Munster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

How much longer do we have to wait until we get Felix Jones back? I really rate him (from what I've seen).

Otacon wrote: »

According to earlier reports, he would be back after Christmas but I haven't heard anything since.

As long as he is back for the six nations I'll be delighted; He deserves a bit of luck tbh.

His injury was very untimely as he had a chance at making a claim for the ML 15 shirt at least. Hopefully we'll get to see some more of the young lads during the six nations, hopefully this time they won't be forgotten about when the old guard returns though.

Certainly will be a big boost for Munster. Might mean Jerry Collins will have to shift to 7 with Jonathan Thomas and Ryan Jones covering 6 and 8. I'd say Holley would have liked to have gone with Ryan Jones and Alan Wyn in the 2nd row as it went so well against London Irish in the last pool game, with Holah at 7, Collins at 6 and Thomas at 8.

With the lack of a fetcher in the Ospreys back row, does that call for the inclusion of Niall Ronan at 7 to give Munster an advantage at the breakdown, with Wallace coming off the bench with 20 minutes to go to do som ehard running?

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

As long as he is back for the six nations I'll be delighted; He deserves a bit of luck tbh.

His injury was very untimely as he had a chance at making a claim for the ML 15 shirt at least. Hopefully we'll get to see some more of the young lads during the six nations, hopefully this time they won't be forgotten about when the old guard returns though.

What makes you think he deserves a chance in the six nations? He hasn't done anything. Very unlucky with injury, but still hasn't done anything.

jolley123 wrote: »

He didn't say he thought he should be in the six nations, he said he hopes he's back by the six nations

That was my understanding as well, there is a couple of ML games during the 6Ns campaign and he hopes that Jones will get a good run for Munster then.

Ciaran-Irl wrote: »

Well... First he says he hopes he is back for the 6 nations, then he says he hopes young lads get a chance. Hardly a wild leap now. If not, then cool. Maybe I took him up wrong.

He would be low on my list of young lads that should get an international opportunity is all. Promising, but a lot to prove first.

Should have worded it better, but I mean I hope he gets chances with Munster during the six nations.

If he had been fit the last two years and we had a more open minded national coach regarding young players, I do think he would be there abouts with Ireland though. We need a proper 15, not a Utility back who can play there.

He does have great potential though (he needs to learn how to run first though, makes Barry Murphy look graceful:p); I didn't really rate him until I saw him in the pre-season. Pity them Leinster backs are so fragile though

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

Should have worded it better, but I mean I hope he gets chances with Munster during the six nations.

If he had been fit the last two years and we had a more open minded national coach regarding young players, I do think he would be there abouts with Ireland though. We need a proper 15, not a Utility back who can play there.

He does have great potential though (he needs to learn how to run first though, makes Barry Murphy look graceful:p); I didn't really rate him until I saw him in the pre-season. Pity them Leinster backs are so fragile though

Ah - I agree with you then so. The first bit I mean. Not that last bit.

He was grand till you lads took him and broke him. He probably caught that soft, injury prone core from Flannery & O'Connell... ;-)

On another note, does anyone know how Eoghan Grace is getting on at Exeter Chiefs? Haven't heard anything about him since he signed for them.

Exeter don't give details of players' gametime on their site:
http://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/players-staff?pl=23

Don't think Eoghan Grace has played at all yet for Exeter this season. They seem to have a settled back row, particularly on the flanks with Tom Johnson and James Scaysbrook playing exceptional at 6 and 7. Even when they made a few changes in the LV Cup he didn't get a look in.

It's a bit worrying for him because I'm sure he thought he'd get the chance with Exeter only after being promoted and show Munster what they're missing, but unless there's injuries and he gets a chance it's looking likely he'll be back playing with Shannon next season, unless Connacht take a punt on him, although we have Ofisa and Concrete to cover openside.

porterbelly wrote: »

Certainly will be a big boost for Munster. Might mean Jerry Collins will have to shift to 7 with Jonathan Thomas and Ryan Jones covering 6 and 8. I'd say Holley would have liked to have gone with Ryan Jones and Alan Wyn in the 2nd row as it went so well against London Irish in the last pool game, with Holah at 7, Collins at 6 and Thomas at 8.

With the lack of a fetcher in the Ospreys back row, does that call for the inclusion of Niall Ronan at 7 to give Munster an advantage at the breakdown, with Wallace coming off the bench with 20 minutes to go to do som ehard running?

I'd actually offer a different view of Holah this season in that he's failed miserably to adapt to the new breakdown interpretations and has been an absolute penalty machine.

I like him as a player but on what I've seen of him this season and in particular the punishment the HC refs have been dishing out I'd prefer him starting.

http://www.ospreysrugby.com/rugby/seniors/4976.php

They're dropping like flies, now Lee Byrne is out. He failed to attend a consultant last week so his injury was only just diagnosed last weekend. He misses both games too.

So that's Holah, Shane Williams and Byrne all unavailable. 3 very big players for them.

I think the Ospreys backline will be something like:
Phillips, Biggar, Walker, Hook, Bishop, Bowe, Owen/Davies

Or they could put Bowe at 15 and bring in Fussell on the right wing.

Munster A squad:
S Deasy, S Scanlon, D Barnes, B Murphy, T Smith, I Dineen, T Gleeson, C Sheridan, C Murray, D Cusack,

Dave Ryan, S Archer, P Borlase, S Henry, D Casey, B Holland capt, D Ryan, D Foley, D O'Callaghan, K Essex, T O'Donnell, P Butler.

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/8379.php

It's a very strong squad isn't it? Nagle must be injured though.

D Casey plays hooker for Shannon according to MFs.

Donnacha Ryan's inclusion must mean he won't be considered for the HEC. That means POC on the bench.

There is serious dept in the squad this season. We should be challenging for the B&I Cup, Magner's League and HC this year.

The future is looking surprisingly rosy considering the doom and gloom that existed last season about an ageing squad.

That team is seriously strong and when you consider who's not there like Peter O'Mahony, Ian Nagle and Mike Sherry/Denis Fogarty, they should be winning the B & I Cup. Alot of those guys would walk into the Connacht setup. Some players of that calibre shouldn't be playing in the B & I Cup, they're well capable of starting with Connacht and it's a pure waste really if they stick around playing 2nd fiddle.

Connacht will be getting players from the other provinces in the next few seasons. They are now allowed sign players on to longer contracts and they are being seen by the IRFU as a possible development territory; They play at a higher level than the A-teams and all that.

The idea is for future internationals who will see little game time at their clubs to head up there for experience. It will be a great sucess if the standard of coaching in Connacht is improved.

We'll probably see some of our brightest prospects head up there, guys like Nagle, Murray and Sherry who have proven internationals ahead of them will probably go for a season or 2.