H Cup Quarter Final : Harlequins vs Munster

[SelimNiai]

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Sunday 7th April - Twickenham Stoop - k.o 14.00 BST ​

 

[psychic duck]

Munster are the luckiest side to still be in the competition.

There is no way they are one of the top 8 sides in Europe this season. And they only got through thanks to Racing throwing their match in the final round at Thomond Park and gifting Munster the 5 points they needed whilst Edinburgh this season acted like a Zebre presence in the pool and all the teams thrashed them (more reason as to why there should be qualification in the RaboPro12 to eliminate the advantage you get from having an Edinburgh or Zebre in your pool).

Whilst in Leinster's pool, they had to face a determined Exeter side even when they were knocked out and also didn't have the fortune of a **** poor side being a walking bonus point win in the pool. Same goes for Toulouse as well. So Munster are really lucky that they are in this competition whilst two sides who are easily better than them are in the Amlin Challenge Cup.

I feel that Nick Evans will teach O'Gara a real lesson in this match.

 

[lynam1104]

Quins should take this one, but never write off munster in a HC knock out match I know its not the munster of old but some of the guys form the 2000's who know all about winning these games are still around. Still Quins I think simply have to much for Munster.

 

[psychic duck]

Quins should take this one, but never write off munster in a HC knock out match I know its not the munster of old but some of the guys form the 2000's who know all about winning these games are still around. Still Quins I think simply have to much for Munster.

This has been the logic stated as to why O'Gara has been Munster's first choice 10 all season ...

 

[profitius]

Munster will simply go route 1 for this game, I think. They'll look to take Quins on up front and are well capable of doing that. With POC, Donnacha Ryan and O'Mahony it gives Munster a big boost. Its the backline I worry about. ROG has handicapped Munster this season but Murray and Zebo look like they might make the team.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Call me mad but I think Munster will win this. Quins are on a desperate run of form and Munster are on the up with O'Connell back. Even with the game against Glasgow they showed signs of good rugby but it was the idiocy of Keatley, Williams and one of the back rows (I think) to throw the game.

I have no resentment against Munster for getting through, they took what they were given and got through, they really should have beaten Sarries away though to top their group.

I've also heard but munstermuffin would probably know better that there has been a bit of a rebellion in the squad and they have told Penney to stuff his expansive rugby, which hasn't really worked this season they're going back to Munster rugby.

19-17 to Munster, O'Gara to kick all his penalties and a maul over try.

 

[big ginger 8]

Call me mad but I think Munster will win this. Quins are on a desperate run of form and Munster are on the up with O'Connell back. Even with the game against Glasgow they showed signs of good rugby but it was the idiocy of Keatley, Williams and one of the back rows (I think) to throw the game.

I have no resentment against Munster for getting through, they took what they were given and got through, they really should have beaten Sarries away though to top their group.

I've also heard but munstermuffin would probably know better that there has been a bit of a rebellion in the squad and they have told Penney to stuff his expansive rugby, which hasn't really worked this season they're going back to Munster rugby.

19-17 to Munster, O'Gara to kick all his penalties and a maul over try.

You're ****ing mental.

 

[Gavin]

Munster: F Jones; D Hurley, C Laulala, J Downey, S Zebo; R O'Gara, C Murray; D Kilcoyne , M Sherry BJ Botha; D Ryan, P O'Connell capt; P O'Mahony, T O'Donnell , J Coughlan.Replacements: D Varley W du Preez, S Archer, Donncha O'Callaghan, P Butler, C Sheridan, I Keatley, I Dineen.

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/11775.php

Howlett out.

 

[psychic duck]

Call me mad but I think Munster will win this. Quins are on a desperate run of form and Munster are on the up with O'Connell back. Even with the game against Glasgow they showed signs of good rugby but it was the idiocy of Keatley, Williams and one of the back rows (I think) to throw the game.

Saw a different game to me then. Munster did okay in the first 20 minutes (bar the first), but then that game was one way traffic in the second half.

The presence of O'Connell is a boost for Munster, but not enough. Quins have a better back row, miles better half backs, and a scrum that will hold it's own as well as a smoother set of outside backs, compared to the Downey/Earls/Laulala centres Munster have been playing which I don't feel have clicked as combinations this season.

O'Gara is no longer a competent fly half at the top level, the fact people are willing to look over some of the shite he has produced this season by keeping on saying "he is the perfect man for the Munster game ...." just shows exactly what is one of the problems with Munster rugby.

He's also up against the best fly half based in Europe in Nick Evans. Just watch this video to see the gulf in quality here between what O'Gara has been producing this season. There is a bit of Sky hyperbole in the pundits, but regardless, he far beyond the level of O'Gara.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Saw a different game to me then. Munster did okay in the first 20 minutes (bar the first), but then that game was one way traffic in the second half.

The presence of O'Connell is a boost for Munster, but not enough. Quins have a better back row, miles better half backs, and a scrum that will hold it's own as well as a smoother set of outside backs, compared to the Downey/Earls/Laulala centres Munster have been playing which I don't feel have clicked as combinations this season.

O'Gara is no longer a competent fly half at the top level, the fact people are willing to look over some of the shite he has produced this season by keeping on saying "he is the perfect man for the Munster game ...." just shows exactly what is one of the problems with Munster rugby.

He's also up against the best fly half based in Europe in Nick Evans. Just watch this video to see the gulf in quality here between what O'Gara has been producing this season. There is a bit of Sky hyperbole in the pundits, but regardless, he far beyond the level of O'Gara.

I agree with everything you're saying about Quins, Evans and Section are definitely a good way ahead of all the other 10's in Europe but Quins have lost three on the trot and Munster are getting some of their key players back right on time. I don't think the game is SA clear cut as a lot of people have dubbed it. I don't buy the whole Munster and Heineken cup rugby anymore but I do think O'Gara in what could be his last professionalmatch of any note will have a decent game.

 

[lynam1104]

This has been the logic stated as to why O'Gara has been Munster's first choice 10 all season ...

Well I was thinking more POC,DOC Howlet, useful rugby players

 

[munstermuffin]

Duck how many points did Glasgow get from intercept and turnovers? Silly errors from a team who have given up on Rabo. Also don't buy this crap we are lucky, we threw away game in Paris, could've beaten Saracens away and did it with injuries so point is bull and for a team who are not in top 8 to qualify in 14 of 15 years on QF is more than enough for me. As for team I confident we are going exactly way Munster like going in and I sure the buzz leaving shannon tomorrow will be electric. Also don't think it can be stated enough how much a difference POC makes while also having him captain team is big plus

 

[big ginger 8]

I agree with everything you're saying about Quins, Evans and Section are definitely a good way ahead of all the other 10's in Europe but Quins have lost three on the trot and Munster are getting some of their key players back right on time. I don't think the game is SA clear cut as a lot of people have dubbed it. I don't buy the whole Munster and Heineken cup rugby anymore but I do think O'Gara in what could be his last professionalmatch of any note will have a decent game.

Stop giving out to me about my grammar now please.

 

[coonor]

Munster: F Jones; D Hurley, C Laulala, J Downey, S Zebo; R O'Gara, C Murray; D Kilcoyne , M Sherry BJ Botha; D Ryan, P O'Connell capt; P O'Mahony, T O'Donnell , J Coughlan.Replacements: D Varley W du Preez, S Archer, Donncha O'Callaghan, P Butler, C Sheridan, I Keatley, I Dineen.

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/11775.php

Howlett out.

In my opinion that is now where near a good enough squad to come anywhere close to a Heineken Cup semi final. Having said that, Edinburghs team on paper should have never been able to beat Toulouse. The 10,12,13 channel is incredibly weak for Munster. ROG is well past it as we all know, Downey is just one massive disappointment and Lualala has unfortunately developed into nothing more than a show pony. Other than Zebo, the Munster back line offers neither spark or class. The pack is "ok" but suffers from discipline issues. The tight five is pretty good, and I'm sure POC will be eager for a big game. The backrow is pretty poor for this level, althoguh TOD has shown a lot of promise and Coughlan is always very reliable. The less said about the bench, the better IMO. It's little more than scraps to be honest.

 

[psychic duck]

Duck how many points did Glasgow get from intercept and turnovers? Silly errors from a team who have given up on Rabo. Also don't buy this crap we are lucky, we threw away game in Paris, could've beaten Saracens away and did it with injuries so point is bull and for a team who are not in top 8 to qualify in 14 of 15 years on QF is more than enough for me. As for team I confident we are going exactly way Munster like going in and I sure the buzz leaving shannon tomorrow will be electric. Also don't think it can be stated enough how much a difference POC makes while also having him captain team is big plus

MunsterMuffin. This season (or last couple seasons for that matter), Munster have not been one of the top 8 teams in Europe. Historical record is irrelevant to how good the team is now, and to be honest, they are living off that team getting them top seeds in their pool. Leinster and a couple other sides are clearly better sides than Munster and would be considered in the best 8 in Europe, even if they are not in the quarter finals, they are better than Munster.

I'm not saying Munster have done anything wrong, as they took what they were given and sneaked through. But there is no doubt they were lucky of the fact they got an Edinburgh side who were woeful in this season's campaign, and also were lucky to get a potentially tough opponent Racing not bother at all with a match they played their second XV.

They wouldn't have got through the group that either of Leinster or Toulouse failed to get through, hence they were lucky they didn't get either those pools. We saw in 2011 how when Munster had a tough pool with Toulon, Ospreys and an English side who don't throw games when they're out like the French do, that Munster couldn't get through.

I agree with everything you're saying about Quins, Evans and Section are definitely a good way ahead of all the other 10's in Europe but Quins have lost three on the trot and Munster are getting some of their key players back right on time. I don't think the game is SA clear cut as a lot of people have dubbed it. I don't buy the whole Munster and Heineken cup rugby anymore but I do think O'Gara in what could be his last professionalmatch of any note will have a decent game.

Same logic was applied when he was trotted off the bench against Scotland. A decent game for ROG now would to be passable and not make any comedy errors.

 

[coonor]

MunsterMuffin. This season (or last couple seasons for that matter), Munster have not been one of the top 8 teams in Europe. Historical record is irrelevant to how good the team is now, and to be honest, they are living off that team getting them top seeds in their pool. Leinster and a couple other sides are clearly better sides than Munster and would be considered in the best 8 in Europe, even if they are not in the quarter finals, they are better than Munster.

I'm not saying Munster have done anything wrong, as they took what they were given and sneaked through. But there is no doubt they were lucky of the fact they got an Edinburgh side who were woeful in this season's campaign, and also were lucky to get a potentially tough opponent Racing not bother at all with a match they played their second XV.

They wouldn't have got through the group that either of Leinster or Toulouse failed to get through, hence they were lucky they didn't get either those pools. We saw in 2011 how when Munster had a tough pool with Toulon, Ospreys and an English side who don't throw games when they're out like the French do, that Munster couldn't get through.



Same logic was applied when he was trotted off the bench against Scotland. A decent game for ROG now would to be passable and not make any comedy errors.

I agree with pretty much all of that. The only thing Munster really have going for them is the underdog tag and the desire for revenge. That alongside what I'm sure will be a valiant group of traveling support could well see them through, but that will depend on playing a whole lot better than in the recent past and Quins not performing. Ultimately the passion, experience and support that Munster could call upon in big games in the past is still with out doubt apparent, however the classy and skill team that accompanied it is all but diminished and without it all the other "additions" to the Munster are nullified.

 

[Gavin]

Where is Stander for Munster these days?

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Stop giving out to me about my grammar now please.

It's the predictive text on my phone, I haven't got used to the HTC yet.

Same logic was applied when he was trotted off the bench against Scotland. A decent game for ROG now would to be passable and not make any comedy errors.

There's a difference in starting a big match than coming off the bench for a player who was parachuted ahead of you even though you feel you're a better player than him, it is very frustrating and even worse when you know you could do a better job while watching him.

I haven't found the interview but I heard that basically he said that Kidney made a mistake picking Jackson and that he'd have done a job if given the start, there's no point arguing this point though, I think everyone agrees he's had a bad season and I have no reason to think he'll play well other than the circumstances, we'll just have to wait for the match.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

So O'Choke sabotaged his performance to prove a point because he's petty? Grand.


Can't see anything past Quins for this - Munster's tight play is overrated to the extreme these days, Quins can match them there and then they've got the backs to beat them elsewhere (especially with ROG at 10). That's before factoring in that it's a home game.

 

[munstermuffin]

Well it all depends on what you class a top side. 1 that consistently finishes in top 4 of their domestic competition like Munster and despite being in transition stayed competitive and is consistent in qualifying in European rugby and that is utter bullshit about pools. Racing and Sarries this year, last year Northampton, year before Ospreys and Toulon so what the hell do you want from them. Are they the best - No but they sure as hell earn their stripes and did they sneak through : NO. They blew game in Paris could've won at Sarries and did what was required of them in end. Quins had an ok Biarritz team and nothing else in that group. Quins are good but who would you consider had tougher group. And I think Munster would've had shot at getting through in groups Leinster or Toulouse had IF they won home games as in let's not forget Leinster scraped home against Exeter at home and could've had Clermont beat in France and in my opinion there would be 3 Irish teams in QF if Leinster had full deck to pick from. But Munster have had them type of groups in past and came out of them so again I'd disagree with you strongly.

@Gavin Stander wasn't registered as we had to put Sheridan in to replace Stringer, Dineen to cover our backs and front row cover for last