Munster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

cb_

I'm not particularly liking this. Umaga is a bit of a joker in the pack - you have absolutely no idea what to expect from him. Whether he pisses Leinster off or not is pretty low on my list of priorities for new coach. My preference is still for Wayne Smith. Don't think Foley is either ready or the right man for what is going to be required in Munster in the next few years. To be honest, I don't think we ever really got to the pitch of things under the new interpretations of the laws and desperately need an infusion of new ideas. Foley will keep the status quo and I'm sure will keep the pack functioning competently but we really need more than that - otherwise we run the risk of being left behind by the likes of Leinster and Ulster. More than happy for Foley to stay in the Munster set-up and will support him if he does step up, but we absolutely have to address our backs play and I think the timing of this appointment is perfect to do this - so I think we'd be missing an opportunity on the basis of the candidates mentioned above...

Cpt_Blackbeard

An Axel-Umaga ticket would be very interesting. Two unproven coaches but great players taking the reigns of one of the biggest clubs in the world. You'd have to worry about their learning curve, but it could prove very successful. With both Howlett and Umaga potentially involved in the Munster setup, it would be great to have the both the best centre and winger of the professional era involved with the one club.

Umaga's presence would surely add some spice to Munster-Leinster encounters in the media's and fan's eyes. There are areas of the country that aren't over the spearing incident and it could result in much of the Dublin-based media to turn against Munster in search of column inches.

danthefan

I'd like to see Umaga in tbh. It would be really interesting, he'd definitely shake things up which could only be beneficial as the jobs for the boys culture at Munster is clearly not working. You'd hope he would care about reputations, he's been NZ captain, nobody in the Munster setup can hold a candle to that really.

And the good Captain manages to turn discussion of the Munster coach into an anti-Leinster rant.

irishbucsfan

I think Wayne Smith is the favourite for the England backs coach job now that Farrell isn't an option.

Cpt_Blackbeard

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I think Wayne Smith is the favourite for the England backs coach job now that Farrell isn't an option.

Has he not come out and said that he has had no contact from the English setup? He does clearly has aspirations of beings the English back's/attack's coach though.

Podge_irl

This Umaga thing has kind of come out of the blue hasn't it? No one thought he was on the fabled shirt list of 5.

irishbucsfan

Ian Ritchie has spoken about Wayne Smith in the press, so I'd say he is at least being considered for the England job. Perhaps they didn't want to talk to anyone until Farrell decided to stay with Sarries. Or else they might just be looking elsewhere.

When Smith dismissed the England job he said it was because he didn't want to have a directorial role and would rather a coaching role. There would be a lot of management involved with the Munster job I'd say.

Fanning doesn't seem to think he's in the running anyway.

Amazotheamazing

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

Umaga's presence would surely add some spice to Munster-Leinster encounters in the media's and fan's eyes. There are areas of the country that aren't over the spearing incident and it could result in much of the Dublin-based media to turn against Munster in search of column inches.

I'd say even the most precious of Leinster fans have finally accepted it was an accident and moved on at this stage.

Hagz

If I were a Munster fan, Wayne Smith would be the coach I'd want.

Hagz

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Ian Ritchie has spoken about Wayne Smith in the press, so I'd say he is at least being considered for the England job. Perhaps they didn't want to talk to anyone until Farrell decided to stay with Sarries. Or else they might just be looking elsewhere.

Smith hasn't been contacted by RFU yet though. Alex King appears to be the frontrunner for that job.

TomLamp

Just said on RTE.

Barry O'Mahony has 40 Munster A caps.

Not one minute for Munster.

CIARAN_BOYLE

TomLamp wrote: »

Just said on RTE.

Barry O'Mahony has 40 Munster A caps.

Not one minute for Munster.

bull more like 4 I'd say

Amazotheamazing

TomLamp wrote: »

Just said on RTE.

Barry O'Mahony has 40 Munster A caps.

Not one minute for Munster.

They are wrong. For him to have that many caps he'd have had to been ever present for the last 5 years and even at that it's not a given Munster A would play 8 times a season.

Benny Cake

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

bull more like 4 I'd say

Sounds hard to believe alright. I wouldn't have thought Munster A play enough games for someone as obscure as Barry O'Mahony to clock up 40 caps...

TomLamp

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

An Axel-Umaga ticket would be very interesting. Two unproven coaches but great players taking the reigns of one of the biggest clubs in the world. You'd have to worry about their learning curve, but it could prove very successful. With both Howlett and Umaga potentially involved in the Munster setup, it would be great to have the both the best centre and winger of the professional era involved with the one club.

Umaga's presence would surely add some spice to Munster-Leinster encounters in the media's and fan's eyes. There are areas of the country that aren't over the spearing incident and it could result in much of the Dublin-based media to turn against Munster in search of column inches.

yes the infamous 'Dublin based media'....

Thornley - Munster fan
Toland - Munster fan
O'Sullivan - Munster fan
McGuirk - Munster fan
Hook - Munster fan
Lenihan - Munster fan
Daire O'Brien - Munster fan
Sheehan - Munster fan
Quinlan - Munster fan
Pope - indifferent
O'Shea - indifferent
Francis - Leinster fan
Tony Ward - Munster fan

CIARAN_BOYLE

TomLamp wrote: »

yes the infamous 'Dublin based media'....
Pope - indifferent

Leinster fan, but good at keeping his biases out of it

TomLamp

I would have said Pope is only biased towards St.Marys and its players rather than Leinster.

Cpt_Blackbeard

danthefan wrote: »

And the good Captain manages to turn discussion of the Munster coach into an anti-Leinster rant.

How is that an anti-Leinster rant. Any dangerous tackles by an Umaga-coached Munster team against Leinster or any Irish province would (deservedly) reopen old wounds. Just as Afoa's spear awoken a more vocal response from Munster fans as Jones has had a previous neck injury and Poite isn't a popular figure around Thomond Park.

Cpt_Blackbeard

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

How is that an anti-Leinster rant. Any dangerous tackles by an Umaga-coached Munster team against Leinster or any Irish province would (deservedly) reopen old wounds. Just as Afoa's spear awoken a more vocal response from Munster fans as Jones has had a previous neck injury and Poite isn't a popular figure around Thomond Park.

Just like all Leinster fans think that Hayes is a cretin for stamping on Healy's head?

Give up

Fishooks12

The Umaga spear was sickening

Wouldn't want him near Munster as a result

Cpt_Blackbeard

Fishooks12 wrote: »

The Umaga spear was sickening

Wouldn't want him near Munster as a result

I don't think that Umaga played as big a part as Mealamu in the tackle, but it was a terrible tackle. Just watching it again makes you not want him anywhere near the job, but its mostly water under the bridge at this stage. It would add spice among supporters, but provided nothing similar happen while he was coach it would be mostly forgotten.

Quint2010

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

I don't think that Umaga played as big a part as Mealamu in the tackle, but it was a terrible tackle. Just watching it again makes you not want him anywhere near the job, but its mostly water under the bridge at this stage. It would add spice among supporters, but provided nothing similar happen while he was coach it would be mostly forgotten.

Yeah yeah water under the bridge my ar*e. It was the worst tackle I have ever seen-totally premeditated to ensure maximum injury to The Lions captain and probably the world's best player at that time. The two players should have been banned for life. The fact they weren't even cited was a not very funny joke. Umaga coming here would be a huge mistake and only give Leinster even more ammunition (should they need it) to put on over on an Umaga-coached Munster. I sincerely hope the senior voices in the Munster dressing room would object to such an appointment.

donfers

honestly guys whether we appoint umaga or not us open to debate but i hoep the decision-makers give zero consideration to that spear tackle, it doesn't matter, it has absolutely no bearing on his ability or lack of ability as a coach

maybe we should hire umaga and penney

umaga as backs coach, foley as forwards and defensive coach and penney as head coach

Benny Cake

Fishooks12 wrote: »

The Umaga spear was sickening

Wouldn't want him near Munster as a result

Quint2010 wrote: »

Yeah yeah water under the bridge my ar*e. It was the worst tackle I have ever seen-totally premeditated to ensure maximum injury to The Lions captain and probably the world's best player at that time. The two players should have been banned for life. The fact they weren't even cited was a not very funny joke. Umaga coming here would be a huge mistake and only give Leinster even more ammunition (should they need it) to put on over on an Umaga-coached Munster. I sincerely hope the senior voices in the Munster dressing room would object to such an appointment.

Bit harsh, plenty of Irish players have committed serious offences & I wouldn't like to see them held back in a future coaching career as a result. There are plenty reasons not to give Umaga the job, this shouldn't be one of them...

Cpt_Blackbeard

Quint2010 wrote: »

Yeah yeah water under the bridge my ar*e. It was the worst tackle I have ever seen-totally premeditated to ensure maximum injury to The Lions captain and probably the world's best player at that time. The two players should have been banned for life. The fact they weren't even cited was a not very funny joke. Umaga coming here would be a huge mistake and only give Leinster even more ammunition (should they need it) to put on over on an Umaga-coached Munster. I sincerely hope the senior voices in the Munster dressing room would object to such an appointment.

Thank you for proving my point.

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

I'd say even the most precious of Leinster fans have finally accepted it was an accident and moved on at this stage.

Apparently not.

irishbucsfan

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

Thank you for proving my point.



Apparently not.

You think what Mealamu and Umaga did was an accident?

They accidentally lifted the Lions captain off the ground, at the first breakdown they possibly could, and drove him into the ground? Did they both slip at exactly the same time or something?

Fishooks12

The premeditated nature of the Umaga incident is what sets it apart for me

Just as bad as what Calum Clark did AFAIC

Cpt_Blackbeard

irishbucsfan wrote: »

You think what Mealamu and Umaga did was an accident?

They accidentally lifted the Lions captain off the ground, at the first breakdown they possibly could, and drove him into the ground? Did they both slip at exactly the same time or something?

I wasn't the one who made the comment stating it was an accident. You should probably ask Amazo about his comment. Personally, I do not think it was an accident. Intent to seriously injure is another thing though.

Cpt_Blackbeard

Benny Cake wrote: »

Bit harsh, plenty of Irish players have committed serious offences & I wouldn't like to see them held back in a future coaching career as a result. There are plenty reasons not to give Umaga the job, this shouldn't be one of them...

I don't think Umaga's part in the BOD spear was much worse than D'Arcy's spear on Rua Tipoki in the same tournament. The only difference is that BOD ended up injured and was a much higher profile player.

All this talk of Umaga does show how important the recent crack down on dangerous tackles is though. Ferris should feel very stupid for his tweet which near commended Afoa's spear on Jones. I'm obviously not equating the nature/intent of both tackles.

Quint2010

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

Thank you for proving my point.

That is would add spice amongst the two sets of fans? Well I can't see it not doing? I remember seeing BOD being interviewed about it a year or so later (he was out of his sling) and he was still very bitter about it. PLUS are Munster really thinking about promoting to head coach a former player with little or no experience of coaching at the top level? I just can't believe they are even considering this guy..