Munster Team Talk Thread - Beirne After Reading

He didn't say DD and RGS were leaving. He said that failing to retain them would be bad coupled with the failure to retain a load of coaching staff over the last few years. Be fair in your criticism or at least read the article.

OK. We'll, maybe you think everything is hunky dory in Munster. I think, for example, an Irish club with a full strength starting backing with only 2 players from the provisional system (Earls and Murray), is not producing enough players through it's provincial system.

Yeah bit what level of quality are those players? Are they going to help munster take the next step to winning trophies? There have been a few great talents over the last few years combined. Coombes, and Casey being stand out examples. Those 2 are even pushing for Ireland matchday squad inclusion. But that's as good as it gets. Are there any recent munster academy graduates getting regular Ireland game time, for example?

I think Alex Kendellen is the only starter in the most recent ireland u20s team from munster's academy. He's a fine player with a bright future ahead of him, but that's not the volume of players necessary to win things.

Saying they promoted the 12 best players doesn't tell you anything about their quality. I think munster needs to produce more players at higher quality. It's hardly a contentious issue in the real world but you could get people to argue almost anything on Boards.

Nobody willing to engage on the point about coach retention? Maybe Lenihan is right on that point?

OK. So coaching turnover isn't the problem (I was pretty clear to not limit it to head coach to include the likes of Larkham, Flannery, Jones etc. but that's ok), player development isn't the problem. What ARE the problems? Or are there a problems at all?

@El_Duderino 09 Which coaches in particular do you think it's poor that they didn't retain?

• Rassie: Invoked IRFU's 6 month clause and lead his home country to a RWC win.
• JVG: Invoked IRFU's 6 month clause. Even with that, I think he's our 2nd longest ever serving coach? Many would have argued a change was need in any case.
• Fla & Felix: Contracts were offered, and they turned them down. Rowntree and Larkham were largely seen as upgrades at the time.
• Larkham: Returning to his home club, specifically mentioning family situation. Pretty understandable after the last 2 years.

In most of those cases, I'm not sure what more Muster could have done?

Lol. Fair one. It's probably boring having to follow rugby all the way to the final rounds of tournamemts.

OK. So coaching seems to be going fine.

What ARE the problems? Or are there a problems at all?

I didn't ignore the point that 12 players were promoted, I'm pretty sure i referred to it more than once. I even acknowledged that 2 of them are near the Ireland squad.

I did question the quality of those players. But you don't seem to have acknowledged that at all.

I know about more than the 2 lads but I was questioning the quality of the 12 (which has been ignored by yourself and the other poster). If the best 2 are nearly getting into Ireland matchday squads, what does that say about the quality of the academy graduates? I've said this already, if you're not engaging with the posts, then maybe it best we leave it here. Enjoy the road to the early knockout rounds if that's what you aspire to. It lengthens the summer break for you anyway. Enjoy.

"If the best 2 are nearly getting into Ireland matchday squads, what does that say about the quality of the academy graduates?"

It says they're all really young and very early in the careers.

If you think academy graduates should be straight away challenging for Irish starting 15 spots, then the issue is with your unrealistic expectation, not with Munster's academy.

As for this: "Enjoy the road to the early knockout rounds if that's what you aspire to. It lengthens the summer break for you anyway. Enjoy."

I can't see how this is anything but trolling tbh.

OK. I've asked you loads of times if you can think of any issues and you said you can't or if you can think of any, you're certainly not sharing them. That's fine. We're just fans. Luckily there are other people paid to identify issues and address them. These things take time.