Ospreys V Munster. Sept 29 6.30 Team post # 127

[FORWARD....]

Ospreys new matchday performance teams(cheerleaders) first outing this Saturday.
http://www.ospreysrugby.com/news/5627.php

Dear God. Prematch AND half time Osprentertainment. Ospreys deserve whatever punishment they get

[joeriddick]

Penney not interested in revenge.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/penney-not-interested-in-revenge-mission-3241357.html

Interedasting.

From a fans point of view though, I hope they fooking smash 'em.

[gavindillon]

Donnacha Ryan seems unsure if those girls in the photo are in fact the Osprey's team, or cheerleaders. Either way he looks unimpressed...http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...ard-/DRyan.gif

Edit: Can't seem to embed the image somehow... sorry if you were expecting something new!

[Cowboy]

More from d'indo on our Paddy/Sweaty openside:

Dougall's meteoric rise at Munster 'a bit surreal'

New Munster flanker Sean Dougall says he is anxious to repay the faith shown in him by coach Rob Penney.
The 22-year-old is the first to admit he could hardly have dreamt of a better start to his Munster career with Penney throwing him in at the deep end.
The former Ulster academy player -- he was born in Perth inScotland to Irish parents -- joined Munster after two seasons with Rotherham Titans and has made an immediate impact.
Penney selected him for all three pre-season games and then started him at openside flanker for the opening three Pro12 games.
He was rested for last weekend's clash with the Dragons, paving the way for Niall Ronan's return, but he is desperate to get back out on the pitch.
"You always want to play. You never get to the stage when you're happy having a rest. Obviously, there are always guys wanting your place, so it's better to be playing week in and week out.
"It has all been a bit of a whirlwind to be honest, but to get my first cap in Edinburgh and to get the win was certainly really nice; it was a bit of a surreal experience getting to play in Murrayfield and it was great to get the win and get my first Pro12 cap at the same time."
- John Fallon
Irish Independent

REFERENCE

[Colliniho]

Squad list today I presume?

[Angus Axe]

I hope Penny keeps tweaking and rotating. I would hope we'll move beyond the "best 15" and have a squad of 25+ that can all play in the top games, giving us the options of playing different combinations that would be best suited to winning games or playing specific conditions.

[shk7619]

Hurley Returns to Starting XV
27 September 2012, 12:34 pm
By The Editor

Denis Hurley makes his return to action this Saturday after recovering from illness (tonsillitis) which kept him side-lined for the Newport Gwent Dragons game.



Conor Murray makes his first start of the season after coming off the bench for Ulster and Dragons, while Donnacha Ryan and Peter O’Mahony are included for the first time in a match day squad this season. Munster take on Ospreys in round 5 of the RaboDirect PRO12 on Saturday in the Liberty Stadium, ko 6.30pm.
Broadcaster: S4C/RTE
Munster: D Hurley; D Howlett Capt., K Earls, C Laulala, S Zebo, R O’Gara, C Murray; W Du Preez, M Sherry, S Archer, D O’Callaghan, B Holland, T O’Donnell, N Ronan, P Butler. Replacements: D Varley, D Kilcoyne, BJ Botha, D Ryan, P O’Mahony, P Stringer, I Keatley, J Downey.
Players not considered due to injury:
J Murphy (knee), F Jones (shoulder), L O’Dea (ankle), S Scanlon (back), I Dineen (stomach), T Smith (knee), P O’Connell (back), J Coughlan (groin), I Nagle (shoulder)


http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/10875.php

[B.A.]

Hurley Returns to Starting XV
27 September 2012, 12:34 pm
By The Editor

Denis Hurley makes his return to action this Saturday after recovering from illness (tonsillitis) which kept him side-lined for the Newport Gwent Dragons game.



Conor Murray makes his first start of the season after coming off the bench for Ulster and Dragons, while Donnacha Ryan and Peter O’Mahony are included for the first time in a match day squad this season. Munster take on Ospreys in round 5 of the RaboDirect PRO12 on Saturday in the Liberty Stadium, ko 6.30pm.
Broadcaster: S4C/RTE
Munster: D Hurley; D Howlett Capt., K Earls, C Laulala, S Zebo, R O’Gara, C Murray; W Du Preez, M Sherry, S Archer, D O’Callaghan, B Holland, T O’Donnell, N Ronan, P Butler. Replacements: D Varley, D Kilcoyne, BJ Botha, D Ryan, P O’Mahony, P Stringer, I Keatley, J Downey.
Players not considered due to injury:
J Murphy (knee), F Jones (shoulder), L O’Dea (ankle), S Scanlon (back), I Dineen (stomach), T Smith (knee), P O’Connell (back), J Coughlan (groin), I Nagle (shoulder)


http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/10875.php

There's some impact on that bench!

[Sketchy]

Hurley Returns to Starting XV
27 September 2012, 12:34 pm
By The Editor

Denis Hurley makes his return to action this Saturday after recovering from illness (tonsillitis) which kept him side-lined for the Newport Gwent Dragons game.



Conor Murray makes his first start of the season after coming off the bench for Ulster and Dragons, while Donnacha Ryan and Peter O’Mahony are included for the first time in a match day squad this season. Munster take on Ospreys in round 5 of the RaboDirect PRO12 on Saturday in the Liberty Stadium, ko 6.30pm.
Broadcaster: S4C/RTE
Munster: D Hurley; D Howlett Capt., K Earls, C Laulala, S Zebo, R O’Gara, C Murray; W Du Preez, M Sherry, S Archer, D O’Callaghan, B Holland, T O’Donnell, N Ronan, P Butler. Replacements: D Varley, D Kilcoyne, BJ Botha, D Ryan, P O’Mahony, P Stringer, I Keatley, J Downey.
Players not considered due to injury:
J Murphy (knee), F Jones (shoulder), L O’Dea (ankle), S Scanlon (back), I Dineen (stomach), T Smith (knee), P O’Connell (back), J Coughlan (groin), I Nagle (shoulder)


http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/10875.php

Delighted he has gone with Casey 12. Might not work but I hope it does.

That is a serious bench!

[Speedee]

Looking forward to see how Laulala and Earls go in the centre. I'd have preferred a more ball carrying backrow to go with it. Hopefully we'll see good support play from Ronan and O'Donnell.

Interesting selection as always.

[the_dazz]

I dont like the team one bit! Hoping its just a rest for Downey and Keatley, I watched the game back yesterday and noticed how Ronan was bursting his balls in defence to help ROG, at this stage Id be much happier with Keatley there. I think ROG is an absolute hero and the best kicker in town but he doesnt bring as much as Keatley at this stage. Looks also like Stringer has got the nod at back up scrum half. Id expect Earls and Laulala to mix and match but I dont like the idea of two 13s in the centre.

My first time being disappointed by Penney, hopefully next weeks selection is more in favour!

PPS: Its not all bad I'm happy with Archer, Holland and Kilcoyne

[Thomond78]

That POC is listed as back is somewhat heartening.

Big test for Archer. If he survives Duncan Jones in his current form, he's going all the way as a TH.

KC as 12 is interesting. And I like the strength of the bench.

Don't think we'll win- they have too much strength up-front, and Ryan Jones and Tipuric as a back-row unit should be too good for that pack - but it'll be a VERY interesting shake-down. If we win, I'll be stoked.

[Upfront_1979]

no Dougall in squad?

[Sketchy]

I dont like the team one bit! Hoping its just a rest for Downey and Keatley, I watched the game back yesterday and noticed how Ronan was bursting his balls in defence to help ROG, at this stage Id be much happier with Keatley there. I think ROG is an absolute hero and the best kicker in town but he doesnt bring as much as Keatley at this stage. Looks also like Stringer has got the nod at back up scrum half. Id expect Earls and Laulala to mix and match but I dont like the idea of two 13s in the centre.

My first time being disappointed by Penney, hopefully next weeks selection is more in favour!

PPS: Its not all bad I'm happy with Archer, Holland and Kilcoyne

It's the 5th competitive game of the season. He has to find out combinations that do and don't work now. Not when we are half way through the season facing an important HEC match. He also has to get ROG et al up to speed with match fitness and the game plan. We can't play our strongest 15 every week, and with Leinster, Racing and Edinburgh coming up he needs to have options to call upon for the bigger games.

[the_dazz]

It's the 5th competitive game of the season. He has to find out combinations that do and don't work now. Not when we are half way through the season facing an important HEC match. He also has to get ROG et al up to speed with match fitness and the game plan. We can't play our strongest 15 every week, and with Leinster, Racing and Edinburgh coming up he needs to have options to call upon for the bigger games.

I agree...I just don't like it!

[Sketchy]

I agree...I just don't like it!

Fair enough. I'm with you on Keatley at 10 though. I reckon Keatley will be given Leisnter and if he plays well then Racing.

[the_dazz]

Fair enough. I'm with you on Keatley at 10 though. I reckon Keatley will be given Leisnter and if he plays well then Racing.

Thats what Im hoping for too and for Leinster Id like to see Downey @12, Laulala @13 and Earls @15

[déiseman]

That POC is listed as back is somewhat heartening.

I'm pretty sure by "back" they mean that an injury to his back is keeping him out. I read somewhere during the week that he's been getting back spasms as well as the knee problems from earler in the year.

Interesting that Strings is on the bench ahead of Williams, neither have really grabbed their opportunities so far but I think Williams was good against Ulster and I'd have him ahead of Strings now. Surely, the experience of these away games would stand to him more than Strings as well.

[Sketchy]

Thats what Im hoping for too and for Leinster Id like to see Downey @12, Laulala @13 and Earls @15

I definitely want to see Earls at 15 at some point in the near future. I'd prefer it was against an easier opposition than Leinster away though. Maybe after the first round of HEC games, and for Leinster and Racing give Penney the selection headache of picking Casey or Earls. We will need our strongest players in their most comfortable positions to get wins against those two teams.

[Thomond78]

I'm pretty sure by "back" they mean that an injury to his back is keeping him out. I read somewhere during the week that he's been getting back spasms as well as the knee problems from earler in the year.

Interesting that Strings is on the bench ahead of Williams, neither have really grabbed their opportunities so far but I think Williams was good against Ulster and I'd have him ahead of Strings now. Surely, the experience of these away games would stand to him more than Strings as well.

That's what I meant: it's the back spasm, not the knee.

[gavindillon]

Is Sean Dougall injured? Or just not included. Disappointing if the latter..

[déiseman]

That's what I meant: it's the back spasm, not the knee.

Fair enough, my fault.

[redherring]

It's the 5th competitive game of the season. He has to find out combinations that do and don't work now. Not when we are half way through the season facing an important HEC match. He also has to get ROG et al up to speed with match fitness and the game plan. We can't play our strongest 15 every week, and with Leinster, Racing and Edinburgh coming up he needs to have options to call upon for the bigger games.

+1. There are three huge games coming in three weeks and RP needs everyone flying. Downey needs this week off more than anyone. He will be pivotal against Leinster and Racing Metro. An now is a good time to try out KC and Earls together. Ronan needs game time as he will surely be needed in the big games over the next three weeks. I think he's picked very shrewdly and has picked a team that will definitely be competitive and he also kept his eye on the bigger things to come.

[Thomond78]

Fair enough, my fault.

To be fair, it's as much mine for not putting "back" in inverted commas to make it clearer.

[jeepers]

I'm pretty sure by "back" they mean that an injury to his back is keeping him out. I read somewhere during the week that he's been getting back spasms as well as the knee problems from earler in the year.

Interesting that Strings is on the bench ahead of Williams, neither have really grabbed their opportunities so far but I think Williams was good against Ulster and I'd have him ahead of Strings now. Surely, the experience of these away games would stand to him more than Strings as well.

Strings has had very little gametime so far - 71 mins to Williams 193 mins. Murray has 56 mins, so more than likely he will get 70+ now in prep. for harder games to come.

[Kevy-Wevz]

I prefer to see it in this format so here we go:


15. D Hurley
14. D Howlett Capt.
13. K Earls
12. C Laulala,
11. S Zebo
10. R O’Gara
09. C Murray


01. W Du Preez
02. M Sherry
03. S Archer
04. D O’Callaghan
05. B Holland
06. T O’Donnell
07. N Ronan
08. P Butler


Replacements:
16. D Varley
17. D Kilcoyne
18. BJ Botha
19. D Ryan
20. P O’Mahony
21. P Stringer
22. I Keatley
23. J Downey




Players not considered due to injury:
J Murphy (knee), F Jones (shoulder), L O’Dea (ankle), S Scanlon (back), I Dineen (stomach), T Smith (knee), P O’Connell (back), J Coughlan (groin), I Nagle (shoulder)


Very glad with that team, especially that Downey is being given a rest(we're still so short on IC's that he's on the bench though). We'll have two 13's in the centre which would normally worry me but both players are such high quality that I'm not too worried. And it's Penney, I'm learning to trust the man!


Again, nice for Holland to not be shunted to the bench when D'Ryan returned(not a moment too soon!).

No Beta in that team? Surprising as I thought he was playing better stuff than the TOD(who is also playing really well to be fair)

[gavindillon]

Delighted he has gone with Casey 12. Might not work but I hope it does.

That is a serious bench!

Bench looks weak :P

[Cill na Martra]

As I see it there are 3 tests/concerns about that starting 15:

1. Archer - Os beasted Scarlets scrum last week and Duncan won motm. Remember this corresponding fixture last season, when Archer had to be sin-binned for his own safety?

2. Ronan/TOD axis. Think this is their first time they're starting since the Ulster HEC game last season when they were massively underpowered against 1F & Henry. Dougall's groundhog ability would have been very useful to counter Tipuric.

3. ROG/Casey axis. ROG's defence is probably his greatest weakness and Casey is no 12. Os may well use a blitz defence on the basis that ROG will either kick or pass flat to Casey every time. Linebreaks and innovative backline moves may be few and far between.

[rathbaner]

What's important is whether an Earls-KC LL combo offers something different to a Downey +Earls or KC LL combo, a different way to unlock defences or to create space for others. Can't wait to see what they'll do against the blitz.

[taz]

There's some impact on that bench!

Is there what!