Their game against Benetton is immaterial in terms of when they need to rest their international players. Anyone in the 6N sqaud won't be available for Round 13 matches as they'll be in Camp Andy.

[munster#1]

Munster have 4 very difficult matches ahead of them, including Ulster, Stormers and Sharks away and Leinster at home.

Even if they win all of their other games, losing these 4 would put them on 9 losses.
Ospreys with 8 losses last season failed to make the top 8.

So realistically speaking, Munster have a massive uphill climb.

[ronk]

Scarlets lost 2 more matches but only finished 1 point behind because... bonus points.

Munster are 6 points off 5th coming coming up to the game against the team in 5th. Edinburgh have lost 1 more game than Munster (hopefully they'll have lost the same by Monday), is their season hanging by a thread?

[wixfjord]

Given how strong Munster have gone for these two games, they're going to need to rest some players in a big game further down the line. The mention before Connacht was that in the next 10 game block Irish guys can only play 7. They've already played POM, Beirne, Joey, Casey etc in two games, they'll rest guys against Lions & Benetton, but that leave one other game they can't play the full whack.

I wonder will we see a weaker side go to Belfast on NYD or might they mix and match against us and Northampton?

Their game against Benetton is immaterial in terms of when they need to rest their international players. Anyone in the 6N sqaud won't be available for Round 13 matches as they'll be in Camp Andy.

You're right, which gives Munster even less wiggle room with players.

It means the test guys (not sure if Casey, Crowley is included there, but Joey, POM, Beirne would be) can only play 5 of the next 7, which include four HEC games, us in Thomond, Ulster away and Lions in Thomond.

[naraic]

Munster have 4 very difficult matches ahead of them, including Ulster, Stormers and Sharks away and Leinster at home.

Even if they win all of their other games, losing these 4 would put them on 9 losses.
Ospreys with 8 losses last season failed to make the top 8.

So realistically speaking, Munster have a massive uphill climb.

Agreed.

For Munster to get the points last season's 8th place finisher had they need 33 out of 50 points in the remaining 10 league games.

Its a challenge. Every league game is important. Every point is worth fighting for.

I wonder if after 3/4 European games Munster would be tempted to send a weaker team to Toulouse to save the internationals. Either if they are already qualified for the knockout stages or if they are already out.

[munster#1]

Munster have 4 very difficult matches ahead of them, including Ulster, Stormers and Sharks away and Leinster at home.

Even if they win all of their other games, losing these 4 would put them on 9 losses.
Ospreys with 8 losses last season failed to make the top 8.

So realistically speaking, Munster have a massive uphill climb.

Agreed.

For Munster to get the points last season's 8th place finisher had they need 33 out of 50 points in the remaining 10 league games.

Its a challenge. Every league game is important. Every point is worth fighting for.

I wonder if after 3/4 European games Munster would be tempted to send a weaker team to Toulouse to save the internationals. Either if they are already qualified for the knockout stages or if they are already out.

I think there is a bit of a one man band involved in peddling the international players being over played tune.
Munster don’t have too many players in that category. As already highlighted, it is likely that Joey, POM and Beirne are the only ones under management.
Of those, it would be difficult to say that POM or Joey have been overly busy.

I would expect Munster to start altering the OHs over the next few games.
They will also likely alternate the time off for POM and Beirne.

Good point on the HC, but that is all based on beating Toulouse in TP, which will be far from easy.

[deco]

Munster are 2 points off 8th with 10 games to go. With Welsh and Scottish (& Italian) teams ahead of them it doesn't matter whether they pass the top team in each Shield.

Home matches and good seeding are getting harder, but they should breeze into the knockouts and HC with a modest run of games.

Yes, but that doesn't feed into the Munster are up against it/ backs against the wall narrative that delivers miracle matches.

[paddyor]

Scarlets lost 2 more matches but only finished 1 point behind because... bonus points.

Munster are 6 points off 5th coming coming up to the game against the team in 5th. Edinburgh have lost 1 more game than Munster (hopefully they'll have lost the same by Monday), is their season hanging by a thread?

Edinburgh only need to finish ahead of Glasgow and Bennetton to qualify and their current position compares favourably to both.

[IanD]

I think Munster are in for a hard night. Edinburgh are remembering Dodi Weir with the crowd asked to wear tartan and there will be a "moments applause". Added to this they have their Internationals back.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/63826880

"Scotland internationals Jamie Ritchie, Grant Gilchrist, Pierre Schoeman, Blair Kinghorn, Darcy Graham, Mark Bennett and Duhan van der Merwe all return to Edinburgh's starting XV for the visit of Munster."

Munsters backs to the wall attitude will be up against the emotional response from Ebinburgh.

[naraic]

I think Munster are in for a hard night. Edinburgh are remembering Dodi Weir with the crowd asked to wear tartan and there will be a "moments applause". Added to this they have their Internationals back.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/63826880

"Scotland internationals Jamie Ritchie, Grant Gilchrist, Pierre Schoeman, Blair Kinghorn, Darcy Graham, Mark Bennett and Duhan van der Merwe all return to Edinburgh's starting XV for the visit of Munster."

Munsters backs to the wall attitude will be up against the emotional response from Ebinburgh.

Well they certainly have had a rough start.

[enby]

Not helped by Scannell playing tip rugby and Zebo having a snooze. Their pack are coming more into it though

[enby]

O.g. from Joey there. Dreadful stuff

[naraic]

The Carbery pass for the intercept was the worst decision I've seen all year. Carberry was ready to pass he was tackled at the ankle and held for a couple of seconds and then he throws a long pass with the Edinburgh player between him and his target.

[cormac]

Carbery catastrophe. Awful pass

[Keith]

Not helped by Scannell playing tip rugby and Zebo having a snooze. Their pack are coming more into it though

Seeing him not being trusted to start at FB is interesting.

[Oldschoolsocks]

Not helped by Scannell playing tip rugby and Zebo having a snooze. Their pack are coming more into it though

Seeing him not being trusted to start at FB is interesting.

He’s lost so much pace he’d have trouble catching a cold…