Clermont v Munster

by BlueMuff Mon 22 Apr 2013, 8:48 am

First topic message reminder :

27 Apr 2013 - Stade de la Mosson in Montpellier 5pm

Munster: F Jones; K Earls, C Laulala, J Downey, S Zebo; R O’Gara, C Murray; D Kilcoyne, M Sherry, BJ Botha; D Ryan, P O’Connell capt; P O’Mahony, T O’Donnell, J Coughlan. Replacements: D Varley, W du Preez, J Ryan, B Holland, P Butler, C Sheridan, I Keatley, D Hurley.

ASM team:

1.Domingo, 2.Kayser, 3.Zirakashvili, 4.Cudmore, 5.Hines, 6.Bonnaire

, 7.Bardy, 8.Chouly, 9.Parra, 10.James, 11.Nalaga, 12.Fofana, 13.King, 14.Sivivatu, 15.Byrne.

Remplaçants : 16.Paulo, 17.Debaty, 18.Ric, 19.Pierre, 20.Lapandry, 21.Radosavljevic, 22.Buttin, 23.Nakaitaci ou Skrela.

Munster have not a snowballs chance in hell of winning this in all reality. Clermont are on something of a destiny mission to win the HC after being the nearly men for 4 years. Heartbreaking defeat to Leinster last year in the semi final will be the extra motivation not that they need it.

They are unbeaten in 59 games at the Stade Marcel Michelin (albeit not playing there this weekend but are still the home team), just hammered Toulouse 37 12 and even managed to draw away to Toulon the week before 26 26.

They have one of the biggest budgets in European Rugby if not the biggest. So much so they were able to rest 12 of the HC QF team against Toulouse. Power, pace agression all over the park. Only positive is that Rougerie and Brock James are doubtful.

Munster will probably name same team that beat Quins (unless Dougie and Earls are back which looks unlikely).

A massive invasion of the Red Amry is underway with Munster looking for 5,000 tickets (double that of Leinster request last year Very Happy

) and with Sponsors etc it might be even more than that.

Time to unleash the Dogs of War - C'Mon Munster SUAF

by The Boss Sat 27 Apr 2013, 4:59 pm

Ckmon to **** Munster! Absolutely buzzing for the game. Good luck lads!

by Gibson Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:01 pm

Jayz POC just loves hitting Leinster players. Wink

by Golden Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:03 pm

What an atmosphere!

by Gibson Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:06 pm

Having just watched an Amlin semi... this is a different level of intensity.

Love de Heino. Magic day down in Montpelier.

Munster back to being Munster. Only way to go. They could take anyone to the wire playing like this.

Believe.

by Golden Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:07 pm

Come on ROG!!!! Good start

by Gibson Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:08 pm

Oooh lovely hands by ASM. Magic.

by Golden Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:09 pm

Dear lord they were lining up to walk that in.

by wales606 Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:09 pm

Nalanga did his best to butcher that! Would have been shot

by wolfball Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:09 pm

That was All Blacks-esque, sucking in defenders and then queuing up for the try

by ChequeredJersey Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:10 pm

And so it begins...

by wolfball Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:12 pm

They remind me of Leinster a couple of years ago. Just unstoppable.

by **Ozzy3213** Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:12 pm

Difficult to see ASM not winning this game.

by Golden Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:12 pm

The intensity in the Heineken cup is just something else

by Looseheaded Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:12 pm

Regan King has got to be the best offloader in NH at the moment. Also Byrne's running some lovely attacking lines so far

by Gibson Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:14 pm

wolfball wrote:They remind me of Leinster a couple of years ago. Just unstoppable.

For sure. This is their last chance with a lot of this crew too. They want it soo bad. We realistically denied them 2 x HC Winners medals. How we did it, I don't know.

Ah now I remember... we were the better team.

by **Ozzy3213** Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:16 pm

Munster need to be smarter at the breakdown here.

by bsando Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:17 pm

Nice by Hines! Hope he has a good game today Smile

by **Ozzy3213** Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:19 pm

Succession of penalties against Munster. If they don't work this out it will be a team yellow shortly and ASM will slaughter them for the 10 minutes they are down to 14.

by bsando Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:20 pm

In fact, Hines vs POC. Epic match up! Lots of other ones too, gotta love HC rugby!

by Gibson Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:23 pm

MON Munster! Stand up and Fight! Shake em up!

by tatterd Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:28 pm

offloading is something else........

by bsando Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:28 pm

Wow, Hines is looking really sharp. Great steal in the lineout! Making every ruck, totally different player to the one a few years ago. Sorry to go on about him, he's just really impressing me today.

by Golden Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:29 pm

Lualua making some crucial hits

by **Ozzy3213** Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:30 pm

bsando, he has just got better and better as he's got older. Really great player over the past 4-5 years.

by wales606 Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:30 pm

Cudmore is a liability, could well have gotten a YC there - how is he still first choice when he spends most of his time banned

by Looseheaded Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:31 pm

HINES AND SHAW FOR THE LIONS

I jest, though I would rather take them over the likes of Gray and Parling

by Feckless Rogue Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:32 pm

Leinster were feiced over by the IRFU when they refused to let them re-sign Hines. He wanted to stay. Sad

by Golden Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:33 pm

Munster are creaking

by Gibson Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:34 pm

Ozzy3213 wrote:bsando, he has just got better and better as he's got older. Really great player over the past 4-5 years.

Leinster made Hines a far superior player. Johnno Gibbs made him a great offloader and a far more effective forward in attack. Added a whole new dimension to his game.

He always was a powerful, influential, intelligent, contrary, cheatin bollix. Now he's all that and more.

Its the Leinster Way.

Munster in trouble here. Need to score next...

by LeinsterFan4life Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:34 pm

ROG with the 22s

by bsando Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:35 pm

Ozzy3213 wrote:bsando, he has just got better and better as he's got older. Really great player over the past 4-5 years.

Definitely! International retirement has worked out well for him. Last time I saw him play was Leinster vs Saints. Looking even better than that game where he scored the match winning try.

by **Ozzy3213** Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:37 pm

Gibson wrote:
Ozzy3213 wrote:bsando, he has just got better and better as he's got older. Really great player over the past 4-5 years.

Leinster made Hines a far superior player. Joe Schmidt made him a great offloader and a far more effective forward in attack. Added a whole new dimension to his game.

He was always a powerful, influential, intelligent, contrary, cheatin bollix. Now he's all that and more.

Its the Leinster Way.

Munster in trouble here. Need to score next...

Shame that's not worked out for yer man Toner Gibbo Wink

You have one thing right though, Munster do need to score next! guinness

by Hookisms and Hyperbole Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:39 pm

It's men v boys out there today. If Clermont get another try the dam could burst. Munster being absolutely hammered in nearly very respect

by Golden Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:39 pm

O'Donnell is growing into a very good player

by Gibson Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:39 pm

Oh my. Nalanga. So powerful.

Munster need some Divine Intervention. I may even say a Leinster Novena for them.

Earls and Zebo really need show what they have in the big games. They just require a better platform.

by Gibson Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:44 pm

Ozzy3213 wrote:
Gibson wrote:
Ozzy3213 wrote:bsando, he has just got better and better as he's got older. Really great player over the past 4-5 years.

Leinster made Hines a far superior player. Joe Schmidt made him a great offloader and a far more effective forward in attack. Added a whole new dimension to his game.

He was always a powerful, influential, intelligent, contrary, cheatin bollix. Now he's all that and more.

Its the Leinster Way.

Munster in trouble here. Need to score next...

Shame that's not worked out for yer man Toner Gibbo

You have one thing right though, Munster do need to score next!

Peadar, a chara,
You can only work on and improve the basic raw material you have at you disposal. Devin is frustrating. Thought he moved on up last year. He has, but its painfully slow. Never be an regular International. Not enough of a kunst to make it.

Meanwhile, back at the game... Munster stopping the ASM flow here. This is what they do best, in times of stress. Stay in touch till half-time and then hit the feciers confidence early in the 2nd.

Or... even better... maybe at the end of the 1st?

by wales606 Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:45 pm

Would Clermont be the first team to win the HC by winning all of their games?

by Gibson Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:45 pm

wales606 wrote:Would Clermont be the first team to win the HC by winning all of their games?

Yes.

by **LondonTiger** Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:47 pm

How are Munster only 10pts down, completely outplayed until the clock went red.

by thebluesmancometh Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:47 pm

Are Cleremonts pack just running out of steam a bit here???

Total domination first 20 mins, then Munsters pack just crept into the game, and Munster were actually looking like they wanted more end of first half!!!

Have to say fair play to Munsters passion and character, most euro teams wouldve been blown away by that 40 minutes, but Munster are in touch!!

by Feckless Rogue Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:47 pm

Munster show character. But just not in the same class. The top teams score in those positions.

by wales606 Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:48 pm

Gibson wrote:
wales606 wrote:Would Clermont be the first team to win the HC by winning all of their games?

Yes.

Toulon or Munster will have to win it then, both of those have lost a game

by whocares Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:49 pm

Hines was lucky not to get a yellow... Clermont taking a bit too easy and get penalised too much. Hopefully they will correct that in the 2nd half.

by bsando Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:49 pm

Munster still in this. If they win today I would not be surprised at all, they're such a class side. Loving every minute of this game!

by VinceWLB Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:51 pm

Am i the only one to think Owens is having a mare?

O'Donnell certainly was released from what i could see.

by **Ozzy3213** Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:51 pm

Gibson wrote:
Ozzy3213 wrote:
Gibson wrote:
Ozzy3213 wrote:bsando, he has just got better and better as he's got older. Really great player over the past 4-5 years.

Leinster made Hines a far superior player. Joe Schmidt made him a great offloader and a far more effective forward in attack. Added a whole new dimension to his game.

He was always a powerful, influential, intelligent, contrary, cheatin bollix. Now he's all that and more.

Its the Leinster Way.

Munster in trouble here. Need to score next...

Shame that's not worked out for yer man Toner Gibbo

You have one thing right though, Munster do need to score next!

Peadar, a chara,
You can only work on and improve the basic raw material you have at you disposal. Devin is frustrating. Thought he moved on up last year. He has, but its painfully slow. Never be an regular International. Not enough of a kunst to make it.

Meanwhile, back at the game... Munster stopping the ASM flow here. This is what they do best, in times of stress. Stay in touch till half-time and then hit the feciers confidence early in the 2nd.

Or... even better... maybe at the end of the 1st?

I said on another thread earlier that Munster need to just hang in there. If they are still in the game at the 65-70 minute mark, then they could nick it at the death.

by Gibson Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:53 pm

thebluesmancometh wrote:Are Cleremonts pack just running out of steam a bit here???

Total domination first 20 mins, then Munsters pack just crept into the game, and Munster were actually looking like they wanted more end of first half!!!

Have to say fair play to Munsters passion and character, most euro teams wouldve been blown away by that 40 minutes, but Munster are in touch!!

That's how they work. That is the very essence of Munster. ASM by far the superior team in all facets. But, this the Heino.. and This is Munster.

This game is not over yet. If ASM score 1st, specially a try... then it is.

If Munster score 1st and build on it... let's see how ASM handle that.

by LeinsterFan4life Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:54 pm

VinceWLB wrote:Am i the only one to think Owens is having a mare?

O'Donnell certainly was released from what i could see.

yes... How anyone could say the ref is having a bad game in this environment is beyond me.

by Golden Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:55 pm

Ozzy3213 wrote:
Gibson wrote:
Ozzy3213 wrote:
Gibson wrote:
Ozzy3213 wrote:bsando, he has just got better and better as he's got older. Really great player over the past 4-5 years.

Leinster made Hines a far superior player. Joe Schmidt made him a great offloader and a far more effective forward in attack. Added a whole new dimension to his game.

He was always a powerful, influential, intelligent, contrary, cheatin bollix. Now he's all that and more.

Its the Leinster Way.

Munster in trouble here. Need to score next...

Shame that's not worked out for yer man Toner Gibbo

You have one thing right though, Munster do need to score next!

Peadar, a chara,
You can only work on and improve the basic raw material you have at you disposal. Devin is frustrating. Thought he moved on up last year. He has, but its painfully slow. Never be an regular International. Not enough of a kunst to make it.

Meanwhile, back at the game... Munster stopping the ASM flow here. This is what they do best, in times of stress. Stay in touch till half-time and then hit the feciers confidence early in the 2nd.

Or... even better... maybe at the end of the 1st?

I said on another thread earlier that Munster need to just hang in there. If they are still in the game at the 65-70 minute mark, then they could nick it at the death.

Do Munster have the bench to last though?

by Gibson Sat 27 Apr 2013, 5:56 pm

wales606 wrote:
Gibson wrote:
wales606 wrote:Would Clermont be the first team to win the HC by winning all of their games?

Yes.

Toulon or Munster will have to win it then, both of those have lost a game

Ya know Wales, I have a weird feeling Toulon will do ASM in Dublin.

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