Following on from here
New Munster chat thread folks. warning deserved there. https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=109477571#post109477571
Munster are unlikely to face anyone in any final this summer and unlikely to be in the top,12 next year. And you will have sympathy from none
Not all grapes are sour in taste btw
Interesting game, Casey was excellent despite what the eggheads on the Ireland thread would have you believe.
Also, for me Evan O'Connell >>> Tom Aherne. I'd rather us invest in game time for O'Connell who seems to have what it takes to be a top class losse head lock than keep investing in Aherne who doesn't know his best position and can't seem to go well at either 6 or 4.
Some are feckin awful salty too. No, wait, that's olives I'm thinking of…..
Just back from the game.
Great atmosphere at it. Fans really got behind the team.
That was a patched up Munster team. Feared the worst, especially when crowley didnt emerge. But an extremely gutsy performance.
Evan O Connell. Sean O brien (card aside). Gleeson, casey and haley the standouts. Best ive seen Haley play in a long while.
JJ too more so when you consider his recent form and that he wasn't expecting to be starting until he went into the dressing room after the warm ups.
I thought we started very well, the intercept gave them something to build on, thankfully, we scored next. The bloody YCs were silly but we defended really well when down to 14 and then 13. I thought JJ had done enough to get a penalty before their try but ref decided otherwise. Thankfully, we took the lead again before half-time.
The second half seemed a lot more stop start and the long break where the TMO couldn't find whatever they were looking for didn't seem to suit Munster
Thankfully we defended the lead to get the win, considering the injuries and the late withdrawals that was a great win.
Sean O'Brien was my motm or Gleeson too, thought Evan O'Connell had a good game.
Casey led from in front, really had a good game too.
The one thing Munster really maxed well today was the reduction in the number of scrums in the game, we played ever knock on advantage and in most cases we gained ground.
Another thing I noticed tonight, Crowley seemed to do a fair amount of coaching during the game, I'd love to see him take up coaching after he retires.
Some very strange comments across some of the threads, but I'm sure it's a minority of aggrieved characters making those comments.
There's nothing more exciting than being a Munster fan.
SUAF
While I agree that EOC was excellent last night, looked like a seasoned pro tbh, Aherne makes our Lineout much stronger on both sides of the ball. I think his constant moving is impacting him, but he's a very good player just a little out of form.
A new forwards coach and a simplified gameplan will suit him.
As for the game, really proud performance. If we played with that intensity and power with a full deck we'd give any team a run. All the players swapped around played really well, JJ has his best game in a Munster shirt, looked a bit lost at times but did well. SOB was immense, I really like him as a player and he tends to drag us forward in alot of games.
Think Munster should pick up the out of contract Werner Kok. Think he looks a good fit!
Where did wood line out when he came on. I didn't recognise him with the haircut, he looked a bit bigger.
Ahern is out of form alright, I think I'm just very frustrated with him as he hasn't delivered any of his potential. I worry too about his injury profile.
O’Connell is a very good lineout forward too from what I've seen of him. I just think he does the nuts and bolts of second row play better already than Ahern does.
Hopefully both players will come good next season.
1st centre. Sob went to the wing
I thought Ahern had a good game last night.
He did, he just hasn't had enough of them this season. Hopefully he finds his best position and pushes on now.
I think, at times this season, Ahern has improved in the tight, but he's been too inconsistent, imo. I think it was potentially a big season for him to step it up. With Kleyn's departure I wonder if we'll see him more consistently picked in the 2nd row next season (altho not a like-for-like replacement).
But I think thats because he gets moved around too much. Munster need to leave him at lock, and start giving EOC way more gametime. If anything, move Wycherly to 6 if need be. He is a journeyman. Ahern has Ireland 23 potential given Henderson, Beirne age profile.
And can stay fit
If Ulster win their final, that means they qualify for Champions Cup next year, right? And so they displace Connaught?
I can't understand why they persist with him at 6 either, he's just not suited to that position. O'Donoghue is better at 6 than him and he's no world beater.
He needs to focus on being LH lock now, he's only 26. Add 4-5kg, become the lineout leader and he could have 10 great years ahead of him.
Yes, unless Connacht go on and win the URC, then 7th place (Lions) lose out
Very happy, and sympathy? We do not require head pats from other fans, why would you ever think that?
Can see the IRFU pulling rank here and insisting Beirne doesn't travel to Pretoria although the exact nature of it hasn't been revealed. Still wearing A knee brace several weeks later is not a good sign.
Honestly I think Munster would be better off not rushing him back too. This season has been poor and we're in bonus territory in the URC playoffs with CC qualification secured. Give Ahern and O'Connell the game time and have Beirne fully right for next season.
Where are you seeing that Munster are even thinking of playing Beirne (if still injured) in SA
It's a bit like the rugby media in this country, they imagine something and then run with it.
Do you or anyone know if an additional European place goes to the URC if Leinster win against Bordeux?
No, Leinster are in the Top 8 so they get into The Champions Cup in their own rite
I never said they were.
Then why the post about IRFU pulling rank?
They've nothing to pull rank on if Munster aren't using him
I think it was a fair comment from the journalist, like everyone knows we could do with him in SA. However, the reaction to the tweet where someone thought the IRFU would need to pull rank, is a bit daft to say the least.
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