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Munster Team Talk Thread - Beirne After Reading

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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,774 ✭✭✭Pepp1989


    When i look at Jager, he carries weirdly into contact. Doesnt look natural. He stoops and leads with his head.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,380 ✭✭✭budhabob




  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 13,227 Mod ✭✭✭✭Cookiemunster


    Jean Kleyn starts for SA against Italy this weekend.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 3,289 ✭✭✭50HX


    I see goal line seating to be installed at the terrace ends for the Leinster game on 27th in Thomond.

    Should make for a cracking atmosphere.

    Hopefully weather plays ball & its crisp & dry.

    Santa is bringing my ticket on the 25th 😉



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 267 ✭✭Paddy_Mag


    Michael alaalatoa to Munster for rest of season seems to be happening



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 26,520 ✭✭✭✭phog


    I can't say I know too much of him, the only memory I have of him is his red card which cost Leinster another Champions Cup.

    In saying that I'd have some trust in McMillan so hopefully whoever we get will be an asset to the club.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,380 ✭✭✭budhabob


    As far as I recall he's a big unit and durable, also familiarity in a decent scrum set ups of Leinster and Clermont a massive plus



  • Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 31,647 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    That was an unusual moment of madness (we're all prone to them!). I would rank him as solid and a good squad player - I certainly had no issues with him benching in big games for us. Won't be a difference maker in either a good or bad way.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,640 ✭✭✭Brief_Lives


    any solid quotable references, or is this just a repeated rumour online?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,861 ✭✭✭typhoony


    Rules relaxed for Munster it would appear. What about niall smith or sparrow could they not go on a short term loan to munster and gain experience



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  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 13,227 Mod ✭✭✭✭Cookiemunster




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,640 ✭✭✭Brief_Lives


    that's fairly solid



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,380 ✭✭✭budhabob


    The rumours that are doing the rounds is we have been approved for a foreign TH signing, with a short term deal for the rest of the season and a targeted long term deal then in the summer.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,897 ✭✭✭✭Red Silurian


    Been reported in a few places that it's Michael Alaalatoa, guess Clermont isn't working out for him

    https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/arid-41745174.html



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,922 ✭✭✭KaneToad


    Being a Leinster fan, and watching him scupper our Euro final in Lansdowne, I'd hoped never to hear his name again!

    But, being rational, he is a relatively good front row option. Hope he goes well for ye.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,239 ✭✭✭Former Former Former


    He's as good a signing as you could realistically hope for at this point of the season. He's no spring chicken but he'll fill a gap for the next six months.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 4,344 ✭✭✭Jump_In_Jack


    Sorry now, but what good would unproven academy players be when the need is for a solid proven option to give the team a platform to play off? Without that the whole team suffers to a point we can't really compete.
    Munster's top 2 tightheads (Salanoa and Jager) are both out of action at the moment with knee and head injuries respectively, the backup signed from the AIL (Bartley) has also been injured for a couple of months, and we're down to 37 year old John Ryan and academy player Ronan Foxe (McSweeney another option) to potentially get us though the busy period coming up, a block of 10 matches with no gap, comprising 4 Euro matches and 2 Interpros, as well as a head to head against the current top team in the table (Stormers) and away to Glasgow the last of those fixtures.
    Kieran Ryan seems to be deemed not good enough (or perhaps more of a loosehead prop) as Foxe is getting game time ahead of him.
    If we don't have a solid option there to put in a few shifts, borrowing an unproven academy option to give them some experience is a laughable suggestion. Smyth should be getting time playing for his own club, Furlong and Clarkson will be getting rest periods and Slimani should be making way to give the younger players their playing opportunities.
    Sparrow is a 21 year old academy prospect, he should be developing in the AIL.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,640 ✭✭✭Brief_Lives




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 534 ✭✭✭exiledawaynothere


    You had home advantage, you squandered a 17-0 lead and he got sent off in the 78th minute. Was he the only reason?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,064 ✭✭✭oppiuy


    I'm all for this signing, if for no other reason than I like saying his name. Hopefully he can have a similar impact as Blueler had for his short stint



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,379 ✭✭✭PMC83


    Obviously not. But his mistake was the final nail in the coffin that day which will live long in the memory. It could have been anyone tbf. He was a solid player for us, hopefully does the biz for Munster.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,334 ✭✭✭Boscoirl


    https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2025/11/19/michael-alaalatoa-joins-munster-rugby/

    Munster Rugby are pleased to confirm the signing of Michael Ala’alatoa from Clermont Auvergne on a seven-month contract until the end of the 2025/26 season.

    Ala’alatoa is currently on international duty with Manu Samoa and will commence his contract on Monday, December 1.

    The 34-year-old tighthead prop is a 24-cap international who has played in two World Cups.

    He made his Super Rugby debut for the Waratahs in 2014 before moving to the Crusaders in 2016, winning three Super Rugby titles and two Super Rugby Aotearoa Championships.

    It will be his second spell in Ireland having scored six tries in 62 appearances for Leinster between 2021 and 2024.

    His father, Vili, was a member of the Western Samoa squad for the 1991 Rugby World Cup and brother Allan is an Australian international who captains the Brumbies.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,922 ✭✭✭KaneToad


    It was pen advantage to Leinster, near the posts, on the 5m. Michael's foul play over rode this.

    Granted Leinster were culpable to allow LAR back into it too.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,640 ✭✭✭Brief_Lives




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 3,289 ✭✭✭50HX


    Great signing considering what's available at this stage of the season.

    Solid & reliable,not spectacular by any means, has played CC & URC so should slot in straight away for us.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,931 ✭✭✭lawrencesummers


    This level of deflection away from anything 100% Leinster onto something not 100% Leinster is the same blame shifting that doesn’t hold Leo to account but seeks to blame Jacques or Lancaster for serial underachievement. It’s blatant and actually comedic.


    Allatolla is a good signing considering the stage of the season, and it’s allowing enough time to get somebody top notch for the start of next season.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,897 ✭✭✭✭Red Silurian


    Never mind a final, if he can be a part of a team that gets us past a quarter final I'd call it a job well done. It's also likely that when Jager and Salanoa return that he will fall down the pecking order somewhat

    As a rational Leinster fan as well you should be happy to see him going to your rival team as that improves your chances of beating us doesn't it? 😁



  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 13,227 Mod ✭✭✭✭Cookiemunster


    Mod: Lads, Munster signing Ala’alatoa is perfectly on topic. What he did or didn't cost Leinster isn't.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 925 ✭✭✭Zeugnis


    I haven't watched Michael Ala’alatoa since he left Leinster, but he was incredibly reliable for them. In just three seasons he picked up 72 caps, which tells you just how durable he was and favoured by Leinster selectors.

    Mike isn't a downgrade on what I've seen of Jager, who has been ok without really impressing. As for Salanoa, who would dare make a prediction at this stage? In sum, I think this is a great signing for Munster.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,239 ✭✭✭Former Former Former


    The only question is why has Alaalatoa not featured for Clermont at all this season and why are they happy to let him go? Maybe he just hasn't settled and needs a change.



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