Its interesting to hear that they have âshortenedâ their pitch sessions from 2 hours to 75 mins. Thats still way different from the Irish and Welsh teams, and i daresay Scots, who generally wonât go over 45 mins for a pitch session during the season.
Weight sessions seem to be down too, which i think can only be good, teams were becoming massive, but the game was slowing.
Wallace and Botha both in provisional 27 man squad for Saturday. Iâd say Wallaceâs chances are still slim but would give Botha better than 50/50 chance of figuiring. Either player would be massive addition. Botha for his scrummaging alone and Wallace for his creativity and general class. As well as we played on Saturday his hands were missed in midfield.
Munster: P Warwick; D Howlett, K Earls, L Mafi, D Hurley; R OâGara, T OâLeary; W du Preez, D Fogarty, J Hayes; D OâCallaghan, P OâConnell capt; A Quinlan, D Wallace, D Leamy. Replacements: D Varley, D Hurley, T Buckley, M OâDriscoll, D Ryan, N Ronan, P Stringer, J de Villiers.
LEINSTER:
15: Rob Kearney
14: Shane Horgan
13: Brian OâDriscoll
12: Gordon DâArcy
11: Isa Nacewa
10: Shaun Berne
9: Eoin Reddan
1: Cian Healy
2: John Fogarty
3: CJ van der Linde
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Nathan Hines
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Sean OâBrien
8: Jamie Heaslip
REPLACEMENTS:
16: Bernard Jackman
17: Mike Ross
18: Stan Wright
19: Malcolm OâKelly
20: Stephen Keogh
21: Paul OâDonohoe
22: Fergus McFadden
23: Girvan Dempsey
SCARLETS: 15: Rhys Priestland, 14: Darren Daniel, 13: Sean Lamont, 12: Jonathan Davies, 11: Andrew Fenby, 10: Stephen Jones, 9: Martin Roberts; 1: Iestyn Thomas, 2: Ken Owens, 3: Deacon Manu, 4: Lou Reed, 5: Dominic Day, 6: Simon Easterby, 7: Jonathan Edwards, 8: David Lyons CAPTAIN
REPLACEMENTS: 16: Emyr Phillips, 17: Phil John, 18: Jamie Corsi, 19: Vernon Cooper, 20: Rob McCusker, 21: Tavis Knoyle, 22: Daniel Evans, 23: Gareth Maule
REFEREE: Wayne Barnes (RFU), ASSISTANT REFEREES: Roy Maybank (RFU), Kevin Stewart (RFU), 4th OFFICIAL: Paul Haycock (ARLB), 5th OFFICIAL: Peter Dennehy (ARLB), TMO: Ed Morrison
Very surprised with Ulster selection for tomorrow. Botha has came in at 3 for Fitzparick while Nagusa replaces Trimple in the wing who moves to centre to partner the returning Wallace while Whitten and Cave are both dropped. While I remarked that centre partnership didnât work last week they did very well at start of season and presumed if Wallace was returning it would be in place of Whitten with Trimble staying on the wing. Nagusa needs a big game tomorrow as his recent performances would worry me. Faloon comes in for Pollock at 7. OâConnor doesnât even make the 22! Good thing is with Kyricaou, Pollock, Caldwell, Cave, Whitten all in the bench we have talent there though perhaps at half back we are weak with only Willis out and out option.
Those changes were well flagged earlier in the week I believe lar. Even that clown in the Indo predicted them. Bit odd I guess, change for the sake of change.
Didnât hear anyone predict that squad! I donât buy the Irish Indo myself but from various articles I read I didnât see all those changes mentioned⌠Donât agree that it is change for the sake of it and while I donât agree with them all I think it is refreshing to see management make bold calls. Botha had to come in while Wallace is simply class and has to play if fit. Faloon deserves a start imo but surprising thing is the dropping of Cave and all new centre partnership. Lack of fly half cover is concerning also.
Talk that the game tomorrow is in doubt with snow in Brussels and bad weather forecast for tomorrow also. Would be odd if tha game had to be moved to Paris.
go fuck yourself kev:guns:
It would be an awful tragedy for Belgian rugby, it really would. The nightmare scenario.
Problems with Eurostar and Brussles airport has left many travelling fans stranded and unable to watch game. Another pitch inspection at 1 oâclock after pitch inspection at nine was inconclusive.
What timeâs kick off?
Surprised Nagusa has forced his way back in. Wallace and Cave looks like the best Ulster partnership to me.
[quote=âRockoâ]What timeâs kick off?
Surprised Nagusa has forced his way back in. Wallace and Cave looks like the best Ulster partnership to me.[/quote]
Half three or 3.45 cant remember. Iâd agree with you on that. Cave was quiet last week and Trimble looked very sharp but its the decision to bring in Nagusa that I wouldnât have gone for.
Match postponed apparently. Fook that
Great performance from Leinster here. All the big names are playing superbly (despite a shaky start for Kearney) but Healy, Heaslip, OâBrien have been world class.
Cracking try from OâDriscoll there. Not much too it but strong bastard.
Looks like game will be in Stade Jean Bouin tomorrow with kick off time at three or half three. Heavy forecast is far heavy snow tomorrow but onus is on Stade to get game played.
Radio said it could be played on Monday in Lille too.
Announced as two oâclock GMT in Stade tomorrow. Under ERC rules onus is on Stade to get game played and if they cant within a certain period the game is awarded to Ulster. Forecast for tomorrow is heavy snow so who knows. Didnât hear that about Lille though so maybe that is Stadeâs back up plan. Game isnât on tv which is extremely annoying.
What was the score in the Leinster match???
Do SKY have any rugby commentators who arent complete cocks?