EVEN IF MUNSTER had been able to choose from a full deck, it was going to be a tough task travelling to Dublin and trying to beat Leinster this weekend.
If they still manage to do it in this Saturday’s URC semi-final, it will probably get its own chapter in the Munster history book. That tome already includes plenty of against-the-odds material, although a glaring lack of wins over Leinster in recent history.
Last weekend’s quarter-final win over Glasgow brought with it a remarkable, wince-inducing injury toll. It was tough viewing when it came to head injuries, with four Munster players forced off for Head Injury Assessments [HIAs] they didn’t return from.
Scrum-half Conor Murray took a nasty blow to the head in the illegal tackle that saw Glasgow’s Tom Jordan sent off, while centre Malakai Fekitoa, wing Calvin Nash, and lock RG Snyman were the other three who had to undergo HIAs. All four Munster players are now going through the return-to-play protocols and won’t feature against Leinster.
There are still big doubts over captain Peter O’Mahony, who has had a scan on his elbow injury after being replaced just four minutes into the Glasgow game. It’s usually not good news when a player has to go for a scan, but Munster say they’ll know about his availability later in the week.
The update was similar on hooker Diarmuid Barron, who picked up a shoulder injury against the Glaswegians and had to go off after 42 minutes.
That’s four starters from last weekend who will definitely be missing the Leinster game and another two who are clearly doubtful. It takes the meaning of ‘injury toll’ to a new level. Add to that the fact that the game against Glasgow had a massive ball-in-play time of over 44 minutes, as well as the travel, and it’s clear the quarter-final has left Munster in a tough spot.
So what happens next?
Craig Casey will come in at scrum-half for Murray, with Neil Cronin or Ethan Coughlan in line for promotion to the bench as Paddy Patterson’s season was ended by an ACL rupture on the recent tour of South Africa.
Fekitoa’s absence in midfield could see Jack Crowley shift from number 10 to 12, where he has already started five games this season. Crowley has been at out-half for the past four games but could move to make way in the starting side for Ben Healy. That would mean Joey Carbery presumably coming back into the matchday 23, though he’d love a return to the starting XV of course.
But Munster may be loath to move Crowley back out of the number 10 shirt, particularly after he had a strong game at out-half in Glasgow. If he’s to be Munster’s main man at 10 long-term, that’s where Crowley needs to play. In that case, the highly experienced Rory Scannell could come into the side at inside centre in place of Fekitoa.
It’s far from ideal that wings Keith Earls, Andrew Conway, and Liam Coombes are injured at the moment, so there’s an interesting decision to be made out wide with Nash also out of the frame now.
Simon Zebo has been totally out of the selection picture recently but has played in plenty of big games in the past, while Rowntree and co. are fans of 20-year-old academy man Pa Campbell, who has started games on the wing and at fullback this season. It would be exciting to see Campbell unleashed in a semi-final.
The decision in the second row appears straightforward after Fineen Wycherley made a telling impact off the bench against Glasgow. He should start the Leinster clash, with the highly-rated 20-year-old Edwin Edgobo in contention for a place on the bench. The explosive Thomas Ahern is also in contention.
It is a huge shame that Snyman is sidelined once again. Having overcome his long-term knee issues, this was his second head injury in the space of a month. The South African simply has no luck.
If Barron doesn’t make it, Ireland international Niall Scannell is set to start and Scott Buckley looks likely to provide hooker cover among the replacements.
And if O’Mahony is ruled out in the end, John Hodnett or Alex Kendellen will almost certainly be promoted from the bench. Hodnett did a fine job in replacing O’Mahony early on last weekend so he could be the front-runner for the number seven shirt. If Munster stay with a 6/2 bench split, Jack O’Donoghue would be raring to come back into the squad.
It’s all a big test of Munster’s squad and certainly adds to Leinster’s status as strong favourites for this tie at the Aviva Stadium, where there will be a limited capacity of 29,000.
Not that Graham Rowntree and his players will be viewing this game as anything other than a big opportunity. His ambition must be that Munster come into these games as favourites in the future, regardless of injuries and availabilities. Irish rugby would be so much better for this rivalry really being restored.
Let’s not forget that Leinster will almost certainly rest all of their frontliners against Munster, a week before the Champions Cup final against La Rochelle. A fifth European star is Leinster’s priority. Their squad depth is the envy of nearly every other club, but Munster must see this as a chance even with their own injury travails.
Munster’s supporters will travel as strongly as always and this is a no-pressure shot at the end of a season that has seen Rowntree and his new coaching staff rip up what was there before, installing a new playing philosophy that their players have embraced.
That’s the main thing that makes this latest Leinster v Munster instalment compelling – the sense that Munster will actually go out and fire some shots, trying to win the game rather than just attempting to limit the possibility of Leinster cutting loose. The big frustration for fans in recent years was the feeling that Munster simply didn’t play.
Surely this time, Munster will have a go.
If Farrell throws one or two of the newer lads in this week, it changes the whole outlook of this international window. Calls were he was too conservative the first 2 weeks, but after last weeks showing, if he adds say Izzy and Gus McCarthy, Cian prendergast (unsure if Baird is fit) to the squad this week, then that story changes.
We’ll come out of this window with more minutes in Osborne who is growing week on week (he’d be in this week if he wasn’t injured), Sam prendergast got decent minutes, Izzy, gus McCarthy has been catapulted up there and might upset the status quo, clarkson has shone. Frawley was back to his best last week and Crowley has done decent enough and Casey done well. By and large, we’re not in bad shape.
@JamesK: Agreed. Can see Izzy and Gus McCarthy, Cian Prendergast in the 23, hopefully with Izzy starting.
Ive said this before whats with the munster leinster fans hate for each other i just dont get it cant we all just get along i dont care i support all 4 even do im from cork when they play each other i dont mind who wins its all good for ireland
Need a game, had a game. Who the leave out, Ringrose, Henshaw or Aki? dunno what I’d do. Probs Henshaw on the bench. Hard call tho
@Thesaltyurchin: I don’t expect surprises in the XV but I hope he takes the opportunity to freshen the bench a bit.
@Thesaltyurchin: Potential team?
Keenan
Hansen
Henshaw
Aki
Lowe
Prendergast/Crowley
AGP
Porter
Kelleher
Bealham
McCarthy
Beirne
Izzy
JVDF
Doris
BENCH
McCarthy/Herring
Healy
Clarkson
Ryan
C Prendergast
Casey
Frawley
Crowley/Prendergast
@Thesaltyurchin:
1 Porter.
2 kelleher.
3 furlong.
4 joe mc.
5 beirne.
6 baird if available izzy if not.
7 jvdf.
8 Doris.
9 jgp.
10 crowley.
11 lowe.
12 henshaw.
13 ringrose.
14 Hanson.
15 keenan.
16 herring.
17 healy.
18 O’Toole.
19 Ryan.
20 izzy if he starts then prendergast.
21 casey.
22 frawley or prendergast.
23 aki.
@Thesaltyurchin: Aki & Ringrose for me. If Osbourne is OK, he’s on the bench. If not, Henshaw.
@Con Cussed: Would be happy with most of that really. I do like Ringrose at 13 tho. Agree with Paul below in 12/13, Aki’s Fiji performance enough perhaps. I think 10 will be interesting, don’t think he’ll start SP and not sure I’d bench him ahead of say Frawley or Osbourne. But Crowley IS versatile so no probs moving him around, I think Con’s right with the either or approach. Probs Murray comes back in on bench, versatility, etc. I’d want a defensive option from a backup 9. Would also like to see Baird back, but yea Izzy in, otherwise PoM on the bench (i’ve never been a huge fan, but my head says he’ll be in). AF may fancy a bit of bulk with the scrum, wouldn’t be surprised to see Henderson/Ryan in with Bierne at 6. Herring on the bench.
@Thesaltyurchin: Maybe Prendergast 22 and Frawley 23 if Osbourne is out. Frawley offers more flexibility than Henshaw. I think Farrell wants to get as much rugby into SP as possible. Don’t be surprised if he starts CC next month – Leo’s decision of course!! I hope he goes with Beirne and McCarthy at Lock, Izzy at 6 with Ryan & POM on the bench. There’s a good balance to it. Australia won’t be as much of a threat at scrum time as NZ or Argentina.
@Paul Ennis: Very interested to see what Cullen does here. After the drop goal Frawley maybe got more of a look in but the Byrnes aren’t chopped liver either, RB knows how to run a game, he may not be as abrasive as Crowley or as calculated as Sam but he’s still in the game, an injury here or there like. If the lads in Ulster do something we might need a minibus for our options. Need to consider that in these arrangements Henshaw falls out of contention completely!
@Thesaltyurchin: As regards 10, I’d like to see Sam Pendergast released by Ireland and start for Leinster v Ulster on Friday night. Crowley to start at outhalf with Frawley on bench for IRL.
@Paul Ennis: Are we getting an update on Osborne/Stockdale today from Irish rugby? From the news on Saturday it didn’t look good for either, which is really disappointing as they both played really well.
I think Henshaw and Aki have been playing well together and Saturday was the best seen from both of them in a while. Actually, so many players excelled on Saturday, in spite of some mistakes.
Frawley on the bench instead of Ringrose only due to versatility of Frawley. Frawley also redeemed himself on Saturday. Very exciting for Irish rugby.
@D Farrell: Similarly, if Izzy isn’t starting v the Aussies then he should be playing for Ulster.
@Thesaltyurchin: And as a Westmeath man (I know I know – provincial rivalries are bad enough without introducing county one’s too) I would be gutted to see Robbie miss out. Aki just offers that ball carrying threat. Against NZ his head was elsewhere and the knock ons were out of character. Robbie offers a big boot but there are so many big boots in the team now, it is no longer a USP.
@Con Cussed: It is strange there has been no update
@D Farrell: Would like Casey back for Munster too. I reckon AF has Murray on bench. Most of the Connacht lads are staying which makes me wonder is CPrendergast in the mix. Ulster could use Hendi, would imagine Timony will be back.
I’d be happy to see Crowley play with Aki and Henshaw. Ringrose on a 5:3 bench.
Give Izzy another go at 6. Baird and Ryan on the bench.
@Nicholas Farrar: PO’M, Henderson, Healy, Murray – fit, they would have been constant in a Farrell 23. How many of them will make the 23 for this weekend?
@Michael Corkery: Hopefully, none of them will start with the exception of Healy as he’s still playing well and we don’t have a workable replacement yet. The rest need a rest.
Izzy and Ryan instead of POM and Henderson (neither played exceptionally well in the series). AGP starting and Casey on the bench. Might even see Sam start with Crowley on the bench, but both playing irrespective of which starts. Aki and Henshaw starting with Frawley on the bench for cover 12-15. With potential injuries to Stockdale and Osborne (both of whom played excellently), then Lowe and Keenan starting. Kelleher and Gus on the bench, Herring might be unfortunate to miss out.
It’s a great headache for AF. The young lads really had a good time on the weekend and I hope many of them will be in the match 23.
@Con Cussed: I agree but the important person is Farrell. Age is just a number and Aki seems to still be in tip top shape, Healy is not a dynamic player like he once was but at least he can hold his side of the scrum up. I expect those 2 to be in 23 for Oz but the others I mentioned, maybe not. Let’s see.
@Michael Corkery: Murray takes a bit of abuse these days, but when he came on he covered the wing well and when the chips are down defending the line at the death he can put in the big tackles.
@Michael Corkery: Indeed, it nothing else it’s quite exciting selection time. May also be the possible 23 for the 6Ns.
@Nicholas Farrar: Agree that Murray had a good game on the wing.
@Nicholas Farrar: agree with you and that’s the edge he probably has on Casey in that he can fill in other positions in emergency. He has to balance that with giving Casey game time as most probable long term successor to JGP
Start Casey and Prendergast with JGP and Crowley on the bench. Last chance to test these guys against a tier 1 given our focus on 6N and our summer tour is tier 2
Porter,kelleher,bealham,
Ryan, mc carthy,
Beirne, vdf, Doris
Jgp, crowley
Lowe, aki, ringrose, Hanson
Keenan
Put your mortgage on it
What’s going on with Calvin Nash
The big tests were NZ and Arg. I’m sure that Farrell and co looked at the Fiji and Aus games as where they’d try a couple of new things in.
I’d have thought that this game was ear-marked for Frawley to start at 10. Given he played more than expected last weekend, and got the rough treatment, perhaps this is not going to happen anymore.
I hope that he does get the start, not as any slight on Crowley, who our first choice, but because we need to see him leading a week for Ireland ahead of the 6 Nations if he’s to be called upon. We already know Crowley can do it and against much better opposition than Australia.
I’d love to see more of Prendergast too, but again he played more than expected last week. So I expect Crowley will start, which probably wasn’t Farrell’s plan for this series