Wasps vs Munster Sun 3.15pm

[Raggs]

WASPS: 15. Marcus Watson, 14. Zach Kibirige, 13. Michael Le Bourgeois, 12. Jimmy Gopperth, 11. Josh Bassett, 10. Jacob Umaga, 9. Sam Wolstenholme, 1. Tom West, 2. Dan Frost, 3. Bi Alo, 4. Sebastian De Chaves, 5. Elliott Stooke, 6. Alfie Barbeary, 7. Brad Shields (c), 8. Tom Willis

Replacements: 16. Gabriel Oghre, 17. Bomber Hislop, 18. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 19. Tim Cardall, 20. Nizaam Carr, 21. Thomas Young, 22. Will Porter, 23. Francois Hougaard

MUNSTER: 15. Patrick Campbell, 14. Andrew Conway, 13. Chris Farrell, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Keith Earls, 10. Joey Carbery, 9. Conor Murray, 1. Dave Kilcoyne, 2. Scott Buckley, 3. James French, 4. Eoin O'Connor, 5. Tadhg Beirne, 6. Peter O'Mahony (c), 7. John Hodnett, 8. Daniel Okeke

Replacements: 16. Declan Moore, 17. Mark Donnelly, 18. Roman Salanoa, 19. John Forde, 20. Conor Moloney, 21. Ethan Coughlan, 22. Tony Butler, 23. Jonathan Wren

For all the talk of Munster being in trouble from Covid, that backline looks insane, and the pack has a few big names still available too. Can't see a Wasps win here to be honest.

[Mikey Brown]

6. Alfie Barbeary, 7. Brad Shields

Gross.

[Puja]

For all the talk of Munster being in trouble from Covid, that backline looks insane, and the pack has a few big names still available too. Can't see a Wasps win here to be honest.

I don't know; you've got a few good names back and are putting out a handy team yourselves. Plus, in an unprecedented situation, I think your bench is stronger, as that's where they're feeling their withdrawals. In addition, they'll have had less training time with isolation. I think you've got a semi-decent chance.

Great to see West back again and looking forward to seeing Barbeary go from the start.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Wasps in with a good chance I reckon even with a 6:2 bench and the 2 both being SH's!

All eyes on Barbeary. Dan Frost looks like a good signing so far.

[Peej]

It's a sign of how poor Wasps are that they only have a semi-decent chance. I think most of the Munster team have trained together as a squad this week.

[fivepointer]

"Following the latest round of testing, Wasps can confirm a number of players and coaches will be unavailable for today’s game resulting in changes to the matchday squad. Please be advised though that today’s game against Munster will go ahead as planned"

OUT - De Chaves, Stooke, Umaga, Willis, Hougaard
IN - Mathews, Anderson, Curran, Van Vuuren, Mehson

[Banquo]

Yeah, but Bomber Hislop will save the day.

[Puja]

Can't see a Wasps win here to be honest.

Okay, *now* I agree with you.

Puja

[Raggs]

...
...
...

Yeah...

[Peej]

Somebody has dropped a bollock with this in terms of how covid protocols are managed within the club

[Puja]

Wasps are looking pretty solid so far. Utterly dominant in the scrum, but their lineout is a shambles. Neither side appear keen on catching passes, so plenty of chances for the former so far.

Barbeary's run into some brick walls so far and Munster have been ready for him. Might be a bit better avoiding the big contacts and using a bit more footwork.

Puja

[Puja]

And now Shields has got a straight red. Seems like an incredibly harsh decision - it's not 100% clear whether there's any head contact at all and it doesn't feel like a very dangerous contact with Kilcoyne running into him rather than any swinging arm or anything. Got to feel that's curtains for Wasps now though. Only 0-6, but a difficult game's surely now impossible.

Puja

[Banquo]

And now Shields has got a straight red. Seems like an incredibly harsh decision - it's not 100% clear whether there's any head contact at all and it doesn't feel like a very dangerous contact with Kilcoyne running into him rather than any swinging arm or anything. Got to feel that's curtains for Wasps now though. Only 0-6, but a difficult game's surely now impossible.

Puja

Yep harsh. If anything it was a shoulder to shields face!

[Puja]

I take it back - 7-6 to Wasps as both teams have gone full Barbarians with running from everywhere, optional defence, chip kicks from flankers, ridiculous 20m passes from locks, finishing up with Barbeary being on the end of a try.

Puja

[Raggs]

Crazy bounces of the ball favouring Munster at the moment...

Barbeary running into brick walls, but just like Vunipola, it's not by accident, that penalty we won because the players didn't roll away are exactly why he does it. He's also made some decent yards too though!

No Shields is huge, especially for the scrum, I've no idea who we use at lock now. Lineout is going to be stuffed too.

[p/d]

Barbeary injured or subbed?

[Puja]

Wasps are getting the shitty end of the Poite referreeing stick. First the red card, then the first Munster try had a clear shove off the ball to take Watson out when he might've got to the bouncing ball - the TMO said it needed having a look at and Poite overruled him. Now Munster scored again but O'Mahony has launched himself flying into a ruck and accidentally flying headbutted Gopperth - again, the TMO wants to look at it and Poite says he saw it and it was fine. I'd be fuming if I were a Wasps fan.

They've subbed Barbeary off as well, which is very disappointing. Not clear if it's meant to be permanent or if it's covering for Frost's yellow card. Hoping he'll come back on.

Ah, and now Wasps drop the ball with miscommunication and Conway gets a free try for 7-25. Game over now.

Puja

[Raggs]

Barbeary injured or subbed?

Commentary said injury.

[Banquo]

But yet POM can dive headlong at Gopperth well beyond the ball. Bizarre

[Raggs]

Think i'm turning this one off. We're getting almost nothing at the breakdown, even the bounce of the ball seems to be against us. When Poite is telling his TMO he's not checking things when he's asked to, it's not really worth sticking with I feel.

[Banquo]

Jeez that was some lax reffing. Commentators going on about a great day for Munster- and fair play, they were missing a load of players (though left with a lot of quality intls) and their young starters went well.,. But Wasps we’re on the wrong end of a sending off and other nonsense. Very Poite like.

[fivepointer]

Didnt see the whole game but Shields red struck me as being very harsh.

[Danno]

But yet POM can dive headlong at Gopperth well beyond the ball. Bizarre

Of course. It's POM.

[Beasties]

Think i'm turning this one off. We're getting almost nothing at the breakdown, even the bounce of the ball seems to be against us. When Poite is telling his TMO he's not checking things when he's asked to, it's not really worth sticking with I feel.

No one mentioned the forward pass to Buckley at the lineout either. Not even checked, shambles.

[Raggs]

But yet POM can dive headlong at Gopperth well beyond the ball. Bizarre

Of course. It's POM.

Turns out he should have been off the pitch before Shields:



Pretty much exactly what he called Lavanini a scumbag for.