Munster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

Amazotheamazing

danthefan wrote: »

I think expecting a 29 year old to suddenly come good is a bit optimistic. There's a good reason he has only started 7 games then, he's not really good enough and gets in when there's an injury.

Tbf, Wallace is a decent player, it's limited Ronan's chances. I don't think he'll ever be a great but does he deserve to be dropped?

CIARAN_BOYLE

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Tbf, Wallace is a decent player, it's limited Ronan's chances. I don't think he'll ever be a great but does he deserve to be dropped?

Wallace isn't really a 7. He does a job there on the basis of the fact that he is a brilliant player but he seems to have just been fitted in at 7.

I honestly believe that if Ronan was doing a quality job Wallace would have moved to 6 or 8.

Amazotheamazing

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Wallace isn't really a 7. He does a job there on the basis of the fact that he is a brilliant player but he seems to have just been fitted in at 7.

I honestly believe that if Ronan was doing a quality job Wallace would have moved to 6 or 8.

Maybe, I don't know, I've always thought the "wallace isn't a 7" thing is overplayed. I've seen him play at 8 a few times and he's not as effective there.

Podge_irl

Whatever about Ronan deserving to be dropped, I don't think Leamy really deserved to lose out. Surely him at 6 with O'Mahoney at 7 is a stronger unit?

phog

Podge_irl wrote: »

Whatever about Ronan deserving to be dropped, I don't think Leamy really deserved to lose out. Surely him at 6 with O'Mahoney at 7 is a stronger unit?

Well I think that's what most thought was going to be picked but Ronan finsihed the game after DOC and Leamy came on and Ronan could have been called ashore for either with Ryan switching.

danthefan

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Tbf, Wallace is a decent player, it's limited Ronan's chances. I don't think he'll ever be a great but does he deserve to be dropped?

Of course he is, he's a fantastic player.

Which brings me back to the fact than when Ronan has stepped in he hasn't been very good.

Fireball07

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Why not play Chambers and Barnes? Barnes is only a young lad but he's Irish.

I'd do that. I thought Barnes was fairly good yesterday, one of the only backs who offered himself as a support runner regularly. I think he's improving all the time. He's nowhere near ready to start for Ireland but I think he's good enough to start for Munster at this moment.

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Not every player is Peter O'Mahony getting MOTM's in their first HEC game. I have doubts about Ronan, big doubts, but I think he's improving a bit this season. He's never going to be an all-time great but not sure he deserves to be dropped.

Will this 6 nations be too soon for O'Mahony though?

I thought Ronan was okay yesterday but in general I just don't think he has what it takes. Leamy is a better player, Ryan as a backrow is a better player...and I'd rather they gave TOD a shot just to see if he has what it takes. If he doesn't, let him go. POM should be 7 until Wallace comes back.

I think this 6N is probably a bit soon. When you have Ferris/O'Brien/Heaslip, it's hard to displace them. And he's still in a battle with Ryan and Ruddock to secure a bench spot after that. I'd have him in the squad though if he continues this form.

val_jester

Fireball07 wrote: »

I'd do that. I thought Barnes was fairly good yesterday, one of the only backs who offered himself as a support runner regularly. I think he's improving all the time. He's nowhere near ready to start for Ireland but I think he's good enough to start for Munster at this moment.



I thought Ronan was okay yesterday but in general I just don't think he has what it takes. Leamy is a better player, Ryan as a backrow is a better player...and I'd rather they gave TOD a shot just to see if he has what it takes. If he doesn't, let him go. POM should be 7 until Wallace comes back.

I think this 6N is probably a bit soon. When you have Ferris/O'Brien/Heaslip, it's hard to displace them. And he's still in a battle with Ryan and Ruddock to secure a bench spot after that. I'd have him in the squad though if he continues this form.

POM will surely be ahead of ruddock and ryan if he continues to play whereas neither of them are even making the bench for the hec. He has been much more impressive than either of them this season.

Amazotheamazing

danthefan wrote: »

Of course he is, he's a fantastic player.

Which brings me back to the fact than when Ronan has stepped in he hasn't been very good.

You're comparing him to a high standard though, maybe he just needs time to find his feet at this level?

Hagz

val_jester wrote: »

POM will surely be ahead of ruddock and ryan if he continues to play whereas neither of them are even making the bench for the hec. He has been much more impressive than either of them this season.

Yeh, Ruddock and Ryan just cant get a game. That said, there's still a lot left in the season, and an injury could jettison Ruddock or Ryan back ahead of POM.

Aidric

Haha, just saw this now. Great story from Galway & Claw about telling Quinny to go down so they could get a breather.

danthefan

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

You're comparing him to a high standard though, maybe he just needs time to find his feet at this level?

I'm not comparing him to anything, what are you talking about?

He has 86 Munster caps. You're talking about him as if he's some young fella coming through and improving. He's not that at all, he's 29 and he's never really shown anything.

This is going round in circles anyway so I couldn't be arsed anymore.

Amazotheamazing

danthefan wrote: »

I'm not comparing him to anything, what are you talking about?

He has 86 Munster caps. You're talking about him as if he's some young fella coming through and improving. He's not that at all, he's 29 and he's never really shown anything.

This is going round in circles anyway so I couldn't be arsed anymore.

You're fairly much comparing him to Wallace though. It's hard to get ahead of a player of that calibre.

danthefan

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

You're fairly much comparing him to Wallace though. It's hard to get ahead of a player of that calibre.

No I'm not thanks. I never brought up Wallace.

You have to be trying to wind me up. It's almost working too.

I don't know what anyone is hoping Ronan to ever bring to the game that he hasn't managed to the 86 previous senior appearances.

I'm pretty certain that's the point Dan is making, and it makes sense.

Amazotheamazing

Deleted User wrote: »

I don't know what anyone is hoping Ronan to ever bring to the game that he hasn't managed to the 86 previous senior appearances.

I'm pretty certain that's the point Dan is making, and it makes sense.

What did you think of him yesterday?

CIARAN_BOYLE

Does anyone have an injury update for Jones?

He was originaly supposed to be gone for 6 weeks I know it was extended but I don't know what it was extended too. 12 weeks out now.

Cpt_Blackbeard

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Does anyone have an injury update for Jones?

He was originaly supposed to be gone for 6 weeks I know it was extended but I don't know what it was extended too. 12 weeks out now.

Think he is expected back some time around the new year.

TomsOnTheRoof

What about Wallace, if we make it to the knockout stages then surely he will be fit by then.

Podge_irl

Impossible to know how Wallace will come back from injury though. At his age and with the severity of the injury he may well just not be the same player on return. I wouldn't be placing too much faith in him solving Munster's problems.

TomsOnTheRoof

Tbh I can't see the injury, as bad as it was, retiring Wallace. He proved without a shadow of a doubt that age isn't a factor and as long as he is good enough to play he should play. He said it himself that he aims to be back playing for province and country and I think it was in the Independent a month back or so where he stated that he wanted to play in the next RWC. He was completely serious as well.

Podge_irl

TomsOnTheRoof wrote: »

He proved without a shadow of a doubt that age isn't a factor

You see, he didn't really. He was still able to put in absolutely stellar performances, but he certainly didn't have the consistency he used to. That's one impact of age. I'm not questioning his mental strength or will to come back, but there is every chance he just physically won't be able to come back at the same level.

I think it was in the Independent a month back or so where he stated that he wanted to play in the next RWC. He was completely serious as well.

I'm sure he'd like to but he has about as much chance of playing in it as I do. He should be aiming to get back this season and getting back into the Munster backrow. That's going to be tricky enough.

gearstick

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Does anyone have an injury update for Jones?

He was originaly supposed to be gone for 6 weeks I know it was extended but I don't know what it was extended too. 12 weeks out now.

Heard today that he's back running, assume it will be a little while before he's doing contact tho

Amazotheamazing

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

What did you think of him yesterday?

he was the least effective back row on the pitch. Leamy had a great game when he came on, POM was MotM and Coughlan was quiet but worked hard at 8.

Clark Wood and Wilson were all evident as ball carriers and were on top at the breakdown throughout. Dowson was also many levels above him.

I await your convincing argument against this with trepidation.

Amazotheamazing

Deleted User wrote: »

he was the least effective back row on the pitch. Leamy had a great game when he came on, POM was MotM and Coughlan was quiet but worked hard at 8.

Clark Wood and Wilson were all evident as ball carriers and were on top at the breakdown throughout. Dowson was also many levels above him.

I await your convincing argument against this with trepidation.

I'm not arguing he was great on Saturday, just that he gets an undue amount of criticism. I don't think he was so poor that he merits being dropped but it's horses for courses, you might want Leamy's strength against Castres.

irishbucsfan

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

I'm not arguing he was great on Saturday, just that he gets an undue amount of criticism. I don't think he was so poor that he merits being dropped but it's horses for courses, you might want Leamy's strength against Castres.

I thought it was a good performance by his standards, but we know what his standard is and if he performs to par against Castres he'll be an empty jersey again. He's very intelligent in his positioning and support play but he lacks the ability to actually do anything once he's in position, at H Cup level in particular. A cardboard cutout of Niall Ronan would be more effective at the breakdown than Niall Ronan.

I would absolutely have Leamy, POM and Coughlin starting. Although I think there is more balance as it is now, Leamy and POM as flankers should hopefully make up for their lack of technical breakdown nous through sheer power and strength of will. Hopefully. Starting Ronan is probably a little safer (especially in terms of discipline) but Leamy/POM/Coughlin has a hell of a lot more upside. Does McGahan have the balls for it though?

totallegend

Deleted User wrote: »

he was the least effective back row on the pitch. Leamy had a great game when he came on, POM was MotM and Coughlan was quiet but worked hard at 8.

Add to this the fact that Ronan butchered a certain try when Munster were mauling towards the NH line by inexplicably breaking off and then giving a forward pass.

Kerrydude1981

ed7890

Ronan has performed pretty well in the last two games, but I'd still prefer somebody else in instead of him. He tackles well, and did get a good turnover at the weekend, but he's just too light. POM to 7 and either Ryan or Leamy to 6.

LeeroyJones

Only caught highlights of the match. What was particularly good about O'Mahony's performance? Ball in hand, breakdown, big hits/intensity?

From an Irish perspective it would be great if he was a man for the breakdown. Even Ireland aside, for Munster it would be great if he develops more as an openside.