Munster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

Otacon wrote: »

I may be crazy but I though Hayes did very well when he came on for Buckley last weekend. He did well enough in the scrum and worked very hard at the breakdown, earning us a penalty IIRC.

Agreed, his impact was very noticeable. Won a penalty and IIRC he helped us win a few turnovers on the ground.

He still has a lot to offer around the park when used as an impact sub with 20 to go.

thomond2006 wrote: »

Offer improved. Available while stocks last. I'm willing to negotiate a fairer deal (on your part) via PM. :pac:

the best tackle i've seen in rugby was Mafi's hit on Chabal, unreal

headless chicken without a proper 12 inside him.

Otacon wrote: »

I may be crazy but I though Hayes did very well when he came on for Buckley last weekend. He did well enough in the scrum and worked very hard at the breakdown, earning us a penalty IIRC.

No he definitely did and he upped it even more when POC got sent off. I think he forced 3 turnovers and won a penalty as well.

That's how I want to see John Hayes finish his career. Come on with 20 minutes to go, get his deserved ovation from the crowd, play his guts out and walk off on the 80 reputation in tact.

It really grates me to see him start games and get mangled and then have to listen to people with short term memories telling everyone how crap he is.

An absolute legend in an era of legends. Will be hugely missed.

Another article about Warwick leaving. To be honest I'll be gutted if he leaves, has played some fantastic stuff recently too.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/warwick-on-his-way-out-485956.html

phog wrote: »

So his next game would be straight into a H/C game without a warm up ML game. I'd appeal it if I was him, 4 weeks is harsh.

The ruling -

The independent Judicial Officer found that the offence was in the mid range (entry point: 5 weeks) of the level of seriousness for an offence of this type. Having taken into account any mitigating factors, such as Mr O'Connell's good disciplinary record, the independent Judicial Officer reduced the suspension from the entry point by one (1) week which resulted in the final suspension of four (4) weeks. Mr O’Connell will be free to play from 10 January, 2011.


So, he may not have much grounds for appeal nor reduced punishment.

He will probably just accept the punishment.

Munster (for B&I Cup away to Bristol):
Sean Scanlon (Cork Con), Danny Barnes (Dolphin), Tom Gleeson (Cork Con), Ivan Dineen (Cork Con), Barry Murphy (UL Bohs), Scott Deasy (Cork Con), Conor Murray (Garryowen),
Dave Ryan (Dolphin), Sean Henry (UL Bohs), Stephen Archer (Cork Con), Billy Holland capt (Cork Con), Ian Nagle (Cork Con), Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohs), Niall Ronan (Shannon), Paddy Butler (Shannon).

Replacements: Duncan Casey (Shannon), Peter Borlase, Dave Foley (UL Bohs), Dave O’Callaghan (Dolphin), Cathal Sheridan (UL Bohs), Declan Cusack (Garryowen), Simon Zebo (Cork Con.)

Scott Deasy starts at 10 with Niall Ronan at 7. Borlase is dropped to the bench.

Bristol Rugby team to play at home to Munster Rugby on Sunday 19th December at 3.00 pm.

Mark Davies, George Watkins, Jack Gadd, Ed Barnes (c), Dan Norton, Nicky Little, Robbie Shaw;
Tim Brockett, David Blaney, Darren Crompton, Gavin Curry, Darren Barry, Jonathan Brandling-Harris, Dean Taylor-Menzies, Marco Mama.

Replacements.
Ross Johnston, Wayne Thompson, Billy Moss, Jamie Miller, Sam Alford, Chris Ashwin and Alex Davis.

Should be interesting for Deasy to come up against a very experienced fly-half in Nicky Little, 65 caps for Fiji.

http://www.bristolrugby.co.uk/news/6852/team-news-bristol-rugby-v-munster-rugby/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicky_Little

PhatPiggins wrote: »

So Thomond rants(rightly) about not wanting Deasy at 15 any more and that he's more of a fly half. Hay presto he's starting at 10 :eek:

Seriously Thomond you should start emailing the branch the teams, save them the time of trawling through boards threads.

:pac:

It's all coincidence.

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

Is Peter O'Mahony injured?

We are really suffering a lack of outhalves at the moment, after ROG we don't have an Irish-Qualified players that will be international class at 10, Deasy is a 12 in my eyes anyway. Hopefully JJ Hanrahan and Quinn-McDonagh can lift up to their potential. Keately is a good player but has alot of work to do before he is good enough for Munster, he isn't even starting at 10 for Connacht anymore.

Thats reaching and you know it

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-suffer-multiple-blows-2466582.html

So Keatley is (as good as confirmed) on his way to Munster next season with Warwick off to Stade.

As I said in the other thread, I'm sad that Warwick is leaving but tbh he doesn't owe Munster anything. I wonder if Munster were restricted to offering him a one year deal if the PAG knew of Keatley's future arrival at Munster.

I think Keatley and ROG will have a fair tussle for the 10 jersey.

It also clears up a position at fullback. I think Jones will be the incumbent but he will have to face opposition from Murphy and Hurley.

I await news on Howlett, I think Munster should give him another year.

Hook made a point that both Tuitupou and Mafi are repeat offenders if they get cited again.

I don't want Mafi in a Munster shirt again. Christ you'd think he would have learnt his lesson. His fall from grace is quite amazing, two years ago he was (rightly) reputed as one of the best 12s in Europe and I was terrified the NZRU would make him an offer to come home for the World Cup. Seems incredible looking back now. :pac:

We have centres to replace him without looking elsewhere. Add Barry Murphy and Deasy to Barnes, Zebo and Dineen.

Lawstudent1 wrote: »

I don't feel confident that Keatley is good enough to replace O'Gara if I'm honest. Think we should have looked abroad.

Keatley has been playing with an average pack and an extremely inconsistent scrum-half in Frank Murphy. A 10 needs a platform to perform. When he got one against Dragons in September, you saw what he could do.

I think you can add/remove 2 players from the HEC squad before Rounds 5&6. Barry Murphy should take Mafi's place.