The Heineken Cup Thread

[Dinny Breen]

In fairness Toulouse showed Connacht some respect with the side they picked. Had their homework done and knew Connacht would be tough at home, took the early penalties and made Connacht chase the game.

Toulouse just a class act on and off the pitch I hoped they stayed the night and enjoy the city.

[Main Street]

O'Gara at the death again.
It's becoming a bit of a pantomime,   "watch out, O Gara's going to nail you!"

[magpie seanie]

O'Gara at the death again.
It's becoming a bit of a pantomime,   "watch out, O Gara's going to nail you!"

Were the defenders close enough for his detractors this time? Balls of steel. Different class.

[mc_grens]

O'Gara at the death again.
It's becoming a bit of a pantomime,   "watch out, O Gara's going to nail you!"

That's kinda Keyser Sauzee-esque-

Rugby players tell their kids at night, "If you don't close the game out son, Ronan O'Gara will come and get you..."

[Main Street]

O'Gara at the death again.
It's becoming a bit of a pantomime,   "watch out, O Gara's going to nail you!"

Were the defenders close enough for his detractors this time?

You should ask one of his detractors.

[Hoof Hearted]

Brian who they are saying around the RDS !!

Eoin O'Malley is on a hat trick after half an hour of Leinsters game against Glasgow. 17 points when they were down to 14 men.

24-6, 1 more try for a bonus point

EDIT - Bonus secured, 31-6 @ HT

[AZOffaly]

There's no disguising that Munster are well below the level they set themselves in the mid-late 2000s, but they are still a tough team to beat in Europe. Of all the great things that O'Gara and O'Connell have done for Munster, getting this Munster team two wins in a row is right up there with the best the've done.

There's no doubt that Kidney's success at senior level has masked a deficiency in the Acadamy, which Leinster have accentuated with their success in that area. McGahan's 'failure' at senior level in Europe may likewise be hiding the stirrings of something worthwhile at underage. Murray and O'Mahoney are the marquee players coming through, but Munster need more than that, and they will need them quickly. Danny Barnes doesn't have the pace at this level I believe. Zebo does, but does he have the rugby brain and defensive qualities?

Munster are off the pace of a Leinster, Toulouse and some of the other French teams, but they will try like the bejaysus, and that will give them some good days while they wait to be really a force again. It's almost like back in 1998/99 again. Hopefully this time the structures in place will give more continuity.

[Main Street]

There is a deal of quality missing in their game but the power at the finish is "awesome".
if Munster have not already been put away at that stage, there are few teams that could find a hiding place.

[Capt Pat]

Didn't Munster originally develop Mike Ross and Sean Cronin?

They have brought through O Mahony and Murray and if games are won up front and at half back Munster will continue to be strong for some time.

[Hound]

Didn't Munster originally develop Mike Ross and Sean Cronin?

They have brought through O Mahony and Murray and if games are won up front and at half back Munster will continue to be strong for some time.

Munster did practically nothing to develop Ross. Cork Con is where he learnt his trade, Munster only gave him one or two starts and pretty much discarded him. It was at Harlequins that he developed into a proper prop. 

On the other hand, Munster did want to keep Sean Cronin as back up to Flannery. But Cronin didnt want to be number 2 to Flannery (some tension between the two also), so chose to go to Connacht for first team action.

I like the fact McGahan is being brave and giving youth a chance. Before this season I would have said O'Mahony is twice the player either Coughlan or Leamy is, but will need plenty of game time to prove it. As it happened he proved it almost immediately.

O'Gara's two super drop goals have papered over two mediocre enough performances from himself and the team. But winning two games like that through force of character and being ice cool under intense pressure will definitely bring them on.  They'll be two cracking games against the Scarlets in December.

[Dinny Breen]

Didn't Munster originally develop Mike Ross and Sean Cronin?

They have brought through O Mahony and Murray and if games are won up front and at half back Munster will continue to be strong for some time.

Munster did practically nothing to develop Ross. Cork Con is where he learnt his trade, Munster only gave him one or two starts and pretty much discarded him. It was at Harlequins that he developed into a proper prop. 

On the other hand, Munster did want to keep Sean Cronin as back up to Flannery. But Cronin didnt want to be number 2 to Flannery (some tension between the two also), so chose to go to Connacht for first team action.

I like the fact McGahan is being brave and giving youth a chance. Before this season I would have said O'Mahony is twice the player either Coughlan or Leamy is, but will need plenty of game time to prove it. As it happened he proved it almost immediately.

O'Gara's two super drop goals have papered over two mediocre enough performances from himself and the team. But winning two games like that through force of character and being ice cool under intense pressure will definitely bring them on.  They'll be two cracking games against the Scarlets in December.

Yea Dean Richards should take all the credit for Ross, Munster had nothing to do with his development. Cronin was 3rd choice behind Sheehan and Flannery, tough position in fairness so was right to move to Connacht. He also played minor football for Limerick.

The Munster games against the Scarlets will be interesting, unlike Castres and The Saints, the Scarlets are a very dynamic team who really play a 15 man game with the form 10 in World Rugby as well. You'd expect that if the Scarlets can get any kind of parity up front against Munster they'll win but that's a big if.

[GalwayBayBoy]

Didn't Munster originally develop Mike Ross and Sean Cronin?

They have brought through O Mahony and Murray and if games are won up front and at half back Munster will continue to be strong for some time.

Munster did practically nothing to develop Ross. Cork Con is where he learnt his trade, Munster only gave him one or two starts and pretty much discarded him. It was at Harlequins that he developed into a proper prop. 

On the other hand, Munster did want to keep Sean Cronin as back up to Flannery. But Cronin didnt want to be number 2 to Flannery (some tension between the two also), so chose to go to Connacht for first team action.

I like the fact McGahan is being brave and giving youth a chance. Before this season I would have said O'Mahony is twice the player either Coughlan or Leamy is, but will need plenty of game time to prove it. As it happened he proved it almost immediately.

O'Gara's two super drop goals have papered over two mediocre enough performances from himself and the team. But winning two games like that through force of character and being ice cool under intense pressure will definitely bring them on.  They'll be two cracking games against the Scarlets in December.

The Munster games against the Scarlets will be interesting, unlike Castres and The Saints, the Scarlets are a very dynamic team who really play a 15 man game with the form 10 in World Rugby as well. You'd expect that if the Scarlets can get any kind of parity up front against Munster they'll win but that's a big if.

It was a great win for the Scarlets at Northampton alright but they scored some of the jammiest tries you'd ever see in one game of rugby. Nearly every one of their tries had an element of luck to it. Just seemed to be a night for them when the ball kept bouncing their way.

[AZOffaly]

I think Northampton are the best team in the group to be honest. I can't believe the way they went down on Friday night. Ashton should be shot for the way he gave up the ghost on the knock on that ended in a try.

LLanelli away will be a huge game for Munster. If they can win there, then I'd be confident they could beat LLanelli and Castres at home and essentially be out of the group by the time they go to Milton Keynes.

A loss to LLanelli will probably see them finishing second at best, as that bonus point win is huge for the Scarlets.

[Dinny Breen]

Going to be a humdinger of a group. I'd can envisage after 5 rounds that Munster will be on 18 points, Scarlets on 13 points and the Saints on 15, leaving a winner takes all in Milton Keyes. Bonus points could be massive before then though.

[Hoof Hearted]

round 3 starts in ten mins, cant wait, should be two good weekends of top class rugby, the back to back's