Munster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

Aidric

D_Red_Army wrote: »

I remember watching him for Castletroy a few years back and thinking he would be the next big thing in Munster rugby.... pity he hasnt delivered on that potential...

Same here. He looked a genuine class. It's a shame he hasn't progressed.

Riskymove

thomond2006 wrote: »

A pre season game at Thomond, that's a first for a while.

both the friendlies take place the night before an Ireland RWC warm up game (France and England) so none of the internationals will be available

PhatPiggins

Aidric wrote: »

Same here. He looked a genuine class. It's a shame he hasn't progressed.

I think its more of a case of interests outside of rugby then a lack of progression. Not everyone wants to be a full time player.

buck65

Riskymove wrote: »

both the friendlies take place the night before an Ireland RWC warm up game (France and England) so none of the internationals will be available

I would guess that Munster will have zero interaction with the international players til after the RWC 30 is announced.

CIARAN_BOYLE

buck65 wrote: »

I would guess that Munster will have zero interaction with the international players til after the RWC 30 is announced.

Someone is the set up said that they might ask the provinces to play fringe players in the warmups to allow them to get gametime and help them get fitness and form sorted before the WC

CIARAN_BOYLE

A friend of mine mentioned today that Niall Ronan got more gametime this season than Butler POM and TOD combined.

I'd thats true looking at the figures, 17+4 for Ronan, compared to 1+1 for Butler, 2+7 for POM and 5+8 for TOD.

So thats 17 starts and four substitute appearances for Ronan compared to 8 starts and 16 substitute appearances for the three young lads.

I hope that next season the three lads get more of a chance and manage to break through ala Jones or Murray

Amazotheamazing

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

A friend of mine mentioned today that Niall Ronan got more gametime this season than Butler POM and TOD combined.

I'd thats true looking at the figures, 17+4 for Ronan, compared to 1+1 for Butler, 2+7 for POM and 5+8 for TOD.

So thats 17 starts and four substitute appearances for Ronan compared to 8 starts and 16 substitute appearances for the three young lads.

I hope that next season the three lads get more of a chance and manage to break through ala Jones or Murray

Not sure about Ronan, but TOD and POM both had injuries this season, iirc, TOD missed the first few months and POM has had a neck injury since January.

phog

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

A friend of mine mentioned today that Niall Ronan got more gametime this season than Butler POM and TOD combined.

You forgot to take account of injuries to the younger players, btw, Ronan had more game time than Wallace and Quinnie too. He scored 4 tries, the same Coughlan and Quinnie, and one lass than Wally.

I've not doubt that McGahan will give the players you mention game time again next year if they stay injury free.

ormond lad

For those in Bordeaux for the France-Ireland game on 13th august, Munster have a pre-season game in La Rochelle on the 12th. La rochelle is about 100 miles from bordeaux so its not that far away for those over for the ireland game to get to both

Lads any chance we can keep Hayes ticking long enough to get another HEC appearance?

Appearances
Player Club(s) Games
John Hayes Munster 99

Needs to round that off!

touts

Deleted User wrote: »

Lads any chance we can keep Hayes ticking long enough to get another HEC appearance?

Appearances
Player Club(s) Games
John Hayes Munster 99

Needs to round that off!

I heard an interview with McGahan on the radio (can't remember if it was RTE or newstalk) before the Magners League final where he said that there had been no discussions with Hayes about what plans he had for after the World Cup. McGahan planned to sit down with him after the world cup and see what the future held.

Monty Burnz

touts wrote: »

I heard an interview with McGahan on the radio (can't remember if it was RTE or newstalk) before the Magners League final where he said that there had been no discussions with Hayes about what plans he had for after the World Cup. McGahan planned to sit down with him after the world cup and see what the future held.

It's asking a lot to expect a huge 38 year old man to put in an 80 minute shift in the pack for another season. Are his hands good enough to play in the centres?

Amazotheamazing

I can see Hayes being involved in some capacity next year, especially if Archer and Borlase still aren't up to it. I really hoping a proper preseason will get the best out of Borlase, he's been injured a bit since he came here.

buck65

I would have doubted signing Hayes post RWC but in fairness he was spared a bit this season and looked fresh against Leinster, having him in the backround for emergencies (BOTHA) might not be a bad bit of business for a year.

Amazotheamazing

buck65 wrote: »

I would have doubted signing Hayes post RWC but in fairness he was spared a bit this season and looked fresh against Leinster, having him in the backround for emergencies (BOTHA) might not be a bad bit of business for a year.

For his own sake I can see why Hayes would retire but his replacements haven't really impressed so far. I'd love to see local guys like Archer or Cotter or whoever make it but so far they aren't where we need them to be.

profitius

It looks like Munster wioll be trying out loads of AIL props in the next season or two. John Ryan, Cotter, Condon to name 3. Surely you'd expect some of those to step up especially with Botha there helping out.

Amazotheamazing

profitius wrote: »

It looks like Munster wioll be trying out loads of AIL props in the next season or two. John Ryan, Cotter, Condon to name 3. Surely you'd expect some of those to step up especially with Botha there helping out.

Wonder will Jerry Cronin (from Mallow but with Ulster) get a contract from Ulster or could we tempt him south? Might be worth taking a punt on.

roycon

john ryan will step up. i dont know how he wasnt brought into the munster academy a few years ago

Amazotheamazing

roycon wrote: »

john ryan will step up. i dont know how he wasnt brought into the munster academy a few years ago

Give us a run down of just how good he is and how much I can blame you if he's anything less than Ireland starting material.

The Munster Academy is something of enigma, imo. I still can't really work out how they pick players or why they pick such few ones. There's a few frontrowers with Garryowen (Cooney and Rael) I think should be looked at, as well as Considine with Young Munster (only 18 or 19 and on the bench for their AIL games, in a team that values scrummagers). Maybe none of these guys will make it but it wouldn't cost much to have them in the Academy and training like pros and with pros.

roycon

played against him about 4/5 times in the last 2 years. he's massive very physical. seems to be very good in the scrum and at the break down. . looks like he was born to scrummage because hes not that tall. the main reason i reckon he could step up is that he's big enough already and aggressive. cant say i know anything at all about the other lads youve mentioned as im from dublin but ive been wondering for a while why ryan didnt play more ireland and munster underage and how come if everytime i see him play he's destroying people in the scrum why dont leinster try and sign him up if munster wouldnt. he plays for ucc still so presumably the only reason is he's still in college

Amazotheamazing

roycon wrote: »

played against him about 4/5 times in the last 2 years. he's massive very physical. seems to be very good in the scrum and at the break down. . looks like he was born to scrummage because hes not that tall. the main reason i reckon he could step up is that he's big enough already and aggressive. cant say i know anything at all about the other lads youve mentioned as im from dublin but ive been wondering for a while why ryan didnt play more ireland and munster underage and how come if everytime i see him play he's destroying people in the scrum why dont leinster try and sign him up if munster wouldnt. he plays for ucc still so presumably the only reason is he's still in college

Interesting stuff, was he playing loosehead or tighthead? Seemingly Munster want to develop him as a tighthead but he's played mostly at loosehead, afaik. Could be a big risk, really damaged Bryan Young's career and didn't do Dave Ryan many favours.

PhatPiggins

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Interesting stuff, was he playing loosehead or tighthead? Seemingly Munster want to develop him as a tighthead but he's played mostly at loosehead, afaik. Could be a big risk, really damaged Bryan Young's career and didn't do Dave Ryan many favours.

Bryn Young is too small and should never have switched sides though. Dave Ryan wasn't/isn't going anywhere as a loosehead, it was worth a shot but didn't work out.

ormond lad

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Give us a run down of just how good he is and how much I can blame you if he's anything less than Ireland starting material.

The Munster Academy is something of enigma, imo. I still can't really work out how they pick players or why they pick such few ones. There's a few frontrowers with Garryowen (Cooney and Rael) I think should be looked at, as well as Considine with Young Munster (only 18 or 19 and on the bench for their AIL games, in a team that values scrummagers). Maybe none of these guys will make it but it wouldn't cost much to have them in the Academy and training like pros and with pros.

have played against both cooney and considine, JP is good player but is not academy standard. Jake is a super talent, not 19 till august and will be in munster 20s squad and should make the academy if not next season, the season after. He has plenty of time as props generally develop slightly older
james rael was 1 of the few munster players to play ireland 20s this season and is highly rated in munster
Jake and James were in sub academy this season

Amazotheamazing

ormond lad wrote: »

have played against both cooney and considine, JP is good player but is not academy standard. Jake is a super talent, not 19 till august and will be in munster 20s squad and should make the academy if not next season, the season after. He has plenty of time as props generally develop slightly older
james rael was 1 of the few munster players to play ireland 20s this season and is highly rated in munster
Jake and James were in sub academy this season

Strange to see they weren't added to the full Academy, imo. I don't see that the money saved is really worth it. I'll take your word on Cooney but he's still young enough for a prop.

What's your take on Rockwell's backrow, Luke Cahill I think? Have heard he's one to watch. Pity there aren't a few Limerick backrowers you could say that about.

Amazotheamazing

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Bryn Young is too small and should never have switched sides though. Dave Ryan wasn't/isn't going anywhere as a loosehead, it was worth a shot but didn't work out.

Dave Ryan looked ok as a loosehead a few seasons ago, he had a bad run of injuries just when he was getting places.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Just noticed now that this wasn't posted here good read

http://www.examiner.ie/sport/rugby/player-costs-and-recession-hit-reds-156804.html

ormond lad

ormond lad wrote: »

have played against both cooney and considine, JP is good player but is not academy standard. Jake is a super talent, not 19 till august and will be in munster 20s squad and should make the academy if not next season, the season after. He has plenty of time as props generally develop slightly older
james rael was 1 of the few munster players to play ireland 20s this season and is highly rated in munster
Jake and James were in sub academy this season

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Strange to see they weren't added to the full Academy, imo. I don't see that the money saved is really worth it. I'll take your word on Cooney but he's still young enough for a prop.

What's your take on Rockwell's backrow, Luke Cahill I think? Have heard he's one to watch. Pity there aren't a few Limerick backrowers you could say that about.

JP is still young for a prop, would be great to see him make it as he would be another tipp lad(from thurles) in the pro set up, just im not too sure if he will do it.
Lukes very good, is in 20s squad for next season and iirc was very impressive in game v leicester academy in naas that was on the start of april
There has been serious problems in limerick of players not pushing on to academy or u/age representative level but times are changing the 4 limerick schools were in the junior cup semis this year for the first time in years and shannon-st marys were the only team in munster anywhere near the munster champs from waterpark at 19s level.
in the games that decide the make up of the munster youths squad the north region has traditionally been the strongest but apart from last season when they won their 3 games the north has been quite weak in recent years

thomondpk

Ma nonu is leaving Wellington hurricanes at end of season but is suppose to be joining Waikato chiefs So it doesn't look like he will be coming to munster

GerM

thomondpk wrote: »

Ma nonu is leaving Wellington hurricanes at end of season but is suppose to be joining Waikato chiefs So it doesn't look like he will be coming to munster

It's going to be very interesting to see who Munster sign as their centre which we all presume will be their final NIQ player. I think the likely lads are Donald and De Villiers at this point with JDV probably being the more likely of the two in my opinion. With that said, they'll face some competition for signatures with the new marquee player ruling coming into the AP. I'm not sure JDV is what they need either. He was alright for them. Took a long time to get going and ended up dropped for a couple of HEC matches. Nostalgia could be getting the better of those championing his return. As criticised as Donald is at times, he's a big bloke that can play 12 and take the pressure from ROG as he ages. He would also come at a significantly cheaper price. However, if he's told he has to play 12 that might be a major stumbling block.

I'm a fan of Nonu but he seems to be phoning in his performances a bit this season and for some reason strikes me as someone that would come north only for a pay cheque and a retirement fund.

thomondpk

Stephen Donald is suppose to joining bath as a outhalf , a direct replacement for butch James who gone back to south Africa to play for the lions