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Plenty of tricks but no treats as Munster dominate this Halloween encounter against Ulster . . .
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I have to agree that Munster deserved to win the match. They tried hard, pushed every rule well beyond the breaking point and got away with it. A.Rolland was ear bashed by O’Connell most of the match but i dont think i remember Paddy going to him once during the match. Caldwell is still the loose cannon, but Ferris was well below form, Nagusa – was type of tackle was that! needs to show better defence. However on a positive note at the start of the season if someone had of offered 4th place at this point in time – I think a lot of supporters would have taken it. Yes we have some great raw talent that will mature as each game goes by and I think that we have the basis of a great team in the making.
Having watched the match from the magnificent new Stadium that is Thomond Park a ground that has two 10,000 seat stands and not a corporate box in sight, the relief of the home fans was unquestionable. I will not dwell on Mr Rolland as I have been an advocate of non Irish referees for inter pro games for some time but on the hard decisions Brian McLaughlin has to make. Caldwell ………. what can you do with this walking penalty machine? I assume he went to RBAI and was a certain former teachers pet. The lineout was particular disappointment on Saturday and didn’t improve when the hooker was changed so you have to ask what was going on.
Front row – if BJ starts let him finish they are not the same with out him.
Back row – Henry easily the prettiest back row forward we have but does not have the ball handling skills of Robbie Diack at number 8. Ferris – maybe I am being harsh but the phrase “what have you done for me lately” springs to mind.
Wings – though much improved and much hyped Nagusa is very much a one trick pony. Give him time to think at your peril as it usually ends up in disaster. He is a luxury we just can’t afford it is no use if he scores one and lets in two. Danielli must start.
On the plus side even though we lost I would rather be a supporter of the men in white, the men from Munster are clearly at their sell by date. The future’s bright the future’s white!
PS
The biggest surprise was the fickleness of the home support all doom and gloom before the match and only 16,700 turned up. Almost 10,000 down on their previous home match. All is not well in Turnipstan.
I called it like that to the Revrent Kimble as the match unfolded. However like yourself Dewi didn’t want to sound disgruntled at the refereeing for risking the sour grapes stuff. You’ve opened the floodgates unfortunately. Quinlan twice handled on the deak and another Munster who is as yet unidentified and Rollaind displayed his customary reluctance to yellow card anyone.
Quinlan again in an offside position holding players back from the ruck safe in the knowledge the good ole days where you got a slap for such nonsense are now history.
Perhpas the most discomfitting of all was Rollaind being persistently ear bashed by Paul O’Connell, with lengthy discussions about the ‘weather’ or after match buffet, I’m sure???
At the end of it all we still could have won if the lineout hadn’t disintregated. Is Caldwell all there? I’m beginning to wonder, I saw it at Edinburgh, where the call was made and Caldwell is pissing about not sure what he is doing. Same again last night when Ulster called a short lineout and he was asked by the ref what he was doing, oh dear you couldn’t make it up!!
On the up side this is a team that is learning and hopefully fast.
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