Munster Team Talk Thread - Beirne After Reading

Id be happy for prendergast to get the role for now. We really need some stability, he has a very strong CV, was seen a good few coaching teams / set ups, and tbf our attack is much improved.

Fekitoa left NZ for money. He stayed in Europe for money. Fair enough.

But not because he wasn't good enough anymore.

He was on £450,000 at Wasps.

At Munster - €300k? Unlikely. €400k? More than likely.

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https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/no-regrets-for-munster-in-not-extending-malakai-fekitoas-short-stay/42364363.html

Munster’s marquee signing this season, World Cup-winning centre Malakai Fekitoa, is cutting short his stay in Limerick and will depart at the end of this campaign.

The 30-year-old former All Black, signed on a two-year deal to replace Springbok World Cup winner Damian de Allende, joined from Wasps but has struggled to make an impact.

I dont really care how some Munster fans bracket the signings….they don't come cheap anyway.

What I do care about is how the CEO of Munster has presided over all of these signings and re-signings, and resignations.

Now 2 Head Coaches in 3 Years have left before their contracts expired….

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Wed Dec 15 2021

An element of mystery continues to surround the decision by Johann van Graan to leave his role as Munster head coach at the end of the current season. Although Munster's statement yesterday said negotiations were at an advanced stage regarding the offer of a new contract, The Irish Times has learned that he agreed a new two-year deal last March and actually signed it in July.

However, van Graan has seemingly activated a release clause in this contract and will now finish up with Munster after five seasons at the helm.

One source told The Irish Times that a deal for him to take over at Bath, the Premiership’s bottom-place club, has already been done, but in addition to the lure of that job it appears there may have been issues at play as well.

Van Graan had been very keen for Munster to re-sign the World Cup-winning pair of RG Snyman and Damian de Allende. Both of those signings are understood to have been funded, at least in part, by the so-called ‘1014’ group of private backers.

But after Snyman’s cruel misfortune in suffering two ruptures of his anterior cruciate ligament there appears to have been a reluctance to sanction a new deal. De Allende is also expected to move after this season, most probably back to Japan.

There appear to be frictions behind the scenes and the exodus may not stop there because in addition to Stephen Larkham - who is returning to the Brumbies as head coach - it is anticipated that defence coach, JP Ferreira, may also accompany van Graan to his next port of call.

Furthermore Graham Rowntree, like Ferreira, is employed directly by Munster and, as with van Graan and Larkham, their contracts also expire at the end of the current season.

Rowntree has done a fine job with the Munster forwards and would be another significant loss if he didn’t re-sign. Indeed, he might even be an option to succeed van Graan.

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/johann-van-graan-activated-release-clause-in-two-year-contract-to-leave-munster-job-1.4755449

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Whatever happened to Rowntree pushed/left/release clause. Munster are in crisis.

Serious change needs to happen. It starts at the top…..

IRFU only get involved in basket cases. See Ulster (McFarland and then CEO Petrie) & Connacht (Kieran Keane).

The IRFU get involved IN ALL Head Coach appointments, the Head Coaches are directly employed by the IRFU and not by the relevant province.

Munster board should be looking for a new CEO, and I think fans deserve that.

Simon Lewis reported that Flanagan was on the short list for the FAI job

Probably.

IRFU definitely will be looking at Munster asking:

What did they provide into the National Team?

• Murray, O’Mahony, Nash, Casey, Crowley & maybe Kendellen

What will they provide into the National Team for RWC 2027?

• Murray, O’Mahony, Nash, Casey, Crowley,
• Ahern, E.Edogbo? S.Edogbo? Gleeson.
• & maybe Kendellen (I have my doubts)

What will they provide beyond RWC 2027?

AND most importantly is the right man in place to maximise a return on the investment of the IRFU money?

IRFU Answer:

We need more. And yet another Head Coach is gone.

Time for a change.

Id counter argue that what is being "provided" is clearly not at the level required.

Crowley is good enough - Bryan Fitzgerald is not good enough.

I'm using Fitzgerald as an extreme example. Fair play to him and he may turn out to be a very good player.

The point is there isn't enough quality coming out of Munster and it looks like the place is in tumult.