Exeter vs Munster

[Puja]

CHIEFS SIDE TO FACE MUNSTER

15 Phil Dollman
14 Jack Nowell
13 Henry Slade
12 Ian Whitten
11 Santiago Cordero
10 Gareth Steenson (capt)
9 Stuart Townsend
1 Ben Moon
2 Luke Cowan-Dickie
3 Harry Williams
4 Dave Dennis
5 Sam Skinner
6 Dave Ewers
7 Don Armand
8 Matt Kvesic

16 Jack Yeandle
17 Alec Hepburn
18 Tomas Francis
19 Ollie Atkins
20 Tom Lawday
21 Jack Maunder
22 Joe Simmonds
23 Sam Hill


Munster: Mike Haley; Andrew Conway, Dan Goggin, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; Joey Carbery, Duncan Williams; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne; Peter O’Mahony (C), Chris Cloete, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Rhys Marshall, James Cronin, John Ryan, Billy Holland, Tommy O’Donnell, Neil Cronin, JJ Hanrahan, Sammy Arnold.

[Digby]

Just a huge game for Exeter, deliver or perhaps have to wait another year. Also if they don't deliver Baxter will start to build a legacy of not doing the business in Europe

[fivepointer]

Yep, time for Exe to step up in Europe.

[Oakboy]

I don't follow any club tournaments other than the AP. What sort of run-up to Europe has Munster had? Will we see an Irish set of players fresh from a gentle period against a knackered English team?

[Spiffy]

I don't follow any club tournaments other than the AP. What sort of run-up to Europe has Munster had? Will we see an Irish set of players fresh from a gentle period against a knackered English team?

Munster stuck 60+ points on Ulster last wek in the Pro 14 league. An impressive score but Ulster are currently the pits so wouldn't read too much into that result. But Munster do have a hard nosed pack and a few potential game changers in the backs (Carbery/Earls/Conway). Could be a close one.

[Mikey Brown]

Earls is a game changer? I struggle with him, because he’s such a fucking prick, but beyond being an efficient finisher I’m not sure what he’s good at.

[Scrumhead]

Just a huge game for Exeter, deliver or perhaps have to wait another year. Also if they don't deliver Baxter will start to build a legacy of not doing the business in Europe

Totally agree. Fairly even sides on paper IMO, so we’ll see.

[fivepointer]

If Exe are serious about going up a level in Europe wining their home games is a must. They are short of a few players but should have enough to win at SP.
Weather might be a factor with high winds and rain due this afternoon.

[Oakboy]

Exeter have to be safe on their own scrums and line-outs. With that in mind and LCD's throwing record, I'm surprised that Yeandle is not starting.

[Timbo]

I don't follow any club tournaments other than the AP. What sort of run-up to Europe has Munster had? Will we see an Irish set of players fresh from a gentle period against a knackered English team?

Munster stuck 60+ points on Ulster last wek in the Pro 14 league. An impressive score but Ulster are currently the pits so wouldn't read too much into that result. But Munster do have a hard nosed pack and a few potential game changers in the backs (Carbery/Earls/Conway). Could be a close one.

Last week Munster lost to Leinster.

[Mellsblue]

DOC’s trousers! Blimey.

[Mellsblue]

Garces giving the attacking team plenty of leeway to hold on at the breakdown.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Garces giving the attacking team plenty of leeway to hold on at the breakdown.

Yes. Having watched an Irish ref followed by a French Ref the swings in variance is staggering. Mind it is the same for all sides.

Match wise very tough conditions in this wind. LCD and Kevs both having cracking games. Can see Exeter going up a level intensity wise second half.

[Mellsblue]

And then he just lets Stander scrabble the ball back with his hands just as he’s about to lose a ruck to Williams.

[Mellsblue]

Criminal from Townsend.

[Mellsblue]

And it leads to a try.

[16th man]

Someone needs to tell Exeter that the wind won't affect a grubber.

Munster aren't leaving anyone sweeping, so a good hard, low kick would turn them.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Two games, two very different interpretations. Neither of which was anything like the GP. And at the end how you buttfuck a scrum and get nothing is a bit weird.

Horrible conditions all round. Which made for a slugfest.

[bruce]

I felt tired just watching that.

[16th man]

Two games, two very different interpretations. Neither of which was anything like the GP. And at the end how you buttfuck a scrum and get nothing is a bit weird.

Horrible conditions all round. Which made for a slugfest.

Was there any effort to get the refs together prior to this weekend to try to get them on roughly the same page?

[Epaminondas Pules]

Two games, two very different interpretations. Neither of which was anything like the GP. And at the end how you buttfuck a scrum and get nothing is a bit weird.

Horrible conditions all round. Which made for a slugfest.

Was there any effort to get the refs together prior to this weekend to try to get them on roughly the same page?

Apparently there was.

For example, they were all going to be superb hot with high tackles and head contact......apart from some of them........when it suits.........and if the TMO has had sufficient haribos to make it worth his while.

[16th man]

Two games, two very different interpretations. Neither of which was anything like the GP. And at the end how you buttfuck a scrum and get nothing is a bit weird.

Horrible conditions all round. Which made for a slugfest.

Was there any effort to get the refs together prior to this weekend to try to get them on roughly the same page?

Apparently there was.

For example, they were all going to be superb hot with high tackles and head contact......apart from some of them........when it suits.........and if the TMO has had sufficient haribos to make it worth his while.

To be fair, Kaino is still operating under the AB head shot rules. Roberts was lucky not to be pinged for nutting his shoulder.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Was there any effort to get the refs together prior to this weekend to try to get them on roughly the same page?

Apparently there was.

For example, they were all going to be superb hot with high tackles and head contact......apart from some of them........when it suits.........and if the TMO has had sufficient haribos to make it worth his while.

To be fair, Kaino is still operating under the AB head shot rules. Roberts was lucky not to be pinged for nutting his shoulder.

It was reckless by Roberts. The commentary on it was terrible. It did look a head shot.

[Oakboy]

I thought Armand was excellent. Some of his tackles close in where he stopped an opposing forward dead (or even drove him back) was exactly what I did not see from Shields last night. Add on some significant carries and skilful offloads and I'm bewildered why the NZ import is in the squad and the Zimabwean is not. Will someone explain?

[Mellsblue]

I thought Armand was excellent. Some of his tackles close in where he stopped an opposing forward dead (or even drove him back) was exactly what I did not see from Shields last night. Add on some significant carries and skilful offloads and I'm bewildered why the NZ import is in the squad and the Zimabwean is not. Will someone explain?

Jones doesn’t rate him. He’s a good all-rounder without a stand out feature and we already have that but with more caps in Robshaw. If we were to pick one from Exeter’s backrow, it should be Kvesic. He was excellent....again. As was Skinner. He also has a ridiculous haircut.