We lost a slot when you capped Kleyn (thanks for that) and will not be allowed to keep Frisch.
I'm pretty certain one of the Munster managers said this week he expects Frisch to stay next season.
I think Munster will sneak this.
We lost a slot when you capped Kleyn (thanks for that) and will not be allowed to keep Frisch.
I'm pretty certain one of the Munster managers said this week he expects Frisch to stay next season.
I think Munster will sneak this.
His contract expires end of next year so we can keep him till then. There is a lot of talk about an early release to a French team in the last couple of weeks.
100 posts
Not sure if you guys find this interesting but from a Munster perspective...
A bit excited about this tour. It has been a disaster of a season for Munster with injuries and sickness, half the squad out at one stage. Last match 2 weeks ago QF ERC the team had a vomiting bug, Casey was puking on the sideline at half time. RG nearly hospitalized apparently.
It looks like they have recovered and for the Bulls match we have a strong team but they are keeping the Lions match in mind. We really need a win and a bonus point to stay in the top 4. For our forwards...
Front row we are weak and really need a couple of signings this summer. We had a couple of up and comings but injury profile terrible (one almost as bad as RG).
Second row, first time in 4 years we had both RG and Byrne are playing together. Probably the best second row partnership in club rugby. Not the best two players but the best partnership. 11th game for RG. We really missed Jean Kleyn this year. Kleyn has been the rock of our scrum, does all the heavy lifting and we struggled since he has been out. Delighted we are keeping him instead of RG as we really need him in the engine. I will eat my tongue next year when RG shows his best for Leinster..... Wait for the bitterness.
Backrow two of the three starters are on the bench. Still we have two big boys in Pete O'Mahony and Jack O'Donoghue. O'Donoghue is a great club man (played 196 time for Munster, 2 for Ireland), just back from long injury and will give it all. Kendellen is a great footballer, smart, fast and a leader but too light and small. He plays across the back row, came up playing 8 but I think they need to keep him at 7.
In the backs, Conor Murray the legend is a bit slow in the breakdown but smart and strong. Crowley the new Johnny Sexton. A strong pairing.
Centers we have our best partnership in Nankivell and Frisch. Frisch has been called up to the French squad and expected to get game time this summer. In Ireland we are only allowed 3 NIQs per team. (Non Irish Qualified). We lost a slot when you capped Kleyn (thanks for that) and will not be allowed to keep Frisch.
We have our starting two wingers in Nash and Daly. Nash got his first caps for Ireland in the 6 nations due to injuries. Played really really well but still behind the existing Irish starters.
Full back is Simon Zebo, Loved by Munster, smart, lucky and can come up with a bit of magic but at the end of career and has been plagued with injurie and lost pace. Normally Haley is our15 but I think he is being rotated for the Lions match.
I think the game plan is to face up for the first 60 minutes and really pick up the tempo in the last 20. We have the strongest 6/2 bench all year. Casey (9) will really up the tempo getting the ball out wide. Aherne (5) grew up playing winger. I think this is where the Bulls can be caught out.
I do not expect to win because of home advantage but am hoping for a losing bonus point. More than anything else, I hope we remain injury free and this mini tour will kick start us for the run in to the end of season like last year.
Enjoy the match