Munster Team Talk Thread - Beirne After Reading

But nobody is stopping the other provinces from signing their allotment of NIQ players. Recently Munster had Snyman and De Allende, Ulster had Kitshoff and Vermuelen. Connacht have Cordero and Ioane. Leinster are simply replacing the 3 NIQs they let go in Ngatai, Jenkins and Alalaatoa. I wouldn't say their wage bill changed massively with these signings.

Also Leinster are the most profitable and successful province they've earned the right to have some luxuries. It is not the NIQs holding the other provinces back.

Some just don't see this, you are wasting your breath. Munster chose Kleyn over Synman. He was free to go elsewhere and replaced Jenkins at Leinster. Munster then signed Abrahams, Nankavli and Farrell but still moan about Leinster signing Barrett when they provide basically the full backline to the Irish team and miss chunks of the season.

Munster can't keep anybody fit or even keep coaches around but remember it's all Leinster and IRFUs fault and nothing to do with how Munster is being run.

Munster squad depth is suffering from the lost years in the academy where lads would be around 27-32. A few astute signings should help that. Jaeger last year and a couple more like him would go a long way.

I'd be more concerned about some of the recent progress from the academy and that the same problem doesn't repeat itself.

Ahern is around 6 months younger than Baird and hasn't progressed at same rate. He looked the outstanding talent in his age bracket.

Crowley and Casey have come through so I think the system is probably ok.

For me though some of the outstanding 20's prospects have been hodnett, kendellan, edogbo, gleeson and the aforementioned trio. Granted time on their side and I'd back the vdf replacement to come from hodnett or kendellan but you'd like to see a little more progress (injuries not withstanding)

hadden, fox and McSweeney all looked good in a position of need but still no sign of them.

Yea, that's fair.

Still think the props could have got a bit of a look in during some of the friendlies if nothing else

The idea of Lancaster going in there and adding a bit to all those players in a similar way he did at Leinster must be very appealing to the irfu.

Klyen has had surgery to correct a quad injury.

No timeline on a return though

It's better it gets with Abrahams & Casey

I think Hodnett's first game back was that famous Wasps game with all the players missing. (Edit: just checked, he had come off the bench vs Ospreys but the Wasps game was his first start).

Seems to have had a good injury-free run since then, thankfully, it's a shame he can't get into Ireland camp.

I'm hoping Ahern can put an injury-free run like that together, he's been desperately unlucky with injuries an in-opportune times.

John Ryan at Loosehead again. Needs must, I suppose.

Extremely light on cover in the backs, so hopefully don't pick up any injuries…. (he says in hope rather than expectation).

Feels like this could be close based on the line-ups. Jack Murphy on the bench an interesting one. McCann has been class against us in the past, big back-row battle there.

McCarthy seems to be trusted and could easily slot into the bench. O'Connor played last week for UCC but is behind McCarthy, also with Daly and Crowley in the 15 there isn't as much need for cover at fullback. 6/2 is probably a tactical decision rather than enforced by injury.

Deciding to let James Cronin go must be one of Munster's biggest errors of recent years. (Was that a Van Graan special?) His performances for Leicester since joining have been consistently excellent, although he's rarely been asked to play for more than 55 minutes.

Scannell is on the bench ahead of either of them due to the amount of positions he can cover.

Lets be honest, he's no jimmy obrien or Osbourne…. not good enough.

And we have a front row, respect to the boys etc, from 1887. Archer, Kilcoyne, Ryan, Scannelll…. we are goosed in these areas…

Munster claim he is… by selecting him.

He hasn't been versatile at this level, for many years now.

Cork Con need a bit of a clear out unfortunately.

#Idon'tknowifheiscorkconbutheprobablyis