Munster Team Talk Thread - Beirne After Reading

What's going on with McSweeney? Is he injured? Year 3 academy prop, probably the largest front row on Munsters books, Ive only seen him play a single game for Munster since joining, against Ireland 20's, where he looked like a young Ugo Antonio (admittedly as the second oldest player on the pitch) and is apparently so off it that he can't be put on the bench for a friendly game in the midst of one of the worst injury crises at prop ever at Munster. If players are that far off the pro level why are they being kept on for three years in the academy? Could say similar about Okeke last year and Gibbons before he got injured. I would have thought that big prospects like Edogbo and O'Leary Kareem should be seeing some minutes in games like these too.

That Article mentions there only being five fit props on Munsters books. As far as I know, George Hadden is fit (i.e. the fifth fit prop) which would imply that Dweeney is injured.

That comparison was specifically "in purely economic terms". I think most Munster fans would agree with him. And disagree that constitues twisting the knife.

I also don't think most Munster fans expected him to be the next Munster manager. He says himself, he hopes it will be in the Test arena. That's what you'd expect for a double-European winning manager of the calibre of ROG.

Murray Kinsella has spoken a bit more about the Rowntree departure on today's Rugby Weekly podcast.

Apparently the tour to South Africa was a very unhappy one. Talked about rifts between coaches and players being magnified in that tour bubble. Also about the frustration Rowntree had over being unable to completely remodel the squad like he wanted to. Lost Frisch and Snyman and wasn't allowed to cut Murray and POM.

A lot of lads way past due to move on. Stop with the jobs for the boys and be serious and ruthless about building a squad to compete.

And who cares where they are from.

Stuff coming from the likes of Kinsella is less likely to be bogus than most online gossip. He's a real journalist with ethics and a reputation to protect.

When a coach is shown the door and lost the locker room the players are 'generally' ok if not happy with the decision and they'll keep their head down, like in the examples you gave.

There have been some trying to frame the Rowntree situation as a coach beloved by the players who decided to leave to take a moral stand against IRFU interference, in which case you'd expect even a few players to voice support in some format, even if it is just wishing him well on social media.

With the limited info we have, it suggests the former situation has occurred.

why would they wish him well through a post on Instagram when they can just do it in person or over a phone call.

I've always been a fan of ROG, biased of course because I'm a Cork man. But I have to say his comments about Munster appear very disrespectful, more so to the legion of fans! I remember a time long ago when he said he was happier playing for Munster than Ireland. Munster will turn things around and hopefully come up against La Rochelle in the champions cup. Munster fans have given ROG some of his best playing days, the 1000s travelling to France every year in the quest for a first Heineken cup. If you can't respect the people running Munster, at least show respect to the fan base that made you who you are!

Agree you shouldn’t believe everything you hear but no point having your head in the sand either.

You previously mentioned rumours that Rowntree walked as he couldn’t sign a foreign medical joker in the front row and that you’re ingrained in the Limerick rugby scene knowing referees, club coaches and parents of current and former Munster players. Do you still have no doubt in your mind that Rowntree wasn’t pushed?