Team's out: www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-team-to-fa...ster-6/#ConnachtNews

15 Robbie Henshaw
14 Tiernan O’Halloran
13 Bundee Aki
12 Craig Ronaldson
11 Matt Healy
10 AJ MacGinty
9 Kieran Marmion

1 Denis Buckley
2 Shane Delahunt
3 Nathan White
4 Ultan Dillane
5 Aly Muldowney
6 John Muldoon (captain)
7 James Connolly
8 Eoghan Masterson

Replacements:

16 Dave Heffernan
17 Ronan Loughney
18 Finlay Bealham
19 George Naoupu
20 Sean O’Brien
21 Ian Porter
22 Jack Carty
23 Darragh Leader

Unavailable/Injured: Tom McCartney, Rodney Ah You, JP Cooney, Quinn Roux, Ben Marshall, Andrew Browne, Nepia Fox-Matamua, Jake Heenan, Eoin McKeon, John Cooney, Fionn Carr, Danie Poolman, Dave McSharry, Api Pewhairangi, Conor Finn.

This seems a lot like the Leinster away game last year where there was expectation that we may be able to pull off a significant victory but we weren't able to deliver. As well as having last weekend off, Munster will view this as a great chance to move further clear of Leinster or Ulster. Realistically due to the gap that has opened with the other leagues, the Pro 12 is what Munster (and every other team in the league) will be judged on at the end of the season. They might at a push make the quarter final in Europe but a home semi-final in the Pro 12 is vital for them.

Munster have made a reasonable start to the league, lucky enough to win at Ospreys, blew the game at Scarlets, scraped past Glasgow and almost self-destructed in Edinburgh. I think everyone expected Munster to do well during the World Cup though.

Last year we went down there and were competitive until 10 or 15 minutes into the 2nd half but ultimately they put 44 points on us. We haven't faced a team of this quality this season yet and while we have been scoring tries, we've also been conceding a lot of tries to mediocre opponents. We are obviously going to go there to win and hopefully within the group they can bring that mentality to the game. Going there with any other attitude and we're in for a bad day but the magnitude of the task shouldn't be underestimated.

I'd worry if the weather is bad that Munster will grind it out with quick rucking and pick and drive tactics around the fringes. I really hope a lot of woek is going into our maul defence during the week. Its an area that has caused us problems against bigger sides and in a few games this season. It's certainly a route Munster are going to attack.

Couldn't agree more. He's a great option at centre, if the poor guy could stay fit.

Mcsharry must be one of the unluckiest players anywhere, has he ever had a run of games without getting injured. watched the highlights of the eagles game and he seemed to be minding himself so how he got concussion is just typical of the guys bad fortune. got a lot of time for him so he deserves a break, not literally

Hi Folks

There'll be a post going up on the front page shortly, but just to confirm the Bus plans for Saturday:

We're meeting up at 12.30 ish in the Dail. The Dail have two food deals available for hungry travelers, a burger and a pint for €10.00, or a roast dinner and a pint for €12.00. Tickets for the bus and the match will be handed out in the Dail.

The bus will be leaving Jurys Inn at 2.00 on the button. KO is 515. I imagine some of us may require refreshments in Thomond, and the Clan have been invited to the Munster Supporters Bar for that purpose!

After the match, back on the bus we go. The Dail have generously put on a free pint for all of us post match.

Hope to see ye there! Any hassles let me know!

menacethedenis wrote:

Shelflife wrote: Yup it's the east terrace . .

Do you know what section by any chance? I have Munster supporting family who are usually on the East Terrace North.

Tickets received today are for the East terrace South.

RogueXV wrote: I was all set to jump on board with Big D.P. in calling for a tight Connacht victory, but the reality of the injury report may prove a cold bucket of water dumped on that dream. At this stage the best outcome for Connacht may just be that everyone comes through this game healthy and with the addition of a couple of returning players they're ready to take on Cardiff.

Munster haven't lost the game after the first European break in the last 5 years, and they're unbeaten at home in the league for 14 months. I'd take a losing bonus point now to be honest. Hopefully we'll be proved wrong.

I was all set to jump on board with Big D.P. in calling for a tight Connacht victory, but the reality of the injury report may prove a cold bucket of water dumped on that dream. At this stage the best outcome for Connacht may just be that everyone comes through this game healthy and with the addition of a couple of returning players they're ready to take on Cardiff.

Just checked out forecast for Thomand.....pack wet gear,it'll be pouring :ohmy:

As expected, or pretty much
Roux back for Cardiff
Marshall is the only uncertainty of the pack if he recovers, competing with Dillane/Muldowney/SOB 2.0
Healy's back!!!!!!!


www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/pat-lam-p...t&utm_medium=twitter

Lam gave an updated medical briefing after the “big physical game” against Brive last Saturday. They are awaiting the outcome of a scan on Kiwi openside Nepia Fox Matamua and whether, as feared, he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament or a medial collateral ligament injury. If the former, he’s liable to miss six or eight months, whereas with the latter it would be six or eight weeks.

Scrumhalf John Cooney will be sidelined for three months after shoulder surgery, Fionn Carr (calf) is out for three to four weeks and Danie Poolman is still rehabbing his hamstring. Eoin McKeon and Ben Marshall, as well as Dave McSharry from the Connacht Eagles game, sustained concussion and are undergoing the return to play protocols.

Andrew Browne (lacerated hand) will miss the Munster game but along with Quinn Roux should return for the game away to Cardiff on Friday week, while winger Matt Healy is available again.

“Obviously, it’s not ideal,” admitted Lam. “You want a full complement to select from, but the thing that I’m pleased with is the way that we have trained as a squad.”

Citing the way James Connolly and Eoghan Masterson have filled the void left by the long-term injuries to Jake Heenan and now Fox-Matamua as examples of their improved academy production line, Lam maintained: “As long as guys are performing it makes things much easier.”

I'm hoping for great things this weekend. I fancy us to eek out a glorious victory. I can't make the fixture but I'll be glued to it and clutching a pint.

Shelflife wrote: Yup it's the east terrace . .

Do you know what section by any chance? I have Munster supporting family who are usually on the East Terrace North.

Yes, filled last few seats last night.

Is the bus full- a few were asking at the game yesterday..

Our style relies on having a mobile seven so maybe starting Connolly would be preferable to hammering one of our number eights into a round hole.

with Fox out, we have several choices for openside flanker

1) McKeon, favourite for most of you, but disappointing as 7 last season, not quick enough
2) Masterson, my own choice, started his career here on a green jersey 2 years ago against Scarlets, would fit in well in a back-row with experienced Naoupu (or McKeon)/Muldoon pairing at 8/6
3) James Connolly, not that young, 23 in April, played 7 in Siberia, why not
4) Rush Heenan back, after all he was expected to be back in October... But we all know what happened when the staff did this last season
5) Heffernan, clear outsider, but covered here yesterday, and is an ex-backrow
6) Rory Moloney, rookie at professional level, but international U20