When I saw the teams I'd this one firmly written off and like all the interpro games in this period bar Leinster's win with Limerick, it went to home advantage.

It ran away from us fairly quickly in the end. Started well. Did well at scrum time, didn't let them use their maul to much effect. For all the work we put in to go in 10-6 down was disappointing but in fairness we offered nothing in attack. 2nd half we again started fairly well but we didn't make anything of the half break from Carty and for me that was a turning point. We got pulled for a dubious penalty to make it 13-6. We needed a response but we carelessly let Earls make massive ground from the restart which eventually I think led to the try. Some people questioning the downward pressure on the try but looked ok to me. At that stage it was all over and it's a thankless task after that. Better teams than that thrown together Connacht side have collapsed in such situations so to see Munster walk in the bonus point soon after was too be expected.

We know that without certain players we just can't compete. Tom Farrell and Bundee are two of those. If we were going to do anything we needed to stretch Munster but we never really looked like we carried that threat. Lots of possession but no cutting edge.

On the positive side of things, he's a long way to go but Gallagher did ok looks to have a fearless attitude and he looks like he'll be a player for us in time. Blade in my view shouldn't have started but in the first half in particular I thought he did well. It's great to see Butler back. We need him fit from here until the end of the season if we're going to achieve anything.

For me the bigger disappointment today was the Ospreys v Cardiff result. Ospreys getting 5 and then carelessly letting Cardiff pick up a losing bonus point. We can park the league there for the moment but we need to win a minimum 4 of the the next 5 in my view (3 home games and Treviso) and a number of bonus points to give us any chance in the league. Being blunt about it you can't afford to lose to Dragons, Zebre and Cardiff x 2 and expect to achieve anything in the league.

Europe is where we need to rescue the season in my view. With a full strength team we are more than capable of doing the job in Worcester next week. If we piece together all the positive elements of the last few weeks and enjoy a bit of luck with injuries I'd be optimistic about our chances in Europe.

As muck goes that was utter muck. Would be most happy if John signed off now. He is no longer in the equation never mind being required @-(

Caolin Blade, well done young man

That's a great touchline pen! Carty!

Healy is going to play a blinder

So before the game starts and just to purely make sure it is the biggest disaster ever, I have to say this is far and above our best performances in inter-provincial games over the festive period, I think ever.. Just want to put that out there . And I do have a Leinster Connacht double wager which I would like to be able to collect on tomorrow, if ye wouldn't mind lads. The Leinster side of the bet was a bit of a slam dunk before the game but this bordering on embarrassing. Wow, Ulster have some significant issues to deal with. When Dave is first choice front row for Ulster, it kinda says it all

With Schmidts blue tinted glasses on you'd assume the change in centres from november would be Ringrose in and C Farrell out (since this is his first game back from injury) but obviously i would be delighted if Schmidt did replace farrell with farell but considering Rob and Dave Kearney are still in there and TOH cant get a look in, it would be a big surprise if Tom was involved.
But hopefully he gets into a training panel and gets to experience camp to improve his game.

In relation to TOH not being rested i wouldn't fully rule him out because if i was Schmidt i would much rather TOH playing against a strong munster side than being rested to play against two of the lower end of the table teams in France and England in Challenge cup games.

Looking at the squad I makes me think that TOH won't be involved in Ireland's six nations team, as more or less all the internationals across the provinces have been rested for one game of the interpros, also could Farrell be stood down as there's a possibility he may be included and Joe wants him rested? Looking at the teamsheets we have a few inexperienced starters and a very inexperienced bench, I'd definitely take a bonus point, but we might be very lucky to get one, makes Monday's defeat all the more disappointing.

A little disappointed with this team but fully understand that the CC is which side Connacht's bread is buttered on this season. A stronger side probably gives Munster a real challenge, but with it being at Thomond and them pretty desperate for a win there's no guarantee Connacht could come away with the 4 points. Best to rotate some players and focus on Worcester. Still a decent Connacht side and if things go right early on they could produce a surprise.

Delahunt is more of a nuts and bolts hooker. Playing Heff is nearly like having an extra openside but his throwing and scrummaging can be a bit suspect.

I cannot see that team beating Munster away,
I really hope that I'm wrong.

I would take a point from this game.

On the positive looks like he will we will have a strong team out the following week for the challenge cup.

Good to see some injured players coming back.

What's the story with Dave Heffernan?
KK seems to prefer Shane

Paddy not impressed

Good to see Paul Boyle on the bench, who joined us from the Leinster academy in the summer:
www.rugbyworld.com/in-the-mag/hotshots/h...row-paul-boyle-86550
A few weeks back on the Craggy Pod KK mentioned there was a few lads in the academy he expected to see make an impact before the end of the year so here's hoping he's one of them.

A few more changes than I would have liked but guys need rest and with Worcester up next week difficult choices had to me made. Think Ronan is a bit tough on our centers, Akhi looks a very good player to me and Griff is a great defender so if he can keep Farrell quiet that would be big for us. Strong team for Munster but we're no mugs either so hopefully a good game.

RonanL wrote: Little disappointed with our line up - the center pairing is a considerable step down from what we've had recently, and I'd have preferred Mitchell to start at 9. Hopefully our pack can put in another big performance, and the back line can build from there. Looking forward to it though - it'll be my first time in Thomand. Forecast looks like it'll be cold but hopefully dry.

Wow, didn;'t see that coming. Thought we'd go full metal jacket for the win...
Fairly unfamiliar centre partnership (rather than massive step down), and same with the potential combinations off the bench.
Whatever abut our primary Internationals, very surprised Tom Farrell and Masterson are not even in the squad...

Risking starting Farrell and Marshall for Munster (Struggle to understand how Conway, POM, Stander, Scannel, Earls,Murray are all included...) is a sign they're absolutely desperate to get something out of this Interpro series, so we need to be straight out of the block tomorrow or a real prospect we're going to get spanked.

Little disappointed with our line up - the center pairing is a considerable step down from what we've had recently, and I'd have preferred Mitchell to start at 9. Hopefully our pack can put in another big performance, and the back line can build from there. Looking forward to it though - it'll be my first time in Thomand. Forecast looks like it'll be cold but hopefully dry.

We're going to miss the impact our internationals. Dillane has been on form, so obviously he's just on rotation out (unless he has to be rested, subject to correction on that!).

Going to be a tough match.