Munster Team Talk Thread - Beirne After Reading

Wheres Brian Gleeson, Ruadhan Quinn, Edogbo brothers, the other lads that beat wasps while the bulk of main squad were stuck in South Africa?

Are the names I mentioned all injured or just not making the grade just yet? I realise they are young

Bigger heavier player who can play 2nd row also. Therefore naturally a bit slower than those 2. He'd have been no slower than Tadhg Beirne at getting into position after tackles and clear outs if he was picked at 6 or 20 in the AI series. Think he gets a bit hard done by when it comes to Ireland selection.

he isn’t good enough at that level ….numerous other back rows ahead of him

He has fallen off tackles in the past too but I’d love to see him get a start for Ireland and see what he can offer. Maybe Easterby will have a different opinion.

Nonsense. Just because he isn't what the coaching staff have in mind doesn't mean he isn't good enough. Plenty of coaches get selections wrong or choose players for one thing or another. Farrell clearly doesn't want what Coombes has to offer and that's unfortunate for Coombes but no reflection on his ability. The current makeup of the Irish pack is definitely in need of a shake-up. H

if you have a 2 man advantage you don’t just stop playing, Toulouse showed today that good teams keep scoring and don’t let up.

Your reference to Harlem Globetrotters missed the point, Munster didn’t need to do anything flashy, just basic rugby, suck them in with crash ball, quick ruck, pick and go, and then spread it from touchline to touchline probing for gaps and then do it all over again.
Giving possession away with kicks or penalties is terrible tactics by comparison.
Hold onto the ball, stretch their defence and wait for the gaps or penalties to come.

We effectively stopped playing with 20 minutes to go.

couldn’t agree more with this, how he’s not being used as a bench replacement for Henderson beats me. I know there different positions but from the bench in the last 20 mins I think Coombes adds much more value in ball carrying and handling which is how Farrell seems to use Henderson, not sure if Henderson’s line out work trumps Coombes ability to power through players. I also think he could be coached into the player required if he was given another decent shot in camp. It would be such a waste of talent to see Coombes follow James Cronin out the door rather than be given another chance in Ireland camp. I know he’s not displacing Doris as is but think he’s a valuable player to have in reserve.

Agreed fully, Doris is head and shoulders above the rest of the no.8 options in this country but Coombes seems like a perfect fit for the no.20 shirt. Can play lock, blindside and no.8. And with 20 mins to go in games his supposed lack of pace wouldn't be an issue. What would be worth it is his ability to punch holes in tiring defences and such defenders in towards him thus creating space for others. He has lovely hands too and has become excellent at the tip on passes right on the gainline.

Currently he's miles ahead of Izuchukwu, Coombes has been doing his stuff for 5 seasons in the URC and Champions Cup. He was outstanding in the URC final that we won. Izuchukwu may have a higher ceiling but he's yet to perform to the same high level as Coombes consistently. Izuchukwu was underwhelming against Fiji in his first start. He's a bit to go yet, Coombes is doing it season after season.

I think if there is going to be a Munster back row to break into the Ireland squad (aside from POM), it would be Kendellan imo. He’s been in very good form dating back to the SA tour last spring and again for the EI tour a few months ago. He’s won the 7 shirt off Hodnett now, and could get ahead of Timoney for Ireland. I think he is the type of player Farrell would like, as his game is similar to VDF in that he wants to put himself about on defense, but he is carrying power has improved too, he had a nice half break during the second half yesterday for example.

During the game last night I said he's the closest we've had to David Wallace. In saying that, I think we could see Hodnett fight back and take the starting jersey back too.

There is no mitigation for illegal acts of foul play - Azagoh started with a swinging arm, it was not an attempt to tackle. Also, POM was clearly not on his knees when struck.