De Villiers To Leave At The End Of The Season

Peter B

Munster announced today that Jean de Villiers will return to South Africa at the end of the current season.
The decision to return home was determined by his desire to make himself available for selection for the South African 2011 World Cup squad, a situation Munster were aware of when they initially contracted de Villiers.

De Villiers, who is currently abroad with the Munster squad on a warm-weather camp said, "My decision to return to South Africa is solely determined by a desire to put myself in contention for the Sprinboks RWC 2011 squad.

"I feel this is perhaps my last opportunity to represents my country at the Rugby World Cup and after consultation with SARU it has become clear that to qualify for selection players must be playing their rugby in South Africa in the season leading up to the competition.

" I'm thoroughly enjoying my time here in Munster and I think it would be fair to say that had the RWC not been a factor, then I would be remaining for at least the next 2 seasons. I would not rule out returning here after RWC 2011 either, if the opportunity arose.

"For now though," he continued," my entire focus is on the Magners League and Heineken Cup campaigns. There's a lot of rugby to be played yet in the red shirt and I'm looking forward immensely to continuing my involvment with a great squad."

Munster Chief Executive Garrett Fitzgerald in announcing the news said, "Jean missed the 2003 World Cup through injury and played just 40 minutes in 2007. So his desire to represent his country in the most prestigious rugby competition is totally understandable.

" Jean made us aware of this scenario before he joined us last September. He has been a hugely positive addition to the squad this season. His influence has grown and continues to grow as he becomes more and more comfortable within the squad.

"While he will be a major loss, we fully respect his ambition and he will leave us at the end of the season with our very best wishes.

From munsterrugby.ie news

thomond2006

Always gonna happen. Good luck to him.

Will he be replaced by another NIQ player? Not a lot of players available before a World Cup year.

Aidric

Shame.

Jigga

thomond2006 wrote: »

Always gonna happen. Good luck to him.

Will he be replaced by another NIQ player? Not a lot of players available before a World Cup year.

Do Munster need to replace him? Already have Mafi, may decide to use the spare NIQ position getting a prop in.

phog

Best of luck to him, I hope he heads back to SA with a H/Cup medal in his pocket

Hopefully, Munster will replace him with an Irish qualified player, the bigger the base the better the International team and after the result in Paris that might be needed.

jayteecork

I think they should bring back Jeremy Staunton!
The time is right!

Come back Jeremy, all is forgiven!

Podge_irl

It's a shame, but it was a bit of a crazy signing in the first place. It's not where Munster should have been putting one of the NIQ players really.

Peter B

Obviously sad to see him go but the correct decision by him. I hope he gets back into the SA team.

I really wish Munster would work more on using local talent instead for importing players. I don't mind 1 or 2 foreign players but I would prefer if we didn't use all our quota (which is 5 if I remember correctly).

I will accept not as good results in competitions if it means we are developing local talent more. Also I find it easier to connect with the team if we are not playing with 5 foreigners.

bamboozle

he came...he earned his 300k plus and he left, nothing suprising, issue for Munster now is to bring in some top quality players this summer, it will be hard as so many players will be focusing on the world cup and not too many top class players will be looking for a move.
Must say i wouldnt be at all suprised to see Munster sign george smith and maybe even Roger Wilson, decent prop to replace Hayes is also essential.

thomond2006

I think a TH prop is needed, then again, most of the top THs want to play in RWC2011 and wouldn't consider a move the season before the comp.

chupacabra

Munster should go after Downey and John Andress now and use the last NIQ slot to sign George Smith

PhatPiggins

chupacabra wrote: »

Munster should go after Downey and John Andress now and use the last NIQ slot to sign George Smith

That makes a rediculous amount of sense, two week ban for you.

Is Doug definetely off at the end of the season.

Edit: we'll have to wean Andress off the mars bar diet that the Quins nutrionist has all the props on

Risteard

chupacabra wrote: »

Munster should go after Downey and John Andress now and use the last NIQ slot to sign George Smith

Downey has signed a new contract with Northampton.

We could have done with someone like him. I'm not sure of any 12s coming through. We have Gleeson, O'Boyle and Deasy but none are a 12.

Mafi is only good at 12 when our pack is comfortably on the front foot IMO.

Wouldn't want to sign Smith tbh. Back row is probably our strongest area IMO and Peter O'Mahoney has apparently been putting in fantastic performances for Munster A. Tighthead is our primary area of concern. With regards to 12, if Jones can get back next season, McGahan might try Warwick at 12, though the midfield defense with him and ROG wouldn't fill me with confidence.

Maybe a shopping trip to the Leinster academy is in order......

Podge_irl

Risteard wrote: »

Wouldn't want to sign Smith tbh. Back row is probably our strongest area IMO

Really? Quinlan and Wallace aren't getting any younger, Leamy is injured and Ronan ain't any great shakes.

Risteard

Podge_irl wrote: »

Really? Quinlan and Wallace aren't getting any younger, Leamy is injured and Ronan ain't any great shakes.

True but there's a lot of younger players coming through. Leamy will be back next season and Wallace will be around for another 2 years IMO.

Players like Eoghan Grace, Peter O'Mahony, Butler on the U-20 team as well as players like Coughlan and Tommy O'Donnell who mightn't be absolutely top class like Smith can still do a job. Ronan can do a job at ML level as well. Smith would be beneficial no doubt, but there are other areas that are more needing IMO.

Orizio

*cough* poach McFadden *cough*

kmart6

Was always going to happen really, and I'd say the being dropped for a couple of games just confirmed it for him!

sock puppet

Risteard wrote: »

Maybe a shopping trip to the Leinster academy is in order......

No need. There's already an experienced option waiting in McCormack.

Jigga

Podge_irl wrote: »

It's a shame, but it was a bit of a crazy signing in the first place. It's not where Munster should have been putting one of the NIQ players really.

Don't agree that he was a crazy signing, judge him at the end of the season. He has started to impress in his last few games, who's to say he won't leave on a high and as a hero like Elsom last year?

PhatPiggins

kmart6 wrote: »

Was always going to happen really, and I'd say the being dropped for a couple of games just confirmed it for him!

I'd say being dropped had nothing to do with it to be honest. He's professional/humble enough to know he deserved to be.

For such a prominant player in SA for the past decade to have only played one game in the last 2 WC's he had to go back to make sure of a 2011 place.

PhatPiggins

sock puppet wrote: »

No need. There's already an experienced option waiting in McCormack.

Has Knoop retired or just a long term injury?

Podge_irl

Jigga wrote: »

Don't agree that he was a crazy signing, judge him at the end of the season. He has started to impress in his last few games, who's to say he won't leave on a high and as a hero like Elsom last year?

I'm not judging him at all. He's a great player, but he wasn't what Munster needed. Considering he took a couple months to settle in and is leaving after one season I think the whole thing was a bit unnecessary, but my primary point was that Munster needed players for the backrow and frontrow. They can only have 5 NIQ players, and they've two of them vying for the same spot!

PhatPiggins wrote:

Has Knoop retired or just a long term injury?

He's left Leinster at any rate, no idea what he's doing now. Bit of a shame really, he was IQ and when fit was actually an excellent prop.

sock puppet

Podge_irl wrote: »

He's left Leinster at any rate, no idea what he's doing now. Bit of a shame really, he was IQ and when fit was actually an excellent prop.

Yeah a pity. Never really got the chance to put together a run of games.

PhatPiggins

sock puppet wrote: »

Yeah a pity. Never really got the chance to put together a run of games.

Tis indeed , thought going to Leinster was going to be the making of him

The mafi and earls parnership was being touted as the best in the comp last year.To me as an outsider like I though,DeVilliers has been no great shakes.

I would revert to what you had,people cite Tipoki as mafis success but himself and mafi played well together last year.

15-Jones
14-J Murphy
13-Earls
12-Mafi
11-Hurley

Looks to me like a strong backline,it may lack the pazzaz of a big name but mafi is still a quality player and that backline will do a job if Munster play simple effective rugby and revert to type.
Jones and Earls both have electric pace,Murphy is like Dowling except better and Hurley is a new man on the wing.

Dempsey

TBH, he was/is/will be a waste of time and money for Munster unless they bag some top silverware this season.

buck65

Ariana Old Stagecoach wrote: »

The mafi and earls parnership was being touted as the best in the comp last year.To me as an outsider like I though,DeVilliers has been no great shakes.

I would revert to what you had,people cite Tipoki as mafis success but himself and mafi played well together last year.

15-Jones
14-J Murphy
13-Earls
12-Mafi
11-Hurley

Looks to me like a strong backline,it may lack the pazzaz of a big name but mafi is still a quality player and that backline will do a job if Munster play simple effective rugby and revert to type.
Jones and Earls both have electric pace,Murphy is like Dowling except better and Hurley is a new man on the wing.

Goose where's Warwick? Man of the match for us in 2 or 3 HCup games this year at FB. Howlett is not confirmed as leaving and would be ahead of Murphy.

bamboozle

Risteard wrote: »

Downey has signed a new contract with Northampton.

We could have done with someone like him. I'm not sure of any 12s coming through. We have Gleeson, O'Boyle and Deasy but none are a 12.

Mafi is only good at 12 when our pack is comfortably on the front foot IMO.

Wouldn't want to sign Smith tbh. Back row is probably our strongest area IMO and Peter O'Mahoney has apparently been putting in fantastic performances for Munster A. Tighthead is our primary area of concern. With regards to 12, if Jones can get back next season, McGahan might try Warwick at 12, though the midfield defense with him and ROG wouldn't fill me with confidence.

Maybe a shopping trip to the Leinster academy is in order......

if you look at Munster teams over the years, their strength has been based around a top quality back row, you look at the likes of Quinlan, Wallace, Jim Williams, Foley battling for 3 places then Leamy also entered the mix. Munster need the likes of Smith for 2 season's while they wait for the likes of Grace, O'Mahony and Butler to develop. James Coughlan i was suprised to find out is 29 so he's hardly going to break through now.
Quinlan and Wallace's form is only going one direction over the next season or two.

anonymous_joe

buck65 wrote: »

Goose where's Warwick? Man of the match for us in 2 or 3 HCup games this year at FB. Howlett is not confirmed as leaving and would be ahead of Murphy.

Knowing our Goose, probably at 10. :P

PhatPiggins

Dempsey wrote: »

TBH, he was/is/will be a waste of time and money for Munster unless they bag some top silverware this season.

Thanks for that insight Notradamus. Why do you think they pay the big bucks, to not win anything?

Regardless of silverware, Earls,Gleeson and co will learn plenty from him.

Dempsey

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Thanks for that insight Notradamus. Why do you think they pay the big bucks, to not win anything?

Regardless of silverware, Earls,Gleeson and co will learn plenty from him.

Thanks for the troll, troll but thats not the point, is it?

Munster will have to build again, it took DV a long time to settle and just as he does, he's announces that hes going again. It does Munster's development no good, as they'll have to adjust next season again. Munster should really avoid signing players short term regardless of their ability.

I dont think he could teach them anything they couldnt learn from actually playing the game tbh

buck65

buck65 wrote: »

Goose where's Warwick? Man of the match for us in 2 or 3 HCup games this year at FB. Howlett is not confirmed as leaving and would be ahead of Murphy.

Hes playing 10.

buck65

Of course.

anonymous_joe

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Thanks for that insight Notradamus. Why do you think they pay the big bucks, to not win anything?

Regardless of silverware, Earls,Gleeson and co will learn plenty from him.

Gleeson's gone. According to the PR forum anyway.

thehighground

Dempsey wrote: »

Thanks for the troll, troll but thats not the point, is it?

Munster will have to build again, it took DV a long time to settle and just as he does, he's announces that hes going again. It does Munster's development no good, as they'll have to adjust next season again. Munster should really avoid signing players short term regardless of their ability.

I dont think he could teach them anything they couldnt learn from actually playing the game tbh

I'm not so sure we would have got a home quarter final without him - Mafi has been very off form this season. All the Munster players say that players like JdeV have brought a winning mentality to the setup and serious competition for places.

Anyway, best of luck to him - I've a funny feeling he will be back after the RWC.