Munster v Leinster

[An Tarbh]

Munster have also only made 1 change to the side from their quarter final with Peter Stringer coming in for the injured Tomás O'Leary.

Munster XV: 15, P Warwick, 14. D Howlett, 13. K Earls, 12. L Mafi, 11. I Dowling, 10. R O'Gara, 9. P Stringer, 1. M Horan, 2. J Flannery, 3. J Hayes, 4. D O'Callaghan, 5. P O'Connell capt, 6. A Quinlan, 7. D Wallace, 8. D Leamy.

Replacements: 16. D Fogarty, 17. T Buckley, 18. M O'Driscoll, 19. N Ronan, 20. M Prendergast, 21. B Murphy, 22. D Hurley

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Who cares about "Lunsters"? People should support who they want. Having said that, Ian Dowling is spouting crap. Leinster's sin is that they didn't make the Heineken Cup final before Munster did it.The vast majority of Munster's fan base (including Dowling) came on board post 1999/2000 (as most Leinster fans only began to recognise themselves as such post 2001). Rather than belittling each other with petty accusations of being bandwagon fans, should we not be congratulating both the Leinster and Munster branches for mobilising strong support bases out of virtually nowhere? Each of these teams have average attendances which would be the envy of most teams in Europe and they'll only continue to grow as rugby experiences a boom in Ireland.

 

[shtove]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (snoopy snoopy dog dog @ May 2 2009, 04:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Who cares about "Lunsters"? People should support who they want. Having said that, Ian Dowling is spouting crap.[/b]

One word: Pride.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (snoopy snoopy dog dog @ May 2 2009, 04:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Leinster's sin is that they didn't make the Heineken Cup final before Munster did it.[/b]

How could they manage that without Munster's example?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (snoopy snoopy dog dog @ May 2 2009, 04:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

The vast majority of Munster's fan base (including Dowling) came on board post 1999/2000 (as most Leinster fans only began to recognise themselves as such post 2001). Rather than belittling each other with petty accusations of being bandwagon fans, should we not be congratulating both the Leinster and Munster branches for mobilising strong support bases out of virtually nowhere? Each of these teams have average attendances which would be the envy of most teams in Europe and they'll only continue to grow as rugby experiences a boom in Ireland.[/b]

Yeah, rugby has strong roots but isn't planted widely. Of course most fans came on board lately - that's why the game is growing. I hope the rugby boom isn't related to the economy.

 

[Bumbadum]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (shtove @ May 1 2009, 06:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (snoopy snoopy dog dog @ May 2 2009, 04:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Leinster's sin is that they didn't make the Heineken Cup final before Munster did it.[/b]

How could they manage that without Munster's example?

[/b][/quote]

The province-as-club thing is difficult really; as much as sports clubs have rivalries I guess they're not as established as the rivalries between provinces, Bristol and London I don't suppose have any particular historic reason to shake their fists at one another. So it's probably more "offensive" for Irish fans to switch alliance and be fair weather fans, so to speak.

It's all meaningless in the context of the HEC though, Ulster were the first and all that follows is merely scenery.

Back on topic, looking forward to the game, should be a big one and hoping Leinster can make a game of it. Munster gotta be heavy favourites but they're not invincible.

Much as I would like Leinster to win for the pure drama of it, i'm edging towards Munster so there's a better chance another trophy will go to the shores of Ireland this season, then all that would be left is for an Irishman to captain the Lions to a tour win. We can but dream.

 

[An Tarbh]

that would be typical Leinster, beat the best team in Europe in front of 60000 of their own supporters only to fall short at the easier, realtively speaking, task in the final!

 

[Sir Speedy]

Game started. Contepomi smashes ROG in the opening exchanges but misses an early penalty.

 

[Sir Speedy]

Contepomi? NERVES?! Bwahahaha!

0 - 3 after a sweet dg.

EDIT: Cian Healy is a moron. Yellow carded right after taking the lead for a high and late tackle. ROG for a penalty. 3 - 3. ********.

 

[Bullitt]

Make that 3-3

 

[Sir Speedy]

Contepomi off injured. Sexton on to kick a penalty for the lead...

Nicely done, son. 3 - 6.

 

[feicarsinn]

TRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LEINSTER WOOOOOOO d'arcy you hero. great move

 

[Sir Speedy]

D'ARCY TRY!

O'Driscoll the architect of that with a slick pass for Nacewa's break through.

EDIT: And if Leinster can keep turning ball over like that then this will be an upset of an enormous magnitude.

 

[Ozzay]

cracking game

 

[Sir Speedy]

LEINSTER SCORE AGAIN! FITZGERALD!

6 - 16.

Sexton scores a tricky conversion fantastically! 6 - 18. Geez this Irish pessimism a la An Tarbh sure pays off!

And O'Choke makes a pathetic knock-on there, giving Leinster another great position...

 

[Thingimubob]

Fitzgerald ! great try!
what a game, and what a start to the second half for leinster

 

[Thingimubob]

error from O'Gara gives Leinster position. That was very unforced... pressure starting to get to him maybe?


EDIT: Yupp... add a bad punt, then a bad penalty to touch to that

 

[Sir Speedy]

Munster have a great position to score here. If Leinster hold them out it will be massive.

They have! Turned over.

Munster still have the territory though after a great run from Howlett. Ooof. Tough call Owens; thought ROG was turned over again. But knocked on from the scrum!

 

[Sir Speedy]

And that's the game. O'DRISCOLL YOU F*CKING GENIUS!

 

[Thingimubob]

O'Driscoll interception :lol: even my mum saw that coming ages ages ago

 

[Bluemoon]

The almighty Munstering get a Leinstering...

Only seen highlights but looks a fantastic game.

 

[cyRil]

Once again O'Gara demonstrates why he cannot be the Lions fly half.
Leinster have been bloody amazing.