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This weeks effort is a little late due to work and family commitments so I have waited until the team for the Round 5 vs the Ospreys has been named.
Tight Five
Loose Head - No changes with Killer being first choice and named in the Irish squad while Loughman has cemented his position as the back up. Loughman gets to start against the Ospreys and Josh Wycherley will be hoping to make a significant impact off the bench. The trip to South Africa after the Autumn Internationals may gave the likes of Wycherley and Boomer a chance but at the moment its hard to see the top two being changed for anything other than injury.
Hooker - Scannell still holds the starting position and while the lineout against Connacht went to shoite at times it wasn't solely his fault. Barron has taken his chances superbly and he's ensured that the bench spot isn't merely a case of Kevin O'Byrne regaining his fitness. At this point I think Barron may have done just enough especially with his carrying to sneak ahead of O'Byrne who will need to a standout performance off the bench on Saturday night to regain the 16 jersey.
Tight Head - John Ryan is still top dog and like Niall Scannell could count himself somewhat unlucky after being left out of the Ireland squad. He has been very impressive at the start of the season not just with his tight work but also his carrying has improved. Stephen Archer has had some impressive cameo's off the bench already and Knox's injury has left him back into the 18 jersey. Knox has another chance to show what he can do off the bench in Swansea and will be hoping to snatch the bench spot back before the international break. Roman Salanoa's injury means he's the one who has lost most in this first block of games and with little opportunity to shine before the Champions Cup may have to wait in line for an extended run of games.
Lock - I've decided to move things around a bit at lock this week due to Snymans injury and the ongoing selections. I had previously had Fineen Wycherley as a back up 6 to Beirne but I think given the form of Fineen at lock and JOD in the backrow changes were need.
Kleyn is still one of the key building blocks in the pack with his physicality but Wycherley has been the inform Munster lock of the first four games. The man hits rucks like they owe him money and if I was picking a Champions Cup starting XV right now I'd struggle to leave him out. I think him and Kleyn would be the starters with Ahern being the bench option.
However being the bench option doesn't mean making the 23 as with Beirne at 6 and Coombes potentially being emergency in game injury cover there they may not have a lock replacement on the bench if they go with a standard 5/3 split, which is tough on Ahern who is playing so well himself.
Back Row and Half Backs
Hybrid Lock - I'm delighted to see Beirne chosen at 6 for the Ospreys game for two main reasons - 1. I think its his best position and 2. I been saying since the start of the season Munster should play a hybrid lock. I think Beirne is the only option there for the big games and that for the URC games he's not available that Munster will revert to a normal backrow in the 6 jersey. Jenkins could fill that spot but he too will have to wait now until the mini tour of South Africa to show what he can bring to the table.
Openside - Cloete continues to be the "marmite" player, you either love him or you hate him. He's skillset allow him to be absolutely lethal at the breakdown and his carrying is under rated but as we saw against Connacht while he can win you loads of turnover ball he also can cost you lot of penalties in trying to get it. POM still has the starting jersey for me in the big games for his lineout, leadership and breakdown skills but I'm very excited to see what Kendellen or Hodnett can do over the next three games. I don't think either can break into the Champions Cup squad just yet though.
No 8 - Coombes had one of his quieter games against Connacht and the fact he wasn't used more as a heavy carrier when Munster couldn't get front foot ball was surprising. He is still way out in front in terms of holding down the No 8 jersey though and its just a question of keeping him fresh for the big games. Jack O'Sullivan has shown he can definitely do a job at 8 in Coombes absence but its Jack O'Donoghue who has impressed me most in the backrows for the first block of matches. His carrying in the wide channels, his maul defense and most of all his leadership and rugby IQ. The pop pass to Barron to score in the dying minutes being a prime example. JOD is fast becoming the Billy Holland of this current Munster squad and should be guaranteed his spot on the bench in the big games and the first replacement should an injury happen.
Scrum Half - Casey didn't get the platform from his forwards against Connacht but the fact he was kept on for the full 80 mins shows the gap between the top two nines in Munster and the rest. Murray is on the bench against the Osprey's and I think would be favourite to start the big games if fit but Casey isn't a 5 mins off the bench option any more. His ability to increase the tempo along with his passing skills (especially his range of passing) will see Murray being subbed a lot early than he has been in previous seasons. Cronin has done enough to establish himself as best of the rest and Osbourne will want the trip to South Africa to get game time to try change the order.
Out Half - Munster, and Ireland have a real problem with Carbery. Nobody expected him to come back last season, hit the ground running and just take off from where he had left off pre RWC. Fans and media have been patient with him but after 9 appearances last season, a full injury free pre season and 3 starts this season already there are genuine concerns around his form. Whilst not all the issues this season are down to Carbery alone he is now under much bigger pressure from Ben Healy and Munster have a decision to make as to how long they can continue giving Carbery time to find that lost form or whether they need to invest that time into Healys development. Carbery does have the positives of his goal kicking being superb still under pressure and the fact he will only improve with options like De Allende and Farrell outside him but Healy's contract is up at the end of the season and he will have to decide by New Year if he's willing to stay or not.
I'm really looking forward to seeing what Jack Crowley can do in his start against the Ospreys and while I don't expect him to break into the Champions Cup matchday squad just yet, he is a player of huge potential and who with a good outing here could see significant gametime over the christmas period.
Back Five
Centres - My main worry before the Connacht game was the ability of the Connacht midfield to get over the gain line against a Carbery, Scannell and Earls combination. They are all individually good players but I still don't think they work as a unit defensively. De Allende's return, even just for one game off the bench is huge as his leadership and ability to carry in traffic will give Munster a boost at 12. I do like the combination of Goggin and Coombes in midfield for the Ospreys game as it gives a good combination of power and pace to trouble the opposition on both sides of the ball.
I hope Chris Farrell can recover from his injury in time for the games in South Africa and if not Liam Coombes may have a chance at jumping the queue from wing into a starting position in the Champions Cup if he can continue his early season form.
Jake Flannery was very unlucky not to get off the bench against Connacht due to how close the game was and he will be hoping for minutes on the pitch to show what a good player he is. Alex McHenry's loan move to Wasps removes any hope no matter how slim of him breaking into the Munster 23.
Back Three - Earls is still one of the first choice names on the team sheet, despite being played out of position in the last few games. Conway is a world class kick chaser but he hasn't regained his form since his injuries last season. Calvin Nash looked excellent against the Scarlets and will hope that with so many away with the Ireland squad he will see more game time after the internationals. It remains to be seen how van Graan manages his back three resources with Earls, Conway and Zebo all in the Ireland squad and Haley playing so well and almost owning the 15 jersey.
I think Conway may miss out due to his form, with Zebo and Earls being the starting wings and Haley owing the full back jersey.
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