Following on from here
New Munster chat thread folks. warning deserved there. https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=109477571#post109477571
I don't mean something lined up before season-end, but they're clearly trying to free up some salary / cut loose some guys (and tbf probably doing right by those guys by giving them longer to find something new).
Presumably Munster will have to recruit in the centres now?
Is Nankivell predominantly a 12 or 13?
It seems the only three centre options in the main squad will be Frisch, Nankivell and Scannell, and the option for Crowley to play much rugby there will presumably be much diminished now without having Healy in the squad.
TBH looking at this - it seems like there might have been something to those Bundee to Munster rumours, which even more so now look like they would make good sense on both sides (even though it's since been ruled out).
There isn't an obvious excess of centres across Leinster / Connacht / Ulster to target either. Good Irish centres overseas would be Rory O'Loughlin and Mullingar Sean O'Brien at Exeter, Piers O'Conor at Bristol (Irish qualified I believe) and Dom Morris at Saracens (Oli Morris' brother).
Piers O Conor is irish qualified. Played Ireland u19s with Jeremy Loughman, Gary Ringrose.
lately a 13 but started his earlier career as a 12 (also a few appearances on the wing)
assuming hes a direct swap for Fekitoa, the best combination imo would be Frish 13 nakerville 12, though both are pretty much interchangeable and similarly sized.
Liam Coombes has featured there for us in the past so could be an option, but we do look a bit light, particularly if we want to see Crowley getting more time at 10 (and that being even more likely with Healy leaving).
Can't imagine we'll be allowed sign another NIQ player there so possibly limited options.
It’s not centres we need it’s props and hookers ……our front row is the most critical as regards recruitment ….hopefully we have something up our sleeve as regards there after World Cup …..after that a major problem at 10 with Healy gone ….carbery not in form and Crowley still an unknown and likely to be away on international duty …….going back to last Saturday we were crying out for our 10 to pump
Balls into the corners and relieve pressure
You think that 3 centres is enough to cover a team for a season?
A far bigger need across front row …..we’re lightweight there above any other position
Munster need better signings in the front row yes but they just need signings of any kind for centre. Munster are lightweight in the front row in terms of quality. they are lightweight in terms of number of players and quality in the centre
Daly can play center can’t he?
Though you are losing Farrell, Goggin and Fekitoa. With only 1 inbound. That’s leaving things very tight if there is a long term injury.
Daly was a 13 on the famous Irish U20s team that lost the World Cup final to England.
Apparently he is going to do a few months in Australia in the Schute shield. Get some game time and experience something different culturally while considering his options.
The schute shield started last week.
That would be a cool experience. I thought it might be the States given that just started too, but Australia would be a great place to go and play.
He can, but has been great this season and established himself as first choice wing. I’d be loathe to see him move.
No but if you are losing 3 and only gaining one senior centre. Then he may have to. There aren’t any prospects in the academy coming through are there? It always seems to be a problem position for Munster. Bit like SH for Leinster.
Unless of course they’re planning on moving Crowley there on a more permanent basis.
Even if that was the plan Healy's departure makes it look impossible.
Earls is probably going to retire too further reducing center options. I assume Oli Morris will be out. He just hasn't featured and his contract is up. I wonder if theres any IQ centers available abroad.
I’d be surprised if they don’t sign someone else, tbh.
With Healy leaving, and last weekends selection, it may be an indication Crowley will be preferred at 10 going forward.
And even with Daly and Liam Coombes as cover, 3 senior centres isn’t enough.
Yes but Flannery is coming back next year to fill in for Healy.
Yeah, you wouldn’t think so in such an attritional position. Can’t really think of any IQ players they could attract, so that would mean another NIQ centre.
It was reported in the Sunday Times a couple of weeks ago that Flannery is staying in Ulster on an improved contract, with Madigan departing.
No offence to Goggin but he's exactly the sort of player Munster should be offloading, the problem now is getting someone better.
Is Flannery coming back? I heard the rumour a few months back, but nothings been mentioned since.
Ya, Flannery was rumoured awhile back but nothing was ever confirmed.
Sam Arnold coming back would be another IQ option, but unlikely I'd imagine (he's in the 1st year of a 3 year deal with Brive). I wonder if another NIQ player could be considered, even post-RWC?
Hasn't Earls signed on until post RWC, he may stay on until the end of next season.
Rumours of Flannery comming back but he’s gone backwards since going to Ulster ….can’t see him adding any quality or depth to squad
His contract runs out after the world cup. TBH I doubt we'll see him lining out for Munster again.
Come on lads, it's obvious.
The only central contracts not confirmed for next season are Sexton (retiring), Earls (very likely retiring) and... Aki?
It was rumoured he had renewed, but not announced. Why not, when the IRFU usually make such a big deal of contract extensions?
Because he's going to Munster.
The Aki move would make sense wouldn't it though? Connacht look to have moved on and have an exciting talent in Cathal Forde to build around, and then depth options like Tom Daly (plus academy lads like Daniel Hawkshaw and John Devine - all of whom are 12s).
Sean O'Brien at Exeter might very well be available. They signed him in 2021, so if a 2 year deal he might be coming to the end of a contract.
They already have Rory O'Loughlin (often features on the wing for them though), Henry Slade and a couple of other options in the centre, but just announced the signing of Joe Hawkins (20 year old capped for Wales in the 6N) for next season, so feasible that O'Brien will see a reduction in his game time.
He made the Midi Olympique team of the round this week after his performance at 12 v Montpellier this past weekend.
so Jake Flannerys not going home to Munster anyway.....
that throws the cat amongst the pidgeons a bit
For who? Munster would have been well aware of all these developments.
Does it? He’d be well down the depth chart for either Ulster or Munster.
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