Munster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

Amazotheamazing

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Correct. John Hayes was not a back row...

I don't think pace is nearly as essential at 6 because you aren't going to be carrying from a standing start. Look at Easterby, look at Richard Hill. Ruddock has everything a great 6 needs but I don't think the same can be said for him as an 8 yet. He is still very young though.

Whatever about Easterby, Hill was a Godlike genius though.

thomond2006

Luke O'Dea went off injured for Shannon this weekend with a shoulder injury. Hopefully it's not serious, I hope to see him getting a lot of gametime during the Six Nations.

liam12989

So looks like Downey, Ruddock and Bowe to Munster.

You would wonder with Ruddock going to munster would nagle to leinster be a go...makes sense to all involved.

bamboozle

thomond2006 wrote: »

Luke O'Dea went off injured for Shannon this weekend with a shoulder injury. Hopefully it's not serious, I hope to see him getting a lot of gametime during the Six Nations.

was at the game, looked like a broken wrist or collarbone the way he was holding his arm when he was helped off. here's to a quick recovery but it did look serious, looked v good along with Bennet in a very bleak shannon team.

thomond2006

bamboozle wrote: »

was at the game, looked like a broken wrist or collarbone the way he was holding his arm when he was helped off. here's to a quick recovery but it did look serious, looked v good along with Bennet in a very bleak shannon team.

ah shíte

irishbucsfan

liam12989 wrote: »

So looks like Downey, Ruddock and Bowe to Munster.

You would wonder with Ruddock going to munster would nagle to leinster be a go...makes sense to all involved.

Only one of those deals has been done so far.

thomond2006

I think Johne Murphy is out of contract, he signed a two year deal when he arrived in 2010. Should we keep him?

CatFromHue

thomond2006 wrote: »

I think Johne Murphy is out of contract, he signed a two year deal when he arrived in 2010. Should we keep him?

Carr is also out of contract with Leinster..........! I know I'd prefer Carr than Murphy playing for my team.

Yep he's on a two year contract.

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/7066.php

CIARAN_BOYLE

thomond2006 wrote: »

I think Johne Murphy is out of contract, he signed a two year deal when he arrived in 2010. Should we keep him?

If Munster sign Downey Luala and Bowe I would imagine space would be needed in the budget. If I was a Munster fan I would have no problem letting Murphy go. He is a good squad player and I'd say Munster are reasonably happy to have him the squad but I wouldn't want to have him as a starter or a member of the HEC 23 so I imagine should be surplus to requirements.

danthefan

Johne Murphy has been virtually ever present in the Munster team for the last 2 seasons. He's started every single HEC game for Munster since he arrived. He is quite clearly not going to be cut loose.

bamboozle

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

If Munster sign Downey Luala and Bowe I would imagine space would be needed in the budget. If I was a Munster fan I would have no problem letting Murphy go. He is a good squad player and I'd say Munster are reasonably happy to have him the squad but I wouldn't want to have him as a starter or a member of the HEC 23 so I imagine should be surplus to requirements.

if Munster needs to free up wages there's the likes of Holland, Gleeson, Dineen etc who are have had more than enough opportunity to step up to HC standard and have failed to do so.

harsh as it may sound Munster need to be a bit more ruthless in letting lads go sooner

Fireball07

liam12989 wrote: »

So looks like Downey, Ruddock and Bowe to Munster.

You would wonder with Ruddock going to munster would nagle to leinster be a go...makes sense to all involved.

Does it?? Downey yes, but I've only heard vague rumours about the others. Saying it looks like they will go seems a bit forward.

bamboozle wrote: »

was at the game, looked like a broken wrist or collarbone the way he was holding his arm when he was helped off. here's to a quick recovery but it did look serious, looked v good along with Bennet in a very bleak shannon team.

Shít :mad:

thomond2006 wrote: »

I think Johne Murphy is out of contract, he signed a two year deal when he arrived in 2010. Should we keep him?

There are other players you'd get rid of first, and I think he's a decent player to have around but he's not really good enough to start for a team who want to challenge for the HC, which is what we want to aim for again. If we sign 2 new backs who will be first-team regulars, he might want to leave for his own career. But if he wants to stay and is happy to be backup/fight for a first-team place, then keep him.

durkadurka

Leinster v Munster in the b&i cup semi final.

ormond lad

durkadurka wrote: »

Leinster v Munster in the b&i cup semi final.

This is on the weekend of 6-8 april. Any ideas where it'll be on? Where have leinster played their previous A games?
If we beat leinster we host the final against the winners of cross key and cornish pirates on april 28th

irishbucsfan

You can be sure it'll be in Donnybrook

donfers

potential munster team next season

props: the two saffers
hooker: i'd give sherry a go, flannery and varley are good back-up
locks: i'd go with poc and nagle
back row: lots of options here, choose three from ruddock, coughlan, leamy, wallace, pom and donnacha ryan who can also provide back up to the locks and maybe it will be Butler's breakthrough year

release: DOC the elder, micko, ronan and fogs

oouthalf: Rog has another year or two left

scrum-half: if TOL stays it'll be a close call between him and Murray

12/13: potentially a new look of Downey and Lualua, maybe Mafi will be off so Barnes as back-up

back three: Felix Jones, Bowe and Earls look like a tasty trio, back up from Zebo and Denis Hurley

release Johnny Murphy, Howlett, Mafi and various lads who haven't made an impact like Deasy, Gleeson, Williams in the backs and Holland, O'Donnell and a few props in the pack (might keep Horan as back-up but some of the young'uns don't seem up to it, might make sense to get rid rather than keep them clogging up the squad and drawing a wage for the next 2-3 years when they're never likely to make it), Ronan I am torn on - he played well before he got injured but I just don't think he's quite up to the class required to be a genuine replacement for Wally etc

potentially we could really reduce the age profile if we play Sherry, Nagle, POM, Ruddock, possibly Butler, Murray, Keatley, Jones, Zebo, Earls and Barnes regularly and have POC and ROG to guide them - really looks promising, I mean people have been saying Munster are finished for the last couple of years and that the team has aged too much but looks like the transition might not be all that difficult - could do with a great young prop and outhalf to emerge though and then we'd be truly sorted

Fishooks12

donfers wrote: »

potential munster team next season

props: the two saffers
hooker: i'd give sherry a go, flannery and varley are good back-up
locks: i'd go with poc and nagle
back row: lots of options here, choose three from ruddock, coughlan, leamy, wallace, pom and donnacha ryan who can also provide back up to the locks and maybe it will be Butler's breakthrough year

release: DOC the elder, micko, ronan and fogs

oouthalf: Rog has another year or two left

scrum-half: if TOL stays it'll be a close call between him and Murray

12/13: potentially a new look of Downey and Lualua, maybe Mafi will be off so Barnes as back-up

back three: Felix Jones, Bowe and Earls look like a tasty trio, back up from Zebo and Denis Hurley

release Johnny Murphy, Howlett, Mafi and various lads who haven't made an impact like Deasy, Gleeson, Williams in the backs and Holland, O'Donnell and a few props in the pack (might keep Horan as back-up but some of the young'uns don't seem up to it, might make sense to get rid rather than keep them clogging up the squad and drawing a wage for the next 2-3 years when they're never likely to make it), Ronan I am torn on - he played well before he got injured but I just don't think he's quite up to the class required to be a genuine replacement for Wally etc

potentially we could really reduce the age profile if we play Sherry, Nagle, POM, Ruddock, possibly Butler, Murray, Keatley, Jones, Zebo, Earls and Barnes regularly and have POC and ROG to guide them - really looks promising, I mean people have been saying Munster are finished for the last couple of years and that the team has aged too much but looks like the transition might not be all that difficult - could do with a great young prop and outhalf to emerge though and then we'd be truly sorted

stopped taking it seriously after that. Only player in that group that you could even make a case for releasing is Mafi, and not a very good one either

CIARAN_BOYLE

Fishooks12 wrote: »

stopped taking it seriously after that. Only player in that group that you could even make a case for releasing is Mafi, and not a very good one either

Gleeson definitely could be released.

Fireball07

donfers wrote: »

potential munster team next season

props: the two saffers
hooker: i'd give sherry a go, flannery and varley are good back-up
locks: i'd go with poc and nagle
back row: lots of options here, choose three from ruddock, coughlan, leamy, wallace, pom and donnacha ryan who can also provide back up to the locks and maybe it will be Butler's breakthrough year

release: DOC the elder, micko, ronan and fogs

oouthalf: Rog has another year or two left

scrum-half: if TOL stays it'll be a close call between him and Murray

12/13: potentially a new look of Downey and Lualua, maybe Mafi will be off so Barnes as back-up

back three: Felix Jones, Bowe and Earls look like a tasty trio, back up from Zebo and Denis Hurley

release Johnny Murphy, Howlett, Mafi and various lads who haven't made an impact like Deasy, Gleeson, Williams in the backs and Holland, O'Donnell and a few props in the pack (might keep Horan as back-up but some of the young'uns don't seem up to it, might make sense to get rid rather than keep them clogging up the squad and drawing a wage for the next 2-3 years when they're never likely to make it), Ronan I am torn on - he played well before he got injured but I just don't think he's quite up to the class required to be a genuine replacement for Wally etc

potentially we could really reduce the age profile if we play Sherry, Nagle, POM, Ruddock, possibly Butler, Murray, Keatley, Jones, Zebo, Earls and Barnes regularly and have POC and ROG to guide them - really looks promising, I mean people have been saying Munster are finished for the last couple of years and that the team has aged too much but looks like the transition might not be all that difficult - could do with a great young prop and outhalf to emerge though and then we'd be truly sorted

It's definitely over the top. DOC won't be released, Ryan deserves to start ahead of Nagle after his performances this year, although Nagle should get gametime. I think it would be very harsh to release Niall Ronan after he's stepped up so much this year. He doesn't have to be a starter, but he'll always be good backup. And just jettisoning Howlett? I know we should be more ruthless but I don't think we should just discard him like that.

donfers

just an opinion lads, a bit of fantasy rugby manager on my part, agree I am being very hard on ronan and howlett but my fantasy budget only allows so much players in the squad and so much cash on the wage bill

thomond2006

I think it's a bit early to be speculating on Munster's lineup next year, I reckon by April we'll have a better idea if the likes of Flannery and Wallace are playing on, plus there will be announcements of signings by then.

PhatPiggins

Fishooks12 wrote: »

stopped taking it seriously after that. Only player in that group that you could even make a case for releasing is Mafi, and not a very good one either

Stopped taking it seriously after you implied Gleeson and Deasy are worth keeping.

Amazotheamazing

donfers wrote: »

potential munster team next season

props: the two saffers
hooker: i'd give sherry a go, flannery and varley are good back-up
locks: i'd go with poc and nagle
back row: lots of options here, choose three from ruddock, coughlan, leamy, wallace, pom and donnacha ryan who can also provide back up to the locks and maybe it will be Butler's breakthrough year

release: DOC the elder, micko, ronan and fogs

oouthalf: Rog has another year or two left

scrum-half: if TOL stays it'll be a close call between him and Murray

12/13: potentially a new look of Downey and Lualua, maybe Mafi will be off so Barnes as back-up

back three: Felix Jones, Bowe and Earls look like a tasty trio, back up from Zebo and Denis Hurley

release Johnny Murphy, Howlett, Mafi and various lads who haven't made an impact like Deasy, Gleeson, Williams in the backs and Holland, O'Donnell and a few props in the pack (might keep Horan as back-up but some of the young'uns don't seem up to it, might make sense to get rid rather than keep them clogging up the squad and drawing a wage for the next 2-3 years when they're never likely to make it), Ronan I am torn on - he played well before he got injured but I just don't think he's quite up to the class required to be a genuine replacement for Wally etc

potentially we could really reduce the age profile if we play Sherry, Nagle, POM, Ruddock, possibly Butler, Murray, Keatley, Jones, Zebo, Earls and Barnes regularly and have POC and ROG to guide them - really looks promising, I mean people have been saying Munster are finished for the last couple of years and that the team has aged too much but looks like the transition might not be all that difficult - could do with a great young prop and outhalf to emerge though and then we'd be truly sorted

Why Nagle ahead of Ryan? I wouldn't be in a rush to offload DOC either, he's been very good in the last few games. It's probably a bit soon to say Sherry will be ahead of Varley too, though I think in time he has the ability to be ahead of Varley alright.

I'd like to see how O'Donnell finishes out the season before deciding one way or the other, he's looked decent this year and the injury came at just the wrong time for him. I think Deasy should go for his own sake though, as should Cusack. It'll be interesting to see Quinn McDonogh gets on in the championship.

ormond lad

According to Munster twitter Downeys signed a 2 year deal
https://twitter.com/#!/Munsterrugby

budhabob

ormond lad wrote: »

According to Munster twitter Downeys signed a 2 year deal
https://twitter.com/#!/Munsterrugby

Confirmed on the Munster site.

profitius

Good news. Hes not a world beater but he is a decent player to have.

irishbucsfan

Northampton jumped the gun on that announcement by about a month!

Im not a huge fan of Downey as a player but hes a great guy.

thomond2006

Good luck to him, at the very least he's a good squad player to have.

bamboozle

he'll do well, his game is well suited to Munster's tactics, who knows he might be the guy to finally get the most out of Earls at 13.

suprised how underrated he is, ok he's slowish and not dynamic, but his game is all about big defence (de villiers will remember this) and breaking the gainline - both of these he does very well and both exactly what munster need from a 12.

thomond2006

thomond2006 wrote: »

Good luck to him, at the very least he's a good squad player to have.

will fit in well alongside the likes of Deasy, Dineen, Holland, O'Donnell etc...

Who needs wingers anyway? a 12/13 of Downey/Earls would be the narrowest team in Europe...


(In case it's not patently obvious, I really don't rate Downey)