Munster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

Cpt_Blackbeard

One thing I will say about it is that whoever represents our players must be terrible, we seem unable to mount any sort of appeal/defense for any of the incidents.

At least the ban wasn't lengthened for wasting the committee's time.

PhatPiggins

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

One thing I will say about it is that whoever represents our players must be terrible, we seem unable to mount any sort of appeal/defense for any of the incidents.

At least the ban wasn't lengthened for wasting the committee's time.

I don't know about that. For must of the bans our players have gotten the minimum punishment for the offence. There's often no scope for appeal in the first place.

Cpt_Blackbeard

PhatPiggins wrote: »

I don't know about that. For must of the bans our players have gotten the minimum punishment for the offence. There's often no scope for appeal in the first place.

I wouldn't agree tbh. we should have been able to convince that POC's offense was a low end offense not mid range. There would have been uproar from the media if "St. Paul" got off though.

I personally think that we should be able to pull of Mealamu-like miracles every once in a while. We should be able to get representatives that are able to argue some BS case to get us off leniently (in the eyes of some). Personally I feel that the bans handed to Munster err on the side of harsh the majority of the time, but that could well be my red specs..

PhatPiggins

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

I wouldn't agree tbh. we should have been able to convince that POC's offense was a low end offense not mid range. There would have been uproar from the media if "St. Paul" got off though.

I personally think that we should be able to pull of Mealamu-like miracles every once in a while. We should be able to get representatives that are able to argue some BS case to get us off leniently (in the eyes of some). Personally I feel that the bans handed to Munster err on the side of harsh the majority of the time, but that could well be my red specs..

Would you like to name a few other examples where we've been treated harshly?

Edited............................. as its Christmas and tranquillity is desired

RuggieBear

toomevara wrote: »

OK folks, let's not re-open the debate over the suspension/red card again. Everyone's more than had their say already, the suspensions been upheld and that's pretty much the end of that.

ahem

thomond2006

Jerry Flannery on Facebook wrote:

GUINNESS Rugby Team Update >>> Jerry Flannery >>> Just played my first 40 min of rugby in two and a half months today for Shannon against old Crescent. We won fairly comfortably and all finished in one piece. The raincloud that's been following me around for the last few months seems to be clearing up, thank God

Good to hear.

Learn the lesson from last time Munster: Don't Rush Him Back!!

nedeenbnn

With the injury to Quinnie, there is a clear abseince of good players coming through the Munster academy - compare this to Leinster (even Ulster!).

With a gret decade of success and always competitive teams, it is very disappointing that this did not create a bedrock/foundation of young players to create a rugby dynasty.

We seem to be able to produce 2's and 9's and sweet fa else.

thomond2006

nedeenbnn wrote: »

With the injury to Quinnie, there is a clear abseince of good players coming through the Munster academy - compare this to Leinster (even Ulster!).

With a gret decade of success and always competitive teams, it is very disappointing that this did not create a bedrock/foundation of young players to create a rugby dynasty.

We seem to be able to produce 2's and 9's and sweet fa else.

What about backrows? We've loads of them! O'Donnell, O'Mahony and Butler have made appearances for Munster this season. Eoghan Grace had to go to Exeter for gametime and O'Hara and Essex haven't got a game yet.

Hyperbullet

nedeenbnn wrote: »

With the injury to Quinnie, there is a clear abseince of good players coming through the Munster academy - compare this to Leinster (even Ulster!).

With a gret decade of success and always competitive teams, it is very disappointing that this did not create a bedrock/foundation of young players to create a rugby dynasty.

We seem to be able to produce 2's and 9's and sweet fa else.

Likes of Nagle, Butler, Gleeson, Zebo, Deasy or Holland not good enough? We've plenty of players coming through the pipeline.

some_dose

Hyperbullet wrote: »

Likes of Nagle, Butler, Gleeson, Zebo, Deasy or Holland not good enough? We've plenty of players coming through the pipeline.

But no props

thomond2006

Munster backrow Alan Quinlan will be out for "several weeks" after the club confirmed that he dislocated an elbow against Connacht.

Munster came from behind to beat Connacht 16-12 on Monday in the Magners League clash in Galway to cement their place at the top of the standings, but the loss of the 36-year-old will be a blow for the Irish side.

They are already without fellow backrower James Coughlan, who cracked a cheekbone against the Ospreys in the Heineken Cup. And both players are expected to miss the must-win Heineken Cup clash with Toulon on Sunday, December 16.

However, skipper Paul O'Connell will be back for the match-up after he has served his four-week suspension for striking Ospreys No.8 Jonathan Thomas in the Heineken Cup game.

http://www.espnscrum.com/celticleague-2010-11/rugby/story/131608.html

Glad to hear Quinlan's injury isn't season ending, probably won't see him till the Six Nations.

So Quinlan and Coughlan are both out of the Toulon match. O'Mahony has been injured too, no word on what is up with him.

Munster HEC squad:
http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/matchcentre/munster_rugby.php?section=2

The players we have registered who can play/cover back row are:
Coughlan, Holland, Leamy, O'Donnell, O'Mahony, Quinlan, Ronan, Donnacha Ryan, Wallace

That would be possible backrows of:
6 Leamy, 7 Ronan, 8 Wallace - Most likely IMO.
6 O'Donnell 7 Wallace 8 Leamy
6 Ryan/Holland 7 Wallace 8 Leamy

Even if O'Mahony is available, we'll have an inexperienced player covering 6-8.

(iv) each club may select one additional player during the course of the Pool stages. The nominated additional player will replace a registered member of the club's squad and no club will exceed 38 players at any time during the Pool stages. The de-registered player may return to the squad at a later date during the Pool stages and replace the additional player. Clubs must ensure that the additional player has not been nominated in a match squad with another club for the Heineken Cup or Amlin Challenge Cup tournaments during the current season. The additional player will be eligible to play in the next round of Pool matches if his nomination is received by ERC by noon on the Wednesday before the match. The player must have at least a three-month contract with the Club. If a additional player is selected by a Club after Round 4 and the Club subsequently qualifies for a quarter-final the Club will only be allowed to register a further two players for the knock-out stages.

http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/heinekencup/rules/index.php

Reading that, we can only register one player. (I always thought it was two).

profitius

I'd like to see TOD get a HEC start. It would make the backrow more balanced too.

Amazotheamazing

Ryan, Wallace, Leamy for me. Ronan has no place on a HEC pitch, imo.

danthefan

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Ryan, Wallace, Leamy for me. Ronan has no place on a HEC pitch, imo.

Agree, dreadful player.

Amazotheamazing

danthefan wrote: »

Agree, dreadful player.

Dreadful is a bit harsh, just not good enough for top end HEC, which is where Munster need to aim at. He'd have a decent career at other clubs.

thomond2006

danthefan wrote: »

Agree, dreadful player.

+1 to amazo's comment.

He's definitely not the right fella for Toulon. Van Niekerk and Lobbe would eat him alive.

thomond2006

Player Injury Update
30 December 2010, 2:32 pm
By The Editor

Munster's victory against Connacht came at a price when Alan Quinlan and Dave Ryan were forced to retire with injuries, and now face several weeks on the sideline.

Alan Quinlan after dislocating his elbow in the Connacht clash, put back in place in hospital afterwards, met with a specialist yesterday and will be kept out of action until mid to late February.

Dave Ryan forced to withdraw in the 80th minute has not been named in this week’s squad after a scan revealed an acute shoulder injury. The prop will now see a specialist next week and is expected to be out for several weeks, and may undergo surgery.

James Coughlan, not involved against Connacht, will see a specialist later today with a suspected cheekbone injury.

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/8463.php

Cpt_Blackbeard

F*ck sake!!! :mad:

Did they have to use the word retire?? It set my heart racing!!:o

profitius

Does anybody else think Jamie Hagan will sign for Munster during the summer or has he signed a new contract? Hayes will retire and that means Munster are left with Buckley, Borlase, Archer and Darragh Hurley. Archer is a poor scrummager from what I've seen and Darragh Hurley is naturally a loosehead. That means Munster will have to sign another tighthead prop and Hagan would be the most ideal signing.

irishbucsfan

profitius wrote: »

Does anybody else think Jamie Hagan will sign for Munster during the summer or has he signed a new contract? Hayes will retire and that means Munster are left with Buckley, Borlase, Archer and Darragh Hurley. Archer is a poor scrummager from what I've seen and Darragh Hurley is naturally a loosehead. That means Munster will have to sign another tighthead prop and Hagan would be the most ideal signing.

Think Hagan is contracted to Connacht?

But I agree it'd be a great destination for him. Munster need him and he needs them.

Cpt_Blackbeard

profitius wrote: »

Does anybody else think Jamie Hagan will sign for Munster during the summer or has he signed a new contract? Hayes will retire and that means Munster are left with Buckley, Borlase, Archer and Darragh Hurley. Archer is a poor scrummager from what I've seen and Darragh Hurley is naturally a loosehead. That means Munster will have to sign another tighthead prop and Hagan would be the most ideal signing.

Would love it to happen but theres not much chance. We just got Borlase in as a 'project' prop..

thomond2006

Fla will have a scan this week, Munster branch confirmed to Newstalk that it was an injury to the other leg.

Looking ahead to Glasgow next weekend, I wouldn't mind seeing Mafi and Earls together in the centre. Mafi made a big impact when he came on yesterday. (Yes very ironic that I want Mafi in the team ) Although I still think he's a better wing.

I reckon it will a full strength selection, Munster normally go full on the week before the HEC. I hope we make the right call in the backrow.

Lawstudent1

I really hope that Keatley is being signed as back up 10 and squad utility player. When O'Gara retires I want a player of O'Gara's standard to replace him and Keatley just doesn't seem to have that potential. Hes been playing Magners League for years now and he still doesn't look exceptional. You can say its hard to perform in Connacht but then Cronin, Carr and Hagan never had any difficulties. If Keatley is signed as a squad utility player then its an excellent signing - any other purpose and I'm worried.

thomond2006

Well with ROG at the World Cup Keatley will have 6/7 games to prove he's up to replacing him or just being his understudy.

Clareman

I don't think Hayes will retire, why would he? Worst case scenario for him he's asked to stay as cover for Munster while the World Cup is on, he's not the kind of player to seek the limelight so I'd expect him to keep going till he's no longer offered a contract.

For a team who haven't played well yet, 9 points clear in the ML with qualification to the quarters of the HEC in their own hands isn't a bad place to be in after all the injuries/suspensions we've gone through.

For the Toulon game I think the back row is going to be our biggest concern, with that in mind I think ToL will have to start to add some "cover" there and keep the opposition back 3 "honest", PoC and DoC will be in the second row.

In the centre I think Tuitupou will start to add some physicality and cover the back row, I think Earls has to start, but I don't think he should, it's awful having a 13 that won't pass the ball.

Cpt_Blackbeard

thomond2006 wrote: »

Looking ahead to Glasgow next weekend, I wouldn't mind seeing Mafi and Earls together in the centre. Mafi made a big impact when he came on yesterday.

+1

Tuitupo(??) takes too much out of the ball

Lawstudent1

Clareman wrote: »

For the Toulon game I think the back row is going to be our biggest concern, with that in mind I think ToL will have to start to add some "cover" there and keep the opposition back 3 "honest", PoC and DoC will be in the second row.

In the centre I think Tuitupou will start to add some physicality and cover the back row, I think Earls has to start, but I don't think he should, it's awful having a 13 that won't pass the ball.

I agree on O'Leary but I really don't think O'Connell should be put straight back into the team for such an important game. His match sharpness and fitness is more than likely still off the pace and Mick O'Driscoll has been very good lately.
In the centre, I'd move Earls to the wing and put Murphy at 13. Murphy should be able to put width on the ball and put Earls and Howlett into space. I admit it would be a very risky call however.

Cpt_Blackbeard

Clareman wrote: »

For a team who haven't played well yet, 9 points clear in the ML with qualification to the quarters of the HEC in their own hands isn't a bad place to be in after all the injuries/suspensions we've gone through.

For the Toulon game I think the back row is going to be our biggest concern, with that in mind I think ToL will have to start to add some "cover" there and keep the opposition back 3 "honest", PoC and DoC will be in the second row.

In the centre I think Tuitupou will start to add some physicality and cover the back row, I think Earls has to start, but I don't think he should, it's awful having a 13 that won't pass the ball.

The worry is that they are playing well...

Stringer missed his chance to put his hand up for the Toulon game, and TOL is will always start if he is fit. Mafi is playing better than Tuitupou and he will be no step down in physicality. You are listening to Hooke too much re Earls, he was poor for the TOD try but his pass was perfectly timed for the last try. HE would be wasted on the wing for Munster as he would never get good ball with TOL and Tuitupou sucking any pace out of it.

B.Murphy is a better distributor of the ball than Earls though and I would love to see him get a run at the 13 shirt.

PhatPiggins

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

+1

Tuitupo(??) takes too much out of the ball

He's not used correctly though. It seems to be a case of 'here you go Sammy crash it up' eight times out of 10. Granted he does look for contact but has a good offload and a nice passing game. He's probably been institutionalised a bit by now as Worcester drove him into brick walls as well but I watched him play for Auckland and NZ and he was a different player. He always makes ground and if you could get the likes of Earls and Murphy to run the right angles off him he could be a serious weapon.

irishbucsfan

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

+1

Tuitupo(??) takes too much out of the ball

I can't believe you and Thomond are suggesting that the answer to ST taking too much out of the ball is playing Mafi inside him. :eek:

Does noone remember how bad he made JDV look last year? Mafi should be stuck on the wing for the rest of his Munster career. I hope for Earls' sake he never has to play outside him.