Munster v Ulster Sat Jan 8th 7:35pm KO RTE/Premier Sports

[Neill_M]

Mike Adamson of the SRU has been appointed as referee for Munster vs. Ulster at Thomond Park on Saturday.

The IRFU's Paul Haycock and Dermot Blake are the assistant refs, with Brian MacNeice on TMO duty.

Via @Murray_Kinsella on twitter.

[Neill_M]

https://ulster.rugby/content/preview-munster-v-ulster

Match preview done by Ulster, a positive sign?

[Neill_M]

In a statement to RTÉ Sport, Ulster said: "Given the situation is very fluid at the moment, we will provide an update regarding player availability with this week’s team announcement on Friday."

[Neill_M]

Munster: Mike Haley; Seán French, Chris Farrell, Rory Scannell, Simon Zebo; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Thomas Ahern, Fineen Wycherley; Peter O’Mahony (C), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Jack O’Donoghue, Neil Cronin, Ben Healy, Shane Daly.

[Neill_M]

Ulster team to play Munster Rugby, United Rugby Championship Round 10, Saturday 8 January at Thomond Park, 7.35pm kick-off, live on RTÉ and Premier Sports:

(15-9) Mike Lowry, Craig Gilroy, Ben Moxham, James Hume, Ethan McIlroy, Billy Burns, John Cooney;
(1-8) Jack McGrath, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor (Capt.), Sam Carter, Greg Jones, Nick Timoney, Duane Vermeulen.

Replacements: John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Ross Kane, Kieran Treadwell, Marcus Rea, Nathan Doak, Angus Curtis, Rob Lyttle.

Unavailable for selection

Brad Roberts, Tom Stewart, Marty Moore, Iain Henderson, Cormac Izuchukwu, Jordi Murphy, Matty Rea, Ian Madigan, Stewart Moore, Stuart McCloskey, Luke Marshall, Robert Baloucoune, Jacob Stockdale, Will Addison.

[StandUp]

Ulster team to play Munster Rugby, United Rugby Championship Round 10, Saturday 8 January at Thomond Park, 7.35pm kick-off, live on RTÉ and Premier Sports:

(15-9) Mike Lowry, Craig Gilroy, Ben Moxham, James Hume, Ethan McIlroy, Billy Burns, John Cooney;
(1-8) Jack McGrath, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor (Capt.), Sam Carter, Greg Jones, Nick Timoney, Duane Vermeulen.

Replacements: John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Ross Kane, Kieran Treadwell, Marcus Rea, Nathan Doak, Angus Curtis, Rob Lyttle.

Unavailable for selection

Brad Roberts, Tom Stewart, Marty Moore, Iain Henderson, Cormac Izuchukwu, Jordi Murphy, Matty Rea, Ian Madigan, Stewart Moore, Stuart McCloskey, Luke Marshall, Robert Baloucoune, Jacob Stockdale, Will Addison.

Interesting that Reidy is neither in the match day squad nor unavailable. Gone already? Hope not.

[StandUp]

Moxham at outside centre for first start of the season? Shirley the munters will target that all night.

[Silverstu]

Ulster team to play Munster Rugby, United Rugby Championship Round 10, Saturday 8 January at Thomond Park, 7.35pm kick-off, live on RTÉ and Premier Sports:

(15-9) Mike Lowry, Craig Gilroy, Ben Moxham, James Hume, Ethan McIlroy, Billy Burns, John Cooney;
(1-8) Jack McGrath, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor (Capt.), Sam Carter, Greg Jones, Nick Timoney, Duane Vermeulen.

Replacements: John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Ross Kane, Kieran Treadwell, Marcus Rea, Nathan Doak, Angus Curtis, Rob Lyttle.

Unavailable for selection

Brad Roberts, Tom Stewart, Marty Moore, Iain Henderson, Cormac Izuchukwu, Jordi Murphy, Matty Rea, Ian Madigan, Stewart Moore, Stuart McCloskey, Luke Marshall, Robert Baloucoune, Jacob Stockdale, Will Addison.

Interesting that Reidy is neither in the match day squad nor unavailable. Gone already? Hope not.

Is Reidy leaving or retiring? Seems odd as he's been excellent any timeless played but has been largely absent for the squad this season.
Moxham at 13? Wonder how that will go, Curtis at 12 with Hume at 13 would be more dynamic but the young lads need a chance. Great to see Jack starting but we need a good few of those lads back that are unavailable.

[Neill_M]

Ulster team to play Munster Rugby, United Rugby Championship Round 10, Saturday 8 January at Thomond Park, 7.35pm kick-off, live on RTÉ and Premier Sports:

(15-9) Mike Lowry, Craig Gilroy, Ben Moxham, James Hume, Ethan McIlroy, Billy Burns, John Cooney;
(1-8) Jack McGrath, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor (Capt.), Sam Carter, Greg Jones, Nick Timoney, Duane Vermeulen.

Replacements: John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Ross Kane, Kieran Treadwell, Marcus Rea, Nathan Doak, Angus Curtis, Rob Lyttle.

Unavailable for selection

Brad Roberts, Tom Stewart, Marty Moore, Iain Henderson, Cormac Izuchukwu, Jordi Murphy, Matty Rea, Ian Madigan, Stewart Moore, Stuart McCloskey, Luke Marshall, Robert Baloucoune, Jacob Stockdale, Will Addison.

Interesting that Reidy is neither in the match day squad nor unavailable. Gone already? Hope not.

EOS also not involved, out of favour also?

[justinr73]

Saffer free Munster team and the lesser spotted Zebo gets a game.

We can win this for sure, although POM seems to bring the best out of them.

[Loki]

Reidy's lack of involvement has been one of the few negatives for me this season, I'll be sorry to see him go if he's off as KOTH and others suggest.

EOS definitely stalling at the moment after a fairly rapid rise - hopefully just plateau'd a bit, I still feel there's a very good player in him. Interested to see how Moxham goes...I'm a bit skeptical of that selection, but at the same time I don't quite think Curtis cuts the mustard at this level post injuries, so fair play to DMcF and the rest for trying something different.

Fairly even line up in parts, hopefully we go at it with the same mindset as we took to the RDS rather than that which we brought to the Aviva.

[HwoodMike2umate]

Lest We Forget, it will officially be DAY 5467. The 15th Anniversary approaches.

[SparkyClarky]

Just really glad to see this match go ahead.
Maybe preferred to see Marcus Rea to start and Angus Curtis at 12 Hume at OC.

Munster were a hard watch against Connacht but with the flak they have taken by supporters & pundits alike we need to get of to a great start.

Hoping for another memorable away win of the season!
Hoping being the word!

SUFTUM

[Setanta]

Anyone know the lowdown on Sean Reidy ? He is not mentioned in the available or the unavailable.

[Big Smoke Culchie]

Ulster team to play Munster Rugby, United Rugby Championship Round 10, Saturday 8 January at Thomond Park, 7.35pm kick-off, live on RTÉ and Premier Sports:

(15-9) Mike Lowry, Craig Gilroy, Ben Moxham, James Hume, Ethan McIlroy, Billy Burns, John Cooney;
(1-8) Jack McGrath, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor (Capt.), Sam Carter, Greg Jones, Nick Timoney, Duane Vermeulen.

Replacements: John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Ross Kane, Kieran Treadwell, Marcus Rea, Nathan Doak, Angus Curtis, Rob Lyttle.

Unavailable for selection

Brad Roberts, Tom Stewart, Marty Moore, Iain Henderson, Cormac Izuchukwu, Jordi Murphy, Matty Rea, Ian Madigan, Stewart Moore, Stuart McCloskey, Luke Marshall, Robert Baloucoune, Jacob Stockdale, Will Addison.

Interesting that Reidy is neither in the match day squad nor unavailable. Gone already? Hope not.

EOS also not involved, out of favour also?

If McGrath struggles in the scrum again we can bring on Warwick with confidence that we will at least stop going backwards. Seems to be Dan's go to losehead at the minute.