Munster Team Talk Thread - Beirne After Reading

snotboogie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123489818#Comment_123489818

Is there any other professional rugby team in the world where a city without a full time professional team, ships 15+ players to make a team in a smaller city viable? If 60% of the local players in Ulster were from Derry, you can be damn sure there would be massive calls to move games there. If Connacht played their games in Sligo, you can be sure there would be calls to move games to Galway. As I've said before, this performative incredulity is so tiresome. It's blindly obvious why Munster are moving games to Cork. It's by a mile the largest city in the province and supplies over 50% of the local players.

50HX

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123490259#Comment_123490259

So now we have a suggestion that games would be played within the provence where the majority of players are from?

Pity about them, it's a pro game & players can choose where to live, like all of us in the working world.

The game to PUC is purely a revenue generator, similarly the castlebar game this season.

Its about growing the base.

The time to have a discussion re moving more& more games to Cork was pre Thomond development. That ship has sailed & Munster like Connaught & Ulster now have a dedicated stadium for rugby

Yes there will be a few games in Cork but this thought process that games should be played where the majority of players are living is bizarre.

timothydec77

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123490468#Comment_123490468

In a professional sport its largely irrelevant where the players are from. The New York Yankees recruit from all across America for example.

In my humble opinion Limerick is saturated with Rugby as seen by failure to sell out Argentina 15 game so far.

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123490251#Comment_123490251

Oh yeah the other 8 of us are getting associate membership, which is now officially called "membership without a season ticket." But while we used to make a big deal and go to the effort of going to all the games we might not be overly bothered now, especially with the smaller ones. In fact we are thinking with the savings we might book a group holiday and go to the away Euro game in January

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123490259#Comment_123490259

Our professional team isn't based in a city though, it's based in a province, which, like it or not, cork are a big part of. Cork is an important part of the team, hence why Musgrave Park, a fu-king brilliant rugby stadium, is there.

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123490538#Comment_123490538

I'd be more inclined to think Cork is more saturated with Rugby, they have all the pre-seasons, the U20s 6N, the Womens 6N and 3 competitive games, only one of which was a sellout

Cookiemunster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123490538#Comment_123490538

The Argentina game hasn't sold out because 1) it's only May and there are still 6 months to the game and 2) Argentina XV isn't exactly a glamour fixture.

Remember that the Crusaders game in PuC only sold out in the weeks coming up to the game.

Also, Thomond Park needs fans to travel from all over the province to sell out. It's not a Limerick supporter base thing when it doesn't sell out.

Jump_In_Jack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123489119#Comment_123489119

Irish times 11th June 2023:

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/2023/06/10/irish-rugbys-player-contract-model-looking-more-attractive-by-the-day/

“Let’s crunch some specific numbers. The standard Academy contract is €8,000 and, under the new collective agreement negotiated between Rugby Players Ireland (RPI) and the IRFU, there are no longer development contracts; they fall under the umbrella heading of a senior contract, which starts at €15,000-€20,000 up to €350,000 for the top-end provincial contract.

A younger player on a senior provincial contract can earn from €80,000 to €100,000 while a regular provincial player who hasn’t played international rugby will be on somewhere between €100,000 to €150,000. National central contracts – or “IRFU contracts” to give them their old tagline – can range from €500,000 to €600,000 with an upper ceiling of roughly €700,000 for a select vestry.”

budhabob

TBF, of all sports rugby holds the higher risk of serious injury that will impact both playing and personal life for a number of months during recovery.

Regular squad players should be paid bloody well as a result.

sleepyman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123491253#Comment_123491253

Without a doubt.I'm just wondering if Munster give the same amount to all players on their initial contract or are certain players who are flagged as higher ceiling get paid more.

For instance would Munster put more monetary value on an Edwin Edogbo than say a Shay Mccarthy( who I think moves up to a full contract the year after next)

perverseostrich

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123489267#Comment_123489267

100% lenihan is a dose

perverseostrich

Games in tipp and kerry would be great

Musgrave generally sells out as does puc not sure what your attendance expectation is

perverseostrich

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123490468#Comment_123490468

Every game is about generating revenue

Jofspring

I'd have no problem travelling to cork for a champions cup game if the stadium was anywhere other than PUC. It's not even the getting to it is the problem, it starts when you try to get away from it. The traffic around thomond park is usually cleared in about 30 minutes. Worst case scenario I've seen is about 45 minutes. I was down for the South Africa game and it took 1 hour 30 just to get out to the motorway and then it was another 1 hour 20 home. Only way it might work is an early kick off, 3pm and at least you can take your time going home and not have the rush to get on the road. Anything in the evening will be a disaster.

Also I saw the view some of my friends at the games had and they were awful. The low terrace at either end and low seating in the stand they couldn't see anything at all on the other side of the pitch. Mine in the middle of the stand was ok though.

timothydec77

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123491917#Comment_123491917

Those travel times would be nothing unusual going the other way from Limerick to Cork.

As I said previously it took me 3 hours on the supporters bus to gey from Thomond to Cotk a few years ago.

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123491917#Comment_123491917

The kickoff time will likely be chosen by the broadcaster, such is the nature of the Champions Cup fixtures. If memory serves we knew the KO times of the last 2 PUC games before they went on sale, which I imagine helped with ticket sales.

The low terraces and seating arrangements is less of an issue in hurling or football as their respective balls are never in one part of the pitch for too long. Rugby isn't played similarly. I don't know about PUC but I remember in Croker you couldn't bring your pint to your seat which was ridiculous. Imposed by the GAA apparently so I assume the same is true at PUC?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123491955#Comment_123491955

It can take 40 minutes just to get out of the Blackash P&R sometimes depending on the crowd at Musgrave. I usually take the ring road and the M8 to Mitchelstown and onwards from there to Limerick on the backroad. Roughly the same distance but cuts out all the traffic in Cork City, Mallow, Butevant and Charleville

shootermacg

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123492611#Comment_123492611

OK, you're not going, we get it. Nothing you can say will make you sound less entitled.

Times are tough, I want the team to make more money when possible.

its a bigger province than Cork & Limerick lads.

Personally not a fan of PUC as a stadium…especially for rugby. Its just not a great place to go see a game and its not brilliant for GAA either in my own experience but I've only been twice.

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123492640#Comment_123492640

Correct, times are tough and a risk has been taken here to try and boost ticket sales. I assume that I'm like yourself and hope it works out financially? If it does work financially I see no reason not to do it again next season or look at moving other games to PUC like the interprovincials or the remaining European/World cup game

I think the main difference between our opinions is that I don't see it working financially on account of lost season ticket revenue that I think will accompany this decision. To a smaller extent the lost hospitality/sponsorship revenue

I do hope I am wrong though

Miley Byrne

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123491917#Comment_123491917

Where did you park and where did you travel from?

The traffic around Thomond being cleared in 30 minutes is partly due to there being half the crowd of what was in PUC. I'm not defending PUC as a rugby venue (in my opinion GAA pitches are just too big for them to work as a rugby venue) but as a GAA venue it is superb. Park in the right place, stroll out to the ground in 25 mins and the same back after and you should have minimal traffic issues. Park near the ground (any ground) and you will have issues. Better again get the train. 25 minute walk out to PUC.

irishleeds

Whats the general consensus on the game this weekend?

Going to be a really good day of rugby and hopefully finish up with a result. Be great to keep POM and Murray going for another bit.

Bit worried about the scrum and also the ref, but hopefully Adamson is consistently bad for both teams. All you can hope for with him really.

I remember when nobody cares about the Pro12/14 so its a great feeling going into a URC 1/4 final with nerves and all the anxiety that comes with a big game. Apologies for my non-sensical rambling but am very excited for the game Saturday.

Mumhan abu!

Brief_Lives

Is it dusty in here.

Thank you Andrew…

https://www.instagram.com/p/DKMReGdCci-/?img_index=1&igsh=cnpyYWtkb2x0cTN4

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123493035#Comment_123493035

I think with the injury profile of the squad looking pretty good, we have a shot here. We'll obviously need to keep Crowley on the field for the 80 as Burns is injured and Tony Butler isn't in the picture, but pair him with Casey in the form he's in, and I think they could give us a chance here. Couple that with Tom Farrell's form and his ability to release our pacy outside backs and I think we can get scores here.

I'd have similar worries about the scrum tho - it didn't go well at all the last day, and Sharks are pretty formidable in that area - but on the plus side, the lineout was up to 100% on our own throw, amazingly. A more significant improvement than we could have hoped for, and it showed. (I think our only maul tries this season have come in the last 2 games?).

Bookies have it a one score game I think. We'll have to keep things tight, and not let it get away from us (like the CC game did last season) but I think we can pull off an upset here…

budhabob

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123493055#Comment_123493055

Such a legend, and while that term gets thrown about a bit too much, Conway had such massive moments in the Munster shirt and became part of the leadership core of the team...such a shame injury robbed years from him as he still had pace & power to birn

budhabob

We have a reasonably solid front 3 starting and on the bench with Barron and Loughman back. They are very unlikely to compete, but will hopefully hold out.

ionadnapóca

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123493067#Comment_123493067

Hard to keep it tight. Defence was opened up pretty easily v Benetton.

Eod100

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123492611#Comment_123492611

Fairly sure you could bring a pint to your seat at rhe PUC matches. Should be the rules of whoever is hiring the stadium tbh.

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123493577#Comment_123493577

Agreed, gonna be an eye opener for the NFL when they come to croker

Eod100

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123493605#Comment_123493605

It will be interesting to see what they do there but I think the GAA will let the American visitors do what they want

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123493638#Comment_123493638

I think you are correct, lucky them

StormForce13

Gutted to see that, yet again, Mike Adamson has been foisted on Munster. It's probably going to be the most competitive - and potentially the best - of the quarter finals, so it could really have done with a better referee.