Heineken Cup Toulouse versus Munster

[Thequeerone]

source:

- Scrum of the Earth - The Players Union

Teams:

Munster: D Hurley; D Howlett, L Mafi, R Tipoki, I Dowling; R O'Gara, T O'Leary; M Horan, J Flannery, J Hayes, D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell (capt), A Quinlan, D Wallace, D Leamy.

Replacements: F Sheahan, T Buckey, M O'Driscoll, D Ryan, P Stringer, P Warwick, K Earls.

Toulouse: C Heymans; M Medard, M Kunavore, Y Jauion, Y Donguy; J-B Elissalde, B Kelleher; D Human, W Servat, S Perugini, F Pelous (capt), P Albacete, J Bouilhou, T Dusautoir, S Sowerby.

Replacements: A Vernet Basualdo, J-B Poux, R Millo-Chlusky, Y Nyanga, F Fritz, M Ahotaeiloa, V Courrent.

Bookie odds from Paddy Power:
Toulouse to win @ 11/10: Shading the market and the masters of the big occasion...
Yannick Jauzion to be first try scorer @ 16/1: Remember the World Cup 1/4 Final in Cardiff...
Munster to score no tries and win @ 8/1: Wouldn't be the first time...
Paul O'Connell to cry when receiving the trophy 6/1: Red-haired emotional wreck...
Munster to receive the first yellow card @ 12/5: Rua Tupoki's got three in his last three Heineken Cup outings...

Snipets from the article:

...When Toulouse step out, it captures the imagination. Like all things French, whether their temperament is aligned with the season and bloom like an sunflower or wilt like a lilly.

Munster are unchanged from the semi-final success over Saracens. All-Black trio, Lifeimi Mafi, Rua Tipoki and Doug Howlett have introduced another dimension to the powerful Irish pack. Tipoki's frightening defence and razor-sharp attack will get its biggest test against the gliding skills of Yannick Jauzion....

[Thequeerone]

Munster ready to raise the roof for the Quiet Man

Munster ready to raise the roof for the Quiet Man | Sport | The Guardian

The expectant sign beside the road into Shannon Airport - "Toulouse to lose, Munster to win!" - says it all. Red flags flutter from rooftop aerials and more small children are in evidence at the University of Limerick campus than students attending lectures. Some reach out to touch the hem of Donncha O'Callaghan's training top, others fall respectfully silent as Declan Kidney walks past. Local heroes do not come any more heroic than the men of Munster in Heineken Cup final week.....

A second Heineken Cup success in Cardiff in three years would also elevate Munster, and Kidney, to European rugby's aristocracy. It takes a good side to win the world's most coveted club title but only great ones do it more than once.....

The hype about this match is incredible - Cardiff is under siege with fans from Munster and Toulouse.

[shasta]

For anyone who has ESPN on their Fox package this match is on live at 11:55. Unfortunately I'll be at work - just like for the S14 semis from half time in the 'Saders v 'Canes