Munster v Edinburgh

[An Tarbh]

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Munster v Edinburgh</div>

Munster welcome back Rua Tipoki after his knee injury which has seen him out of action since the Ulster match early in January. Tony McGahan can also rely on the services of internationals, Peter Stringer, Keith Earls, Denis Leamy, Alan Quinlan and Mick O'Driscoll.

Good chance now for Earls to stake a claim for a place on the bench against England if he comes through the 80 minutes.

Andy Robinson has Scotland players Chris Paterson, Nick De Luca, Ben Cairns and Ally Hogg all available to start on Saturday.

 

[MunsterMan]

I didn't get a ticket for this Might get one yet but anyway
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

The Munster squad for the Magners League game against Edinburgh on Saturday (Musgrave Park 7.30pm) includes Rua Tipoki who returns to the squad for the first time since sustaining a knee injury in the game against Ulster in early January.
Also included in the 26 strong squad are Peter Stringer, Keith Earls, Denis Leamy, Alan Quinlan and Mick O'Driscoll who have all been released by Declan Kidney from the international squad that is due to assemble this evening in Cork to begin preparations for the RBS Six Nations game against England on Saturday week.

The Munster squad return tomorrow morning from their week long warm-weather camp in Lanzarote.

Munster Squad: D Hurley, D Howlett, R Tipoki, K Earls, K Lewis, L Mafi, C O'Boyle, J Manning, P Warwick, P Stringer, M Prendergast, D Williams, F Pucciarielllo, T Ryan, T Buckley, Daragh Hurley, D Fogarty, M Essex, M O'Driscoll, D Ryan, B Holland, A Quinlan, D Leamy, N Ronan, N Williams, J O'Sullivan.[/b]

So hopefully we will see

1. Darragh Hurley
2. Fogarty
3. Buckley
4. O'Driscoll ©
5. Donnacha Ryan
6. Quinlan
7. Ronan
8. Leamy
9. Stringer
10. Warwick
11. Earls
12. Mafi
13. Tipoki
14. Howlett
15. Denis Hurley

16. Essex
17. Pucciariello
18. O'Sullivan
19. Nick Williams
20. Duncan Williams
21. Manning
22. O'Boyle

Nice mix of youth and experience, I'm very pleased we can field a lineup as strong as that with 8 first team players missing, including our entire front 5.

Edinburgh team:

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

15 Chris Paterson

14 Andrew Turnbull
13 Ben Cairns
12 Nick De Luca
11 Mark Robertson

10 David Blair
9 Greig Laidlaw

1 Kyle Traynor
2 Andrew Kelly
3 Ryan Grant
4 Craig Hamilton
5 Ben Gissing
6 Simon Cross
7 Alan MacDonald
8 Allister Hogg (captain)

Substitutes: Steve Lawrie, Bruce McNeil, Scott MacLeod, Scott Newlands, Ben Meyer, Jim Thompson, Roland Reid.[/b]

Strong Edinburgh side too, Turnbull looked very good in the 'A' match a few weeks ago. looking like a good game, and no doubt An Tarbh will be delighted to find it will be on Setanta Ireland

 

[An Tarbh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MunsterMan @ Feb 19 2009, 02:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I didn't get a ticket for this Might get one yet but anyway
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE

The Munster squad for the Magners League game against Edinburgh on Saturday (Musgrave Park 7.30pm) includes Rua Tipoki who returns to the squad for the first time since sustaining a knee injury in the game against Ulster in early January.
Also included in the 26 strong squad are Peter Stringer, Keith Earls, Denis Leamy, Alan Quinlan and Mick O'Driscoll who have all been released by Declan Kidney from the international squad that is due to assemble this evening in Cork to begin preparations for the RBS Six Nations game against England on Saturday week.

The Munster squad return tomorrow morning from their week long warm-weather camp in Lanzarote.

Munster Squad: D Hurley, D Howlett, R Tipoki, K Earls, K Lewis, L Mafi, C O'Boyle, J Manning, P Warwick, P Stringer, M Prendergast, D Williams, F Pucciarielllo, T Ryan, T Buckley, Daragh Hurley, D Fogarty, M Essex, M O'Driscoll, D Ryan, B Holland, A Quinlan, D Leamy, N Ronan, N Williams, J O'Sullivan.[/b]

So hopefully we will see

1. Darragh Hurley
2. Fogarty
3. Buckley
4. O'Driscoll ©
5. Donnacha Ryan
6. Quinlan
7. Ronan
8. Leamy
9. Stringer
10. Warwick
11. Earls
12. Mafi
13. Tipoki
14. Howlett
15. Denis Hurley

16. Essex
17. Pucciariello
18. O'Sullivan
19. Nick Williams
20. Duncan Williams
21. Manning
22. O'Boyle

Nice mix of youth and experience, I'm very pleased we can field a lineup as strong as that with 8 first team players missing, including our entire front 5.

Edinburgh team:

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

15 Chris Paterson

14 Andrew Turnbull
13 Ben Cairns
12 Nick De Luca
11 Mark Robertson

10 David Blair
9 Greig Laidlaw

1 Kyle Traynor
2 Andrew Kelly
3 Ryan Grant
4 Craig Hamilton
5 Ben Gissing
6 Simon Cross
7 Alan MacDonald
8 Allister Hogg (captain)

Substitutes: Steve Lawrie, Bruce McNeil, Scott MacLeod, Scott Newlands, Ben Meyer, Jim Thompson, Roland Reid.[/b]

Strong Edinburgh side too, Turnbull looked very good in the 'A' match a few weeks ago. looking like a good game, and no doubt An Tarbh will be delighted to find it will be on Setanta Ireland
[/b][/quote]

well I'm back in Paris now, so makes little difference.

 

[shtove]

Damn right. Two strong teams.

 

[MunsterMan]

Munster: Denis Hurley; Dough Howlett, Keith Earls, Lifeimi Mafi, Ciaran O'Boyle; Paul Warwick, Peter Stringer; Federico Pucciariello, Denis Fogarty, Tony Buckley; Mick O'Driscoll capt, Donnacha Ryan; Denis Leamy, Niall Ronan, Nick Williams.

Replacements: Michael Essex, Darragh Hurley, Billy Holland, Alan Quinlan, Mike Prendergast, Jeremy Manning, Kieran Lewis.

About time O'Boyle got a start, disappointed not to see Duncan Williams on the bench though, we all know what Prendy can do. Darragh Hurley should have started, he might not be 100% though. Hope Nik Williams plays well, if not bring Holland on early.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MunsterMan @ Feb 20 2009, 12:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Munster: Denis Hurley; Dough Howlett, Keith Earls, Lifeimi Mafi, Ciaran O'Boyle; Paul Warwick, Peter Stringer; Federico Pucciariello, Denis Fogarty, Tony Buckley; Mick O'Driscoll capt, Donnacha Ryan; Denis Leamy, Niall Ronan, Nick Williams.

Replacements: Michael Essex, Darragh Hurley, Billy Holland, Alan Quinlan, Mike Prendergast, Jeremy Manning, Kieran Lewis.

About time O'Boyle got a start, disappointed not to see Duncan Williams on the bench though, we all know what Prendy can do. Darragh Hurley should have started, he might not be 100% though. Hope Nik Williams plays well, if not bring Holland on early.[/b]

I agree with what you say almost completely. Hurley has another chance to get his form back at 15. Good to see O'Boyle get a start since he's been there or thereabouts for a while now - like McFadden at Leinster, I'd say he's playing for a contract next season. Great centre partnership. Halfbacks are strong but I too would have liked to see Duncan Williams on the bench (although Prendergast is a good option). I think the frontrow is weak (Puc has lost his form this year) but Edinburgh aren't good enough to capitalize. The 2nd row and backrow are very strong - Quinlan only making the bench despite three players being on Ireland duty is evidence of this.

 

[MunsterMan]

I wouldn't write the front row off just yet, Buckley is back after a long layoff with pneumonia and glandular fever, a lot of his poor performances at the start of the season can be attributed to playing with those conditions. He is obviously be short of game time but hopefully he will be back to his best! O'Boyle scores for fun in the AIL so hopefully he will do well too.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MunsterMan @ Feb 20 2009, 06:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I wouldn't write the front row off just yet, Buckley is back after a long layoff with pneumonia and glandular fever, a lot of his poor performances at the start of the season can be attributed to playing with those conditions. He is obviously be short of game time but hopefully he will be back to his best! O'Boyle scores for fun in the AIL so hopefully he will do well too.[/b]

An on form Buckley is a decent player but he'll never be a destructive scrummager. When I said the frontrow is weak, I was mainly referring to Puc's diminishing ability (although he has been an outstanding player for Munster) and Fogarty's lineout throwing. I've a lot of time for Fogarty but he hasn't kicked on at all over the last couple of seasons. Couple that with the fact that this frontrow rarely play together as a unit (hence they'll be ring rusty) and I think it's the weakest area on the team due to take the field today.

 

[MunsterMan]

I'm more worried about Williams than about Puc, Buckley or O'Boyle to be honest but that is a fair point. It's lovely day down here so conditions should be near perfect and there are a few of us going, It's sold out as well. Should be a great game as I have said before, 2 strong teams who play with with an attacking mindset. Can't wait!

 

[monkeypigeon]

Yeh, I'm going too . 'Rock on!'

Should be class. Haven't been able to see them this season so this is super lovely. YAY!

 

[durbutter]

munster should eb ahead by more. stringers dummy was fooking stupid.

 

[durbutter]

fogarty cant throw

 

[An Tarbh]

How has Earls played, good enough to get the spot on the bench for Saturday?

 

[durbutter]

yep, got alot of ball. had a good game. leamy was great.

 

[An Tarbh]

good good, hopefully Turnstyle will be gone then.

 

[monkeypigeon]

28 - 14. 6 converted trys. Good match. Earls played well, made a few half breaks and scored a nice try.

Mafi put in a few good hits and looked lively as always. Mick Williams is lazy.