Munster Team Talk Thread - Beirne After Reading

There are definitely similarities there in how we look to attack outside the 15's. I'd say the main difference is that we are using a lot more inside tip on passes when we go to our forward pods. That's leading to opposition defence's tightening up in midfield and giving us more space out wide. Under Penney we seemed to go from touchline to touchline without committing defenders in the same way. Saying that I do think Penney was shipped on too early and it's difficult to judge how effective he might have been when he wasn't given enough time to fully implement his gameplan.

He had one poor kick to touch into their 22 that was missed (but worked out alright because the winger's chase was good and we got possession back between 22 and 10m... but what I like about him is he doesn't seem phased if he makes a mistake. I've yet to see a game where he goes into his shell or seems rattled.

His passing is a joy, he has a lovely ability to take it to the line, keep the defence honest with his footwork and pass very close to contact.

Aherne has been injured on and off, now he's getting a run he's showing what the promise was about. I wasn't expecting the move to 6 but one of him and Edogbo (who looks to the manor born also) are going to miss out completely if Beirne/Kleyn are both fit... this is a workaround while POM/JOD are injured that appears to be really paying dividends, he's looked at home at 6 but it's still early days. If he keeps this up I'd be keeping him at 6 or on the bench ahead of JOD. POM still starts every day of the week but Aherne coming on would give more impact than JOD you'd think.

Ahern at blindside is paying dividends. Scary pack with him there.

Loughman to me is playing quite well. He's become a late bloomer

As a Leinster fan, I have to give credit to Rowntree. This Munster side is unrecognizable from the dross served up by VG. The youth movement is really stepping up and its hard not to see a couple of them getting international call ups.

When you apply all the context, (and perhaps a tiny bit of hindsight!) it's 100% the correct decision for Ahern to get gametime at 6 right now.

It's too simplistic to say "he's 6"9, he should be a lock". Not all locks are created equal. He does not have the anatomy of a Henderson, a McCarthy, a Kleyn, etc.

He has an anatomy much closer to an Itoje or a Lawes. Rangy, mobile, lighter on their feet. Add that to the extremely rare combination of his size and the skills he has, coming fist from a GAA background, and then mostly playing fullback in schools rugby.

Also, in recent years, any time a promising lock comes through, my first instinct is "don't do to this guy what Schmidt did to James Ryan", i.e., flogging a young man still developing physically to pieces in the tight, and all the injuries and issues that led to. I share that concern with Edogo, tbf, and with Joe McCarthy.

Argh. Terrible for Kleyn, hope it's not serious.

In the space of about a month we've gone from joking about needing to go 7-1 to potentially benching Wycherley in a 5-3.