Munster Team Talk Thread - Beirne After Reading

Any thoughts on what people would like to see in the coming season?

Open question on how McMillan will set us up to play, but I think more generally we need to see improvements in the following:

• Lineout. The single biggest issue we had last season. With Coddling coming in full time after the first few weeks, I'm confident we'll see an improvement here.
• More clinical off set piece. We seemed to score more tries off expansive play than off set piece last season. Hopefully we can keep the expansiveness while adding more efficiency off set piece (which should be much more controllable). Goes hand in hand with lineout as well.
• The injury list needs improving. Some of it is undoubtedly bad luck, but we've seemed beset with injuries at various times over the last number of seasons. Hopefully the injury list will improve with Mayo coming in.
• More consistency in performance. We're capable of delivering performances like La Rochelle and Sharks away last season, but equally the Zebre and Edinburgh losses were terribly poor.
• Nankivell needs to improve his discipline, it was costly vs Glasgow and he was lucky with some decisions too during the course of the season. Himself and Farrell look like a great partnership tho.
• A home Champions Cup knock-out game should be a target that this group is well capable of delivering. I think last time we had a "home" game was the QF vs Toulouse in the Aviva in 21/22?

From a personnel perspective:

• Nash and Kilgallen looked really good together as starting wingers, with real pace. Would like to see that pairing retained.
• Abrahams has that killer pace also, but I don't think he's as effective at FB than on the wing. Some of it was out of necessity, but hopefully we'll see him more on the wing this season.
• FB will be an interesting one; Haley started the season well, but regressed as it went on and looked to have lost a little pace post-injury. It looks pretty open, and I think Daly could become our starting FB, with all the other wing options we have. I think it's a position that suits him.
• Big season for Tom Ahern. Ended the season playing really well, so hopefully we can kick on further and push himself into the Ireland conversation. I think he has the ability.
• Hopefully the likes of Edwin Edogbo and Salanoa can get an injury free run. Those 2 could make a massive difference to us in terms of power they can bring.
• Coughlan also seems to be improving and I think he could put pressure on Patterson for the back-up 9 spot as the season goes on.

Very excited for the season ahead. Praying for a bit of luck with injuries and to not have a crisis for a change. Like the early messaging from McMillan.

However, very disappointed no tight head has been sourced. Think it could scupper us. Jager is fine but very injury prone. Ryan is past it surely. He was a noticeable disimprovement on archer towards the end of last season. Salanoa has had a horrendous run and can't be relied upon. May 2023 was his last bit of rugby. Foxe is young. If we sign a tight head, then there is huge potential in the squad to kick on with the new coaching set up.

If we want to compete, the above won't do. Entirely plausible we go into an important game with no jager and salanoa. Even including salanoa in the conversation is nuts really with his recent history. Ryan was 2nd to archer over the last 6 months and the scrum struggled when he replaced him.

But we can live in hope that we get a run of fitness there. No coincidence we won the urc on Salanoas last squad involvement.

The long term solutions have already been taken; Munster's development is much improved, centres of excellence have been opened and the 40% from Central Contracts coming in next season will help in the long-term too.

All Provinces need to supplement from elsewhere. So in that context, it's not unreasonable to suggest Munster should be allowed sign an NIQ in their, imo, position of most need.

We have enough on the books for this season, but I think it's last chance saloon for Salanoa. If he can get an injury free run this season, I think we'll be fine, but that remains a massive if.

Agreed, and tbh it's to Stephen Archer's immense credit so late in his career that he stood up commendably in the last 2-3 seasons.

Tickets for the PUC game were released this morning for MRSC members. Terraces are €33.25 each with stand tickets ranging from €49.85 to €72.60

Upon close inspection the seats seem to be selling well with the seats by the half way line on both sides and most of the ones closer to the pitch gone

Early days yet but it looks like the club could be in line for a financial boost - assuming the sales of tickets to other home games don't see a significant reduction of course

Probably will but to use clarkson as an example learning under slimani and furlong amd not being forced in has likely served him well

They did much the same for the last few PUC games... The premium seating is pricey but the terraces aren't bad value

I agree, I think it will sell out

I'd expect it to be sold out but maybe closer to the time. In my limited experience English fans tend to buy their tickets closer to the date or just watch it on the telly