Munster Team Talk Thread - Beirne After Reading

lawrencesummers · 24-01-2026 11:14AM

Coombes turned the game, and did it from the second row as well.

Completely underrated player internationally

TomsOnTheRoof · 24-01-2026 01:41PM

Going forward I think there's a strong argument at giving Coombes more gametime at lock, especially with gleeson coming through.

A back 5 of: 4. Coombes. 5. Edogbo. 6. Beirne. 7. Hodnett 8. Gleeson would be very formidable.

You'd then have the likes of Ahern and Sean Edogbo/Quinn/Kendellen off the bench. The issue, as always, remains at front row. We need a hooker and a loosehead badly. We're very thin behind Jager too.

Pepp1989 · 24-01-2026 02:01PM

For me, we were losing last night if not for coombes

snotboogie · 24-01-2026 02:23PM

The Ireland XV players are available next week right?

Podge_irl · 24-01-2026 02:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124175615#Comment_124175615

I would imagine so, but nothing official (bar Ward and Murray are travelling to Portugal, so presumably the rest are not).

phog · 26-01-2026 02:32PM

Tickets for our game v Exeter are on sale now

phog · 26-01-2026 03:30PM

Back of a fag box calculations but..

We have used 43 players so far this season, 25 of those players have scored this season, all bar JJ and Butler have scored tries.

Last weekend's game v Dragon we used six players under 24, six over 30 (5 forwards) and 11 were between 24 and 30.

ionadnapóca · 26-01-2026 04:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124175534#Comment_124175534

As debuts go you couldn't have asked more of Seán Edogbo. 80mins, bashing lads out of the way and claiming lineouts! How many did he take? 4?

I'm getting a little carried away but Edwin and Seán would not be out of place starting 5. and 6. for Munster and in the near future at 19. and 20. for Ireland.

*Edwin and Seán both listed at 6'5". Is that correct?

phog · 26-01-2026 04:57PM

Squad Update

On the injury front, Tom Ahern (neck) has been withdrawn from the Ireland squad.
Following the Dragons game on Friday, Jean Kleyn has entered the return-to-play protocols after a HIA.
JJ Hanrahan has gone for a scan on a hamstring strain after withdrawing from the squad before the game and Alex Nankivell has gone for an MRI for a foot injury sustained during the match.

leakyboots · 26-01-2026 05:42PM

Tom Ahern has no luck at all, persistently injured in international windows

shimmieandshake · 26-01-2026 06:31PM

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/two-scrumhalves-face-connacht-exit-as-nz-halfback-milo-harris-lined-up/

This article has Ben Murphy on his way to Munster. Would be good competition for Craig. A ways behind for now, but offers something different with his running game too.

budhabob · 26-01-2026 10:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124182569#Comment_124182569

Would expect it to be kite flying given 2 SHs rumoured to be out the door.

TomsOnTheRoof · 27-01-2026 12:57PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124182262#Comment_124182262

Yeah, Sean was very good the weekend. He was very comfortable in the lineout which is a massive bonus with any back rower. I could definitely see a situation going forward whereby himself and the brother are playing 5 and 6 for Munster. If Coombes was to move to lock it would help with the congestion in the backrow and add some grunt in the scrum as well.

In the medium to longterm you'd have to be relatively happy with Munster's squad, especially up front, with the caveat that the front row remains weak. If we can sort that as well as the coaching we'll be in a prime position to be genuine contenders for the league.

theVersatile · 27-01-2026 03:09PM

Loughman getting renewed by the looks of it

Cookiemunster · 27-01-2026 03:40PM

2 more years.

https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2026/01/27/jeremy-loughman-signs-new-contract/

budhabob · 27-01-2026 10:57PM

Keep the signings coming. Some good internal talent locked down, now time to confirm some of the external recruitment

phog · 28-01-2026 03:40PM

Officials for Friday's game

Glasgow Warriors v Munster Rugby
Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow – KO 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA / 21.45 SA
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU, 72nd league game)
AR 1: Ian Kenny (SRU) AR 2: David Sutherland (SRU)
TMO: Adam Jones (WRU)
Live on: Premier Sports, TG4, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

budhabob · 29-01-2026 11:09AM

Munster Rugby | Diarmuid Barron Signs New Contract

Diarmuid Barron re-signed for 2 years - a good bit of business in my book. He seems to often get criticised online, but his statistics are actually quite positive for the year. If Lee Barron can address his scrummaging weaknesses he will overtake DB, but thats a bit enough if. In any case, both are hopefully playing back up to a powerful NIQ hooker which I thought would be announced by now.

The one positive - McMillan will be the one deciding on re-signings, so he is very much building a squad to suit what he wants.

Jofspring · 29-01-2026 11:45AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124189408#Comment_124189408

I like D.Barron, he's probably our best hooker but he's another player that it feels like he is always injured.

aloooof · 29-01-2026 11:46AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124189408#Comment_124189408

Agreed, seen as a leader in the squad too and has some wheels for a hooker.

Cookiemunster · 29-01-2026 12:54PM

Team for tomorrow. Good to see Edogbo get another run out.

Munster Rugby: Mike Haley; Thaakir Abrahams, Shane Daly, Dan Kelly, Diarmuid Kilgallen; Tony Butler, Ethan Coughlan; Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron (C), Oli Jager; Evan O’Connell, Fineen Wycherley; Seán Edogbo, Ruadhán Quinn, Brian Gleeson.

Replacements: Lee Barron, Mark Donnelly, John Ryan, Gavin Coombes, Jack O’Donoghue, Paddy Patterson, Tom Wood, Seán O’Brien.

aloooof · 29-01-2026 12:57PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124189690#Comment_124189690

Shane Daly starting at centre for the first time in a fair while? Good to see Oli Jager getting the start, hopefully can stay fit for the rest of the season. Tom Wood in line for debut off the bench too? Wonder will Butler end up doing the 80 again.

budhabob · 29-01-2026 01:15PM

McMillan has no qualms about mixing up the team it would seem. Good to see, and great to see youth throughout

phog · 29-01-2026 01:32PM

Missing Nankivell could be huge especially away to Glasgow but that's still a decent team. Delighted to see Wood get a chance at making his debut from the bench

big-al · 29-01-2026 01:58PM

never realised Glasgow would be missing so many.

Munster should be strong favourites

aloooof · 29-01-2026 02:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124189851#Comment_124189851

Bookies still have Glasgow as 3 point favourites.

phog · 29-01-2026 02:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124189851#Comment_124189851

Glasgow are Glasgow and they always seem to up their game v an Irish province.

CONSI · 29-01-2026 03:17PM

Not a bad side, going over to it so looking forward to maybe getting something from the game

lawrencesummers · 29-01-2026 03:22PM

Lots of talk about it being great the young lads are being given a chance.

Its not like they have a choice in any position, this is currently our best matchday squad and the only invention is deciding to have Coombes and JOD finish the game instead of starting it.

typhoony · 29-01-2026 03:29PM

Not having a go at munster signings specifically but i think across the provinces there are some players on contracts that are stealing a living. Players who wouldn't get into any english or french club teams and older players hanging on with reputations that precedes them

Munster Team Talk Thread - Beirne After Reading

Comments