Following on from here
New Munster chat thread folks. warning deserved there. https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=109477571#post109477571
I'd take a loss today for a win in the URC down there so with that in mind I'd love to see RG back to his best for those games and the knockout games in the URC
While I would usually go in for a South African team Vs Leinster (Munster are a renowned open rugby team) I don’t think it’s the case today. Munster are building to greater things and a win in Durban would cement their place as a European Gods.
The Sharks draw from that traditional powerhouse of South African rugby in Pietermaritzburg, Hilton College the alma mater of of Bobby Skinstadt and Gary Teichman however I don’t see anyone from Hilton in the team today. Therefore I have no horse in the race.
I don’t see the stars aligning for Munster today with Siya in the team however I have an inkling Crowley could be in for a long day. It’s an upgrade from Joey he’s certainly more robust and will need to be with Etzebeth barrelling down his channel every time he defends.
With McNamara on board the Sharks will have the inside information on how Munster will approach the match but I see the weather 24 degrees in Durban and humidity will play a role. Rowntree has had them warm weather training all week which is a good start it’s whether Munster can keep pace with the likes of Koch and Mapimpi in the beating Durban sun.
This will be a fascinating encounter and I’m hoping for an Irish win. And of course the last word goes to my man the great of Munster rugby Pete O’Mahony. A product of a Leinster coach in Pres who has been targeted by certain Leinster elements for it. We look to you to bring the team forward when so many are ready to pull you down and malign you with a cup of poison. Keep your head high and your eyes on the prize. Munster to win.
Would love to see a big performance from RG today.
Difficult to expect him to be firing on all cylinders after such a long time out, but he could be huge for us on the run in and into next season if he can get close to it. Hopefully he gets a good injury-free run now.
Cronin was a penalty machine and that was 1 of JVG's red flags, he's been gone a few years so it's not Rowntree who had the final say in letting him go.
Also Salanoa was injured for a lot of the last 2 years, has come on massively this season but was taken to the cleaners last week,hopefully he'll learn from that and bounce back today.
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Riveting stuff for the occasional visitor to read as usual. The leinster brains trust think James Cronin is world class since he’s no longer in Ireland and there are problems with selection, boo Van Grann and on and on and on. Sinfully dull and predictable. Weak as piss moderation continues without abandon to facilitate as well of course.
Very difficult to give game time to injured players
totally. and if either of knox/salanoa had gotten their wings in a few games then who cares. theyd have learned a lot more than they did just playing lower level games or not at all.
If the previous coach had actually invested in Salanoa and Knox instead of backing Stephen Archer literally every week, Munster would have less of a problem in the front row. Rowntree is doing this now, to be fair to him. But it should have been done years ago. It's been clear for a long time that Munster aren't going to progress with Archer at TH.
Completely agree with this, and it was the same across the entire front-row.
Archer, Scannell and Killer fit the profile of our senior guys.
Ryan, O’Byrne and Cronin all fit the profile of senior guys who were likely on a decent wedge, with a wage bill that needed to be cut.
Barron, Loughman and Salanoa the next guys up to replace them, all with a good age profile.
And Buckley, Wycherley and Knox the young guys coming up.
That’s loosely what happened.
I can't really think of any egregious cases of the IRFU meddling in selection for Euro games to be fair.
I don't think he did know he was going to be the Manager. Seems to me like Munster did an extensive search and then settled for Rowntree. That or Rowntree didn't want it unless there was absolutely no one else available.
Surprised re Crowley but less surprised given it's deja vu. Carbery has gone from second choice for Ireland to second choice for province in a very short space of time. Tinfoil hat time - IRFU pushing Munster to start Crowley for the remainder of the season (I don't personally believe this but the **** was there to be stirred).
Backs against the wall, just where Munster are at their most dangerous - tomorrow should be a cracker, hoping for an away win!
Where is he in the depth chart if loughman and kilcoyne are fit, and can they afford to pay him how much he would want at that spot?
I think its obvious from the ryan situation that JvG had to do some picking and choosing. The ryan decision was bad. The Cronin one… i dunno. Id pick loughman.
James Cronin starting for Leicester this evening. He'd clearly improve the Munster 23 if still around.
Jackman said on the 42 pod that they weren’t allowed an NIQ hooker. I couldn’t tell you the exact episode but it was this season.
I think its likely that they are getting vetoed. Salanoa and Knox are high potential who need time, and archer/ryan are good players. They also have two looseheads quite high on the irish depth chart. It makes sense to me that they have been vetoed.
I don’t think munster will win this but its a great sign that they picked crowley for this instead of giving carbery chance number 50.
Actually I think phog might have died that night...
Similar humidity that night though!
Oh definitely, but was more thinking from a weather perspective; as much as I like Cork, PuC in November vs Durban are fair differently :)
Or the last time we played so many South African Internationals (in PUC) it completely turned the season around. Complete reset. That's how I'd be selling it.
Any evidence of that, or are you still using the Stephen Moore example from 8 years ago?
see previous answer
What exactly is Rowntree supposed to do? The IRFU have vetoed any attempts he's made to sign in players for those positions
26deg & 75% humidity expected.
We faded badly in the games down there last year as well, hopefully won't be a repeat... 3 big games coming up, a win here would be great going into the other 2.
Crowley getting the 10 shirt. I thought it would be a matter of time, not necessarily a matter of days.
Most importantly, Frisch is back.
The Borks look great on paper, but amusingly their own biggest issue is at 10. Front up and get pressure on him (a lot easier said than done) and the game is there to be won.
Another point could be fitness. Humidity will be very high. And some people have been saying Munster's recent dip in form might reflect burnout from all the S&C work done in-season. Hopefully not the case.
Munster to win. Crowley with a massive effort!. Delighted for Daly and Nash! They've bided their time.
And we’ll score -7000
It might have been a bit tongue in cheek, but he has been around munster since 2019, and known he was going to be head manager for at least a year now.
I think some more front row orientated signings might have been pushed to the fore. Cronin and Ryan are having stormers for other teams in other countries. (for example).. Anyway, lets concentrate on tomorrow.
What do you suggest he does?
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