Munster 7
Leinster 24
Murray Kinsella reports from Thomond Park
THIS HAD THE feel of the good old days about it, in the atmosphere at least. Munster fans have not been accustomed to losing streaks at Thomond Park in the professional era, but this 24-7 defeat makes it three on the bounce at the Limerick venue for Anthony Foley’s men.
The contest had an important feel around it, far from a simple Guinness Pro12 fixture. With Joe Schmidt watching on, there were international tussles all over the place, while both provinces were acutely aware of the need to get back to winning ways.
The pressure on Munster and Foley only mounts after their fifth loss in a row, and the same old issues were highly prevalent again.
Despite a change of personnel, Munster’s halfbacks failed to impose themselves on the game, while their struggles to convert visits into the opposition 22 into scores was costly. There was even another missed penalty from straight in front of the posts.
Leinster, in contrast, finally began to look like a team full of highly-experienced internationals. Jamie Heaslip was masterful at number eight, while the returning Sean O’Brien was brilliant.
20-year-old Garry Ringrose has the look of a man who will be joining the likes of Heaslip and O’Brien in the international arena sooner rather than later.
Within a minute of the kick-off, Munster fans were delivering a rousing ‘Stand Up and Fight,’ just after James Cronin, Dave Foley and Donnacha Ryan had forced a turnover with a muscular choke tackle.
Indeed, the atmosphere was outstanding throughout as the team battered into contact with a refreshing dose of aggression. That said, there was a stunned silence when Leinster struck with a stunning counter-attacking score in the fourth minute.
A break from Scannell had allowed Munster deep into the Leinster half to apply pressure, but Jamie Heaslip enveloped the ponderous Tomás O’Leary beside a ruck, leading to Dominic Ryan completing the turnover on the deck.
What followed from Leinster against a disorganised Munster defence was textbook. Madigan and O’Brien fixed defenders and passed accurately to Garry Ringrose, who stunningly burned outside Foley, swerved around Jack O’Donoghue.
His 45-metre run ended by drawing in final defender Andrew Conway and feeding Isa Nacewa to dot down under the sticks. Madigan converted for 7-0.
Munster’s place-kicking woes continued as Scannell somehow missed from straight in front soon after, Madigan then showing his value by slamming over a 30-metre penalty from wide on the right to extend the Leinster lead.
Though the carrying was ferocious from Munster – injury replacement Dave Kilcoyne making a particular impact – they were stunted by the slow delivery of O’Leary, and the familiar lack of a clinical edge afflicted them throughout the half.
Errors in the opposition 22 were costly again, although home fans felt referee David Wilkinson was heavily favouring the visitors. One instance saw Foley penalised for what the match officials perceived to be a dangerous clearout attempt as Heaslip looked to pilfer possession.
Munster continued knocking on the door looking for an important try, Keith Earls sustaining a serious injury in the 35th minute as he offloaded to Francis Saili. A long delay ensued as the Limerick man was treated for a blow to the head/neck, and he got a huge reception when he finally was stretchered off.
Foley’s men were held up over the tryline just before that sobering injury, with Mike Sherry coming up short, before they were again denied when Saili was held up upon the resumption of play.
Robin Copeland finally burst through under the posts just before the half-time break, although Eoin Reddan very nearly frustrated Munster for a third time by getting underneath the ball.
The TMO confirmed the score, Scannell converted and suddenly Munster were in a far stronger position heading into the break. An early penalty in the second period appeared to offer a chance for Foley’s side to level the score, but they opted instead to kick to the corner.
After illegally sacking Munster’s first maul attempt, Leinster repelled the second superbly, before Sean O’Brien brilliantly won a turnover penalty after Bleyendaal carried near the posts.
The Kiwi out-half coughed up possession on Munster’s very next attack too, launching a poor cross-field kick attempt that ended with O’Brien winning another superb penalty at the breakdown.
Madigan showed Bleyendaal exactly how to do it just three minutes later, as the Leinster out-half dinked a sublime diagonal wide to the left for Isa Nacewa to gather on the move. The eastern province recycled after Nacewa was hauled down, Tadhg Furlong carrying before Jack McGrath powered over the tryline.
The TMO was called on again to confirm, before Madigan sent Leinster 17-7 ahead with another smart kick from the tee.
Munster still had a quarter of the game to redeem themselves and end their losing streak, but they continued to be utterly profligate in the Leinster 22. The defensive shift from the visitors was superb, led by Heaslip so often, but this was utter frustration once again for the Munster faithful.
A miserable evening ended with an intercept try for Leinster fullback Zane Kircher, who picked off Saili’s long pass and sprinted home from 50 metres out.
Unless Munster can find their attacking composure very swiftly, their season will end in ruins.
Munster scorers:
Tries: Robin Copeland
Conversions: Rory Scannell (1 from 1)
Penalties: Rory Scannell (0 from 1)
Leinster scorers:
Tries: Isa Nacewa, Jack McGrath, Zane Kirchner
Conversions: Ian Madigan (3 from 3)
Penalties: Ian Madigan (1 from 1)
MUNSTER: Andrew Conway; Keith Earls (Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino ’35), Francis Saili, Rory Scannell, Simon Zebo; Tyler Bleyendaal (Denis Hurley ’59), Tomás O’Leary (Duncan Williams ’59); James Cronin (Dave Kilcoyne ’20), Mike Sherry (Niall Scannell ’65), John Ryan (Mario Sagario ’72); Dave Foley (Billy Holland ’62), Donnacha Ryan; Robin Copeland, Jack O’Donoghue (Tommy O’Donnell ’59), CJ Stander (capt.).
LEINSTER: Zane Kirchner; Fergus McFadden, Garry Ringrose, Luke Fitzgerald, Isa Nacewa; Ian Madigan, Eoin Reddan; Jack McGrath (Cian Healy ’56) (McGrath ’75), Sean Cronin (James Tracy ’56), Tadhg Furlong (Marty Moore ’56); Devin Toner, Tom Denton (Ross Molony ’59); Dominic Ryan, Sean O’Brien (Josh van der Flier ’71), Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements not used: Nick McCarthy, Cathal Marsh, Dave Kearney.
Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU).
Official attendance: 26,500.
Foley has to get the sack. How can he not? That’s 5 losses in a row, our European campaign is over and for the first ever time in serious danger of not qualifying for next seasons Heineken cup. How can the blazers justify giving him an extension?
Show some RESPECT Munsterman. We have been commanded by the Branch to follow our team blindly and not complain.
I think him and all the coaches should get the sack. And Garrett Fitzgerald had better do it soon!!!
I blame the Munster fans for not booing enough.
I was very impressed with Ringrose, terrific turn of speed and eye for the gap. Depressing how Munster has fallen well behind the bigger teams. Long road back
Madigan easily the form outhalf in the country at the minute
You’re forgetting Gareth Steenson at the Exeter Chiefs who are on top of the premiership at the moment..
Munsterman, hate to break this to you but the Heineken Cup doesn’t exist anymore. …
As the team goes down the tube, the value that players command in contract negotiations goes down the tube as well. Maybe JJ was the most business savvy as well as our best Fly Half.
Very serious situation that needs to be sorted and fast.
Im this country he’s the form outhalf
Best of luck in Bucharest.
Siberian trip strictly for the squad to enjoy. Something has to be done and fast because that the barrel we’re staring down.
You know noting about rugby .
Is that a monkey I see? explains every thing
Well yes Munsterman. 5 losses in a row but if we look at the last 18 months its been a constant downward slide. Penney was better than this.
Chris, wow did you figure out that all on your own ? you should take over from Leo
Lads we are losing the run of ourselves here. JJ Hanrahan is no where near the best out half in Ireland and chose to leave the province. Madigan is a good out half but Jackson is the current form Irish out half. I don’t buy crisis talks at Munster because of you look at the stats it doesn’t back it up. I think we’ll all agree if Munster had a proper 10 they’d be in a much better place now. They are trying to win a game with one hand tied behind there back.
Munster are now officially the worst team in Ireland. How the mighty have fallen.
An unfair comment. After watching both matches the overall standard was utterly depressing. It is as if we learnt absolutely nothing from the world cup.
What we have learnt is that Stander and McCloskey are serious prospects and they need to get on the plane to South Africa next year.
Forget about South Africa next summer , Stander & McKolsey will be starting against Wales in February !
Conor, hopefully in Stander’s case it’ll be a one-way ticket
I’d love that too, John. I’m just using another rugby series as a pinpoint for the two in their careers.
Agree stander is a bluffer like his Olympic swimming wife….l
‘Springing’ Duncan Williams , Billy Holland and Denis Hurley from the bench with a ten point deficit tells its own story .. Would be better off with Development guys there at this point because those three and a few others ain’t getting any better!
The calls for Foley’s head will no doubt follow……
…..with good reason.
all four provinces were desperate over the weekend. thematches were dire. munster were no better or worse than the other three really.
the real problem is ireland. on the basis of the weekends matches we are going to be getting more of the same after the summer. as if the world cup had never happened. and if ireland win the six nations it wont mean a thing at this stage. its the equivalent of winning the championsip in football.
its not just foley who has to go. his counterparts should go too.
I’m following rugby all my life but I have never seen such rhetoric being spewed out in the comment section here. This is by design that the provinces are going thru this period. They have less investment, less foreign players and there’s an intention to blood Irish coaches. This is what the four plan is and what everyone called for after the World Cup. We are in it or we’re not but let’s stop acting like its a surprise.
pretty embarrassing Munster performance. Leinster didn’t have to do very much, If there was a record for spilling the ball in an attacking play I reckon Hurley would be up there. No ideas no finishing. Away to Ulster next, that’ll be fun.
On the brightside, the Munster faithful got to see what a real #8 looks like. Heaslip gets an embarrassing amount of ridicule on these pages. His achievements are considerable but a lot of people won’t accept it.
Andrew, like his first tackle on stander when stander mowed out over him like payslip was not in his way , but in Joe we trust will pick yer beloved Jamie
The two of ye are embarrassing- both Stander and Heaslip had smashing games.
Heaslip deserved MotM Award imo- but to say “Munster faithful got to see what a real #8 looks like” is just pathetic trolling..
Fair play Liam completely agree! Great to have strength and depth.
Joe will pick him, like Declan Kidney, Matt O’Connor and Michael Cheika all did. Don’t you see it? Rugby managers like Heaslip
Lol Liam, do you want a tissue?
Picked by the Lions as well
With all the possession we had and couldn’t put points on the board, we couldn’t finish our dinner!!
Will definitely take that win, great defensive effort by Leinster but also sloppy stuff from Munster when in good positions again. Hopefully Earls isn’t too did anyone hear?
Dave sloppy is an understatement , some basic stuff we learnt at under 12 and some of the munster players can’t even do them = catch and pass the ball ,a joke
Heaslip was better than stander and sob was better than both of them.
The abuse heaslip get about his captaincy and yet CJ makes dreadful calls turning down points again and again.
There’s an Irish backrow jersey up for grabs but it’s the 6 shirt not the 8.
Chris , were you watching the same game as I was? How could stander call for kicks at goal when he had no one on the pitch to kick them ? And as for heslip ahead of him you must be joking , look at the game again and hone in on heslip you will have a different opinion, he is standing off of everything , Dom Ryan and sob did 20 times more than he did , as for beating us Chris I hope ye don’t get carried away asye won it pulling up . I think pretty soon munster could cease to exist as a franchise ,we are just pure muck on and off the pitch
Declan, Munster will soon cease to exist? Don’t be soo dramatic! If you really believed that then what does that say abut the fan base? A club is what you make if it…. Munster were well beaten BUT the score line flattered somewhat. IF Munster had a decent 10 it would have been a much closer game….. two penalties missed? And after that opted for a corner at least twice…..
Declan watch the first 3 minutes again heaslip while standing off watching the game steals the ball from your beloved and off Leinster go and score under the posts. Darth vader would be chuffed with heaslip’s ability to make 15 tackles and turnover the ball while standing back watching
Robert we missed a kick dead straight in front of the posts on the 22 what are we suppose to think , this is a pro 12 game FFS not Europe , j1 kickers can kick these for fun ,
favourite moment of the game was the first 20 with stander attacking halfway, blasting through Heaslip, then taken down by SOB. For me Heaslip likes to let the players around him (pretty decent players) grind out the big hits and graft through the filthy work, maybe that’s really clever tho.
Just to be clear Chris in what you have just posted = heslip made 15 tackles and 1 turn over in the first 3 minutes ? That’s what you have just stated,
Robert, i am not talking about the fan base that will always be there, I am talking about the corporate end , would you as a CEO of a company pump capital into a franchise that is underperforming at a rate standard that might qualify to compete in Europe ? I am real here ,I would NOT invest in a franchise that might compete why would I ? This what I am saying about we could cease to exist do you understand now ?
Declan, Munster isn’t a franchise. It’s a club with tradition and history and you can’t buy, create or destroy that…
Stander had taken the tough choice! He went for the corner because there wasn’t a capable 10 on the pitch. It like him and the South African lads in general; committed and driven! He will be a great player for Ireland ( even if I don’t approve of the Heaslip bashing
Robert you not have a clue how these work do you ?
Chris, the first time heslip tried to tackle stander, stander Fu(ked him out of the way like a paper bag , go back and watch the game again and tell me how good heslip was if you are honest and don’t have the bias opinion , you stated in a prvious comment that heslip made 15 tackles and 1 turn over in the first 3 minutes of the game , how many pints did you have during the game ?
Heaslip was excellent today. How many times did he come up with vital plays and turnovers? He was excellent. Stander is a good carrier, but there’s a lot more to back row play than carrying. Jamie’s control at the base of the scrum is world class as well. We saw that when Munster got a push on a few times in that last quarter. He was my MOTM.
Declan, speak English if you are going to respond, Many thanks
Heaslip was outstanding yesterday ..watch the game again if you didn’t think so
Player and coach not good enough
Munster need a management cleanout
They also need to offload a few players. A number of players on that team have been there for a long time and are definitely not up to European standard. That we have O’Leary, now 32 and bizarrely resigned from a club that finished bottom three in the premiership, and Duncan Williams (who actually did speed up the game, but remains substandard), as back up to Murray is a major problem. Same at 10. Where is the quality cover? Rory Scannell? Tyler Blyendaal? The latter arrived injured and has played, what, one or two senior games off the bench for munster this whole year? Where is the experience? It’s in bloody Northampton. The lack of imagination in attack and the predictably poor ball-handling skills (so many unforced errors, knock ons, spilled passes), were astonishing. There is serious rot in Munster. There must be accountability among coaching and management because a backline that features Saili, Earls, Conway, Zebo etc., should be shredding defenses. They looked lost today.
As a Leinster man I think Foley isn’t doing Munster justice. His only motivational strategy seems to be ” Irish by birth, Munster by the grace of God ”
Munster up to this year have a respected European championship team. They’re in real danger of becoming parochial also runs. Munster deserve and need an internationally experienced coach.
That said, Leinster have a long way to go.
Connaught and Ulster at are flying the flag.
A Limerick man was quoted recently as saying, The arrogance that destroyed Shannon is now destroying Munster.
Time to act or forever regret.
Great win, Munster were allowed a lot of possession but could not break Leinster. Set up another great weekend next weekend, Connacht in Dublin and munster in Belfast
Hard luck Fellas but the better team won! Nice to see Leinsters young lads fronting up. Onwards and upwards. The boo boys must have choked at the game today. No Keatley to blame but Tyler wasn’t a step up by any stretch. Does anyone have a number handy for Northampton? Munster need Hanrahan! To be fair either coach would have been feeling the heat after losing this one but Axel ( fan favourite or not ) is going to be under serious scrutiny. He needed this more than Cullen and an away trip to Ulster beckons next week. Worrying times if you are a Munster fans. Hope Earls is OK and all guns firing for the six nations!
Only positives from a munster POV, if any, are that TOD Is back and looks lively and strong. And also stander and kilcoyne are beasts when carrying the ball.
munsters losing streak might go on for a while yet. next 3 matches are ulster away. stade F away and ar home….
Masterful Heaslip?! I think you’ve indulged in Christmas cheer a bit too much! Munster are anonymous in the front row and halfback,McGrath was excellent along with Furlong .Ringrose is an excellent talent but let’s not burden him with the second coming of O Driscoll talk let him develop naturally and see how he progresses
To be fair I thought the Munster front row looked sharp. Great show by Ryan and Kilcoyne was strong when he came on. Not taking anything from McGrath or Furlong. Fully agree there is an issue at halfback esp 10, Scannell looked promising though. Would like to see him start there against Ulster. Fully agree with your statement about Ringrose. Should make the extended 6N squad but not sure after that.
Missed a simple penalty and then turned down all subsequent kicks at goal. Unbelievable.
Tyler was anonymous, another imposter. At mid table we really need Keatley to find his true form and a change in the coaching team. The fans are really suffering watching the team disintegrate for want of real leadership both on and off the field.
Worst run of results in munsters 15 year history. That is all.
Good ol knobson
Give over and stop being a knob. Did you even watch the game?
Your the knob behan!
Slow clap…..
Leinster looked quite decent at the start of the season until the internationals came back in, having to re-integrate 20 players back into the team has been difficult but from the Bath game on there’s been a steady rise in the standard of play, my one worry is the continued poor performances by Sexton and that our alternative will one way or another be heading out the door at the end of the season. Madigan looked far better a player tonight than Sexton has all season.
People love complaining and have been doing so in their droves over the last few weeks but Cullen seems to have the team going in the right the direction and with the young talent coming through it’s very possible in another season or two Leinster will be back in contention for European honors.
With Munster they’ve a decent pack, there’s been some good forward play as of late but the set piece can be a little bit shakey from time to time. In the backs there’s some great individuals but that’s the problem there’s no real patterns in attack and with Conor Murray out of sorts the last while there’s no on field general at 9 or 10 and there’s no real alternative at scrum half. Regarding the 10′s Ian Keatley is woefully flakey to the point you’d think he must be French, Rory Scannell has looked quite decent the few times I’ve seen him play, seems very composed and could definitely be worth investing time in him for the rest of the season as I’m not sure Bleyendaal is the answer. Regarding the coaches i think there’s no need to panic but a real world class attacking/skills coach needs to be brought in sooner rather than later cause the pack is doing alright which is Foley’s area of expertise but as i said the back play is rudderless.
Things aren’t as bleak as some people seem to believe.
Very average non exciting game.. same old same old rugby.. We haven’t learned! Probably win six nations, get a couple of international test wins against big boys when they’re on their off season and couldn’t really care.. Pat ourselves on the back Then we before we know it world comes around and we get thrown out of the quarters. People talk about change for two weeks.. Repeat!!
Jaysus, aren’t you a bundle of joy. I’d say you would be great craic over a few pints
All I want is a reaction both provincial and international level after anther abysmal world Cup! Ones that we had false hopes and over exaggeration on how well we would do. I just want Irish rugby to be in a good place, and it’s not.
Northern hemisphere rugby is dying… Rugby fans won’t admit it. But the casual observers who watch for Entertainment alone will tell you it’s awful to watch… You can say it’s passionate fans that keep a sport alive, but rugby hasn’t a big enough fan Base to survive without the bandwagon, and bandwagons need to be entertained
How bad are Earls and Healys injurys
Jamie Heaslip v Cj Stander , I know who I would pick after tonight. Good win but score flattered. More importantly thoughts are with Keith.
Stander didn’t have a bad game, although refusing 2 kicks at goal to level at the start off the 2nd half was strange…
Agreed. Heaslip’s a class above Stander. And that’s not even knocking CJ.
Shanhan, who was going to kick them ? How coul you blame stander for turning them down our kickers can’t kick a ball from the 22 m line dead straight in front of the post
If your kickers can’t kick from 22 yards they shouldn’t be called your kickers.
I’m a 46 year old prop and I can kick a rugby ball over a set of posts from that distance 4 times out of 5
Exactly. Tyler could of taken over or Scannel could of had another go… I get we were spoiled with O’Gara, but as Chris said it was on the 22.
Chris and your point is ?
Sadly Munster are poor. The players are still good. The coaching staff must go. Leinster good but against poor opposition. At least Leinster need to copy Connacht and give the the youngsters game time. Ringrose was magic a definite Irish #13… We need a real clear out for the six nations with McCloskey, Ringrose, and O’Halloran all in the squad…!
I think Munster really missed Ian Keatley in tonight’s game. Class player. On a different note someone needs to tell Stander that you’re allowed to opt for a kick at goal if you get a penalty. Good win for Leinster but I think they really left the bonus point out there today
Stander would have opted for goal if he had a 10 capable of kicking….
Robert , thank you, Rog’s 2625 points for munster will not be broken anytime soon in the next 100 years
Foley is quite clearly out of his depth and the much vaunted academy conveyer belt has dried up! They need to rebuild from the foundations up and they need someone like McCall!!!!
love to see Stander and SOB on the same team, ‘masterful heaslip’ hardly. SOB was immense.
Were you watching another game?
no
Rafer you are off ur game if u think ian keatley is a class player….the man is a joke of an outhalf, munster havent an outhalf that would make a matchday squad in any of the better teams in england or france even ireland for that matter the 3 games have proven that and as result this season could be the worst in the history of the province.
Munster were shocking tonight, and Leinster weren’t much better. Both teams have fallen in form, but I for 1 am not going to loose faith in either team, some players really stood out tonight, ringrose played well and should get more game time, kilcoyne had a good game, a lot of other players had good games as well, good to see o brien getting back to form and Tommy o Donnell back on the pitch again. But the ref, What can I say he was a disgrace, he would penalise would team for 1 team and 2 minutes later penalise the other thing for the same thing. 2 extremely dodgy tries awarded to both teams. He also missed a lot of high tackles. But the best team on the night won, and that’s from a Munster fan
Kealty in?
Patrick? He’s an Ulsterman surely
Even the Leinster supporters have pity for us! No supporting players for ball carrier, rucks a disaster, scrum halves on a go-slow, scrums and line outs barely functioning. The team like their mentors – Foley, O Driscoll and Flannery – have just no spark. Sad, just so sad and the ref was the pits
2 absolutely dreadful teams!!!
Compared to the likes of Quinns sarries Toulon clermont racing Leicester and even Ulster Leinster and especially Munster are a level below at the minute I think last night Leinster were a bit better but two dreadful teams!!
Incredibly flattering score to Leinster! Munster lack teeth though. Don’t buy into the crisis talk that some people are spewing.
Watch another sport if you don’t think Munster are in a crisis right now.
Losing 5 games in a row…absolutely toothless in the opposition 22, struggling on our own set piece….I think crisis talk is absolutely fair and accurate. Players and Management Team have a lot to answer for IMO.
At what point would you consider it a crisis?
Away to an inform Ulster doesn’t help certainly.
James Darcy I respect your comments on this site but James face the some facts here, when we all took up rugby as kids ( iwas 12) and played at @ 7 , our coaches taught us to do the simple things well ie= pass and catch with both hands, steady scrum if you have an advantage in this area use it properly= secure your ball apply pressure on theres , line out time = always have your call made before you get there , always win your own ball a plus if ypu can snatch 1or2of theirs , don’t over complicate moves or calls keep em simple but be 100% in completion . Munster packs in the past did all of what I have just mentioned . Our current pack cannot do any of these traits that’s required in professional rugby , we don’t have a kicker that can kick a ball over the bar from the 22 in front of the posts , a constipated elephant would pass something quicker than Tomas o Leary and he is our back up to CM , James we are Fu(ked as a province and a franchise . The good days are long gone = 8 years ago next week
Dave , ulster will kick us from 1 end of raven hill to the other , our problem is we just don’t have the players anymore were not good enough , I posted a few weeks back that we are a decent pro 12 team at best and even that is starting to unravel
Martin , send me on about 4 stone of those pills , it might ease some of the pain
Thx martin , I see Ian madigan is heading to France , can’t say I blame him , fed up of been back up I guess
CJ is consistently better than Heaslip. Neither played well tonight. Ringrose looks a great prospect. Munster have a long road ahead of them to get back to anywhere near where they were in previous years.
I thought CJ was excellent tonight. Gave everything but is hamstrung by mediocrity all around him. He’s young and will get better and better. Anybody fancy a cheeky fiver that he will captain Ireland?
Cian, I think he definetly think he deserves a 6n squad spot but captaincy is a bit of a push at the moment.
Cian he spurned points time after time, how can he be captain material if he doesn’t know the basics. Great player but no captain.
Chris again who was going to kick them ?
Chris and heslip is captain material , a man that retired from leinster rugby 2 years ago is back again and is captain , I am surprised at you Chris with that comment
The whole mess is Joe Schmidt’s fault, putting country before club and getting rid of any contenders for his job but given the way Penney and MO’C were ousted from the inside I don’t blame him. Clever man Is Joe.
Jaysus that’s a terrible comment. Joe is Ireland coach, what’s he supposed to do? As for O’Connor thank God he was ousted. The damage he did to Leinster is still being undone. Let’s see how the season pans out before calling for heads
I’m missing El Rats comments on the twitter machine this evening. Has he gone into hiding, because of the one Munster have just been given.
That aside I hope Healy and especially Earls are Ok.
you fellas are just not up to much…..
Munster did well to manufacture a loss… again. Pocession and territory do not win matches – getting over the whitewash is what counts. For 3 games in a row Munster have showed a huge amount of endeavour but have come up short each time. There was not a lot in it, a fantastic break away try, led by the superb Ring rose (how is he not starting every week, should also be in the Ireland frame) and the last minute try was conceded when Munster forced a pass in desperation. The positives for munster: Dominant pack with solid set piece. Sali and Scanell look like a good centre partnership. Negatives: Too many errors again (many of them unforced) Half backs failed to control the game (given the amount of pocession) Complete failure to stretch the defence and create space, too much lateral running especially when overlaps were created. To fix: Cut out silly errors Get half backs who can mange the game and move the ball quicker to exploit space Get a backs coach who can get them to finish – Earls, Zebo and Conway have pace and talent….. Eddie O’Sullivan has been mentioned as a person who could help… why not try?