The Munster Team:

15. P Warwick
14. D Howlett
13. K Earls
12. J de Villiers
11. L Mafi
10. R O’Gara
9. T O’Leary

1. M Horan
2. D Varley
3. J Hayes
4. D O’Callaghan
5. M O’Driscoll
6. A Quinlan
7. N Ronan
8. N Williams.

Replacements: J Flannery, D Ryan, J Coughlan, D Wallace, P Stringer, D Hurley, S Deasy.

Jerry Flannery and David Wallace have been dropped to the bench from the Munster team to play Leinster this weekend. It is rumoured that there is unrest and fighting within the camp but no reason has been give yet but a statement is expected from Munster Rugby later today.

www.rugbypicture.co.uk

Our young talent really should the old guard how its done tonight. They were hungry, every last one playing their heart out to kept the season alive. Williams again showed great strength and skill with ball in hand. He has yet to play a bad game in a Munster jersey this season and only for him being such a sick note, I’m sure he would be a regular. Tony Buckley showed he can be in-trusted with the Bulls number 3 shirt, disruptive at the rucks, scrum held together and defended when asked. Our three quarters were solid under the high ball but lacked experience when put under pressure. Niall Ronan looked like a young David Wallace with some great turn overs and great yardage gained with ball in hand. Even in defeat I feel most Munster supports will be happy with today team performance.

In all honestly I thought I wouldn’t comment on another game till next August , but I have to admit the sick feeling I have had since last Sunday has gone. Another Leinster Munster semi awaits and I can’t wait.

The match is penned down for Saturday at 8pm in the RDS but I have a feeling  a lot of people are looking Croker and will it be opened. It may not be filled for the game but at least anyone who wants to go can.

Revenge

We have had to stomach three defeats to the lady boys in the last twelve months. No more. Its now time for some revenge. Tony McGahan has to win now. Most supports like me expected to go out tonight with our heads between our knees. Now no supporter want to lose to that shower.

I’m starting to get excited.

Howlett and Dowling to miss Biarritz clash
Friday, 30 April 2010 17:57

Doug Howlett and Ian Dowling have been withdrawn from the Munster side for Sunday’s Heineken Cup semi-final clash with Biarritz.

Both players had been named in the starting XV earlier today, but failed to come through the Captains Run this evening at Thomond Park Stadium.

It means that Lifeimi Mafi is promoted from the bench to take Howlett’s place while Denis Hurley will take over on the other wing from Dowling.

BELIEVE!!!

Munster:
15.P Warwick
14.D Howlett
13.K Earls
12.J de Villiers
11.I Dowling
10.R O’Gara
9.T O’Leary
1.M Horan
2.J Flannery
3.J Hayes
4.D O’Callaghan
5.M O’Driscoll
6.A Quinlan
7.D Wallace
8.J Coughlan

Replacements: D Varley, J Brugnaut, T Buckley, N Williams, N Ronan, P Stringer, L Mafi, S Deasy

Biarritz Team

15. Iain Balshaw, 14. Takudzwa Ngwenya, 13. Arnaud Mignardi, 12. Ayoola Erinle, 11. Jean-Baptiste Gobelet, 10. Karmichael Hunt, 9. Dimitri Yachvili, 1. Eduard Coetzee, 2. Benoit August, 3. Campbell Johnstone, 4. Jérôme Thion, 5. Trevor Hall, 6. Magnus Lund, 7. Wenceslas Lauret, 8. Imanol Harinordoquy,
16. Romain Terrain, 17. Fabien Barcella, 18. Rémy Hugues, 19. Manuel Carizza, 20. Florian Faure, 21. Valentin Courrent, 22. Julien Peyrelongue, 23. Philippe Bidabe,

News from Biarritz is that Imanol Harinordoquy will be in their starting line-up when they run out at the Anoeta Stadium on Sunday , having the plaster removed on Tuesday and amid suggestions that he would seek permission from ERC to wear a protective mask, he is now reported to be set to lead the side.

It will be interesting to see if he does ware a face mask. Will the ERC and IRB bend over backwards to see their dream all French final and break their own laws

“4.1 (h) A player may wear bandages and/or dressings to cover or protect any injury.”

“4.1 (i) A player may wear thin tape or other similar material as support and/or to prevent injury.”

“4.4 (c) (c) A player must not wear any items containing buckles, clips, rings, hinges, zippers, screws, bolts or rigid material or projection not otherwise permitted under this Law.”

http://irb.com/mm/Document/LawsRegs/0/LA…

With O’Connell out for the game on Sunday my starting team would be as follows:

15. Paul Warwick

14.Doug Howlet

13. Keith Earls

12. JDV

11. Mafi ( Looked really dangerous on the wing last weekend)

10. ROG

9. O’Leary (For his physicality) really a 50/50 between him and stringer in my book.

8. Coughlan

7. Wally

6. Nick Williams( His power with ball in hand will quickly tire out the Biarritz pack who seem to fade towards the end of a game)

5. Micko

4. DOC

3. Bull

2. Fla

1. Marcus

Replacement: Varley, Brugnaut, Buckley, Billy Holland, Quinlan, Stringer, Hurley, Tom Gleeson

www.rugbypicture.co.uk

Paul O’Connell will NOT feature in Munster semi-final clash against Biarritz this weekend. Tony McGahan today announce his side and O’Connells name was an absence from the list.

Good news thought Doug Howlett, Keith Earls, Ian Dowling and Nick Williams have all been named in the squad.

The squad held a training session in Musgrave Park this morning with Tony McGahan announcing a 26 man squad for Sunday.  The team will be announced midday Friday with the team departing from Shannon airport on Saturday morning

Munster Squad: Marcus Horan, Tony Buckley, Julien Brugnaut, John Hayes, Damien Varley, Jerry Flannery, Mick O’Driscoll, Billy Holland, Donncha O’Callaghan, Alan Quinlan, David Wallace, Nick Williams, James Coughlan, Niall Ronan, Tomas O’Leary, Peter Stringer, Ronan O’Gara, Paul Warwick, Lifeimi Mafi, Jean de Villiers, Tom Gleeson, Doug Howlett, Denis Hurley, Ian Dowling, Keith Earls, Scott Deasy.