Munster v Dragons 22nd Sept

[Adam1986]

Focus now moves onto our Welsh friends the Dragons. Looking forward to another good performance and win here, both to be expected I think given our improvement and the Dragons performances thus far. Reckon Zebo, POM and Ryan will be chomping at the bit to get back out there. Expect to see a further improvement in execution and focus by the lads. All three to start in my book. Any thoughts, impressions about what we should expect?

[B.A.]

If O'Dea is fit I'll be sorry to see him dropped for Zebo. I've been hugely impressed with him so far.

[HenryFitz]

It's usually a game when the squad gets a run-out. All the internationals will be straight back in, with the likes of JJ and Foley coming into contention for selection.

[Colliniho]

Could be a few changes to the team I'd imagine. O'Gara, Murray and Earls may well start after their bench appearances last time. Archer may get another run to give BJ a break and Du Preez may come back in after his week off. I would imagine Zebo, POM and D Ryan may have to settle for places on the bench in line with the strategy used against Ulster. Downey and Laulala have played a lot of rugby as well recently, so Barnes or Dineen may possibly get a shot.
Sadly Sean Dougall may well not be involved this weekend. One can only imagine how tough a week this is going to be for him. Niall Ronan may well get a start in his place.
My bet at the team would be
Du Preez
Sherry
Archer
DOC
Holland
DOC2
Ronan
Butler (assuming Coughlan is injured, if not he'll start)
Murray
O'Gara
Earls
Downey
Laulala
Howlett
Hurley

Varley, Kilcoyne, Botha, Ryan, POM, Williams, Keatley, Zebo

[HenryFitz]

I'm guessing:

Du Preez
Sherry
Archer
DOC
Foley
POM
TOD
Butler
Murray
O'Gara
Zebo
Dineen
Earls
Howlett
Hurley

Varley
Horan
Condon
Ryan
DaveOC
Williams
JJ
O'Dea

[pints on the terrace]

i think O'Dea has been fantastic but a week off won't hurt anyone, we have the players to give him the week off to rest his ankle so might as well use it and give earls the nod with zebo on the bench.

i'm a massive fan of ROG so its strange to say but just for a bit of controversy i'll stick my neck out and say i hope keatley starts for us, he's been great so far and starting place with o gara on the bench to close out the game would do his confidence the world of good.

Looking forward to seeing POM and ryan back in action too. The main thing is everyone gets the action and rest they need for october 6th in the Aviva! :-) SUAF

[ed7890]

Hope BJ gets the weekend off. Give Condon or Cotter an appearance, see how they get on. Botha is going to be needed for 4 weekends in after this, plus we really need to start getting these props some game time.

[Sketchy]

I think it's very important that all the Irish players are brought back in for a game like Newport. We all saw how rusty ROG was when he came on. Putting the Internationals in shouldn't be seen as dropping the likes of LOD who has been exceptional for us at times. The internationals need game time and time to prove themselves. The current 15 have been gelling very well but Ulster was the 6th game of the season for a number of players. We need all players that will be considered for HEC squad up to speed as quickly as possible, and with all due respect to the Dragons, they offer the right challenge for such integration.

[DONC]

Would be surprised if BJ is involved other than that thin line to be walked here. The team has been showing definate signs of improvement and a lot of players have stood up for selection. But the internationals have not had a game for ages and perhaps Casey, LOD Keatley et al could do with a break we have a big few weeks coming along and we need everyone to be fit and ready. The internationals cannot be expected to perform if they have had no game time.

it is great to see selection problems like this, long may it last, but I dont think anyone left out of the team from the first few games could be referred to as dropped - more rotation I feel.

[Sketchy]

Any news on the injuries Coughlan, Casey and LOD sustained on Friday?

[Treaty Stone]

Would be surprised if BJ is involved other than that thin line to be walked here. The team has been showing definate signs of improvement and a lot of players have stood up for selection. But the internationals have not had a game for ages and perhaps Casey, LOD Keatley et al could do with a break we have a big few weeks coming along and we need everyone to be fit and ready. The internationals cannot be expected to perform if they have had no game time.

it is great to see selection problems like this, long may it last, but I dont think anyone left out of the team from the first few games could be referred to as dropped - more rotation I feel.

That's just it. Now that we have a squad this strong, it has to be about clever squad rotation and player welfare.

[Munsterboy]

My team would be:

WdP
Sherry
Archer
DOC
Foley
POM
Coughlan (if fit, if not, POM at 8 and DOC2 at 6)
Ronan
Murray
ROG
Zebo
JJ
Laulala
Howlett
Hurley

Think we need to rest Downey and BJB.

[gavindillon]

No idea about the make-up of the team, I generally tend to leave other people do all the guessing! I would say though that ROG being brought on to close out the game will leave him a little rusty for longer than he'd like. I know he was being watched closely in Ravinhell, but he didn't exactly close out the game! Regarding Luke O'Dea et al being rested for a bit, it might do no harm if they've picked up some knocks like LOD's ankle and some heavy blows on Casey.

What I would say is that I hope there's a back-lash of sorts. We let Ulster, strong as they were, come back into the game when we were in the ascendency. I do not expect the Dragons to off that sort of come-back power. Except for a good 20 minutes against a Leinster side that decided to have a holiday in the middle of the second half, they were exposed fully by a weakened side. I'm not saying anything like we should expect bonus point territory (at least not written down, but I have my optimistic hat on), but if we have any statements to make on the pitch then now is the time to make them. Internationals coming back, new plays, new set up, matches under the belts, home game. Time to make our authority felt I think.

On a side note, it could be an interesting start to the match. I presume there'll be a minutes silence for Nevin Spence? Sombre start maybe but as supporters we need to kick on afterwards. And by kick on I mean chant and sing with wild abandon.

[Dowlinz]

Hope all the internationals are back and playing from the offset, plenty in desperate need of gametime and adjusting to the system. We saw how bad we were in preseason with the few games it took to adjust to Penny, the returners need that time as well. We don't want to be throwing away important games later on because of rustiness.

There's a school of thought around about making them start from the bench and earn their way back which is all well and good normally but an unfair request under a new manager and system. Those guys need time to adapt and gel again before judgment is handed out.

[redherring]

I will be really disappointed to see ROG start. Keatley had a fine game on Friday night. OH is the most pivotal position and he's the one who gets the backline moving and Keatley has been doing an excellent job thus far. What I would love to see is a big pack with Stringer at SH. It would be interesting to see how Keatley does given the platform Strings would give him.

[gavindillon]

What I would love to see is a big pack with Stringer at SH.

I'm sure I've seen Munster send out that sort of a team before. Can't remember when or where though

[NotreDameRFC]

That's just it. Now that we have a squad this strong, it has to be about clever squad rotation and player welfare.

spot on TS . The run of games we have after Newport includes ospreys leinster and racing ...all away...we will need a deep strong squad going into that run of games and get the lads who haven't played up to speed.

[taz]

Hope BJ gets the weekend off. Give Condon or Cotter an appearance, see how they get on. Botha is going to be needed for 4 weekends in after this, plus we really need to start getting these props some game time.

I'd agree with that,these are the sort of games to look at Archer,Condon+ see where Ronan is at. I'd have Zebo back in along with the other Irish internationals available to give them a proper run out,to get them up and running under the new systems at match speed.

We cannot burn out Botha ,he is vital to us over the next 6 weeks.

[redherring]

I'm sure I've seen Munster send out that sort of a team before. Can't remember when or where though

Me neither hence my suggestion... I would like to see a pack that will dominate to give Strings good ball.

[rua13]

Apologies if this is the wrong thread or it has already been arranged , but it would be
a very nice gesture if there was a rendition of SUFTUM after the minute silence next Saturday..

[taz]

Apologies if this is the wrong thread or it has already been arranged , but it would be
a very nice gesture if there was a rendition of SUFTUM after the minute silence next Saturday..

It is a good idea,it seems to be what posters would like to happen
http://www.munsterfans.com/threads/3...=1#post1110705

[Waterfordlad]

Can't make the game this weekend due to work but will sing SUFTUM along in front of the telly

[Dowlinz]

Hope BJ gets the weekend off.

People on mfans seem to want BJ to have every weekend off because it seems like I'm seeing this suggestion every preview thread. There's only so many times you can cotton wool a player and frankly he looked undercooked last week for the intensity involved.

[BOK]

I think Penney is handling the prop situation very well. Archer and Kilcoyne have both gotten decent gamtime so far and are both showing very positive signs. I dont think we will be relying on BJ and Wian as much as people think over the next 6 weeks. I wouldn't be at all suprised if one of Archer or Kilcoyne start against the sprays, Leinster or both HC games.

[the_dazz]

Really hard to tell what kind of team Penney will send out, so much so that I wont try and guess this week. However, there is a knock-on effect of the tragic death of Spence to Munster also, BJ and Dougall were obviously team mates of his at Ulster but POM, Zebo, Murray and DOC2.0 all played Ireland U20s with him so they are going to be affected too. Back to the team though, Archer could do with a good run, I'd like to see Sherry start rather than bench. Second row wise, expect one of Foley/Holland to lose out to Ryan, DOC has to start, he has been immense. Back row, may be no harm to give Coughlan and Dougall a rest regardless and start with DOC2.0, TOD and Butler with POM to come in, could also see Holland moving to 6 with Ryan coming on, a nice prospect to see POM and Ryan coming on together, you know your just going to get mayhem! 9 and 10 I think Murray and ROG to get them game time with Keatley to play a few mins with Murray and then let his partnership with Williams continue to develop. This is probably a good week to rest LOD and Casey has taken a good battering too so Earls could start 13 with Downey and Zebo on the wing. Just saw on the deadsite that the A team are playing Connacht As so everyone is getting another run this week which is great.

[fullback15]

O Mahony is not expected to be released for this game- according to the Evening Echo anyway. Zebo expected to be on the bench

article here- also news on Coughlans injury
http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/rug...ar-567274.html

[taz]

8 weeks!!! ahhh FFS.

[Mcork]

Why the eff is O'Mahoney not being released? The players need to start playing now so that they are match fit by the time the big games start. I would agree that this is a good game to get the rustiness of the returning INTL's out of the system. I would expect a large number to start including ROG, Zebo (esp if LO'D is injured), Earls (Casey needs a rest), Murray & Sherry. I'd start Downey with Earls though so they both get used on playing together. O'Mahoney should play especially now that Coughlan is out. We need him and he needs games.

[Danny Ian Mark Walsh]

Apologies if this is the wrong thread or it has already been arranged , but it would be
a very nice gesture if there was a rendition of SUFTUM after the minute silence next Saturday..

Won't be at the game but would be great if there was a rendition..!

[thomond2006]

Apologies if this is the wrong thread or it has already been arranged , but it would be
a very nice gesture if there was a rendition of SUFTUM after the minute silence next Saturday..

Great idea, it's being mentioned on other forums now too.