Yellow for Greg Tonks and Shingler makes it 5 from 5. 15-7. Scarlets looking well in control.

Scarlets getting in to their rhythm leading 12-7 against Edinburgh. Penalties mounting against Edinburgh.

Diom wrote: A win would be great but not getting my hopes up.

We got a LBP last year and a draw 10 years ago. Our other 11 league games away to Munster have averaged a 3 score beating (13-30 point margins) and we've been nil-ed 3 times. I'd take a LBP now.

A win would be great but not getting my hopes up. Marmion just back and into Thomond. Not sure I would have Carty starting either. Not sure about our ability to compete in rucks but not sure we want to,given the potential for "misunderstandings".
Now for the positives, we could get on top in the forwards. The back row is big, so Lam is looking to get over the line from the start. If we can give Marmion front foot possession hopefully we can avoid kicking much to their dangerous outside backs.

phatguerilla wrote: I'm going to be in work for this one, sickened. I hope that Lam has picked Carty because he has been really good in training and not just because it was the simplest pick, otherwise things could be buggered before they start. I think one of the craggy island guys pointed out before the Scarlets game that we never win the first game back after the six nations break and I really hope that doesn't hold true for this one too. Great to have Marmion back, hopefully he's refreshed after the first decent break he's had in a while. Munster haven't exactly named the A team but its not exactly an exciting selection either, surely they can be got at, especially in the front five.

That's a serious back-row Munster have picked. Its debatable whether our front 5 would frighten anyone! I'd worry about their backs.

I can see Earls doing serious damage tonight. A losing BP is the best we can hope for in my view.

Would prefer ronaldson at 10

Laverys is generally a safe bet for sports if in the city centre.

If out towards Queens direction, The Bot " botanical inn "

Have watched rugby in both previously.

Can anyone suggest a pub in the center of Belfast to catch this?

connachtexile wrote: I'm in England for this so it will be twitter up-dates for me.

It's on Sky not TG4 so you need only sneak off to the pub...

I'm in England for this so it will be twitter up-dates for me. Looking at the Munster front five they are not the most intimidating bunch. If Dave plays well then we may get the shove on them in the scrum. A LBP is a must, a win would be awesome.

I'm going to be in work for this one, sickened. I hope that Lam has picked Carty because he has been really good in training and not just because it was the simplest pick, otherwise things could be buggered before they start. I think one of the craggy island guys pointed out before the Scarlets game that we never win the first game back after the six nations break and I really hope that doesn't hold true for this one too. Great to have Marmion back, hopefully he's refreshed after the first decent break he's had in a while. Munster haven't exactly named the A team but its not exactly an exciting selection either, surely they can be got at, especially in the front five.

wp_rathead wrote: Ah sure didn't miss much with my post pinky- just saying I thought be Leader at FB and TOH on wing rather than other way around.. also, thought Masterson be 8 and McKeon start 7..

I don't know much about John Ryan, but Buckley should have the best of Archer, so be interesting how Rodney gets on in the scrum.

Yeah the Leader/TOH thing was the first thing to jump out (OK well I suppose they are at the top of the list). Maybe he has a particular reason for wanting Leader up against Zebo.

Ah sure didn't miss much with my post pinky- just saying I thought be Leader at FB and TOH on wing rather than other way around.. also, thought Masterson be 8 and McKeon start 7..

I don't know much about John Ryan, but Buckley should have the best of Archer, so be interesting how Rodney gets on in the scrum.

Here are the teams again:

Connacht team to face Munster

15. Tiernan O’Halloran
14. Darragh Leader
13. Danie Poolman
12. Craig Ronaldson
11. Matt Healy
10. Jack Carty
9. Kieran Marmion

1. Denis Buckley
2. Tom McCartney
3. Rodney Ah You
4. Mick Kearney
5. Aly Muldowney
6. John Muldoon (captain)
7. Eoghan Masterson
8. George Naoupu

Replacements:

16. Shane Delahunt
17. Ronan Loughney
18. Finlay Bealham
19. Quinn Roux
20. Eoin McKeon
21. John Cooney
22. Shane O’Leary
23. Conor Finn

Munster: Felix Jones; Keith Earls, Andrew Smith, Denis Hurley - capt., Simon Zebo; Ian Keatley, Duncan Williams; John Ryan, Eusebio Guinazu, Stephen Archer; Donncha O'Callaghan, Billy Holland; Dave O'Callaghan, Tommy O'Donnell, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Duncan Casey, Dave Kilcoyne, BJ Botha, Paddy Butler, Jack O'Donoghue, Neil Cronin, JJ Hanrahan, Ronan O'Mahony.

Apologies, I tried to move Salmson and rathead's posts from travel thread to match thread and seem to have fecked something up royally.
Original match thread seems to be lost. I'll see if I can recover it.

Munster have been fairly settled during the 6 nations really. They won't want any slip ups here given the Pro 12 is the only show in town for them this season and they are very keen to get a home semi final I'm sure.

I'm sure others haven't given up on 6th but for me the focus has now shifted to securing 7th. Given the absentees and given that we rarely play well down there my only real hope for this weekend is that Edinburgh get nothing away to Scarlets. Anything apart from that is a bonus for me.

Munster v Connacht – Thomond Park Guinness Pro 12 Round 18
Saturday 28th March 2015 Kick Off: 17:15
On TV: Sky Sports

After a break for the final two weekends of the 6 nations, its back to Pro 12 action for the first time in 3 weeks for Munster and Connacht. Neither side will remember their last match with any fondness as Connacht's European Cup hopes suffered a big blow with a late late defeat at Cardiff while Munster only got on the scoreboard in the final 10 minutes in a 26-12 defeat away to Ospreys which saw them slip to 3rd in the table. With matches running out both sides will be seeking a result to keep their league ambitions on track.

Other Match Stats
Connacht won the last meeting between the sides on New Year's Day but have not won away to Munster since 1986.
Connacht have beaten Munster twice in the history of the league.
Munster have scored an average of 23.6 points and conceded an average of 16.2 points per game in the league this season.
Munster's last home defeat in the league was to Ospreys in September.

Munster Stats
Website: www.munsterrugby.ie/
Founded: 1879
Ground: Thomond Park / Musgrave Park
Capacity: 25,600 / 9,251
Captain: Peter O'Mahony
Coach: Anthony Foley

Guinness Pro 12 League Position 2014/15: 3rd P:17 Pts: 53
Rabo Direct Pro12 League Position 2013/14: 3rd P:22 Pts:74 (Lost Semi-final 16-15 v Glasgow)
European Champions Cup 2014/15: 3rd in Pool 1 Points: 15
Heineken Cup 2013/14: 1st in Pool 6 Points: 23 (Lost Semi-final 24-16 v Toulon)

European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 1
Clermont 22
Saracens 17
Munster 15
Sale 2

Previous Fixtures
Ospreys 26-12 Munster (Pro 12 Round 17)
Munster 22-10 Glasgow (Pro 12 Round 16)
Scarlets 25-25 Munster (Pro 12 Round 15)
Munster 33-16 Cardiff (Pro 12 Round 14)

Next League Fixture:
Saturday 11th April 2015 Edinburgh v Munster @ Murrayfield @ 19.30

Munster Ins/Outs 2014/15
Players In
Eusebio Guiñazú from Bath
Martin Kelly from Dublin University
Shane Buckley promoted from Academy
Robin Copeland from Cardiff Blues
Jonathan Holland promoted from Academy
Tyler Bleyendaal from Crusaders
Andrew Smith from Brumbies

Players Out
James Coughlan to France Pau
Ian Nagle to Club To Be Confirmed
Niall Ronan Retiring due to injury
James Downey to Glasgow Warriors
Casey Laulala to Racing Métro
Quentin MacDonald to Chiefs

Previous Meetings

Thursday 1st January 2015 Guinness Pro 12
Connacht 24-16 Munster
www.pro12rugby.com/matchcentre/16387.php

Saturday 19th April 2014 Rabo Direct Pro 12
Connacht 23-32 Munster
www.pro12rugby.com/matchcentre/14800.php

Friday 27th December 2013 Rabo Direct Pro 12
Munster 22-16 Connacht
www.pro12rugby.com/matchcentre/13696.php