The UAFC

6pts from 2 games. Bp home win building on the home record. Unexpected bp in Dublin.
Big players getting rested (EOS/mm in particular)/good use of squad. JMcG back, WA back.

LL will be a loss as he is such a solid versatile squad player - but I think the squad can cover his absence. Then we get onto MC, Friday was a blow can’t see him back inside a month if he has a facial injury. The backrow is really going to have to step up in his absence.

So, Munster: this is the biggy. They have a must win game away against racing 9 days later, they’ve lost at home to Leinster- id imagine the rumours of a strong Munster visiting are accurate.
I’d imagine we’ll be fully loaded barring injury to MC. Stop their pack gaining dominance, & I’d fancy us. Targeting of kilcoyne & stander in particular to stop them on the gainline, and their one out runners.

JMcG RH MM
IH AOC
Rea JM Reidy
JC BB
SMcC LM
JS WA RB

EOS McB TOT KT NT shan BJ Faddes

This is a big statement game for both teams.

Cooney Murray can’t wait for that one...for me there is a decent amount of praise in the southern media for Cooney, however once Murray’s place in the Ireland team is mentioned the on the ball pundits Particularly quinlan ogara Wood suddenly get very protective of CM. I’d say CMs credit in the bank is fast running out - fridays game is a big statement for both 9s. If Farrells a man of his word re honesty with players they’ll be a few lads having awkward conversations - it’ll be interesting re his opinion on POM & CM, but that’s another conversation.

Will be interesting to see the teams for this one. I think Stander, Farrell and Kleyn played in the Connacht game, so in theory would be sitting this out. Still leaves Murray, Conway, Earl's, O'Mahony, Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell and Carbery from the Munster Japan contingent...and prob a few others I have missed.

On the Marcel front. I am surprised that there hasn't been a citing for that....seemed pretty clear-cut based on recent decisions (ie Addison)

The Rustler wrote: ↑Mon Dec 30, 2019 11:46 am Will be interesting to see the teams for this one. I think Stander, Farrell and Kleyn played in the Connacht game, so in theory would be sitting this out. Still leaves Murray, Conway, Earl's, O'Mahony, Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell and Carbery from the Munster Japan contingent...and prob a few others I have missed.

On the Marcel front. I am surprised that there hasn't been a citing for that....seemed pretty clear-cut based on recent decisions (ie Addison)

Kilcoyne started in both inter pros so far and Carbery was on the bench v Leinster, played around 24 minutes. Carbery will probably be involved on Friday but Kilcoyne may not.

Is there any definitive news on marcel? If he passes the rtp protocol then i would expect him in the line up on Friday. Hes had 20 mins play in 3 weeks so the body will be fine providing the noggin is.

Not that I have heard.

I think he was touching his face when he was going off and Pip spotted him going to hospital at half time.

Seen a photo of him in twitter in hospital standing with a thumb up and his dad quoted as saying he was fine.

damianmcr wrote: ↑Mon Dec 30, 2019 6:45 pm Seen a photo of him in twitter in hospital standing with a thumb up and his dad quoted as saying he was fine.

Get him out there. Sure he can wear a wee phantom of th'opera mask and he'll look even more intimidating.

https://twitter.com/JBradleyBT/status/1 ... 57344?s=20

Coetzee going through RTPP and misses the game on Friday alone with Ludik.

Dan Jones (WRU) in the middle on Friday night. 7:35pm kick off.

Game on Premier Sports 1, Eir Sport 1 and delayed coverage on TG4 at 9:30pm.

Munster: Shane Daly; Andrew Conway, Sammy Arnold, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; Joey Carbery, Conor Murray; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Keynan Knox; Fineen Wycherley, Darren O’Shea; Peter O’Mahony (C), Jack O’Donoghue, Arno Botha.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Dave Kilcoyne, John Ryan, Gavin Coombes, Jack O’Sullivan, Neil Cronin, Dan Goggin, Chris Cloete.

Ulster team to play Munster, Guinness PRO14 Round 10, Friday 3 January at Kingspan Stadium, kick-off 7.35pm:

(15-9) Will Addison, Robert Baloucoune, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, Billy Burns, John Cooney.

(1-8) Jack McGrath, Rob Herring, Marty Moore, Alan O'Connor, Iain Henderson (Capt.), Matthew Rea, Sean Reidy, Nick Timoney.

Replacements: John Andrew, Kyle McCall, Tom O'Toole, David O'Connor, Greg Jones, David Shanahan, Bill Johnston, Craig Gilroy.

Jordi Murphy?

Is EOS injured?

That is the first choice backline for me.

The big question everyone is asking is there a problem with Jordi. We do need him and in particular in the European games coming up.