Munster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

Amazotheamazing

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Munster have a squad of 45 players on development or full contracts for this season. Leinster have a squad of 39 contracted players this season while Ulster have a squad of 35 contracted players.

Munster could easily cut any player who is 25 or older and isn't in the HEC first choice 23.

I don't deny that Billy Holland, Niall Ronan, Donnacha Ryan and others aren't good players. In fact I think the reason that Munster are doing well in the ML is because of these decent players who are played regularly since it gives Munster an incredible amount of depth. In fact I think Munster may be the largest squad in the ML, and this depth helps them in the ML since they can put out a decent squad for everygame.

I think Munster are just in one of those periodic troughs all teams go through.
We know guys like Ronan etc aren't good enough but we're waiting on guys like POM to come through. If POM and Butler continue their progression they'll be good enough for HEC rugby in the next few years. McGahan has been unlucky that when he took over the squad was aging and the next tier wasn't good enough.

I don't think we need to massively panic about how things are. We can look back and regret how badly the Academy was run I guess but moving on we seem to be improving.

keane2097

Any news on POC?

budhabob

keane2097 wrote: »

Any news on POC?

Paul O'Connell, who was assisted off in the 46th minute with an ankle injury, had an x-ray last night that revealed he suffered no fracture.
Share
The Munster skipper will travel to Dublin tomorrow to have further medical examination carried out to establish the full extent of the injury.

At this stage it is not known how long he will be out of action for.

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/8878.php

Amazotheamazing

What a shame Jones got injured these last two seasons. He's very sharp for a guy who's just back from injury. I don't trust Munster/Jason Holland to get the best from him but Joe Schmidt would make him an international, imo.

Conor Murray had another good game. Still a long way to go but I doubt TOL is delighted that Murray is stepping up. Oddly, TOL could go to the RWC, behind Reddan for Ireland and come back to find out his lost his place in Munster to Murray. I think it's too late for Murray to make the RWC squad.

Risteard

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

What a shame Jones got injured these last two seasons. He's very sharp for a guy who's just back from injury. I don't trust Munster/Jason Holland to get the best from him but Joe Schmidt would make him an international, imo.

Conor Murray had another good game. Still a long way to go but I doubt TOL is delighted that Murray is stepping up. Oddly, TOL could go to the RWC, behind Reddan for Ireland and come back to find out his lost his place in Munster to Murray. I think it's too late for Murray to make the RWC squad.

It'll be interesting to see will Murray keep his place when TOL comes back.

Amazotheamazing

Risteard wrote: »

It'll be interesting to see will Murray keep his place when TOL comes back.

Depends which version of TOL comes back. The Grand Slam version (who hasn't been seen since) would be easily ahead of him but this years version I'm not so sure.

It's dreaming/football manager type stuff but could TOL make a go of another position in the backs?

CouchSmart

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Depends which version of TOL comes back. The Grand Slam version (who hasn't been seen since) would be easily ahead of him but this years version I'm not so sure.

It's dreaming/football manager type stuff but could TOL make a go of another position in the backs?

He's a winger that was turned into a scrumhalf. Could easily play there again.

Risteard

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Depends which version of TOL comes back. The Grand Slam version (who hasn't been seen since) would be easily ahead of him but this years version I'm not so sure.

It's dreaming/football manager type stuff but could TOL make a go of another position in the backs?

His attributes would suggest he'd be good in the back three, good defender, quick and a good footballer. He's also a decent enough passe in open play, just off the ground it's not as consistent or quick.

Played on the wing or in the centre a few times a couple of years ago.

Amazotheamazing

CouchSmart wrote: »

He's a winger that was turned into a scrumhalf. Could easily play there again.

He was a scrumhalf who moved to outhalf in schools to allow Duncan Williams play 9, afaik. Thought he moved to utility back after that with Con before moving back to 9 with Dolphin?

Would love to see him get a run of games on the wing though, to see if he could adjust. He's frighteningly physical and fast, he seems to have raw attributes to be a very good winger.

Cpt_Blackbeard

CouchSmart wrote: »

He's a winger that was turned into a scrumhalf. Could easily play there again.

Or even help out our woes in the centre possibly. Murray is by far the best option for Munster at 9 for the rest of the season/future and should be pushing for inclusion in the Irish WC squad along with Jones.

CouchSmart

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

He was a scrumhalf who moved to outhalf in schools to allow Duncan Williams play 9, afaik. Thought he moved to utility back after that with Con before moving back to 9 with Dolphin?

Would love to see him get a run of games on the wing though, to see if he could adjust. He's frighteningly physical and fast, he seems to have raw attributes to be a very good winger.

Don't know anything of his schools or clubs history. I'm not sure, but AFAIK his first 10 or so Munster caps were on the wing. I'm sure there's someone here who could clarify it.

GerM

CouchSmart wrote: »

Don't know anything of his schools or clubs history. I'm not sure, but AFAIK his first 10 or so Munster caps were on the wing. I'm sure there's someone here who could clarify it.

Nah, he was 9 from the start with Munster but as the season progressed he was shifted to the three quarter line due to injuries. Even played the quarter final against Perpignan at outside centre.

TheRevolution

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

Or even help out our woes in the centre possibly. Murray is by far the best option for Munster at 9 for the rest of the season/future and should be pushing for inclusion in the Irish WC squad along with Jones.

To be honest if were going to go for a young Irish scrumhalf then it ought to be Marshall, from what I have seen hes even better than Reddan.

Amazotheamazing

GerM wrote: »

Nah, he was 9 from the start with Munster but as the season progressed he was shifted to the three quarter line due to injuries. Even played the quarter final against Perpignan at outside centre.

We'd a bizarre number of injuries that year.

Does anyone else think Jones goes into contact really badly, he's so awkward about it I'll be amazed if he doesn't get another injury. It's terrible to be watching a player and hoping he doesn't get a serious injury every game.

GerM

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

We'd a bizarre number of injuries that year.

Does anyone else think Jones goes into contact really badly, he's so awkward about it I'll be amazed if he doesn't get another injury. It's terrible to be watching a player and hoping he doesn't get a serious injury every game.

Tend to agree. His running style is very unique which leads to him being quite upright in contact and making himself open to being cut down. His injuries to date have been freak ones but I wouldn't be shocked if he suffered a few nasty high tackles in his time. Lucky for him Sammy T and Mafi play with him and not against him!

thomond2006

Haven't seen the game in full yet, watched snippets on BBC iPlayer.

How did Donnacha Ryan do at 6? More importantly, was he effective and disruptive in the lineout?

CouchSmart

thomond2006 wrote: »

Haven't seen the game in full yet, watched snippets on BBC iPlayer.

How did Donnacha Ryan do at 6? More importantly, was he effective and disruptive in the lineout?

Didn't do anything of note, not surprisingly as he's not a 6. He was at fault for Leinster's try. Anyone have any inside knowledge about him being released or re-signed?

profitius

thomond2006 wrote: »

Haven't seen the game in full yet, watched snippets on BBC iPlayer.

How did Donnacha Ryan do at 6? More importantly, was he effective and disruptive in the lineout?

Munster had a 100% lineout record. He was busy around the park but we didn't see much of him. He played well though but isn't a natural 6.

Benny Cake

GerM wrote: »

Tend to agree. His running style is very unique which leads to him being quite upright in contact and making himself open to being cut down. His injuries to date have been freak ones but I wouldn't be shocked if he suffered a few nasty high tackles in his time. Lucky for him Sammy T and Mafi play with him and not against him!

I was actually thinking the very same thing about Jones after the match last night...
This might sound mental but I reckon the fact that he plays with his socks down makes him look allot more clumsy than he actually is.... Hopefully he stays injury free as he will be an important player for us next season...

CIARAN_BOYLE

profitius wrote: »

Munster had a 100% lineout record.

So did Leinster iirc so you can't say Ryan was disruptive

ambid

CouchSmart wrote: »

Didn't do anything of note, not surprisingly as he's not a 6. He was at fault for Leinster's try. Anyone have any inside knowledge about him being released or re-signed?

Yeah CouchSmart is right. Williams and Franno on Setanta were quite critical of Ryan for the Leinster try, as they thought he took long to get off the scrum and to cover Nacewa's line. In fairness he was only a meter away from where he needed to be, but still...

They reckoned Leinster had a plan to target him and also to target Jones positioning at fullback, but Jones seemed to do pretty well.

Thomond, I know you're also a fan of Murray. He did well.

thomond2006

So we're looking at the same team bar POC for next week so? With the ML top spot secure we can focus on the Amlin now and hopefully blood some youngsters in the ML "deadrubbers".

In saying that we should target the Amlin, Brive are not great shakes (jinx )!

Great to see Murray proving himself on the big stage.

phog

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

So did Leinster iirc so you can't say Ryan was disruptive

There was at least one crooked throw for Leinster.

CIARAN_BOYLE

thomond2006 wrote: »

So we're looking at the same team bar POC for next week so?

I'd give Leamy a start instead of Donnacha Ryan at 6, maybe try Nagle at lock rather than giving the second lock shirt to MOD other than that I'd play the same 15 as last time.

Cpt_Blackbeard

thomond2006 wrote: »

So we're looking at the same team bar POC for next week so? With the ML top spot secure we can focus on the Amlin now and hopefully blood some youngsters in the ML "deadrubbers".

In saying that we should target the Amlin, Brive are not great shakes (jinx )!

Great to see Murray proving himself on the big stage.

It would be great to see Nagle trusted with filling in for POC, but MOD will start. Hopefully one of the young backrowers will be in the 23 too.

Monty Burnz

Is it just me, or has MOD really improved in the last 3 years or so? I was never impressed with him in his first stint.

MOD's been absolutely brilliant this season.

Leamy has to start at 6.

profitius

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

So did Leinster iirc so you can't say Ryan was disruptive

Strauss is a better thrower than Varley. Its rare that Varley would throw so well.

LuckyGent88

Monty Burnz wrote: »

Is it just me, or has MOD really improved in the last 3 years or so? I was never impressed with him in his first stint.

Think he has been very good for us since he has come back. Good leader and communicator and has been immense in POC's absence IMO.

CiaranMT

profitius wrote: »

Strauss is a better thrower than Varley. Its rare that Varley would throw so well.

This is true. Though I'd be very glad for it to become a regularity.