Munster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

profitius

Deleted User wrote: »

This is kind of interesting, for all those who think that Munster are bringing players through correctly. A post thread from 20 months ago. See who's "up and coming" and note how they're still "up and coming" now!

Haha well I suppose that sums it all up in Munster.

buck65

Deleted User wrote: »

This is kind of interesting, for all those who think that Munster are bringing players through correctly. A post thread from 20 months ago. See who's "up and coming" and note how they're still "up and coming" now!

Munster are slow to bring young players through but at least this season those guys are getting gametime.

bamboozle

buck65 wrote: »

Munster are slow to bring young players through but at least this season those guys are getting gametime.

this is where Connacht needs to be used, if a few of these had been sent west a few seasons back they'd be far better players now (arguably if they had received game time with connacht) than for sitting around playing bit parts in the Magners league, look at Donncadh Ryan, 27 and what is it 1 or 2 starts in the HC.

Amazotheamazing

bamboozle wrote: »

this is where Connacht needs to be used, if a few of these had been sent west a few seasons back they'd be far better players now (arguably if they had received game time with connacht) than for sitting around playing bit parts in the Magners league, look at Donncadh Ryan, 27 and what is it 1 or 2 starts in the HC.

Not sure I agree tbh. I did, but letting Reddan, Ross and Cronin off hasn't been good for Munster, arguably we should have signed them and just kept them ticking over. I've no interest in losing another set of talented players.

GerM

Munster had an issue with a middle tier of players being given a large amount of game time ahead of the potential internationals. There's a number of players that fall into this categort; none of them are good enough to be top level players but they've some experience and are trusted ML players. DK was a nightmare for persisting with them whilst the younger players kicked their heels. Luckily the situation is changing and this is where McGahan deserves a lot of credit although there still is a certain amount of it taking place. The likes of Coughlan, Horan (great servant but in reality serves little purpose other than holding back Darragh Hurley now), Billy Holland, Niall Ronan, Tom Gleeson and Duncan Williams are all players that had potential but the window of opportunity has passed with younger players now showing more potential than them. The likes of POM, Butler, Hurley, Nagle, Dineen and Murray should now be filtered in along side the first team players slowly to see if they've got what it takes. I realise some of the players I named are good players and have shown up well this season but I don't believe they're potentially better than those they're holding back.

SomeFool

don't know if it's been posted yet but Flannery is out for at least 3 months, likely to miss the WC.

GerM

SomeFool wrote: »

don't know if it's been posted yet but Flannery is out for at least 3 months, likely to miss the WC.

He'll have 4 warm up games to show some fitness along with a game against the USA. They'll take 3 hookers and, if Flannery can run at all, he'll travel I reckon.

jamiedav2011

SomeFool wrote: »

don't know if it's been posted yet but Flannery is out for at least 3 months, likely to miss the WC.

That's a huge loss.
Would be a massive plus to the team to have a fit and firing Fla back in the frame. (nice alliteration!

Best is decidedly middle of the road for me.

totallegend

jamiedav2011 wrote: »

Best is decidedly middle of the road for me.

He was excellent in this year's Six Nations and is a country mile ahead of the other options...

jamiedav2011

totallegend wrote: »

He was excellent in this year's Six Nations and is a country mile ahead of the other options...

Excellent is stretching it a bit, but he was good.
However, imo a fit and firing Fla is a country mile ahead of Best too.

thomond2006

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/flannerys-world-cup-hopes-fading-2602062.html

Yup, Fla out for 3 months. Means his Munster tally for this season is only 2 appearances off the bench.

profitius

GerM wrote: »

Munster had an issue with a middle tier of players being given a large amount of game time ahead of the potential internationals. There's a number of players that fall into this categort; none of them are good enough to be top level players but they've some experience and are trusted ML players. DK was a nightmare for persisting with them whilst the younger players kicked their heels. Luckily the situation is changing and this is where McGahan deserves a lot of credit although there still is a certain amount of it taking place. The likes of Coughlan, Horan (great servant but in reality serves little purpose other than holding back Darragh Hurley now), Billy Holland, Niall Ronan, Tom Gleeson and Duncan Williams are all players that had potential but the window of opportunity has passed with younger players now showing more potential than them. The likes of POM, Butler, Hurley, Nagle, Dineen and Murray should now be filtered in along side the first team players slowly to see if they've got what it takes. I realise some of the players I named are good players and have shown up well this season but I don't believe they're potentially better than those they're holding back.

I agree with you there. One thing I do disagree with is Horan. He's just been injured for the last 2 seasons and up to that always held his own in the scrums. He also has experience and like Quinnie deserves to keep his place in the squad.

Munster have loads of middle tier players these days that are getting games from McGahan. We'll see what teams he puts out in the final 2 months of the season and what happens in Munster during the summer. I'd hope theres going to be a big clearout of fringe players and some young players sent to Connacht for a few seasons.

PhatPiggins

thomond2006 wrote: »

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/flannerys-world-cup-hopes-fading-2602062.html

Yup, Fla out for 3 months. Means his Munster tally for this season is only 2 appearances off the bench.

Career as good as over. One more serious injury and thats it. You have to admire his dedication though.

GerM

profitius wrote: »

I agree with you there. One thing I do disagree with is Horan. He's just been injured for the last 2 seasons and up to that always held his own in the scrums. He also has experience and like Quinnie deserves to keep his place in the squad.

Indeed. It's easy for me to say when I'm on the outside looking in. From a neutral point of view I see a guy who has barely played in the past 18 months, didn't look particularly good when he got game time, is holding back someone who has already started at HEC level and will be 34 at the start of next season. If he was playing for Leinster though I'd see a legend who I'd hope would be able to get it together and stay fit for one last big season.

Podge_irl

thomond2006 wrote: »

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/flannerys-world-cup-hopes-fading-2602062.html

Yup, Fla out for 3 months. Means his Munster tally for this season is only 2 appearances off the bench.

That's him, realistically, out of the world cup. He has next to no game time for 2 seasons now.

TheRevolution

Theres no way Flannery should go the world cup now. The world cup is not a time to be trying to get fit again. Unfortunate for him.

profitius

TheRevolution wrote: »

Theres no way Flannery should go the world cup now. The world cup is not a time to be trying to get fit again. Unfortunate for him.

Theres 4 games before the world cup starts and he's still one of the best throwers in the world.

ormond lad

Munster legend Quinlan to call it a day

31/03/2011 - 14:33:14
Veteran Munster flanker Alan Quinlan will announce his retirement in the coming weeks, it was confirmed today.

Quinlan, who joined Munster in 1996 and has played 204 times for the province, will bring the curtain down on a career that has earned him 27 Ireland caps at the end of the season.

The fiery blindside, who missed out on the 2009 Lions tour of South Africa because of suspension, can lay claim to a brace of Heineken Cup medals, plus Celtic Cup and Magners League medals among his prized possessions.

Quinlan’s season has been disrupted after dislocating his elbow against Connacht last December and will announce his retirement before the end of the current season.

Meanwhile, Jerry Flannery is in a race against time to be fit for the World Cup after undergoing calf surgery, while Dave Ryan is set to have surgery on his elbow.

In other news Tony McGahan, along with Alan Gaffney, have both been linked with the vacant coach’s job at Australian Super 15 side the Brumbies.

More immediate for McGahan though is his team selection for Saturday night’s game with Leinster with Felix Jones pressing hard for inclusion at full-back, in preference to Paul Warwick.

McGahan and Gaffney join former South African World Cup winning coach Jake White on the Brumbies’ shortlist.

Article courtesy of the Evening Echo






Read more: http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/munster-legend-quinlan-to-call-it-a-day-499392.html#ixzz1IBYjmskv

Amazotheamazing

profitius wrote: »

Theres 4 games before the world cup starts and he's still one of the best throwers in the world.

Revolution said "should" though, not could.

I wouldn't risk him, even if he's our best option by some distance. In theory he could go but does he need the travel, the physical stress of the RWC etc. I doubt it.

keane2097

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Revolution said "should" though, not could.

I wouldn't risk him, even if he's our best option by some distance. In theory he could go but does he need the travel, the physical stress of the RWC etc. I doubt it.

Has to be brought if he's fit for the warmup games imo.

Amazotheamazing

keane2097 wrote: »

Has to be brought if he's fit for the warmup games imo.

Why?

He'll be short on gametime, no preseason, no form to speak of for two seasons. It's asking for him to get injured again if we fly him long haul to NZ, imo.

Best isn't great but we'll have to make do with him, Cronin and Varley (I suppose?) at the RWC.

TheRevolution

keane2097 wrote: »

Has to be brought if he's fit for the warmup games imo.

Absolutely no way. The warm up games should be fully utilised for getting the team sharp. Theres no way valuable gametime should be taken up by a player who is simply trying to play rugby again after such a massive lay-off.

profitius

In a world cup game with 20 min to go Rory Best gets an injury. Who would you rather see coming on. Varley/Cronin or a less than fully fit Flannery? I know who I'd choose.

Amazotheamazing

profitius wrote: »

In a world cup game with 20 min to go Rory Best gets an injury. Who would you rather see coming on. Varley/Cronin or a less than fully fit Flannery? I know who I'd choose.

Varley of course, crucial for turnovers.

Podge_irl

profitius wrote: »

Theres 4 games before the world cup starts and he's still one of the best throwers in the world.

Except it would take all 4 games for him to get match fit and we have other hookers who need to play too.

The guy has had 2 sub appearances all season. His last match at international level was over a year ago. I'd rather see Cronin coming then a half-fit Flannery.

Sin a bhfuil

TheRevolution wrote: »

Absolutely no way. The warm up games should be fully utilised for getting the team sharp. Theres no way valuable gametime should be taken up by a player who is simply trying to play rugby again after such a massive lay-off.

With both Flannery & Best coming back from injury at the same time when Munster met Ulster, Flannery was streets ahead of Best in every aspect of the game. From seeing that, he doesn't need much time to get match fit.

Amazotheamazing

Sin a bhfuil wrote: »

With both Flannery & Best coming back from injury at the same time when Munster met Ulster, Flannery was streets ahead of Best in every aspect of the game. From seeing that, he doesn't need much time to get match fit.

Flannery is simply better player than Best, no amount of games is going to make Best as good a player as Flannery but Flannery's body is too damaged to risk flying to NZ for the RWC. If the RWC was in England, maybe.

Amazotheamazing

ormond lad wrote: »

Munster legend Quinlan to call it a day

31/03/2011 - 14:33:14
Veteran Munster flanker Alan Quinlan will announce his retirement in the coming weeks, it was confirmed today.

Quinlan, who joined Munster in 1996 and has played 204 times for the province, will bring the curtain down on a career that has earned him 27 Ireland caps at the end of the season.

The fiery blindside, who missed out on the 2009 Lions tour of South Africa because of suspension, can lay claim to a brace of Heineken Cup medals, plus Celtic Cup and Magners League medals among his prized possessions.

Quinlan’s season has been disrupted after dislocating his elbow against Connacht last December and will announce his retirement before the end of the current season.

Meanwhile, Jerry Flannery is in a race against time to be fit for the World Cup after undergoing calf surgery, while Dave Ryan is set to have surgery on his elbow.

In other news Tony McGahan, along with Alan Gaffney, have both been linked with the vacant coach’s job at Australian Super 15 side the Brumbies.

More immediate for McGahan though is his team selection for Saturday night’s game with Leinster with Felix Jones pressing hard for inclusion at full-back, in preference to Paul Warwick.

McGahan and Gaffney join former South African World Cup winning coach Jake White on the Brumbies’ shortlist.

Article courtesy of the Evening Echo





Read more: http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/munster-legend-quinlan-to-call-it-a-day-499392.html#ixzz1IBYjmskv

One of Munster's all time greats, been there for the great days and the dark ones. Hope he stays on in rugby somehow.

So, his son, AJ, must be only 16 or 17 years away from his Munster debut, right?

swan82

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Flannery is simply better player than Best, no amount of games is going to make Best as good a player as Flannery but Flannery's body is too damaged to risk flying to NZ for the RWC. If the RWC was in England, maybe.

Why would that make a difference,he will hardly damage it further by sitting down for longer?

keane2097

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Why?

He'll be short on gametime, no preseason, no form to speak of for two seasons. It's asking for him to get injured again if we fly him long haul to NZ, imo.

Best isn't great but we'll have to make do with him, Cronin and Varley (I suppose?) at the RWC.

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Flannery is simply better player than Best, no amount of games is going to make Best as good a player as Flannery but Flannery's body is too damaged to risk flying to NZ for the RWC. If the RWC was in England, maybe.

Why in the world would the length of the flight be important?