Munster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread IV

Buer

*Mod edit: near the 10,000 post mark and pre season is up and running so might as well start the new thread now. old thread here



I see the new away jersey for Munster has been released.

Um....the crest is nice?

http://www.adidas.ie/munster-away-jersey/F88425_310.html


Updated Fixtures 2015/2016 for Munster, Munster A and Ireland

Dates without Kick Off times confirmed are the Fridays of the weekends of the fixture.

Date Day Time Fixture Home Away Venue
08/08/15 Sat 14:30 Test Wales Ireland Millennium Stadium
14/08/15 Fri 19:00 F Munster Grenoble Thomond Park
15/08/15 Sat 17:00 Test Ireland Scotland Aviva Stadium
21/08/15 Fri 19:45 F Munster Connacht Thomond Park
28/08/15 Fri 19:00 F Munster London Irish Irish Independent Park
29/08/15 Sat 14:30 Test Ireland Wales Aviva Stadium
05/09/15 Sat 19:45 Pro12 Munster Treviso Irish Independent Park
05/09/15 Sat 14:30 Test England Ireland Twickenham Stadium
13/09/15 Sun 14:30 Pro12 Ospreys Munster Liberty Stadium
19/09/15 Sat 14:30 RWC-PD Ireland Canada Millennium Stadium
27/09/15 Sun 16:45 RWC-PD Ireland Romania Wembley Stadium
02/10/15 Fri 18:00 Pro12 Munster Glasgow Thomond Park
04/10/15 Sun 16:45 RWC-PD Ireland Italy Olympic Stadium
11/10/15 Sun 16:45 RWC-PD France Ireland Millennium Stadium
17/10/15 Sat 13:30 Pro12 Munster Cardiff Irish Independent Park
17/10/15 RWC QF
23/10/15 Fri 19:05 Pro12 Scarlets Munster Parc y Scarlets
24/10/15 RWC SF
30/10/15 Fri 18:00 Pro12 Munster Ulster Thomond Park
31/10/15 RWC Final
07/11/15 Sat 17:15 Pro12 Edinburgh Munster Murrayfield
13/11/15 Fri 19:45 B&I Cup London Scottish Munster A Athletic Grounds
13/11/15 ERCC
20/11/15 B&I Cup Munster A Yorkshire
20/11/15 ERCC
28/11/15 Sat 17:15 Pro12 Munster Connacht Thomond Park
06/12/15 Sun 14:30 Pro12 Dragons Munster Rodney Parade
11/12/15 B&I Cup Munster A Ospreys PS
11/12/15 ERCC
18/12/15 B&I Cup Ospreys PS Munster A
18/12/15 ERCC
27/12/15 Sun 17:15 Pro12 Munster Leinster Thomond Park
02/01/16 Sat 15:00 Pro12 Ulster Munster Kingspan Stadium
09/01/16 Sat 17:15 Pro12 Cardiff Munster Cardiff Arms Park
15/01/16 B&I Cup Yorkshire Munster A
15/01/16 ERCC
23/01/16 Sat B&I Cup Munster A London Scottish
22/01/16 ERCC
29/01/16 Pro12 Zebre Munster
07/02/16 Sun 15:00 6N Ireland Wales Aviva Stadium
12/02/16 Pro12 Munster Ospreys Irish Independent Park
13/02/16 Sat 15:25 6N France Ireland Stade de France
19/02/16 Pro12 Glasgow Munster
26/02/16 Pro12 Treviso Munster
27/02/16 Sat 16:50 6N England Ireland Twickenham Stadium
04/03/16 Pro12 Munster Dragons Thomond Park
12/03/16 B&I Cup QF
12/03/16 Sat 13:30 6N Ireland Italy Aviva Stadium
19/03/16 Sat 17:00 6N Ireland Scotland Aviva Stadium
25/03/16 Pro12 Munster Zebre Thomond Park
By End of March B&I Cup SF
01/04/16 Pro12 Leinster Munster
08/04/16 ERCC QF
09/04/16 B&I Cup F
15/04/16 Pro12 Connacht Munster Sportsground
23/04/16 ERCC SF
29/04/16 Pro12 Munster Edinburgh Irish Independent Park
06/05/16 Pro12 Munster Scarlets Thomond Park
13/05/16 ERCC F
20/05/16 Pro12 SF
27/05/16 Pro12 F

Teferi

Buer wrote: »

I see the new away jersey for Munster has been released.

Um....the crest is nice?

http://www.adidas.ie/munster-away-jersey/F88425_310.html

It's a new tactic Munster are trying out - they'll be hard to spot if they blend in with the grass.

razorblunt

Adidas are running through their neon palette, first yellow now green, the next home jersey will be neon red, get yours to complete the HighlighterTrilogy™

Newtown90

They must be expecting a lot of flood light failures!

Its shocking, last years was much nicer.

Won't be splashing out for that anyhow.

letowski

It's a clever ploy to console the lads who aren't getting picked in the other green shirts!

crasy dash

Sticking my neck out here ill admit kind of like it :eek:
Think ill wait and see what it looks like in real life though in a shop before
i buy it !!!!!!!!!!!

As herself would say your tapped when it comes to munster.:P

.ak

Is that the European jersey?

RuggieBear

the stag relief looks a bit true detective to me...

Doubles as a high-vis vest for all those who cycle to games.

awec

The design thing on the front of it is unnecessary. Adds nothing to the shirt - just looks wrong.

thomond2006

May as well repost my squad post from a while ago for everyone's convenience!

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/rugby/academy.php
http://www.munsterrugby.ie/rugby/first_team_squad.php

IN:
Martin Kelly (prop, Trinity), Shane Buckley (flanker, academy), Robin Copeland (number eight, Cardiff Blues),
Johnny Holland (fly-half, academy), Tyler Bleyendaal (fly-half, Crusaders), Andrew Smith (centre, Brumbies)

OUT:
Ger Slattery (hooker, released - training contract), Quentin McDonald (hooker, Chiefs), Darren O'Shea (academy lock, Worcester), Ian Nagle (lock, tbc), Niall Ronan (flanker, retired), James Coughlan (number eight, Pau),
Gerry Hurley (scrum-half, released), James Downey (centre, Glasgow Warriors), Casey Laulala (centre, Racing Métro)


HOOKERS

Mike Sherry 2015
Damien Varley 2015
Duncan Casey 2016
Niall Scannell 2015

Max Abbott Year 1

PROPS

James Cronin 2016
Dave Kilcoyne undisclosed

BJ Botha 2015
Stephen Archer 2015
John Ryan 2016
Alan Cotter 2015
Martin Kelly 2015 - ARRIVING

Niall Horan Year 2
Rory Burke Year 2
Brian Scott Year 1

LOCKS

Paul O'Connell 2016
Donnacha Ryan 2017
Donncha O'Callaghan 2016
Dave Foley 2015
Billy Holland 2016

Sean McCarthy Year 2
John Madigan Year 2
Darragh Moloney Year 1

FLANKERS

Peter O'Mahony 2015
Dave O'Callaghan 2015
Sean Dougall 2015
Tommy O'Donnell 2016
Barry O'Mahony 2015
Shane Buckley 2015 - FROM ACADEMY

Ryan Murphy Year 3

NUMBER EIGHTS

Robin Copeland 2016 - ARRIVING
Paddy Butler 2015
CJ Stander 2016

Jack O'Donoghue Year 3

SCRUM-HALVES

Conor Murray 2016
Cathal Sheridan 2016
Duncan Williams 2015

Jack Cullen Year 2
Ryan Foley Year 1
Jame Glynn Year 1

FLY-HALVES

Ian Keatley 2015
JJ Hanrahan 2015
Tyler Bleyendall 2017 - ARRIVING
Johnny Holland 2015 - FROM ACADEMY

Gearoid Lyons Year 2

CENTRES

Ivan Dineen 2015
Cian Bohane 2015
Andrew Smith 2015 - ARRIVING

Rory Scannell Year 2
Dan Goggin Year 1

WINGERS

Simon Zebo 2016
Keith Earls 2016
Gerhard Van Den Heever 2015
Johne Murphy 2015
Andrew Conway 2015
Luke O'Dea 2015
Ronan O'Mahony 2015

Alex Wootton Year 2
Greg O'Shea Year 2

FULLBACKS

Felix Jones 2015
Denis Hurley 2015

Darren Sweetnam Year 3
David Johnston Year 2
Stephen Fitzgerald Year 1

The Lost Sheep

If posting full squad may as well have Academy list for next season put here as well

Prop
Niall Horan Year 2
Rory Burke Year 2
Brian Scott Year 1

Hooker
Max Abbott Year 1

Second Row
Sean McCarthy Year 2
John Madigan Year 2
Darragh Moloney Year 1

Back-Row
Ryan Murphy Year 3
Jack O'Donoghue Year 3

Scrumhalf
Jack Cullen Year 2
Ryan Foley Year 1
Jame Glynn Year 1

Outhalf
Gearoid Lyons Year 2

Centre
Rory Scannell Year 2
Dan Goggin Year 1

Back Three
Darren Sweetnam Year 3
David Johnston Year 2
Alex Wootton Year 2
Greg O'Shea Year 2
Stephen Fitzgerald Year 1

thomond2006

How did I know you'd bring the academy up?

Thanks, I've added them to the above.

Stan27

Starting team predictions?

The Lost Sheep

thomond2006 wrote: »

How did I know you'd bring the academy up?

Thanks, I've added them to the above.

When might we get pro12 fixtures? Was middle July last year. Same again this year?

thomond2006

Stan27 wrote: »

Starting team predictions?

Assuming all fit:

Killer, Casey, Botha, POC, Foley, POM, TOD, Copeland;
Murray, Keatley, Conway, JJH, Earls, GVDH, Zebo

Bench: Sherry, Cronin, Archer, Ryan, Stander, Sheridan, Bleyendaal, Murphy

Duncan Casey was the find of last season. I think he'll be the starter by the end of the season and pushing for RWC15.

It might not be in his best interests for Ireland but I really think Zebo could be our best fullback. He's got the aerial and kicking game and didn't look out of place there at international level under Kidney. Conway really got motoring towards the end of the season when he stopped getting injured and I think he'll push on from here.

CIARAN_BOYLE

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

When might we get pro12 fixtures? Was middle July last year. Same again this year?

Probably when the league has a sponsor to put fancy banners on their website.

Tomtom364

thomond2006 wrote: »

Assuming all fit:

Killer, Casey, Botha, POC, Foley, POM, TOD, Copeland;
Murray, Keatley, Conway, JJH, Earls, GVDH, Zebo

Bench: Sherry, Cronin, Archer, Ryan, Stander, Sheridan, Bleyendaal, Murphy

Duncan Casey was the find of last season. I think he'll be the starter by the end of the season and pushing for RWC15.

It might not be in his best interests for Ireland but I really think Zebo could be our best fullback. He's got the aerial and kicking game and didn't look out of place there at international level under Kidney. Conway really got motoring towards the end of the season when he stopped getting injured and I think he'll push on from here.

Think we are alot more likely to see

Killer, Sherry, Botha, POC, Ryan, POM, TOD, Copeland;
Murray, JJH, Zebo, Keatley, Smith, Earls, Jones

Bench: Casey, Cronin, Archer, Foley, Stander, Sheridan, Bleyendaal, Conway

thomond2006

Edinburgh (H)
Treviso (A)
Zebre (A)
Ospreys (H)
Leinster (A)
Scarlets (H)

First six matches before the start of ERCC. All three home matches in Thomond Park. The first four matches are not very intimidating, should be looking at 16-17 points.

We go to Leinster first this year, in a switch back to the usual order.

The big change is we host Leinster on Stephen's Day weekend! How cool will that be! That period looks like the most tricky - Glasgow (A) on 19-21 Dec, Leinster (H) 26-28 Dec, Connacht (A) 2-4 Jan.

crasy dash

Great stuff Thomond!!!
Anybody on here ever gone to a munstre match in Italy thinking this year might head out to one?

slingerz

thomond2006 wrote: »

Edinburgh (H)
Treviso (A)
Zebre (A)
Ospreys (H)
Leinster (A)
Scarlets (H)

First six matches before the start of ERCC. All three home matches in Thomond Park. The first four matches are not very intimidating, should be looking at 16-17 points.

We go to Leinster first this year, in a switch back to the usual order.

The big change is we host Leinster on Stephen's Day weekend! How cool will that be! That period looks like the most tricky - Glasgow (A) on 19-21 Dec, Leinster (H) 26-28 Dec, Connacht (A) 2-4 Jan.

I think there is development ongoing at Musgrave park is that why soem fixtures in the new year are TBA??

The Lost Sheep

slingerz wrote: »

I think there is development ongoing at Musgrave park is that why soem fixtures in the new year are TBA??

There is work in Musgrave turning the temporary stand that has been in place for past few seasons into a permanent stand as well as other work around the ground. Musgrave will get its 4 fixtures in new year.

Cookiemunster

slingerz wrote: »

I think there is development ongoing at Musgrave park is that why soem fixtures in the new year are TBA??

Yeah, no Musser games until 2015. There are 6 home games in 2015, but no venues have been announced. I doubt they'll announce these until they know when the new stand will be open.

ssaye2

UNREAL

slingerz

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Yeah, no Musser games until 2015. There are 6 home games in 2015, but no venues have been announced. I doubt they'll announce these until they know when the new stand will be open.

i'd imagine musgrave will get a few especially given the rebranding to irish independant park

Cookiemunster

slingerz wrote: »

i'd imagine musgrave will get a few especially given the rebranding to irish independant park

It will get the normal 4 games. They can't confirm which games yet as they don't know if it'll be ready for January.

.ak

ssaye2 wrote: »

UNREAL

Cool shot. The man is in top condition by the looks of it too.

Must rig something like that up in the garden to practice passing.

CIARAN_BOYLE

.ak wrote: »

Cool shot. The man is in top condition by the looks of it too.

Must rig something like that up in the garden to practice passing.

Except yours will probably be a hoola hoop :P

Henry Ford III

crasy dash wrote: »

Great stuff Thomond!!!
Anybody on here ever gone to a munstre match in Italy thinking this year might head out to one?

I went to both last season, and have just booked to go again. It's a fantastic trip.

crasy dash

Henry Ford III wrote: »

I went to both last season, and have just booked to go again. It's a fantastic trip.

Lucky you think i might be able to head to one .
Must do a bit of research who did you fly with feel free to pm as i do not want to take this thread off topic.

vienne86

ssaye2 wrote: »

UNREAL

That guy is incredible - has he ever had a serious injury? He seems to just bounce around like a rubber ball. I wish he was still in Ireland, but I'm delighted to see his career still going so well in England.

Feeder

crasy dash wrote: »

Lucky you think i might be able to head to one .
Must do a bit of research who did you fly with feel free to pm as i do not want to take this thread off topic.

Can you include me in those PM's also re the Italian trip ? Considering a match over but would go to 2 if the timings and cost worked out OK

thomond2006

Soooo...expectations?

Team Achievements

- Qualifying from the ERCC pool is a realistic expectation
- Pro12 expectation should be at least a playoff spot and a home semi-final should be a realistic goal.
- Taking a leaf out of the strategic plan here: to be the top Irish team within the interprovincial derbies.
- We haven't beaten Leinster away since 2008/09 so that scalp would be very welcome!

Player/Unit Specific

- Some backplay and good attacks off first phase - basically banishing the phantom known as Simon Mannix.
- That Duncan Casey fulfils his potential, he's my bolter tip for a squad spot at RWC15.
- Robin Copeland and/or CJ Stander have big boots to fill after the loss of James Coughlan. Coughlan was coming to the end but was still playing at a high standard.
- Developing a replacement for BJ Botha - realistically this is his last year. Archer has shown promise but he needs to stop getting injured at crucial times.
- Developing a backup for Conor Murray - Sheridan is decent and Williams is never going to be an option. There are three scrumhalves in the academy, the only position where there are three players for one field position, so this seems to an issue the management are keen to address. Those academy players are likely to get an opportunity during the season following the departure of Gerry Hurley. Former academy player Paul Rowley is now on London Welsh's books too so he might be one to watch, he was unlucky to be in the same year of the academy as Murray.

former legend

thomond2006 wrote: »

Soooo...expectations?

Team Achievements

- Qualifying from the ERCC pool is a realistic expectation
- Pro12 expectation should be at least a playoff spot and a home semi-final should be a realistic goal.
- Taking a leaf out of the strategic plan here: to be the top Irish team within the interprovincial derbies.
- We haven't beaten Leinster away since 2008/09 so that scalp would be very welcome!

Come at us, bro!

I think all those are achievable, coming out on top of the interpros would go a long way to securing a home playoff in the league. It's a tough draw in the ERCC, away wins are going to be very hard to come by and I think only the pool winner is likely to progress so it's a major challenge.

I know Munster have been "in transition" for about six years now but I think we know less about your team selection and its prospects than ever. Success will depend massively on O'Connell being able for it again, O'Mahony being fully recovered and, as you say yourself, some sort of coherent back play.

CatFromHue

Did I read somewhere that Jones has just had an operation or something and will miss the start of the season?

thomond2006

CatFromHue wrote: »

Did I read somewhere that Jones has just had an operation or something and will miss the start of the season?

Haven't seen anything but that's terrible for the bloke. He's our version of Luke Fitz at this stage. He's in the last year of his current contract as well so you'd be concerned for him if he has another injury ravaged year.

ssaye2

CatFromHue wrote: »

Did I read somewhere that Jones has just had an operation or something and will miss the start of the season?

think that MF thread is a year old and someone commented

S12b

ssaye2 wrote: »

UNREAL

I haven't seen him play for a long time now, is he still performing at a high level for Bath? His conditioning is insane.....shoulder striations on a rugby player!!:eek::eek:

S12b

S12b wrote: »

I haven't seen him play for a long time now, is he still performing at a high level for Bath? His conditioning is insane.....shoulder striations on a rugby player!!:eek::eek:

Yeah he's been going really well for them tbf.

S12b

Raiden Wide Pekinese wrote: »

Yeah he's been going really well for them tbf.

Is he getting in most match day squads? He may be perfectly happy in Bath (it is a beautiful town) but he could be a great signing for one of the Irish provinces.

Ulster: outside of Pienaar, Marshall's form has disappeared and the rest are very average

Connacht: might be ok this season with Cooney coming in, next season?? 20 mins off the bench for Marmion and a whole lot of experience and expertise to the squad.

CatFromHue

S12b wrote: »

Is he getting in most match day squads? He may be perfectly happy in Bath (it is a beautiful town) but he could be a great signing for one of the Irish provinces.

Ulster: outside of Pienaar, Marshall's form has disappeared and the rest are very average

Connacht: might be ok this season with Cooney coming in, next season?? 20 mins off the bench for Marmion and a whole lot of experience and expertise to the squad.

Check it out for yourself
http://www.premiershiprugby.com/matchcentre/fixtures/squads.php?player=4145&includeref=dynamic

He's doing very well it seems.

Riskymove

CatFromHue wrote: »

Check it out for yourself
http://www.premiershiprugby.com/matchcentre/fixtures/squads.php?player=4145&includeref=dynamic

He's doing very well it seems.

yes he generally starts or came on as a sub all season

stats above don't include Amlin where he also played regularly

letowski

I hope Archer's injury situation with his neck is fully resolved, he was out from the HEC QF onwards (I think).

It's a very worrying situation for a prop and Munster seemed to hush the whole thing up, despite it ending his season. This season is huge for him, he played a good HEC game against Gloucester amongst a few others, and he needs to show the management he can take over the mantle from BJ, when he leaves.

Cookiemunster

letowski wrote: »

I hope Archer's injury situation with his neck is fully resolved, he was out from the HEC QF onwards (I think).

It's a very worrying situation for a prop and Munster seemed to hush the whole thing up, despite it ending his season. This season is huge for him, he played a good HEC game against Gloucester amongst a few others, and he needs to show the management he can take over the mantle from BJ, when he leaves.

From here last week.

On the injury front there was positive news for Cathal Sheridan (forearm), Mike Sherry (knee) and Stephen Archer (neck) as they all commenced pre-season training on Monday.

Hagz

Here's the video of it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKmdMd82RjE

phog

An interview with Ian Costelloe

Micky Dolenz

crasy dash wrote: »

Great stuff Thomond!!!
Anybody on here ever gone to a munstre match in Italy thinking this year might head out to one?

Henry Ford III wrote: »

I went to both last season, and have just booked to go again. It's a fantastic trip.

I'm going to at least one of them. Hopefully both.

Italy beers?

Cookiemunster

Bad news for the people planning on travelling to Italy. The Zebre away game on the weekend of Sep 20th has been moved to Thomond Park according to the fixture list on the Munster and Pro12 websites.

Micky Dolenz

Looks like it's the 9th of January now.

Suits me better, head to head weekends are a wallet buster.

thomond2006

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Looks like it's the 9th of January now.

Suits me better, head to head weekends are a wallet buster.

It doesn't leave much room for deciding what four fixtures go to Musgrave.

- 15 Feb Cardiff
- 1 Mar Glasgow
- 29 Mar Connacht
- 26 Apr Treviso
- 17 May Dragons

Four of those will be played in Cork. I imagine Glasgow or Connacht will be the odd one out otherwise you'll have too much of a pile up.

The switch does make Munster's start look a bit easier now:

- Edinburgh (H)
- Treviso (A)
- Zebre (H)
- Ospreys (H)
- Leinster (A)
- Scarlets (H)

4 wins minimum with a few bonus points is a reasonable expectation.

crasy dash

@thomond any idea what day the munster v treviso in september is due to be played on?