Munster Team Talk Thread VI - Stander Up and Fight

Jump_In_Jack

Multiple knocks from the Connacht game doesn't sound great, could be a few surprises in the selection for Gloucester.
Pity one of the locks weren't rested against Connacht, but can't complain much as the points were needed.
If except for Farrell and Hanrahan all else are fit,
Would expect,
Kilcoyne, N Scannell, Ryan, Kleyn, Beirne, O'Mahony, Cloete, Stander,
Murray, Carbery, Earls, R Scannell, Goggin, Conway, Haley.
Subs: O'Byrne, Loughman, Archer, Holland, Botha, Mathewson, Bleyendaal, Sweetnam.
Marshall/Wycherley/O'Donnell/Coombes/Johnston/Wootton/Arnold all close calls for starting/benching spots.

Buer

Psycho Killer - "Hands Away" (Prop-Prop-Prrrroppp-Prop, Prop-Prop-Prop-Prrrrrrop-Prop)

On the plus side for Munster's chances, Gloucester's injury list is slightly ridiculous. They were down 17 senior players last weekend by the time the Leicester game started. Willi Heinz, who is one of their key men, injured himself over Christmas and Jaco Kriel picked up a new injury upon his return from injury.

So I'd expect Munster to be in good shape to pick up the win with a little breathing room this Friday. The downside is that Gloucester will be eliminated and Exeter (assuming they beat Castres) are going to be visiting Limerick armed with their kitchen sink.

thomond2006

A new born king to see POM POM POM POM POM

Jones; Earls, Laulala, Downey, J Murphy; Keatley, Murray;
Kilcoyne, Varley, Botha, D Foley, O'Connell, O'Mahony, O'Donnell, Coughlan.

Replacements: Casey, Cronin, Archer, DOC, Stander, Williams, Hanrahan, Zebo

This was the lineup that won in Gloucester in January 2014. 11 of the 23 are still with Munster. CJ Stander would explode onto the scene and become a key Munster starter a few months later.

Former Former

John Hayes Ligind

thomond2006 wrote: »

Jones; Earls, Laulala, Downey, J Murphy; Keatley, Murray;
Kilcoyne, Varley, Botha, D Foley, O'Connell, O'Mahony, O'Donnell, Coughlan.

Replacements: Casey, Cronin, Archer, DOC, Stander, Williams, Hanrahan, Zebo

This was the lineup that won in Gloucester in January 2014. 11 of the 23 are still with Munster. CJ Stander would explode onto the scene and become a key Munster starter a few months later.

At this remove, it's absolutely incredible to think it took Stander so long to establish himself in the Munster team.

thomond2006

A new born king to see POM POM POM POM POM

Former Former wrote: »

At this remove, it's absolutely incredible to think it took Stander so long to establish himself in the Munster team.

I think it took him time to settle. He also missed some of his first season to injury. Around the same time DOC 2.0 established himself in the first choice team before his injury curse struck. Paddy Butler was also getting opportunities behind James Coughlan.

case885

John Hayes Ligind

Penney never really fancied him for some reason, he had a few injuries in his first season alright. That quarter final against Toulouse that he came on early in he was monstrous.

Buer

Psycho Killer - "Hands Away" (Prop-Prop-Prrrroppp-Prop, Prop-Prop-Prop-Prrrrrrop-Prop)

His fitness was nowhere near where it is now. He was a 20 minute player and used as such. Even when he was first capped, he was blowing out his arse after an hour. The change in his fitness levels is ridiculous; he's probably one of the fittest players in the Champions Cup now.

Former Former

John Hayes Ligind

thomond2006 wrote: »

I think it took him time to settle. He also missed some of his first season to injury. Around the same time DOC 2.0 established himself in the first choice team before his injury curse struck. Paddy Butler was also getting opportunities behind James Coughlan.

Yeah, that's my point. Paddy Butler and Dave O'Callaghan were getting opportunities. No offence to the lads but they never belonged in the same paragraph as Stander, no matter how unsettled he was. Penney just didn't fancy him at all, for whatever reason and nothing to do with injury.

CMcsporty

While Keatley was initially linked with London Irish, The42 understands he is now close to agreeing on a deal to join Benetton, who have made great progress under head coach Kieran Crowley and currently sit third in Conference B of the Pro14.

........with scrum-half James Hart another player set to depart in the summer and will likely join a French club.

Meanwhile, South African centre Jaco Taute is set to join Premiership club Leicester Tigers on a two-year contract.

https://www.the42.ie/ian-keatley-benetton-jaco-taute-leicester-4427447-Jan2019/

troyzer

CMcsporty wrote: »

While Keatley was initially linked with London Irish, The42 understands he is now close to agreeing on a deal to join Benetton, who have made great progress under head coach Kieran Crowley and currently sit third in Conference B of the Pro14.

........with scrum-half James Hart another player set to depart in the summer and will likely join a French club.

Meanwhile, South African centre Jaco Taute is set to join Premiership club Leicester Tigers on a two-year contract.

https://www.the42.ie/ian-keatley-benetton-jaco-taute-leicester-4427447-Jan2019/

I really hope that's true. It would be a good move for Keatley and a great move for Treviso.

And what's good for Italian rugby is good for the Pro14.

Win, win, win.

Except for McKinley maybe.

Burkie1203

troyzer wrote: »

I really hope that's true. It would be a good move for Keatley and a great move for Treviso.

And what's good for Italian rugby is good for the Pro14.

Win, win, win.

Except for McKinley maybe.

Keatley can cover multiple positions. Benetton have two guys who are Italian squad regulars.

Bazzo

Psycho Killer - "Hands Away" (Prop-Prop-Prrrroppp-Prop, Prop-Prop-Prop-Prrrrrrop-Prop)

thomond2006 wrote: »

Jones; Earls, Laulala, Downey, J Murphy; Keatley, Murray;
Kilcoyne, Varley, Botha, D Foley, O'Connell, O'Mahony, O'Donnell, Coughlan.

Replacements: Casey, Cronin, Archer, DOC, Stander, Williams, Hanrahan, Zebo

This was the lineup that won in Gloucester in January 2014. 11 of the 23 are still with Munster. CJ Stander would explode onto the scene and become a key Munster starter a few months later.

Technically Jones is still with Munster

Buer

Psycho Killer - "Hands Away" (Prop-Prop-Prrrroppp-Prop, Prop-Prop-Prop-Prrrrrrop-Prop)

Good move for Treviso. Not sure how it's going to be a good move for Keatley. I'm sure there's better prospects on the table elsewhere. If not, it's a bit of a grim situation for him. He'd have had T14 sides interested 1-2 years ago.

I wonder if there's a hint of some involvement after retirement given the Irish presence in Italian rugby.

thomond2006

A new born king to see POM POM POM POM POM

This has become a season off for Keatley more or less, so there's some positive in what is a very disappointing exit for him. Hopefully this will help to prolong his career.

Keatley had some great days in a Munster shirt. His semi-final performance in Marseille in 2014 looked like his emergence but unfortunately things didn't develop as we may have hoped. He was unlucky that his period off-form coincided with injuries to Bleyendaal, Hanrahan and Holland and so he was forced to play a lot of rugby.

Benetton have picked up a very good player. Keatley will surpass 200 appearances in the league with them, I see John Muldoon holds the record of 232 appearances.

aloooof

Psycho Killer - "Hands Away" (Prop-Prop-Prrrroppp-Prop, Prop-Prop-Prop-Prrrrrrop-Prop)

Always liked Keatley, came across as an absolute gent, disappointed for him it didn't quite work out as hoped.

It'll be interesting now to see what happens between JJ and Blyendaal, presuming only one of them will be retained? Originally it seemed like JJ was the preferred option, but Tyler has been getting selected on the bench of late.

Eod100

aloooof wrote: »

Always liked Keatley, came across as an absolute gent, disappointed for him it didn't quite work out as hoped.

It'll be interesting now to see what happens between JJ and Blyendaal, presuming only one of them will be retained? Originally it seemed like JJ was the preferred option, but Tyler has been getting selected on the bench of late.

JJ's contract has been extended to 2021.

aloooof

Psycho Killer - "Hands Away" (Prop-Prop-Prrrroppp-Prop, Prop-Prop-Prop-Prrrrrrop-Prop)

Eod100 wrote: »

JJ's contract has been extended to 2021.

Ah, I missed that! Bleyendaal's still up at the end of the year? (I must look for Thomond's contract post).

Cookiemunster

Psycho Killer - "Hands Away" (Prop-Prop-Prrrroppp-Prop, Prop-Prop-Prop-Prrrrrrop-Prop)

With Keatley gone and Carbery off to the world cup I could see Bleyendaal getting a short term contract, maybe a one year deal if he can stay fit for the rest of the season.

Eod100

aloooof wrote: »

Ah, I missed that! Bleyendaal's still up at the end of the year? (I must look for Thomond's contract post).

Yup, I think off the top of my head it's him, Matthewson (March), Hart, Keatley, Taute, Sherry up this year. I'm probably missing a couple more though!

aloooof

Psycho Killer - "Hands Away" (Prop-Prop-Prrrroppp-Prop, Prop-Prop-Prop-Prrrrrrop-Prop)

Eod100 wrote: »

Yup, I think off the top of my head it's him, Matthewson (March), Hart, Keatley, Taute, Sherry up this year. I'm probably missing a couple more though!

Ronan O'Mahony as well, I think.

BoardAtWork

Eod100 wrote: »

JJ's contract has been extended to 2021.

ITs a bit if a worry that his hip issue seem to have flared up again.

jm08

Psycho Killer - "Hands Away" (Prop-Prop-Prrrroppp-Prop, Prop-Prop-Prop-Prrrrrrop-Prop)

Former Former wrote: »

Yeah, that's my point. Paddy Butler and Dave O'Callaghan were getting opportunities. No offence to the lads but they never belonged in the same paragraph as Stander, no matter how unsettled he was. Penney just didn't fancy him at all, for whatever reason and nothing to do with injury.

James Coughlan was playing some great stuff though.

thomond2006

A new born king to see POM POM POM POM POM

aloooof wrote: »

Ronan O'Mahony as well, I think.

Here's the full list:

Mike Sherry
Ciaran Parker
Sean O'Connor (academy)
Dave O'Callaghan

James Hart
Alby Mathewson (March 2019)
Duncan Williams
Tyler Bleyendaal
Ian Keatley
Jaco Taute
Stephen Fitzgerald
Ronan O'Mahony

BoardAtWork

thomond2006 wrote: »

Here's the full list:

Mike Sherry
Ciaran Parker
Sean O'Connor (academy)
Dave O'Callaghan

James Hart
Alby Mathewson (March 2019)
Duncan Williams
Tyler Bleyendaal
Ian Keatley
Jaco Taute
Stephen Fitzgerald
Ronan O'Mahony

I wouldn't be surprised to see most of them move on. Some may be kept on a year's contract through the RWC, but not much else.

The Lost Sheep

A new born king to see POM POM POM POM POM

thomond2006 wrote: »

Here's the full list:

Mike Sherry
Ciaran Parker
Sean O'Connor (academy)
Dave O'Callaghan

James Hart
Alby Mathewson (March 2019)
Duncan Williams
Tyler Bleyendaal
Ian Keatley
Jaco Taute
Stephen Fitzgerald
Ronan O'Mahony

Probably should get rid of plenty of these players. and in backs get higher quality replacements from the considerable chunk that would be taken off wage bill with those gone

shootermacg

Guess Who's Back, Back Again? JJ's Back, Tell a Friend

I'd love to see Alby Mathewson retained, but probably not on the cards. Shame he's a classy player.

PTH2009

Guess Who's Back, Back Again? JJ's Back, Tell a Friend

Is Fridays game livd on TG4 too

troyzer

PTH2009 wrote: »

Is Fridays game livd on TG4 too

TG4 don't have Heineken cup games.

Thermoman12

Benetton is a good move for Keatley, himself and his bird should enjoy Italy , nice place

Sirius Boner

PTH2009 wrote: »

Is Fridays game livd on TG4 too

Only Virgin have free to air games this weekend...and they are showing the Leinster v Toulouse game