Munster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

buck65

GerM wrote: »

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.

The fallacy continues. de Villiers was dropped for the home Perpignan game in December after 3 months of mixed rugby in a new team setup, came back the following week as a sub and scored tries at will and played consistently brilliant rugby for the remainder of the season.

roycon

GerM wrote: »

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.

believe it or not ma'a nonus older brother plays for suttonians in the ail division 3. since he has that small connection it could make it easier for him to move to ireland than other places for money (japan for example)

GerM

buck65 wrote: »

The fallacy continues. de Villiers was dropped for the home Perpignan game in December after 3 months of mixed rugby in a new team setup, came back the following week as a sub and scored tries at will and played consistently brilliant rugby for the remainder of the season.

This would be fairly representative of what I would see as being overly kind to his legacy, Buck. De Villiers played some quality rugby for Munster and had a very good latter half to the season but consistently brilliant rugby? In my opinion, that's quite a stretch. He lost his place, won it back and played well. He had one or two superb games, notably the quarter final against Northampton but he did very little in the crunch pool game against them and was anonymous in the semi final in Biarritz. His best rugby was in the ML where he was head and shoulders above others on the pitch. He's obviously a class player but to tag him as consistently brilliant during his Munster stint is over the top. Earls definitely outshone him in my opinion. He had over 2 months of rugby under his belt when he was dropped. Looks more like the kick up the ass that he needed than him struggling to fit into a new side with different players. People like Howlett and WdP had no issue with adjusting to new systems when they arrived mid-season.

Peter B

The reason De Villiers didn't shine from the start is because McGahan persisted playing him at second centre. De Villiers came from the World Champions as a 12 but McGahan chose to play (can't pass a rugby ball) Mafi as first centre. He played a bit more 12 towards the end of the season.

PhatPiggins

Peter B wrote: »

The reason De Villiers didn't shine from the start is because McGahan persisted playing him at second centre. De Villiers came from the World Champions as a 12 but McGahan chose to play (can't pass a rugby ball) Mafi as first centre. He played a bit more 12 towards the end of the season.

It's pretty much for that reason I'd rather they didn't sign him again. It's 12 or nothing with DeVilliers (he can cover the wing but thats a waste).
In an ideal world I'd like them to sign Jacque Fourie who plays brilliantly at 13 and very well at 12.

I still think Mafi is the goods at 12, remember how good he was with Tipoki, otherwise we're playing him out of position at 13 or expecting far too much of Danny Barnes next seaon.

profitius

I thought JDV was superb for Munster once he settled into the team. He scored some excellent tries too and seemed to be a well liked member of he squad.

Will Tom Gleeson still be there next season? I can't see any reason why they don't take a gamble on some AIL midfielders and let Gleeson go.

GerM

Peter B wrote: »

The reason De Villiers didn't shine from the start is because McGahan persisted playing him at second centre. De Villiers came from the World Champions as a 12 but McGahan chose to play (can't pass a rugby ball) Mafi as first centre. He played a bit more 12 towards the end of the season.

Definitely a factor in his slow start but he was put at 12 for his first few games including the HEC matches. It was only when that wasn't working that he swapped with Mafi and played 13. When that didn't work he was moved to the bench at the expense of a Mafi/Earls partnership. Probably the wrong move as he's not someone that could profit off a Mafi type 12 inside him at all and should have been given a run with Earls earlier.

thomondpk

James Haskell has been released by stade francais , he would be a brillant addition to the munster back row . His a great ball carrier and good around the pitch

CatFromHue

de villiers played 12 for his first 4 games (dragons, leinster, northampton, and treviso) for munster each time with mafi at 13.

he then played 13 (edinburgh, ulster, and ospreys) for the next 3 games. each time with mafi at 12.

he was then dropped for the two perpignan game and pretty much played 12 from then on.

Cpt_Blackbeard

thomondpk wrote: »

James Haskell has been released by stade francais , he would be a brillant addition to the munster back row . His a great ball carrier and good around the pitch

We don't have room for an NIQ backrow in the squad because, we will be getting in a NIQ centre (posssibly Toeva or Smith). Haskell is a bit of an English Andy Powell anyway. We need one of the young backrows to come good next season.

Oafley Jones

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

We don't have room for an NIQ backrow in the squad because, we will be getting in a NIQ centre (posssibly Toeva or Smith). Haskell is a bit of an English Andy Powell anyway. We need one of the young backrows to come good next season.

Agreed, definitely not what Munster need... Besides Spielbergs speciality seems to be selling calendars.

Richarz

Haskell is better than Leamy, Coughlan, Ryan and Ronan in my opinion. Might be a very good signing if a centre falls through.

jolley123

Haskell is definitely better than Leamy, Coughlan,Ronan. But Munster should spend time next year developing the young guys.

Cpt_Blackbeard

Richarz wrote: »

Haskell is better than Leamy, Coughlan, Ryan and Ronan in my opinion. Might be a very good signing if a centre falls through.

Not good enough to warrant a NIQ spot and big wages. If we were going to go for a backrow, I'd love a destructive carrier like Willem Alberts.

Munster have too many promising backrows coming through who need gametime, to warrant using our last NIQ spot on a backrow.

Richarz

Is it possible that Keatley is being considered for 12?

profitius

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

Not good enough to warrant a NIQ spot and big wages. If we were going to go for a backrow, I'd love a destructive carrier like Willem Alberts.

Munster have too many promising backrows coming through who need gametime, to warrant using our last NIQ spot on a backrow.

Indeed. POM, TOD, Butler, Dave O'Callaghan, Brian O'Hara all have potential. Add in Shane Buckley and Cathal O'Flaherty and the future looks alot better for the backrow.

Cpt_Blackbeard

profitius wrote: »

Indeed. POM, TOD, Butler, Dave O'Callaghan, Brian O'Hara all have potential. Add in Shane Buckley and Cathal O'Flaherty and the future looks alot better for the backrow.

That's the biggest problem though, we have nothing for the present and need one/two of the lads to step up.

profitius

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

That's the biggest problem though, we have nothing for the present and need one/two of the lads to step up.

I think POM and TOD are ready now. I've been very impressed with POm whenever I've seen him although he needs to calm down a bit. Its a big year for Dave O'Callaghan. Big player who can play backrow or secondrow and is in his third year of the academy.

ormond lad

Heard tonight that philip donnellan has been offered a short term training contract with munster over the summer and depending on how he does and if he decides to do his masters in UCC next september he may be looked at for a longer term contract

profitius

ormond lad wrote: »

Heard tonight that philip donnellan has been offered a short term training contract with munster over the summer and depending on how he does and if he decides to do his masters in UCC next september he may be looked at for a longer term contract

Who is he? Never heard of him.

Amazotheamazing

profitius wrote: »

Indeed. POM, TOD, Butler, Dave O'Callaghan, Brian O'Hara all have potential. Add in Shane Buckley and Cathal O'Flaherty and the future looks alot better for the backrow.

Not all "pure" backrowers there though. DOCv2.0, Buckley and COF are second rows cum backrowers, hard to know where they'll end up playing yet.

ormond lad

ormond lad wrote: »

Heard tonight that philip donnellan has been offered a short term training contract with munster over the summer and depending on how he does and if he decides to do his masters in UCC next september he may be looked at for a longer term contract

profitius wrote: »

Who is he? Never heard of him.

from borrisokane played youths rugby with nenagh, went to UCC, has started on their AIL team in 2nd row for last few years
very smart(8 A1s in Leaving) but could be going abroad to do a masters if he doesnt get something out of the rugby
Not sure why he is even been looked as even if POC, DOC, MOD and Ryan went to the RWC, we could still play in 2nd row Nagle, Holland, Foley and Hayes who afaik all got ML time this season.

profitius

ormond lad wrote: »

from borrisokane played youths rugby with nenagh, went to UCC, has started on their AIL team in 2nd row for last few years
very smart(8 A1s in Leaving) but could be going abroad to do a masters if he doesnt get something out of the rugby
Not sure why he is even been looked as even if POC, DOC, MOD and Ryan went to the RWC, we could still play in 2nd row Nagle, Holland, Foley and Hayes who afaik all got ML time this season.

Strange one alright unless they think he has real potential.

Amazotheamazing

profitius wrote: »

Strange one alright unless they think he has real potential.

He's supposed to be very talented, someone on munsterfans (ages back) said Fisher had been trying to make him go pro for a while now but he's more focussed on his education (which is admirable). Course, Moss Keane got firsts all through his degree and PHD and still became a rugby legend...

bamboozle

Richarz wrote: »

Is it possible that Keatley is being considered for 12?

take it you've not see Keatley in the flesh, he's tiny, him alongside ROG would be inviting attackers down that channel.

Richarz

I thought Keatley was quite assured defensively.

Richarz

profitius wrote: »

Indeed. POM, TOD, Butler, Dave O'Callaghan, Brian O'Hara all have potential. Add in Shane Buckley and Cathal O'Flaherty and the future looks alot better for the backrow.

Surely if Buckley was such a talent he wouldn't be on the bench for the under 20s?

ormond lad

profitius wrote: »

Indeed. POM, TOD, Butler, Dave O'Callaghan, Brian O'Hara all have potential. Add in Shane Buckley and Cathal O'Flaherty and the future looks alot better for the backrow.

Richarz wrote: »

Surely if Buckley was such a talent he wouldn't be on the bench for the under 20s?

Buckley is mainly a 6 and is very good talented player but Jordi Murphy and Eoin Mc Keon are super players. Jordi captained ireland in some of the 6 nations games, and mc keon is in connacht academy and has played several games for connacht first team so shane has a lot of very good competition to start. Shane wasnt even in munster academy this season

Cpt_Blackbeard

Richarz wrote: »

Surely if Buckley was such a talent he wouldn't be on the bench for the under 20s?

Dominic Ryan only started for the U20s last year because Brian O'Hara was injured, AFAIK. Look where Ryan is now compared to our backrows; The U20's team doesn't mean too much in the long run

ormond lad

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

The U20's team doesn't mean too much in the long run

It does if you have very few in the squad over a few years, like munster have had over the last 2-3 years, as it means our young players that hopefully will be graduating to the senior team are not playing internationally like their leinster, ulster counterparts. The Junior World Cup showcases the best u20s in the world and if munster have very few playing then how can we call ourselves one of the best club teams in europe