Munster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

Benny Cake

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Seemingly Munster are in talks with Rhys Ruddock, is he a player we need? Our backrow is aging and guys like Coughlan and Ronan aren't really going to be longterm replacements, but is Ruddock who we need?

Would love to see Ruddock at Munster, he is going to be a quality player and would add greatly to the side...

Amazotheamazing

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

POM to 7/8?

Ruddock has really shown this season that 6 is by and far his best position.

I'd rate Ruddock as a better choice tha Leamy or Coghlan today and he is still young and likely to improve. Top quality player imo but only signed a 1 year deal because he was worried about he amount of gametime he would get in Leinster. Unless he gets ahead of McLaughlin by the end of the season I reckon he will move, either to Munster or maybe back to Wales

He's capped by Ireland so I doubt any Welsh team would sign him. France or the AP, particularly the AP, would suit him.

He's a big unit, but does he have anything like the power SOB or Ferris have? If not, we're better off sticking with footballers like POM and Butler, imo.

Podge_irl

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

POM to 7/8?

Ruddock has really shown this season that 6 is by and far his best position.

I'd rate Ruddock as a better choice tha Leamy or Coghlan today and he is still young and likely to improve. Top quality player imo but only signed a 1 year deal because he was worried about he amount of gametime he would get in Leinster. Unless he gets ahead of McLaughlin by the end of the season I reckon he will move, either to Munster or maybe back to Wales

I think he'd rather stay in Ireland. He's capped now so his best international prospects are to stay here. Munster would be a better draw then any of the Welsh clubs anyway. I'd absolutely hate to see Leinster lose him, but he'd be first choice in Munster within a season of moving there imo.

wixfjord

Any link for this Ruddock talk? Would certainly make sense for both parties, it's patently obvious he's not happy at Leinster despite the gametime and captaincy.

Amazotheamazing

wixfjord wrote: »

Any link for this Ruddock talk? Would certainly make sense for both parties, it's patently obvious he's not happy at Leinster despite the gametime and captaincy.

Nope, just pub talk doing the rounds. Usually these rumours amount to nothing but it was around now the Cronin to Leinster rumours gathered pace.

thomond2006

Ruddock would be a class signing. He's not getting much time at Leinster even with Dom Ryan out.

Coughlan is 31 now (birthday was this month) and while he has been very good this season, I don't think he has hit the heights of previous seasons.

Leamy is 30 and unfortunately is injury prone, so you'd wonder how many seasons he has left.

Amazotheamazing

thomond2006 wrote: »

Ruddock would be a class signing. He's not getting much time at Leinster even with Dom Ryan out.

Coughlan is 31 now (birthday was this month) and while he has been very good this season, I don't think he has hit the heights of previous seasons.

Leamy is 30 and unfortunately is injury prone, so you'd wonder how many seasons he has left.

Indeed, and Wallace can't have long left either. Butler has been playing 7 for Shannon afaik.

thomond2006

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Indeed, and Wallace can't have long left either. Butler has been playing 7 for Shannon afaik.

Ruddock, Butler, POM would be an epic backrow in 2/3 seasons.

Amazotheamazing

thomond2006 wrote: »

Ruddock, Butler, POM would be an epic backrow in 2/3 seasons.

Maybe, anyone know how BOH has been getting on with Con? There's Dave O'Callaghan too, he looked alright at the start of the season.

A lot of our young backrowers (DOCv2.0, Buckley, O'Flaherty) also cover second row, always makes me worried they lack the pace for top level as a flanker.

CIARAN_BOYLE

thomond2006 wrote: »

Ruddock, Butler, POM would be an epic backrow in 2/3 seasons.

One of my biggest complaints about last years Munster back row was that it was too small and that there wasn't a lineout option, McGahan ended up moving Ryan to 6 for the tail end of the season to give a lineout option in the backrow, between POM Ruddock and Butler you have three players who are bigger than all of Leamy Coghlan and Wallace. Major contrast.

danthefan

POM seems to be an excellent lineout operator too.

GerM

Whilst I totally agree a Ruddock, POM, Butler unit has a great ring to it there's only one team with a NIQ player in their starting back row that happens to be a 6/8 and his contract is up next summer. In terms of the requirements of provinces, surely Ulster have the strongest claim to Ruddock. Himself, Ferris and Henry could form a potent back row. It might mean putting Ferris or Ruddock to their less favoured 8 but it would be a move in the right direction.

danthefan

GerM wrote: »

Whilst I totally agree a Ruddock, POM, Butler unit has a great ring to it there's only one team with a NIQ player in their starting back row that happens to be a 6/8 and his contract is up next summer. In terms of the requirements of provinces, surely Ulster have the strongest claim to Ruddock. Himself, Ferris and Henry could form a potent back row. It might mean putting Ferris or Ruddock to their less favoured 8 but it would be a move in the right direction.

Which under these rules would make them likely to look for another surely? They'd be better served by signing an openside imo.

Tox56

GerM wrote: »

Whilst I totally agree a Ruddock, POM, Butler unit has a great ring to it there's only one team with a NIQ player in their starting back row that happens to be a 6/8 and his contract is up next summer. In terms of the requirements of provinces, surely Ulster have the strongest claim to Ruddock. Himself, Ferris and Henry could form a potent back row. It might mean putting Ferris or Ruddock to their less favoured 8 but it would be a move in the right direction.

But I think that would be the key. Munster would much more easily accept Ruddock as a 6, whereas for Ulster this would be unlikely, and playing Ferris at 8 would be detrimental for Ireland.

porterbelly

You'd imagine Ruddock would favour Munster over Ulster though

Ulster will probably go out and sign another Saffer anyway to replace Wannenburg

Amazotheamazing

I'd say Ruddock will go where-ever he gets the best deal, I doubt sentiment will come in to it.

Thing is, do Munster really need another 6? Imo, we're way more caught at 7 and 8.

Clareman

Ruddock would be a FANTASTIC signing for any team, not only Munster, he's an excellent player as well as a good captain (if the under 20s is anything to go by). I think he would do excellent with us and would blossom under the tutelage of Axel as well as working with Wally.

I know this season is different because of the World Cup, but IMVHO if any team is going to figure in both the league and HEC they will need cover in every line of the team, Ruddock would be a great signing for us for the back row.

porterbelly

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

I'd say Ruddock will go where-ever he gets the best deal, I doubt sentiment will come in to it.

Thing is, do Munster really need another 6? Imo, we're way more caught at 7 and 8.

Ruddock being Irish means you could sign him and get an NIQ 7 possibly, all depends on Wallace

Ronan isn't cut out for top level, neither is O Donnell, so get one of them off the books instead of clogging up the place.

6.Ruddock 7.O mahony 8. Coughlan

That's decent, with Leamy and Butler as immediate cover. Possible to sign an NIQ 7 and shift O mahony to 8

Amazotheamazing

Not going to write off TOD yet, it was an awesome try against the Scarlets...

It's hard to judge any backrower until the get a run of games. Ronan has been pretty good in the HEC this season, in part, because he's getting a long time to settle into the position. Now, he's never going to be International standard, but if he was as good for Munster as Jennings was for Leinster I'd be happy. Not every backrower is an International standard player. The problem is our entire backrow is just a little too ordinary atm.

I'd rather sign Pocock, of course.

Hagz

Haven't heard anything about this....

Don't know if Ruddock would move tbh, things are going very well for him at Leinster for a 21yr old. Getting some Heineken cup game-time, just aligned himself with ROS nutrition, has been trusted with captaincy, dad coaching Landsdown, brother in the A squad. He's fairly settled. Then again, if the right figure is flashed in front of his face it could entice him.

Still can't see it happening though.

ambid

GerM wrote: »

... surely Ulster have the strongest claim to Ruddock...

porterbelly wrote: »

You'd imagine Ruddock would favour Munster over Ulster though...

If Ruddock has a choice between Munster and Ulster then surely it would be an easy decision. Munster are competitive in the Pro12 and the Heineken Cup, while Ulster are probably some distance from being potential champions of either competition.

Despite the new IRFU rules, surely the player must have the final decision on where he's going to live. This isn't North Korea!

As a Leinster fan, I'd be very sorry to lose him. He added so much dynamism when he came on as sub last week against Ulster, and he would add enormously to Munster in the next couple of years if he did move south.

PhatPiggins

porterbelly wrote: »

Ruddock being Irish means you could sign him and get an NIQ 7 possibly, all depends on Wallace

Ronan isn't cut out for top level, neither is O Donnell, so get one of them off the books instead of clogging up the place.

6.Ruddock 7.O mahony 8. Coughlan

That's decent, with Leamy and Butler as immediate cover. Possible to sign an NIQ 7 and shift O mahony to 8

He's going to be in Irelands 6N's squad in January and based on how he's played in every game this season, deservedly so.

Yeah I said it, its out there :eek:

durkadurka

PhatPiggins wrote: »

He's going to be in Irelands 6N's squad in January and based on how he's played in every game this season, deservedly so.

Yeah I said it, its out there :eek:

I seem to remember you damning him with ' he's a great magners player' praise.

shuffol

I cant see Leinster letting go of Ruddock, Ryans a far more likely player to leave IMO, not as good a 6 as Ruddock and Leinster arent that desperately in need of another 7, at least not for a few years and they've conor gilsenan coming through who's very highly rated.

PhatPiggins

durkadurka wrote: »

I seem to remember you damning him with ' he's a great magners player' praise.

I totally did and I hold my hand up for that but since then he's been close to man of the match in each of the 4 HC pool games. I didn't think he was up to HC standard but he's been the most consistent Irish backrow this season.

PhatPiggins

shuffol wrote: »

I cant see Leinster letting go of Ruddock, Ryans a far more likely player to leave IMO, not as good a 6 as Ruddock and Leinster arent that desperately in need of another 7, at least not for a few years and they've conor gilsenan coming through who's very highly rated.

Its not a case of weither Leinster want to let him go or not. He wants to start 75% of games. Leinster can't/won't guarantee him that. Contracts up in the summer. He'll definitely move on imo.

For what its worth I think Dom Ryan is the ultimate school boy aspiring to be a Leinster legend (nothing wrong with that) he'll gladly stay in the reserves for 3/4 seasons till he becomes a regular.

durkadurka

PhatPiggins wrote: »

I totally did and I hold my hand up for that but since then he's been close to man of the match in each of the 4 HC pool games. I didn't think he was up to HC standard but he's been the most consistent Irish backrow this season.

Heaslip would argue with that last bit.

Amazotheamazing

durkadurka wrote: »

Heaslip would argue with that last bit.

Heaslip would be better off getting back to playing well than arguing on internet.

Amazotheamazing

shuffol wrote: »

I cant see Leinster letting go of Ruddock, Ryans a far more likely player to leave IMO, not as good a 6 as Ruddock and Leinster arent that desperately in need of another 7, at least not for a few years and they've conor gilsenan coming through who's very highly rated.

It's not really a case of letting anyone go. Ruddock is well aware of his value, he wants to maximise it. It might well make most sense for him to stay with Leinster but he's clearly examining his options.

durkadurka

I admit it. I'm Jamie heaslip.