Munster v Wasps

[An Tarbh]

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Munster v Wasps

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Well it's certainly the clash of the titans here as the defending champions take on the previous champions in Thomond Park. What more could you want in this titanic battle?

Certainly there's the controversy with both Ibanez and Flannery getting a reprieve with the delay of their disciplinary hearings.

Certainly the dramatic scenario with Munster only 3 points behind the defending champions.

Certainly the revenge factor for Munster who suffered a heartbreaking semi-final defeat 4 years ago and also in the pool opener in Coventry.

Two great teams going hell for leather, should be an absolute belter.

So who's gonna take it???

Munster: Shaun Payne; Brian Carney, Rua Tipoki, Lifeimi Mafi, Doug Howlett; Ronan O'Gara (capt), Peter Stringer; Marcus Horan, Jerry Flannery, John Hayes; Donncha O'Callaghan, Mick O'Driscoll; Denis Leamy, David Wallace, Anthony Foley.
Replacements: Frank Sheahan, Tony Buckley, Donnacha Ryan, Alan Quinlan, Tomas O'Leary, Paul Warwick, Kieran Lewis.

Wasps: Josh Lewsey; Paul Sackey, Fraser Waters, Rob Hoadley, Dominic Waldouck; Danny Cipriani, Eoin Reddan; Tim Payne, Raphael Ibanez, Phil Vickery, Simon Shaw, George Skivington, James Haskell, Tom Rees, Lawrence Dallaglio (capt).
Replacements: Joe Ward, Tom French, Tom Palmer, John Hart, Mark McMillan, David Doherty, Mark Van Gisbergen.

 

[danny]

I really respect Wasps ability to front up in the big games but this is Thomond Park and Munster will not lose. I hope im wrong but i just think Munster will shade it. A thriller all the same!

 

[shtove]

Serious class from Munster. ROG may yet win over Teh Mite! He left Cipriani for dead in the try build up and kicked like there was no other possible result.

Payne and Wallace very good, and Wasps got a real lesson at the lineout.

Looks like Toulouse now? It's just good to support an honest team.

 

[Sir Speedy]

Toulouse have a home tie? Oh dear, looks like it'll be a Munster or Toulouse final then.
Munster absolutely trounced Wasps in this game, nice to see them in the quarters, again.

 

[Prestwick]

I love it how everyone is underestimating teams like Saracens, Irish and Perpignan. Its great, please keep assuming that you'll cruise to the finals guys and by all means keep convincing yourself that it'll be an easy cruise from here on out. Because it'll only make it more hilarious when one of the smaller teams prepares a surprise of their own in the Quarters or the Semis or maybe even in the finals. :lol:

Here come the likes of Munster and Toulouse, thinking they're going to walk it . All it takes is for the underdog to get the first try and penalty and suddenly all pretensions of easy glory are out of the window and they're battling for their lives.

Biarritz found this out the hard way. Twice. And both Munster and Toulouse could end up like this too.

After this game, Munster should go back, slap themselves in the head and tell themselves that their campaign starts now. Not in the Final, now. Only by preparing to dig their heels in and brawl for every last inch will they prevent being overwhelmed by the smaller teams in this competition.

 

[Alcanor]

I would give Munster Favorite.

 

[shtove]

After this game, Munster should go back, slap themselves in the head and tell themselves that their campaign starts now. Not in the Final, now. Only by preparing to dig their heels in and brawl for every last inch will they prevent being overwhelmed by the smaller teams in this competition. [/b]

Good luck to Sarries - I didn't see their latest match, but they have the ability to do it.

Thing is Munster ALWAYS slap themselves in the head and treat each match like a final. Respectful but ruthless - deadly combination.

 

[Alcanor]

Well they indeed have some fighting spirit, they still impressive even when losing.

 

[Prestwick]

Good luck to Sarries - I didn't see their latest match, but they have the ability to do it.

Thing is Munster ALWAYS slap themselves in the head and treat each match like a final. Respectful but ruthless - deadly combination.
[/b]

Haha, most likely we'll edge the Ospreys and then get humped by Toulouse in the Semi-Final. Slap harder guys, HARDER and the best of luck!! :lol: Regardless of what happens, me and IBB have booked our final tickets and I'll be taking two French chaps to their first time at the Millenium Stadium so it'll be fun regardless of what teams make it.

You think about it though, what if it were a Saracens - London Irish final?! We'd never be able to fill the whole stadium :lol:

 

[shtove]

That's no problem - disappointed Munster fans will turn up anyway, just for a day out in support of an "Oirish" team in a final. But you'll have to put up with The Fields of Athenry all day long.

Leinster supporters will already have sold their tickets - having trouble keeping up with the mortgage in Dublin 4.

 

[Sir Speedy]

Stade can still go through, and they could still win it. It shouldn't be too hard to beat the Sarries (>.>), so I still think it'll be a Munster or Toulouse vs A Welsh team final.

 

[Incredible Schalk]

:bana: I really love the way Munster play, they have built up such a reputation at Thomond park they almost have every game won there before its even started.

 

[Prestwick]

That's no problem - disappointed Munster fans will turn up anyway, just for a day out in support of an "Oirish" team in a final. But you'll have to put up with The Fields of Athenry all day long.

Leinster supporters will already have sold their tickets - having trouble keeping up with the mortgage in Dublin 4. [/b]

Pity that they won't have any Irish players to cheer if London Irish get to the final...

 

[Prestwick]

And as photos of Thomond Park's redevelopment are like gold dust right now...

Lookin' sharp eh?

 

[stormmaster1]

Looking at the their pool table, i think Munster's big success really was the 2 bonus points away. Had they not got one last week, they would be out.

 

[An Tarbh]

I absolutely love Dewi Morris' comments after the game, "if they're not sour grapes from Lawrence they're the bitterest of melons", priceless.

The bonus point in Clermont was absolutely huge, no doubt, but the way they hung on in the first half was just as big as Clermont were well set for a bonus point of their own.

 

[shazbooger]

Yeah, i was screaming at the telly for Lawrence to shut the **** up whingin. How can you say your not taking anything away from Munster, but we were robbed by the ref, and not sound sour.
As for other moments during the pool, you see there are quite a few. I'd look at the 35+ phases they ran through against the scarlets as another key moment.
The thing is, this team knows what to do to win a campaign. They play with their heads and dont just rely on pure raw agression.

 

[stormmaster1]

saw the euro highlights on sky and Dayglo's comments. he looked really peeved about Shaw's binning. He tried to be gracious, but it just wasn't happening. The look on his face was priceless.

 

[Incredible Schalk]

Hopefully the England fans can give me some good points here. Why is Shaw rated so highly? hes not much of a ball carrier and seems to spend most of his time in the sin bin.

 

[Prestwick]

Two misconceptions:

1) He is quite a good ball carrier, throughout the World Cup he made some superb runs with the ball and his passes are usually delicate, subtle and always high quality, the pass which opened the way for Jason Robinson to almost score against Australia in the World Cup case in point.

2) Just because Shaw spent 10 minutes in the bin against Munster doesn't mean that he's always in the bin. I think you're mixing him up with Danny Grewcock here! Again, playing for England he wasn't binned once during the World Cup.

This is only adding more and more reasons why I should never, ever believe a word you say about Dan Parks...