Munster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

thomond2006 wrote: »

So more than 2 of those players can play then?

I assume JustinDee meant "Yes... etc" That is why Mehrtens got a Saffer passport when he played for Quinns.

The rule of only 2 applies to Argentina, Australia & New Zealand, amongst others.

I see. So that's why it never applied to Lifeimi Mafi, he holds a Tongan passport IIRC.

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/8083.php

As I thought Fla is in the squad.

Munster Squad:
Wian Du Preez, Marcus Horan, Mike Sherry, Jerry Flannery, Damien Varley, John Hayes, Darragh Hurley, Tony Buckley, Billy Holland, Donnacha Ryan, Donncha O’Callaghan, Mick O’Driscoll, Alan Quinlan, David Wallace, Niall Ronan, Denis Leamy, Peter O’Mahony, James Coughlan,

Duncan Williams, Peter Stringer, Ronan O’Gara, Scott Deasy, Paul Warwick, Danny Barnes, Keith Earls, Johne Murphy, Sam Tuitupou, Doug Howlett, Denis Hurley.

Tuitupou is up before the citing committee tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

Corcioch wrote: »

Fingers Crossed Indeed . .but is it rare for these citing committee's to find people not guilty?????

And isn't three week the minimum ban if guilty?




If its a ban,

Who would people see at 12 then??? . . .Murphy? . . .Dont think Warwick is Physical enough for 12.

Murphy 12, Earls 13, Howlett 14. ???

Munster are seriously lucky that Mafi is banned already. It won't be Murphy.

The best 12 left in the squad is probably Deasy, but I dunno if they'd consider him ready. There's always Wallace!

phog wrote: »

Barry Murphy is names in the A squad for Friday nights game, hopefully, he'll make a welcome return to rugby.

I'm surprised he still has a contract. He's played so little the past 3 seasons, he's not exactly that young and lets be honest bar 2006 hasn't really done very much.

phog wrote: »

That's why I say hopefully, he'll make a welcome return, he hasn't had it easy with injuries. Given time I hope he returns to that 2006 form.

Personally I don't think he's good enough or as good as we thought in 2006. Halstead was phenominal that year, made Murphy look like Conrad Smith.

But hay here's hoping he proves me wrong, succesive managers obviously see enough in him to keep renewing his contract. He really needs gametime and no further injuries.

thomond2006 wrote: »

Murphy is 28 in November. So he actually doesn't have that long left in the clock, particularly with his injury history. He's got younger guys like Barnes, Gleeson and Barnes pushing for places as well so IMO he has to take any chance he gets to prove he's worth persisting with.

I've seen him a few times in the UL gym, from what I could see he's working fiendishly hard to get back on the horse.

My main gripe with regarding his age is he's left it late to improve the basic flaws in his game that we saw 4 years ago i.e he's shockingly poor(for a centre) hands and his tackling technique(the root of a few injuries).

Corcioch wrote: »

He back playing club rugby a while I think? . . . .as in its a while since I heard he had played a game, and I presume he's playing away since then.

I thaught Barry Murphy was a fine player, not always a H/Cup level team player but a fine ML player.

He made a 'comeback' for Bohs towards the end of last season. Unfortunately it didn't go well for him and he was crocked again within 10 minutes of his first game back.

I don't think he's played even club rugby since (open to correction).

He got injured back in October of last season. He had been a regular as Earls was being drip fed gametime after his Lions tour and De Villiers had not arrived at that stage.

thomond2006 wrote: »

He made a 'comeback' for Bohs towards the end of last season. Unfortunately it didn't go well for him and he was crocked again within 10 minutes of his first game back.

I don't think he's played even club rugby since (open to correction).

He got injured back in October of last season. He had been a regular as Earls was being drip fed gametime after his Lions tour and De Villiers had not arrived at that stage.

ya I remember him getting injured in 2006 . . .ulster wasn't it, broken leg . . .then he came back . . got injured again and since then i'd heard he was back playing for Bohs . .

. .and now that you mention it I remember hearing he got injured in that game . .

. . .poor hoor.

Gleeson has been knocking round for a while now, he's 25 so he's no spring chicken, but I always thought he did well with the limited amount of game time he got, would like to see him get a start in a big game with the first choices and see how he goes.

phog wrote: »

Age is almost irrelevant, it's experience that players want. Look at how much Sexton developed since he got the No10 jersey for Leinster, if Contepomi hadn't got injured in the semi-final in Croke Park or if he was still at Leinster would Sexton be the No1 choice for the Province?

Sexton looked better and better every time he came on for Contepomi that year, long before Contepomi's injury. Contepomi himself played terribly by his own standards. It was only a matter of time until Sexton was given another shot. Sexton was getting more and more game time.

Not that anyone knew just how good Sexton was, but people were beginning to get the idea. It's not like Sexton just came out of nowhere.

thehighground wrote: »

I seem to remember Sexton playing well in the early season of 08-09 - well enough to catch Kidney's eye and bring him into the squad for the autumn internationals - then he had some sort of an injury and missed out making the squad. He didn't get his starting place back in the Leinster magner's team and he looked to be well out of sorts until Kidney gave him a few games with the 6Ns 'A's which seemed to build his confidence. If Conters hadn't decided to go to Toulon, I'd say Sexton would have left Leinster* because Cheika just didn't rate him and probably would have brought in an outhalf if Conters hadn't got injured and the rest is history.

*I seem to remember him saying that he was looking for a move to France.

There was definately a Cheika . . Sexton thing going on alright. I can remember Pundits hinting about it . .but not coming straight out and saying it.

Am I recalling it wrong or did Cheika once or twice play Nacewa instead of Sexton at 10 when resting Conters/ Conters was injured . . . . .before Sextons "big break through".


I think the guy is outstanding myself, the passing, one of those try's last week for Leinster in the H Cup . . .one in under the posts . . . . the passing was just sublime . . . . .it was a joy to watch for any rugby fan . . . . it was as good if not better than any other team in the world imo.

thomond2006 wrote: »

Agreed.

IMO if he gets another long term injury this season Munster may well cut him loose at the end of the season.

I remember Scarlets released two players early into their contracts because of a clause where the player could be released if he was injured 26 weeks of a season.

I wonder if there is a similar clause in Baz's contract.

I agree too. Over his career he has played a handful of games with Munster. Its very unlucky but for all the years of effort Munster have put into him they've gotten very little back. There are other players out there who would be more valuable to Munster.

Before people start saying its very harsh on BM they should realise that thats sport. Its competitive competition and in a game like rugby you have to be tough physically. BM does not have the body for it. Just like most people are too small, too slow or don't have the skills, BM is also not cut out for a career in rugby.

The Scarletts were correct. They have bills to pay and can't afford to pay for players who are always injured. They need players who will give them value for money. Injury prone players like BM are not value for money and they're stopping other players coming through.

I'd go as far as saying any average AIL player who can keep himself fit would be better value than the likes of BM.

When did they last give him a contract?