PRO12 Munster v Leinster Sat 5th Oct KO 6.45pm

[bringbackrocky]

fyi..by better i mean cheaper

[nelly the elephant]

fyi..by better i mean cheaper

You should probably state that then, for clarity.

[Peg Leg]

Locky's a 5.5 not a 6.5

The reference was about Ryan being a 6.5

[blockhead]

So guys do we have a name for the game? The "Drive for Five" was used before so do we have something clever for this one? Or has beating the turnips become mundane? If we win, it would be our third straight in fortress Thomond.

[simonokeeffe]

So guys do we have a name for the game? The "Drive for Five" was used before so do we have something clever for this one? Or has beating the turnips become mundane? If we win, it would be our third straight in fortress Thomond.

brewhaha in knackeragua?
desolation of smaug?

[hope not expectation]

Anything could happen on Saturday
Poite is reffin'

[johng]

Who knows where Munster are at? They could come out swingen and beat us. They could go behind early and fall to bits. Or anywhere in between. Very hard game to call.

This game should give us some picture of where the 2 teams are at.

[Donny B.]

Anything could happen on Saturday
Poite is reffin'

A horrible, frustrating, penalty strewn game is the most likely outcome!

[Donny B.]

Who knows where Munster are at? They could come out swingen and beat us. They could go behind early and fall to bits. Or anywhere in between. Very hard game to call.

This game should give us some picture of where the 2 teams are at.

Completely agree. Neither team has shown anything like their full hand yet.

Paddy Power have Leinster favourites at 8/15 with Munster at 6/4.

And as usual both teams will have one eye on next week. The last couple of October games in the Aviva have actually been fairly sterile affairs. Maybe moving the first game to Limerick for a change will liven things up a bit.

[OTT]

Anything could happen on Saturday
Poite is reffin'

A horrible, frustrating, penalty strewn game is the most likely outcome!

I wonder which team his magic 8 ball has picked for the scrums?

Or does he make that decision closer to kick off?

[johng]

Maybe moving the first game to Limerick for a change will liven things up a bit.

Hope so. Reckon it was done because the IRFU didn't want to see a bigger crowd in Lansdowne than will watch Samoa in 5 weeks.

Thomond nowhere near a sell out though.

[odyboody]

"Best supported team" they'd have us believe, having to advertise on the radio for a game against Leinster.
To the brave and the not so faithful nothing is impossible, well unless you mean filling our white elephant stadium.

[Mexicola]

Thornley seems to think Gopperth will start at 10.

I think Munster will be happier to see Gopperth starting tbh

[Oldschool]

Thornley seems to think Gopperth will start at 10.

I think Munster will be happier to see Gopperth starting tbh

I'd say that's wishful thinking on his part and Munster's too.
I would presume MOC has been warned about the Thomond affect on players who have no experience of the special occasion that is "playing in Thomond for the first time". A few notable OHs/FBs have been buried there in the past IIRC.

[johng]

Thornley seems to think Gopperth will start at 10.

I'd be shocked and stunned after Mads's display last week. Where did he say this? Wednesday night rugby on Newstalk?

[COYBIB]

"Best supported team" they'd have us believe, having to advertise on the radio for a game against Leinster.
To the brave and the not so faithful nothing is impossible, well unless you mean filling our white elephant stadium.

I would hardly call it a white elephant, Thomond Park is a superb piece of infrastructure and whilst numbers might be down at the moment, long term it will be a massive asset to both Munster and Irish rugby. Given also that we hold ambitions to host a world cup, it will be a major piece of infrastructure in that bid also.

Regarding the line-up, I would be absolutely amazed if Madigan didn't have 10 on his back this Saturday.

I'm quietly optimistic about this game, as tight as it is to call, I think the bookies +4 is there or there abouts right, I think (and hope) Leinster will just shade it.

I wasn't impressed by Munster against Dragons. Much of the game plan they resorted to in order to grind out the win will be entirely ineffectual against a team like Leinster. (i.e. our set-piece wont be demolished and our pack wont fold like paper.)

[johng]

Thornley seems to think Gopperth will start at 10.

I'd be shocked and stunned after Mads's display last week. Where did he say this? Wednesday night rugby on Newstalk?

Unless........
Darce is out. Doubt they would throw Goodman in cold. Reid probably not ready for Thomond start either.

[Oldschool]

Thornley seems to think Gopperth will start at 10.

I'd be shocked and stunned after Mads's display last week. Where did he say this? Wednesday night rugby on Newstalk?

Unless........
Darce is out. Doubt they would throw Goodman in cold. Reid probably not ready for Thomond start either.

So you're suggesting Mads at 12 and Gopperth at 10? Probably the right call.

[Mexicola]

Thornley seems to think Gopperth will start at 10.

I'd be shocked and stunned after Mads's display last week. Where did he say this? Wednesday night rugby on Newstalk?

Unless........
Darce is out. Doubt they would throw Goodman in cold. Reid probably not ready for Thomond start either.

After last week I'd be pretty surprised too, but yeah if Darce is out it makes sense to put Mads in there

[neiliog93]

IF we can establish parity in the forwards and Poite doesn't allow the scrums/breakdown to become a mess, we'll win comfortably. 20 points. Leinster are that much better on recent evidence.

IF the breakdown degenerates into a mad free for-all as Munster would prefer it, as well as the scrums being messy, leading to lots of penalties and stoppages, they could win (but I'd still expect a narrow Leinster victory).