Sky Sport 2, kick off 6am Feb 4th

Crusaders squad
Forwards: George Bell, Josh Southall, Ioane Moananu, George Bower, Owen Franks, Sebastian Calder, Ryan Coxon, Kershawl Sykes-Martin, Angus Brown, Jamie Hannah, Quinten Strange (c), Liam Jack, Tahlor Cahill, Antonio Shalfoon, Fletcher Anderson, Dominic Gardiner, Corey Kellow, Tom Christie, Christian Lio-Willie, Cullen Grace

Backs: Mitchell Drummond, Willi Heinz, Noah Hotham, Taha Kemara, Rivez Reihana, Taine Robinson, Ryan Crotty, Dallas McLeod, Jone Rova, Levi Aumua, Manasa Mataele, Heremaia Murray, Macca Springer, Chay Fihaki, Jack Gray, Leigh Halfpenny

It will be interesting to see who is appointed to ref in this game, as based on recent viewing of some European club games there is still a difference in referee interpretations at the breakdown.

@Bovidae said in Munster v Crusaders (Feb 4th):

It will be interesting to see who is appointed to ref in this game, as based on recent viewing of some European club games there is still a difference in referee interpretations at the breakdown.

first ref comment of the year, 2nd post of the first game thread. new record?

Any idea of who is in the match day 23?

Crusaders: 15 Leigh Halfpennny, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Levi Aumua, 12 Dallas McLeod, 11 Macca Springer, 10 Taha Kemara, 9 Mitch Drummond, 8 Cullen Grace, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Dominic Gardiner, 5 Tahlor Cahill, 4 Quinten Strange (c), 3 Owen Franks, 2 George Bell, 1 George Bower
Replacements: 16 Ioane Moananu, 17 Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Jamie Hannah, 20 Christian Lio-Willie, 21 Noah Hotham, 22 Rivez Reihana, 23 Ryan Crotty, 24 Josh Southall, 25 Heremaia Murray

Munster: Shane Daly; Seán O’Brien, Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell, Shay McCarthy; Joey Carbery, Ethan Coughlan; Josh Wycherley, Eoghan Clarke, Stephen Archer; Gavin Coombes, Fineen Wycherley; Ruadhán Quinn, Alex Kendellen (C), Jack O’Sullivan.

Replacements: Scott Buckley, Mark Donnelly, John Ryan, Kamil Nowak, Jack Daly, Daniel Okeke, Neil Cronin, Tony Butler, Rory Scannell, Colm Hogan.

Crusaders playing like it's their first game of the season which is to be expected, bit sloppy at the breakdown and missing first up tackles etc
Leigh halfpenny didn't last the first half , has his arm in a sling
Munster targeting Chay Fihaki with plenty of high balla

Dumb by Gardner there.

Scrappy game

Both Crusaders tries have been well worked through numerous hands, thatbwas a pearler finished by McLeod

I think this is the way forward, playing pre season games in UK/Ireland. Bigger crowds at least

A fair result all things considered.Good haka at the start.Macca Springer and Cullen Grace were good value. I don't rate Kemara and today didn't change my mind. Reihana unlucky at the end

Reihana pulls a wide conversion on FT to miss the a draw.

2nd half was much better.

A few odd calls or non calls, but overall the ref was good.

Strange with a dumb yellow. No surprise there

Munster the better side, probably should’ve scored more tries. Crusaders took their handful of chances well.

It was always going to be difficult with one side mid season and another in their first match of the preseason

@Kiwidom said in Preseason - Munster v Crusaders (Feb 4th):

I don't rate Kemara and today didn't change my mind. Reihana unlucky at the end

Reihana struggled when he came on too. Burke needs to step up when he returns from injury

@Duluth minus current ABs too. Though to be fair Munster didn't have their internationals either

Is Coombes a regular starter for Munster? He was part of the Irish squad that toured NZ. They have both Synman and Kleyn in their squad but both were unavailable due to injury.

Sky NZ is obviously doing in-studio commentary for these pre-season games.

Any update on the Halfpenny injury?

@Duluth said in Preseason - Munster v Crusaders (Feb 4th):

Any update on the Halfpenny injury?

Not good I hear having scans to determine.