Munster Team Talk Thread - Beirne After Reading

This is the first time I've ever heard any suggestion that Ryan’s concussion issues are because he was "targeted" by opponents.

Ahern is just about to turn 22, that's still very young for a second row. Guys like Ryan and Baird, playing for Ireland at the age of 20/21, are the exception.

Yes those players are the exception. I think Ahern was touted as a potential exception too. He hasn't burst onto the scene as an exceptional player ready to play senior, but that's not the end of the world.

And he's not being rushed. If he was ready, it wouldn't be rushing him to play more senior minutes.

Is Nathan Doak being rushed? Is Murray being rushed at connacht?

He's just not ready yet. It's not a case of them having a star who is ready and they're choosing not to give him more minutes. They're choosing not to give him more minutes because he isn't ready yet. That's not a slight against him and doesn't mean he won't ever be ready, he's still very young. But let's report the situation the way it is.

Bernard Jackman? Anybody!!!

I can't believe one name isn't in the conversation. Lift the phone and give Mark a McCall.

Probably the most experienced and decorated DoR in the NH game today.

Let him pull the strings, and have Rowntree and a conscripted Mike Prendergast run the effort on the field.

If Munster couldn't develop an ambitious and entertaining style out of that lot, well.......

I think Van Grann leaving could be gold for Munster. He's not a top end coach. The replacement coach will be key and I hope Munster get it right.

I would love to see Humphries or McCall get the job, very unlikely though. The thoughts of Baxter at Munster would be mouth watering. There's obviously not a huge selection of coaches available at the moment. I wouldn't be surprised if Easterby took the job.

I think it's too early for ROG and Flannery. Leo is only signed for this season, so Lancaster could potentially take the reins at Leinster, so he is probably not moving.

David Humphreys? What has he done to be the next messiah for Munster?

It does make me laugh that people are talking about Kidney with more seriousness than McCall.

What is this "supposed" bad blood between McCall and IRFU maybe Ulster.

Munster/IRFU could not afford him, the co-investment property schemes at Saracens did include coaching staff, these are all being closed off/down now but given property values in London, McCall must be a wealthy man by now.

Baxter has no intent on leaving Exeter. And even if he did, I don't think he'd be a good fit at Munster.

He's Exeter through and through and that's a large part of why he's been so successful there, similar to Cullen at Leinster. I couldn't see it working with Baxter at Munster.

On McCall, I couldn't see it working either. Saracens' whole game is built around having an enormous, world class pack of The Vunipola's, George, Koch, Itoje, Isiekwe, Earl etc (which he wouldn't have at Munster) and applying massive amounts of pressure with their kicking game and grinding the life out of opponents. That's not the direction Munster should be going in. They've tried that under JVG and it hasn't worked.

What Munster need is a young, energetic, progressive, hands-on coach with a positive, attack-minded philosophy. That's why I think Prendergast or Carolan would be a good fit, with an experienced DOR above them who knows what he's doing.

The exciting thing about Munster is there's so much potential there. I'd argue they have the best young talent in the country.

De Allende leaving could be an opportunity to play Healy and Crowley together at 10 and 12 and play with more width. Shift Carbery to 15 with 2 of Conway, Earls, Zebo and Daly on the wings, and you've a seriously exciting backline.

Munster don't have the behemoths to play the Springbok style, but what they do have are some incredibly mobile and skilful forwards suited to a higher tempo, expansive game like Wycherley, Barron, Knox, Beirne, Ahern, Coombes, Hodnett, JOD, Okeke and Kendellan.

"Munster Rugby and the IRFU are pleased to confirm that Joey Carbery, Liam Coombes, Chris Farrell, Jean Kleyn, Jack O’Sullivan, and Greencore Munster Rugby Academy player Alex Kendellen have all put pen to paper on new contracts.

The six players have signed two-year contract extensions that will see them remain with the province until at least June 2024." Happy days https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2022/01/05/six-munster-players-sign-two-year-contract-extensions/#post

Hang on, you don't think the fact that Rob Baxter was born and raised in Devon and played for Exeter for 14 years, was a contributing factor to why he's been so successful as their DOR?

When did Farrell sign?

And again why not? I just don't get your logic. It would be a dysfunctional rugby team that doesn't consult their head coach.