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u/i_like_cake_96 5d ago
Unavailable through injury:
Lee Barron (neck), Roman Salanoa (hamstring), Michael Milne (calf), Oli Jager (head/concussion), Tadhg Beirne (knee), Edwin Edogbo (shoulder), Jean Kleyn (biceps), Paddy Patterson (knee), Jack Crowley (leg), Tom Farrell (shoulder), Calvin Nash (hamstring).
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u/Shox2711 Mike Haley 5d ago
Salanoa on the injury list is interesting. He wasn’t before for the longest time. And Hamstring I believe isn’t even his original injury (knee?)
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u/naraic- 5d ago
He came back. Played 20 minutes for Munster A recently and pulled his hamstring the following week.
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u/Serious_Bowler_8171 5d ago
He should have been let go ages ago
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u/mustkillmow 5d ago
Have seen him out on the pints more times than I have seen him play. Last man standing in Westport last year. No flies on his pint hand anyway.
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u/IITheDopeShowII 5d ago
I'll be honest with that's injury list I'm not expecting much from this game
Given the season we've had both on and off the field if we can go down there and give it a proper crack even if we lose I'm going to be content enough that we even got into top 8 and secured European rugby next season
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u/fdvfava 5d ago
Honestly I'm not content with that. It's a poor end to a poor season.
I'd excuse an injury crisis putting a dent in our playoff chances if we hadn't blown the chance to get Top 4, after another disastrous European season.
Went too strong against Ulster and then flat against Connacht with a heap of injuries on top.
Glasgow/Connacht are beatable in a semi final but we needed home advantage to give ourselves a shot against the Bulls.
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u/whooo_me 5d ago
It was a great start to the season - in terms of results, if not always in terms of performance. We were unbeaten well into the season, and let's not forget the win vs Leinster which must be up there with one of our best performances and results for some time.
But by God, then it all went over a cliff.
3
u/fdvfava 5d ago
I watched back the highlights of the Stormers game and we were unlucky not to win that, but since the second half of that game, there have been half a dozen complete collapses.
The Toulon and Bulls games were good losing performances.
Bath, Ulster away, Castres, dragons, Glasgow, Zebre, Sharks, Exeter and connacht were all very poor.
19
u/Expensive-Ad-1112 5d ago
We are witnessing the rise of Evan! Delighted his starting
8
u/IVY_Prep 5d ago
With his excellent control of the lineout and all round hardiness I'd be shocked if he wasn't a nailed on starter next season.
The 3 Munster lads from that Ireland u20s squad should be the future of our club. BOC and Edogbo were the others. Jack Murphy in Ulster has proved its doable at their age.
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u/Expensive-Ad-1112 5d ago
For sure I certainly hope so, you can see with Evan he's a 5 and a leader. He's not a hybrid lock/flanker, like a few before him are. Nice test for him now tomorrow.
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u/IVY_Prep 5d ago
Definitely. Out and Out 5. He was a good Captain too. Organised a lot of lineout into maul tries also from what I recall
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u/i_like_cake_96 5d ago
Also, the Andrew Smith leaving Munster is an odd one. we are still picking him over guys who are contracted.
is Kilgallen injured too?
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u/Ocalca 5d ago
I kinda have a feeling smith is retiring, although I've nothing to go off on that. My reasoning is the pay for a backup winger is probably crap & he seems to get injured a lot. It must be incredibly disheartening to just rehab all the time for little money.
Why not retire, play AIL/paddle and get a job that pays similar without breaking your body?
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u/General_Disarray2 5d ago
Is it confirmed he's leaving or had it just not been announced whether he is staying or not? It seems strange they haven't announced who is being released yet, I think all the other provinces have?
5
u/i_like_cake_96 5d ago
At the end of the Lions game in Thomond, Smith and Butler were given the guard of honour kicking between the squad, as they lined up at the tunnel entrance.
They haven't been mentioned as leaving, but that seems a slam dunk bit of information for the supporters that witnessed it.
2
u/General_Disarray2 5d ago
Got you, that does seem fairly nailed on then. I can understand Butler, although if we dont end up getting someone else in, that might leave us pretty short at 10.
Smith seems like a very odd one though, with Abrahams leaving I would have thought keeping him was necessary, even if there is a plan to get more back 3 cover (especially if the plan is still for a 10/15 to come in). He hasnt been unbelievable, but i would have thought he's shown enough to be kept on and develop, especially as he's probably not on big money.
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u/IVY_Prep 5d ago
Unfortunately, Butler isn't even able to be URC cover. Better to let him go and develop Tom Wood.
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u/i_like_cake_96 5d ago
He's a big lump with out and out speed. I was very happy with his improvements from 7 a-side. Defense can be worked on, but speed is just natural.
no idea what he's doing next, seems like a rich kid, maybe he's off to do a spot of Toboganning.
2
u/pauli55555 D4 on Tour 5d ago
Why would you not pick him because he’s leaving? I hear this nonsense a lot in rugby.
It’s professional sport, players are on contracts. If he’s the current best player on form then pick him. Next year will look after itself.
3
u/i_like_cake_96 5d ago
I never said it was odd that we are picking him, I think it is odd that he is leaving.
reading comprehension...
9
u/buckleycork 5d ago
Without Jack Crowley it's hard to imagine we'll be doing so well here
There should definitely be a focus on developing Tom Wood next season so that we won't be stuck in this situation again
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u/FollowingRare6247 Edwin Edogbo 5d ago
If Connacht win v Glasgow, and Munster win (unlikely), that’s a Thomond semi(?) Kind of the only other thing that I’d want now, being realistic. Winning the URC may not be possible but improving the financial situation is something.
It’s not the first game without Crowley or with potential scrum issues, so hopefully it’ll be a good one. Some guys seem to be finding some form. Although it’s injury enforced it’s nice to see Evan there and Casey captaining.
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u/pauli55555 D4 on Tour 5d ago
Beirne, Crowley are massive losses. This team looks v lightweight without them.
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u/Windup-1014 The Brave & The Faithful 5d ago edited 5d ago
Largely as expected. Starting Niall Scannell is certainly interesting after his last performance in Pretoria. Guess they're thinking of his scrummaging. JJ the only true 10 in the squad again seems a bit mad too. I still would rather Wood for Fineen W and have Coombes cover lock. Happy to see Evan starting and Bartley in the squad.
With the injury list we have though this really does looks like the longest of long shots.
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u/Sea-Ad8147 5d ago
Slightly disappointed but not shocked at no Wood. Thought he really deserved minutes. Team maybe lacking a bit of bulk up front (makes sense with injuries) but happy overall, especially for EOC & Gleeson. Next season is a big one for Kelly imo, don’t want to read too much into it (especially with SOB in good form), but feels like he’s fell down the pecking order a bit. Hope we just keep it close.
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u/mingsimon Gavin Coombes 5d ago
Considering the injury list they’re really up against it. Looking forward to seeing how the young players do. Same as always, scrum could be the major flaw.
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u/pauli55555 D4 on Tour 5d ago
There’s not really that many “young players”. It’s more journeymen than young players. Even Gleeson has couple seasons under his belt now.
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u/Any_Statement1742 5d ago edited 5d ago
Why is this getting downvoted? It is an accurate statement. It’s nice to see Evan getting a start and it is absolutely ridiculous that only for an injury to Wycherley we may not have seen him at all this run in.
Clein,Foxe,O’Connell,Edogbo,Quinn,Wood,O’Connor loads of good young players that could have gotten meaningful minutes in the 6 weeks or so have been ignored for journeymen.
Going without a sub 10 instead of just using Butler or Wood. He mightn’t be good enough but in the other provinces lads who aren’t good enough or may not be ready are still backed when needed.
Hodnett or Kendellen fair enough two very good players that Quinn hasn’t played no real justification for the rest of them.
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u/bernardjackman23 . D4 on Tour 5d ago
We have absolutely ZERO chance with JJ unfortunately.
The Bulls will just cram the midfield all day long and wait for Hanrahan to predictablly shovel the ball onto one of our guys to get smashed backwards.
He just has no ability to get the ball wide, which is where u can hurt this Bulls side.
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u/bernardjackman23 . D4 on Tour 5d ago edited 5d ago
Sean O Brien is a solid workmanlike winger.
But funnily enough, he is a terrible centre.
I can see why they haven’t gone with Kelly and Nankivell again tho. Kelly’s spacings and defence were atrocious against Connacht. He made that West fella look like prime Wesley Fofana.
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u/jackthomson1992 5d ago
Yet another clueless take from you. SOB is originally a center who can provide wing cover . He was also unreal in the game against the lions at center . No idea why you are on the forum all you do is complain, pretty sure you are a troll account or else a D4 in disguise
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u/bernardjackman23 . D4 on Tour 5d ago edited 5d ago
Yes thats why I said “funnily enough”. Have you ever maybe thought to yourself why he has been shifted to wing since his arrival - no you just wanted to have a pop at me.
Overall hes been very unimpressive at inside centre for Munster since his arrival, but has been very utile on the wing.
I would not agree that he was unreal against the Lions.
All I do is complain - Ive literally made an appreciation post for a player.
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u/jackthomson1992 5d ago
Yeah you're just a 🤡 who keeps trying to stir things in here .
You have zero rugby knowledge, he has very very good against the lions was close to the man of the match .
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u/bernardjackman23 . D4 on Tour 5d ago
Im not trying to stir anything mate.
He made a silly deliberate knock on when we were already down to 14 men - which could have proved very costly.
Aside from that, he made a few strong carries but I don’t think his passing is up to scratch.
Definitely wasnt a motm contender in my eyes - but if you think differently thats ok too.
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u/pdx_paddy 5d ago
If we can swing this game, itll be in the last ten minutes. Casey typically doesnt make it a full 80. Thatll be some game to walk onto for ODonovan. Wonder with a 6/2 bench would they consider playing ODonovan if Kelly is already on and JJ had to come off. Hes plenty big enough to play 10 and sounds like he has played 10/12 until u20s.
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u/Mr_Ox_83 16th Man 5d ago
Bulls team