FACECUTTR wrote: His nickname at the blues was superfreak. I think it was relating to his strength.

Yup, was based on his gym performances while at the Blues.

On the level he can play prop to, 10 of his 22 Super Rugby starts were at prop, so he's a lot more than an emergency option. Have also seen him quoted as saying he's several kilos heavier playing hooker in the northern hemisphere than when he played prop in New Zealand.

His nickname at the blues was superfreak. I think it was relating to his strength.

He is the only player I have ever seen move from Hooker to Prop mid-game. Must have decent power behind him to do that!

I've heard from someone that definitely would know these sorts of things that McCartney contributes A LOT to the scrum. It lines up anyway, if you look back at matches he starts the scrum is usually very strong.

Betty Swallocks wrote: Both hookers pretty awful and Dave Heff will start against Ulster. I fear Tom Mc might've played his last competitive game for us.

Neither a fair nor an accurate statement. Misfiring lineout was due to the lack of Thornbury, Dillane and Roux and even SOB to an extent.

We were good in parts but obviously not a joint up 80 min performance. Dean was better than I expected, good kicking from hand, didn't have to chip that ball when he was through though imo.

Disappointed in Frank's reffing of the scrum, constantly threatening yellows for about 30 mins before actually producing one, and not going to tmo for Beirne's try was poor, that was a clear blocking line.

TOH was good in parts but also gave that intercept pass and fumbled a ball under zero pressure in the second half, but also made some important interventions. Could have come off earlier but maybe being saved for Ulster. Daly was lively, looking better. Really like Fitzgerald.

For me the thing we need desperately is some preplanned moves to run off advantage, we made no use of advantage throughout, there was two or three times we had advantage in the 22 and never attempted any play/kick. Maybe that's because Dean was starting but the obvious thing to do is a crossfield kick for a back three chaser. Same in our own 22 didn't know what to do with advantage and it cost us once or twice.

I would hope that McCartney has at least one more season in him, maybe he needs to move back to prop, or have his minutes managed.

I thought Marmion, TOH, Bealham, Maksymiw, Conor Dean, and especially Eoin McKeon played well. Copeland showed flashes. Both hookers pretty awful and Dave Heff will start against Ulster. I fear Tom Mc might've played his last competitive game for us.

Real mixed bag, scrum ok, lineout terrible, some awful decision making, with some flashes of brilliance. Felt the defending at the end was very individual with some players putting bodies on the line while others had given up the game. Not sure what to take from that match! Hoping for much more next weekend.

Can't see Glasgow being beaten after 20-3 half time score. Munster will probably push on from 17-7 at half time but we are going to have to stop making it so easy for them. Not sure why we're asking Conor Dean to take tough kicks at goal in his first match for us. We should have planned this match better

Borders no.2 wrote: Feels like a bit of an underwhelming final day.

Tell me about it. Never thought it would be the last game of the regular season and I'd have no more than a passing interest in the Connacht game.
Cardiff v Ospreys and Glasgow v Edinburgh hold much more appeal ...
It's a good problem to have I suppose.

Do you know if the car park at City Hall is available to fans travelling on the bus?

Borders no.2 wrote: Think we could be on the end of a heavy loss here but think we've probably got the balance as good as we could. Ulster have gone with fringe players at home also.

Feels like a bit of an underwhelming final day.

The Ulster Leinster game on Saturday is a Grade A dead rubber. Both playing kids/squad players.

Think we could be on the end of a heavy loss here but think we've probably got the balance as good as we could. Ulster have gone with fringe players at home also.

Feels like a bit of an underwhelming final day.

Munster: Mike Haley; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Dan Goggin, Calvin Nash; Tyler Bleyendaal, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne; Peter O’Mahony (C), Chris Cloete, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Jeremy Loughman, John Ryan, Billy Holland, Arno Botha, Neil Cronin, JJ Hanrahan, Sammy Arnold.

15-9 Tiernan O’Halloran, Niyi Adeolokun, Bundee Aki, Tom Daly, Stephen Fitzgerald, Conor Dean, Kieran Marmion,
1-8 Matthew Burke, Tom McCartney, Finlay Bealham, Joe Maksymiw, James Cannon, Eoin McKeon, Jarrad Butler (C), Robin Copleand.

Replacements (16-23): Shane Delahunt, Peter McCabe, Conor Carey, Eoghan Masterson, Paul Boyle, Caolin Blade, Eoin Griffin, Darragh Leader.

Good thing this wasn't scheduled for tomorrow evening. Serious wind. Storm should be all blown out in plenty of time for KO.

You would imagine Munster will go full bore to give themselves a chance at topping the conference, even if that requires a favour from Edinburgh. Interestingly the bookies only have Glasgow as 8 point favourites so it's a possibility (I would have been viewing Edinburgh as something of a speedbump in Glasgow's title charge but maybe the prospect of finishing fifth will motivate them).
Can't see too many risks being taken in the Connacht selections, but with the week off last weekend and another one to look forward to after Ulster even if we win that, you'd imagine some will be keen to play.