Munster Team Talk Thread - Beirne After Reading

If Rowntree was trying to get POM and Murray out the door, he picked the wrong fight. They’re two current Irish internationals who, whilst getting on, still have a lot to contribute on and off the pitch and will go down as Munster and Irish legends.

Any coach taking on a role in the provinces must be aware that they have to work within the framework the IRFU set out which means developing and prolonging the careers of homegrown players with limited scope for signing players who aren’t Irish qualified.

Of course Rowntree will have known from the outset that he'd have to work within the framework the IRFU set out, but I think it's also fair to point out that framework appeared to change during his tenure.

Off the top of my head, we had the EI tour taking players outside a Test window and the seeming blocking of NIQ prop signings. And that's only the stuff we know about.

The Murray and POM thing could just as easily have been Rowntree trying to presure the IRFU to put them on a central contract; which would be an obvious benefit to Munster.

Is it possible Rowntree was pushed? Yes. And I think that'd be a massive mistake.

Is it also possible Rowntree was very unhappy with IRFU interference / restrictions? Also yes.

With regards him being pushed / it being performance related, there's also the following that Simon Lewis report:

I understand that this is nothing to do with results, it is genuinely by mutual consent and discussions have been ongoing for some time about an exit strategy.

Graham Rowntree was on the professional game committee alongside Ian Flanagan the CEO, they're the central point of contact between the head coach and Munster Rugby board, obviously the IRFU have a say and apparently Rowntree has been involved in all these discussions.

It was significant I think in his statement that he said it's the right stage for him to leave and look for a new chapter with his family so I think we need to take it at face value that he has been a party to this decision.

Pushed or jumped is irrelevant at this point, a head coach who’s fallen out with senior players, isn’t getting on with the other coaches and is at odds with his employers, there’s only one outcome there.

When that translates to results and performances like it did at the end of last season and the start of this, the process needs to be accelerated for everyone’s benefit.

It was interesting to hear Kinsella saying that Rowntree will be in demand… just not as a head coach.

Let's cut to the chase. A yes or no answer please. No weasel words. No sealioning. Yes or no.

Do you agree with the claim that Murray Kinsella invented all his claims about the events that led to Rowntree's departure?

I'm not sure why I should bother answering when presented with this…

No weasel words. No sealioning.

But 1) No but also 2) I don't think that's what phog claimed.

My larger point is, if you're going to suggest some people cannot accept anything negative about MR, but also shout "abuse / hatred" when people post criticism of Andy Farrell, I'm going to continue pointing it out…

I agree. These are professional players. This is their job. A coach moves on, you thank him personally & the wheel keeps spinning. No need for public displays of emotion.

Barron on the surprise of Rowntrees exit and a "thank you" to him

That option is always open to you, yet you never seem to exercise it.

Correct, it's not one I exercise when I see what I think is hypocrisy.

Yet I've never resorted to accusing you of using "weasel words" or "sealioning". I've never accused you of abuse / hatred.

i think Kinsella has an agenda, as all journalists do , but a bit like Kinsellas piece, i have no proof , and before you demand such, do i feel the need to provide proof on a discussion forum.

Kinsella works in a world where clicks are king, and the truth is only putting its pants on when the lie is half way around the world .

He , like all pundits are paid to write the juicy stuff, and the clicks/money will follow.

Kinsella does good technical analysis but any time i read his non match reporting articles on coaches and players , i find his overall reporting is a bit too full of whataboutery for me.

At least he’s not Stephen jones , where i rarely get past the headline .

sky sports NZ lost. Feed as well 😡

Just back

It's back but it's sh1te. Very stop start.