Munster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

Cpt_Blackbeard

It could in all likelihood just be Warwick trying to get a longer/better contract. It wouldn't be the first or last time that an Irish based player pulls this stunt, BOD, D'Arcy and ROG iirc. have all tried it sucessfully before.

I can't see him wanting to get up and move a settled family. The 1-year extension is probably the smart thing by Munster, he is approaching 30 and we have Jones coming through at 15 and will most likely have Keatley next year. He is a fantastic player but should not be kept until he is at at stage where he is hindering the growth of future internationals.

I think he sees himself as more of a 10 than a 15 and imo. he doesn't have the consistency to be our 10. Fantastic player on form, he offers a totally different game than ROG, but he is susceptible to too many brain farts.

phog

The Rooster wrote: »

Reported in the Times today that Warwick is heading to Stade Francais at the end of the season. His contract ends in the summer, and Munster have only offered him a 1 year deal. Cheika has offered him a 2 year deal in Paris.

Not signed and sealed yet, so still time for another U-turn.

It is also rumoured that Sexton and Contepomi are being headhunted by Cheika, does he need 3 outhalfs, who's the current SF outhalf?
Would Warwick benefit from the tax back if he retires from rugby in Ireland or is that just for Irish players?

Whatever decison he makes I wish him luck.

PhatPiggins

Did Wawrick not move to London Irish a couple of seasons ago? Oh wait that was the last attempt to leverage a better deal.

I can see them letting him go this time to be honest. Not as consistent as he used to be and we have more cover at 12/15 this time round. They'll still need to sign another 10 but they were always going to do that once ROG retired anyway.

buck65

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Did Wawrick not move to London Irish a couple of seasons ago? Oh wait that was the last attempt to leverage a better deal.

I can see them letting him go this time to be honest. Not as consistent as he used to be and we have more cover at 12/15 this time round. They'll still need to sign another 10 but they were always going to do that once ROG retired anyway.

He did sign and was on his way until Munster realised their error and pulled in a few favours to reverse the paperwork.
He offers a great option at full back and the fact that he is almost international standard OH makes him essential to us while O Gara is away. I know who I'd pick if it was him or Keatley.
Looks like the brains in Thomond may have neglected him again yet we are being linked to guys like Nonu and McCaw but can't look after our contracted players?
How much would they pay these All Blacks ? 300-400k per annum? That could be the wage budget for the academy for a year. I prefer signings like Jim Williams, Sammy T, Tipoki, Mafi and Borlase, guys who don't cost the earth but may increase their worth in time.

Cpt_Blackbeard

phog wrote: »

It is also rumoured that Sexton and Contepomi are being headhunted by Cheika, does he need 3 outhalfs, who's the current SF outhalf?
Would Warwick benefit from the tax back if he retires from rugby in Ireland or is that just for Irish players?

Whatever decison he makes I wish him luck.

I was wondering that myself actually. If he is an Irish citizen, I'm sure that he would be entitled to the tax back.

Personally I think that a 1 year deal is the right thing, because we shouldn't need him in the 2013 campaign id the Academy is worth its weight. Its a bit harsh, but improving the Irish team should be a priority.

Cpt_Blackbeard

buck65 wrote: »

He did sign and was on his way until Munster realised their error and pulled in a few favours to reverse the paperwork.
He offers a great option at full back and the fact that he is almost international standard OH makes him essential to us while O Gara is away. I know who I'd pick if it was him or Keatley.
Looks like the brains in Thomond may have neglected him again yet we are being linked to guys like Nonu and McCaw but can't look after our contracted players?
How much would they pay these All Blacks ? 300-400k per annum? That could be the wage budget for the academy for a year. I prefer signings like Jim Williams, Sammy T, Tipoki, Mafi and Borlase, guys who don't cost the earth but may increase their worth in time.

Thats the thing though, when signing the relatively unknown players is a 50:50 chance that they will come good. Tipoki and Williams were fantastic, Mafi is not good without Tipoki, 2poo is a bit too one dimensional and isn't a good offloader which is what we need for the outside backs and Earls, Borlase will be a good player but I don't agree with the project player thing.

We then had stars like Cullen and Lima never came good, people would argue that JdV was the same but I don't agree.

Personally Nonu is a much better Sammy.T, he has a superior crashing game and a better passer/offloader. He would be a great signing if it materialised. Conrad Smith has also been touted, but we don't need a 13 unless Earls is seen as a back 3 player (fantastic player though). McCaw would be a fantastic player and would be a great way of helping the young backrows if Wallace and Quinny hang up their boots.

12 is probably our only problem position Irish-Qualified talent wise. I'd like to see Deasy get a proper run there though and Dineen could be a good player.

bamboozle

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

It could in all likelihood just be Warwick trying to get a longer/better contract. It wouldn't be the first or last time that an Irish based player pulls this stunt, BOD, D'Arcy and ROG iirc. have all tried it sucessfully before.

I can't see him wanting to get up and move a settled family. The 1-year extension is probably the smart thing by Munster, he is approaching 30 and we have Carr coming through at 15 and will most likely have Keatley next year. He is a fantastic player but should not be kept until he is at at stage where he is hindering the growth of future internationals.

I think he sees himself as more of a 10 than a 15 and imo. he doesn't have the consistency to be our 10. Fantastic player on form, he offers a totally different game than ROG, but he is susceptible to too many brain farts.

presume you mean Felix Jones? Fionn Carr is coming back east this summer i hope...

Cpt_Blackbeard

bamboozle wrote: »

presume you mean Felix Jones? Fionn Carr is coming back east this summer i hope...

Yup you're right about that. Must have had Connacht on the mind as I was about to mention Keatley...I'll fix it now

buck65

Warwick to Stade, Sexton to munster- what's not to like.

Cpt_Blackbeard

buck65 wrote: »

Warwick to Stade, Sexton to munster- what's not to like.

The part involving Sexton

thomond2006

Swop Sexton and Warwick. Brain farts +1 with Reddan and Warwick together. :pac:

irishbucsfan

thomond2006 wrote: »

Swop Sexton and Warwick. Brain farts +1 with Reddan and Warwick together. :pac:

Denied.

We will however swap Reddan for Murray

profitius

bamboozle wrote: »

presume you mean Felix Jones? Fionn Carr is coming back east this summer i hope...

I doubt it unless Schmidt is a big fan. Leinster have loads of wingers coming through at the moment. If Carr did go to Leinster I think some young Leinster wingers could come to Munster.

Cpt_Blackbeard

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Denied.

We will however swap Reddan for Murray

He could use the game time anyway he won't get any with us with Ireland's best scrumhalf and our other 9 (TOL, I've no idea what to call him..)

When Murray comes back we will then benefit from the HC group stage (;)) experience he'll get.

PhatPiggins

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Denied.

We will however swap Reddan for Murray

Denied

Donnacha Ryan/Murray/Sherry for McFadden/Conway/Madigan

As a sweetner we'll chain Reddan to Dennis Fogarty and push them both into the Shannon

You know it makes sense

thomond2006

Mafi for anyone please. Please? PLEASE?!

SomeFool

thomond2006 wrote: »

Mafi for anyone please. Please? PLEASE?!

I'll even pay the postage and packing for who ever takes him.....

some_dose

Does anyone reckon that there will be any opportunity for Connor Murray in the coming months? Even in the ML? He could potentially be brilliant

phog

some_dose wrote: »

Does anyone reckon that there will be any opportunity for Connor Murray in the coming months? Even in the ML? He could potentially be brilliant

I'd hope so but a lot will depend on who's selected for the Irish squad in the 6Ns and how Munster fare out in their campaign for both ML and HC, if we're still in the knockout stages of the HC guys like Murray might get gametime in the last few ML games if we're in the top 4 of the ML and cant be caught.

From what I've seen of him he certainly looks good so it would be no surprise to see him play in some of the games before the end of the season.

SomeFool

some_dose wrote: »

Does anyone reckon that there will be any opportunity for Connor Murray in the coming months? Even in the ML? He could potentially be brilliant

He should definately get game time during the 6 nations if both TOL and Strings make the squad.

some_dose

SomeFool wrote: »

He should definately get game time during the 6 nations if both TOL and Strings make the squad.

Good to hear. Though I'd love to see him get more game time I'd prefer him to get it at Munster. Himself and Felix Jones could become huge for Munster given game time and a bit of confidence in them by management.

Cpt_Blackbeard

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Denied

Donnacha Ryan/Murray/Sherry for McFadden/Conway/Madigan

As a sweetner we'll chain Reddan to Dennis Fogarty and push them both into the Shannon

You know it makes sense

Why would we let Sherry or Murray go? Ryan would have been a fantastic player if he didn't have the second best secondrow partnership in the world ahead of him at Munster.

Fogarty is a handy player too, he is good enough to be a 2nd choice hooker for pretty much any club but Munster. It wouldn't be outrageous to say that we have 4 of the 6 best Hookers in the country and Cronin left Munster with every intention of coming back.

Unless I'm misunderstanding your post??

thomond2006

Duncan Williams will be selected ahead of Conor Murray. Williams is on a full contract, Murray is still in the academy (final year).

I wouldn't discount Williams as a prospect just yet, he did look good back in October as a backup to Stringer. Having said that, Murray has been brilliant since he got his chance.

SomeFool

thomond2006 wrote: »

Duncan Williams will be selected ahead of Conor Murray. Williams is on a full contract, Murray is still in the academy (final year).

I wouldn't discount Williams as a prospect just yet, he did look good back in October as a backup to Stringer. Having said that, Murray has been brilliant since he got his chance.

You're right but Murray will see game time from the bench, I'd be happy enough to see him get involved slowly rather than rushing him along as the next big thing. Wouldn't be suprised to see Williams move west or abroad, he's not getting a look in here and is good enough to be a starting player somewhere.

thomond2006

If Williams is contracted for another season, I'd definitely want Murray to move and gain experience. When Stringer goes, he can come back and fight it out with TOL for the 9 jersey.

On players moving, I think Tom Gleeson will have to look elsewhere. He'll never get a game now with Barry Murphy back fit. 4 centres are ahead of him and Barnes and Dineen are pushing from the youth ranks.

PhatPiggins

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

Why would we let Sherry or Murray go? Ryan would have been a fantastic player if he didn't have the second best secondrow partnership in the world ahead of him at Munster.

Fogarty is a handy player too, he is good enough to be a 2nd choice hooker for pretty much any club but Munster. It wouldn't be outrageous to say that we have 4 of the 6 best Hookers in the country and Cronin left Munster with every intention of coming back.

Unless I'm misunderstanding your post??

Not arguing that they're not good players but we have a glut of hookers,second rows and scrum halfs where as we have not much by way outside backs and fly halves.

I don't agree with you regarding Fogarty and Ryan but that conversation has been done to death

SomeFool

thomond2006 wrote: »

On players moving, I think Tom Gleeson will have to look elsewhere. He'll never get a game now with Barry Murphy back fit. 4 centres are ahead of him and Barnes and Dineen are pushing from the youth ranks.

I'd agree with Gleeson, wouldn't be shocked to see either Billy Holland or Donnacha Ryan move either.

PhatPiggins

SomeFool wrote: »

I'd agree with Gleeson, wouldn't be shocked to see either Billy Holland or Donnacha Ryan move either.

Billy Holland is seriously under rated he's easily ML or GP standard. Really powerful guy with an 80 minute engine. You're right that he'll never get enough game time at Munster.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Does anyone know how much longer John Hayes, Alan Quinlan, and Mafi are contracted for. Mafi impresses me much less than he did previously and the other two have to be near retirement.

Otacon

I may be crazy but I though Hayes did very well when he came on for Buckley last weekend. He did well enough in the scrum and worked very hard at the breakdown, earning us a penalty IIRC.