Munster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

ambid · 06-05-2011 09:27AM

touts wrote: »

...IF we do get to a Munster v Leinster Final then it will almost certainly be in the Aviva...

JustinDee wrote: »

It is up to the relevant provincial branch. If the Munster branch chose to cash in on a date at the Aviva Stadium then thats what they'll do...

This is also debated in the "Magners League - 6 rounds remaining thread". The thing is there is a soccer tournament called the "Nations Cup" involving Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales in the Aviva the week of the Magners Grand Final. They have matches on the Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday so I doubt the the union could schedule a rugby match on the Saturday as five matches in six days would probably be too much for the pitch.

However, the IRFU could probably make an extra €1 million from a sold out Aviva compared to Thomond (at €40 per ticket). With player salary demands likely rising in the next couple of years and corporate sponsorship possibly under threat, I'm sure they'd be keen to find a way to get access to that extra revenue.

Also the League might put some pressure on to move to the Aviva. While Thomond is a fantastic stadium, a Grand Final in a packed Aviva would be an occasion to equal the Premiership or Top14 finals and would surely help secure a good title sponsorship deal to replace Magners next year.

vkid · 06-05-2011 09:38AM

If Munster and Leinster get to the final, and it is held in the Bedpan in Lansdowne, there's no way i'd go. things are expensive enough without having to travel to Dubland, add in food, accomodation etc. too expensive. Met quite a few people last weekend in Limerick who would be of the same opinion.

06-05-2011 09:55AM

its a guaranteed sell out no matter what stadium its played in (Bar Croke Park). Earning a cool mill at the cost of a few narky fans is pretty easy going imo.

buck65 · 06-05-2011 10:56AM

Deleted User wrote: »

its a guaranteed sell out no matter what stadium its played in (Bar Croke Park). Earning a cool mill at the cost of a few narky fans is pretty easy going imo.

Emmet not sure if it would tbh. Personally I am going to the game tonight in Thomond and again next week the Semi final - not sure I could swing a night in Dublin as well on top of the ticket price.
I remember Leinster played Munster in the RDS in last years semi and there were plenty of tickets around.
Munster fans are a bit down in the dumps and this may rule out alot of travellers and Leinster fans are going to be broke too.
If it is played in the Aviva I could see 30-32k people there maybe. For what it's worth maybe IF Munster get there a sell out in Thomond might be a better atmosphere.
Also a "few narky fans" might be a little disrespectful to the loyal supporters who can't afford to travel to a very expensive city like Dublin, especially after earning the right for home fixtures by running away with the competition in the regular season.

CatFromHue · 06-05-2011 11:05AM

we are of course jumping the gun here as neither team has made the final yet.

as has been mentioned the soccer nations cup is on the 24, 25, 27, and 29th. leaving sat 28 free.

from what i remember of last years final in the rds the stadium was decked out not in leinster colours but in magners league colours. there was also a magners league parade type thing (everyone dressed in black parading huge flags, kinda like a provo parade actually!).

for a stadium the size of the aviva i would imagine this would take alot of time to put up and and also to take down. i'm not sure if it would be possible to put it all up in one day. the football starts at 19.45 on the 27th so wouldnt end until 21.30 or thereabouts. then you have to wait for all the fans to leave the stadium and go through whatever security checks and cleaning that they usually do.

then there is also the case where they would have to mark the pitch out for a rugby game.

obviously if the money is good enough they may try it but logistically speaking it would be very tough.

rugby wise from munsters point of view it would be a bad move to move if from limerick. munster would be favourites to win in limerick, leinster would be favourites anywhere else.

TheHighRoad · 06-05-2011 11:07AM

Riskymove wrote: »

The Croke Park semi has left a legacy in that regard. Many fans will want it in Thomond.

Whats the Croke Park legacy? Leinster had never played there either and Munster had the ticket allotment. You're not really trying to blame the stadium for Munster being so comprehensively outplayed? The match being in Thomond would have made no difference to the outcome.

profitius · 06-05-2011 11:25AM

If it is on in the Aviva the Leinster fans will be in the majority I'd say. Thats a nice reward for Munster finishing top of the league.

irishbucsfan · 06-05-2011 11:34AM

I personally think it would be a travesty to hold it in the Aviva. I would look forward to travelling down to Thomond for the banter.

buck65 · 06-05-2011 12:10PM

TheHighRoad wrote: »

Whats the Croke Park legacy? Leinster had never played there either and Munster had the ticket allotment. You're not really trying to blame the stadium for Munster being so comprehensively outplayed? The match being in Thomond would have made no difference to the outcome.

? You think so? Munster beat Leinster well in Thomond a few weeks before the Croke Park game and beat them well in the RDS that season as well IIRC. Leinster were of course better on the day but Munster had been awesome in dispatching the Ospreys in the 1/4 final and were warm favourites to beat Leinster. Anything could have happened.
Re allotment I remember the numbers were mostly equal that day.
All very hypothetical of course.

vkid · 06-05-2011 03:07PM

Deleted User wrote: »

its a guaranteed sell out no matter what stadium its played in (Bar Croke Park). Earning a cool mill at the cost of a few narky fans is pretty easy going imo.

Thats a very very short sighted view tbh. Piss people off enough and you wont have them at the games. The IRFU had to climb down on their ticket prices after the AI debacle. If there wasn't a lesson learnt from that its all the one.

buck65 · 06-05-2011 03:09PM

vkid wrote: »

Thats a very very short sighted view tbh. Piss people off enough and you wont have them at the games. The IRFU had to climb down on their ticket prices after the AI debacle. If there wasn't a lesson learnt from that its all the one.

Well put.

sock puppet · 06-05-2011 03:34PM

vkid wrote: »

Thats a very very short sighted view tbh. Piss people off enough and you wont have them at the games. The IRFU had to climb down on their ticket prices after the AI debacle. If there wasn't a lesson learnt from that its all the one.

It also removes any incentive for Munster to finish top of the league if they're ever in a two-way battle with Leinster, which is pretty likely to happen at some stage.

06-05-2011 04:18PM

vkid wrote: »

Thats a very very short sighted view tbh. Piss people off enough and you wont have them at the games. The IRFU had to climb down on their ticket prices after the AI debacle. If there wasn't a lesson learnt from that its all the one.

It is in its hole, you're comparing two completely different events, and for completely different reasons.

Firstly, the AIs happen every year, while a Munster Leinster Celtic League final won't happen very often.

Secondly, we had no problem filling Croke Park for the teams to play in the HEC, obviously a step above the ML, but still the same teams, fighting for a chance to win some silverware.

Thirdly, as we've seen with polls time and time again, the detractors will still go, they'll have a moan and a grumble, and then they'll realise that its worth it to go to the game, and they'll travel, and enjoy themselves.

I could continue...
Extra Revenue from one game = extra potential for signing a big NIQ
Huge benefits for the ML if they can get a sold out show in a national stadium.
Improves the advertising values of the ML, which in turns improves the Revenues earned by the ML, which in turn improves the revenues earned by the teams in future years.

Or they could ignore this, give in to the grumblers, and play it in a smaller venue.

I just think that the Munster Branch, probably comprised of sane people, would possibly weigh up a lot more reasons for staging a game in a different stadium other than "there's 4 lads on boards.ie who say they won't go, and that two of their friends can't go either".

CIARAN_BOYLE · 06-05-2011 04:27PM

We always here about how big a deal it is to the Limerick community to have knockout game in the city.

Could Munster rugby tap into the bars and restaurants in Munster for extra sponsorship. I'm thinking something like on the Connacht Rugby website each player is sponsored by a local bar or restaurant or cafe or hotel.

If Munster matches are such a big deal to the local community I think it may be time to milk that if they don't want to move the big matches.

Cpt_Blackbeard · 06-05-2011 04:32PM

Deleted User wrote: »

It is in its hole, you're comparing two completely different events, and for completely different reasons.

Firstly, the AIs happen every year, while a Munster Leinster Celtic League final won't happen very often.

Secondly, we had no problem filling Croke Park for the teams to play in the HEC, obviously a step above the ML, but still the same teams, fighting for a chance to win some silverware.

Thirdly, as we've seen with polls time and time again, the detractors will still go, they'll have a moan and a grumble, and then they'll realise that its worth it to go to the game, and they'll travel, and enjoy themselves.

I could continue...
Extra Revenue from one game = extra potential for signing a big NIQ
Huge benefits for the ML if they can get a sold out show in a national stadium.
Improves the advertising values of the ML, which in turns improves the Revenues earned by the ML, which in turn improves the revenues earned by the teams in future years.

Or they could ignore this, give in to the grumblers, and play it in a smaller venue.

I just think that the Munster Branch, probably comprised of sane people, would possibly weigh up a lot more reasons for staging a game in a different stadium other than "there's 4 lads on boards.ie who say they won't go, and that two of their friends can't go either".

You are completely ignoring the benefits of such a match to the local economy. It would be a terrible decision to move the match but, if its between Limerick/Cork and Dublin, the IRFU will always choose Dublin.

If the IRFU were so concerned about the possible extra income generated by moving the match to the Aviva, they would look into renting out the Gaelic Grounds.

Moving the match to Dublin would also tell teams that there is no need to top the league, all you need to do is be in the top 4.

06-05-2011 04:33PM

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

You are completely ignoring the benefits of such a match to the local economy. It would be a terrible decision to move the match but, if its between Limerick/Cork and Dublin, the IRFU will always choose Dublin.

If the IRFU were so concerned about the possible extra income generated by moving the match to the Aviva, they would look into renting out the Gaelic Grounds.

Moving the match to Dublin would also tell teams that there is no need to top the league, all you need to do is be in the top 4.

That's because the local economy doesn't pay for Munster's players... Easy to ignore. I'm talking business here, not emotion.

Anyway, I think we should end the discussion here, and just leave it in the other thread. I posted the above before I'd read the other thread.

TheHighRoad · 06-05-2011 04:39PM

buck65 wrote: »

You think so? Munster beat Leinster well in Thomond a few weeks before the Croke Park game and beat them well in the RDS that season as well IIRC. Leinster were of course better on the day but Munster had been awesome in dispatching the Ospreys in the 1/4 final and were warm favourites to beat Leinster. Anything could have happened.
Re allotment I remember the numbers were mostly equal that day.
All very hypothetical of course.

Do you remember that game? Munster were beaten in every single facet of the game, the stadium had nothing to do with it, the game wasn't even close! You're right about the allotment though, apparently Munster received 30,000 and Leinster received 30,000 and the rest were general sale.

Riskymove · 06-05-2011 05:09PM

TheHighRoad wrote: »

Whats the Croke Park legacy? Leinster had never played there either and Munster had the ticket allotment. You're not really trying to blame the stadium for Munster being so comprehensively outplayed? The match being in Thomond would have made no difference to the outcome.

If it makes no difference, why is home advantage so important then?

Also: It was a HC semi and therefore arranged by ERC - both teams get equal ticket allocations etc

plus you cannot play at your own ground (because of the advantage I presume!)

I strongly believe that playing at home to a majority crowd (especially in a place that can get a good atmosphere going) does have an outcome

obviously it does not guarantee anything, Leinster have won in Thomond and Munster have won in RDS, but it is an advantage

irishbucsfan · 06-05-2011 05:18PM

TheHighRoad wrote: »

Do you remember that game? Munster were beaten in every single facet of the game, the stadium had nothing to do with it, the game wasn't even close! You're right about the allotment though, apparently Munster received 30,000 and Leinster received 30,000 and the rest were general sale.

Forgive me, but are you trying to say that Munster are no harder to beat in Thomond Park than they are in Dublin?

If not, what is your point then?

TheHighRoad · 06-05-2011 06:03PM

Riskymove wrote: »

If it makes no difference, why is home advantage so important then?

Also: It was a HC semi and therefore arranged by ERC - both teams get equal ticket allocations etc

plus you cannot play at your own ground (because of the advantage I presume!)

I strongly believe that playing at home to a majority crowd (especially in a place that can get a good atmosphere going) does have an outcome

obviously it does not guarantee anything, Leinster have won in Thomond and Munster have won in RDS, but it is an advantage

The Majority crowd was not Leinster, Leinster were not playing at their own ground they were playing at a ground they were familar with as Munster. I wasn't saying home advantage isn't important what I was saying was that firstly NEITHER Leinster or Munster had home advantage in Croke Park and secondly it made NO DIFFERENCE to the outcome of that game in any event because Leinster won by something like 20pts. Munster are better at home but not 20pts better against Leinster.

TheHighRoad · 06-05-2011 06:05PM

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Forgive me, but are you trying to say that Munster are no harder to beat in Thomond Park than they are in Dublin?

If not, what is your point then?

My point was, the fact that the game was played in Croke Park had nothing to do with Munster losing. They were so far off that theres no way you can chalk that down to the stadium, maybe if it was a close game I'd agree.

JustinDee · 06-05-2011 06:10PM

Riskymove wrote: »

Justin

the fear is that IRFU will cash in on the opportunity to make more money as oppossed to which would be more advantageous to Munster winning

The Croke Park semi has left a legacy in that regard. Many fans will want it in Thomond.

It would be up to the branch on where to play. If the branch wants to cash in on playing in the Aviva Stadium then thats their perogative. They can have a choice of half of Thomond Pk shouting on their team or half of the Aviva.

I'll also wager that every time one of these kiss-of-death pre-emptive debates about matches that aren't even on the cards takes place, the team in question ends up losing and not even reaching the subject of debate.

Leroy Lita · 06-05-2011 06:56PM

Conrad Smith is coming to Munster, watch the space

ormond lad · 06-05-2011 07:15PM

Ref of the year george clancy
youths club of the year waterpark
mini's club of the year Ennis
senior club of the year Bruff
school of the year rockwell

Leroy Lita · 06-05-2011 07:33PM

ormond lad wrote: »

Ref of the year george clancy
youths club of the year waterpark
mini's club of the year Ennis
senior club of the year Bruff
school of the year rockwell

how is it that Waterpark can never turn their youths success into senior success?

ormond lad · 06-05-2011 07:41PM

ormond lad wrote: »

Ref of the year george clancy
youths club of the year waterpark
mini's club of the year Ennis
senior club of the year Bruff
school of the year rockwell

Leroy Lita wrote: »

how is it that Waterpark can never turn their youths success into senior success?

Waterpark were quite strong at senior level until 3/4 years or so when they had huge trouble one season where they got relegated from AIL losing games by 35-4o points every week. The coach they had that year got sacked towards the end of the season and the u18 coaches who had coached waterparks 18s to a munster championship took over. After they got relegated to junior rugby waterparks best young players didnt stay playing with park once they went to college like they used to. Paul molloy who had been an irish youth 3 and 4 years ago played with shannon for a few seasons.
Of last years munster winning 19s 90% of them played 19s or 21s with waterpark this season and some of those 18s who won the munster title in 2007 are back playing with the first team.
If waterpark keep producing youths teams like they are at the moment they will be back as a senior club in the very near future

David900 · 06-05-2011 07:50PM

Leroy Lita wrote: »

Conrad Smith is coming to Munster, watch the space

No he isn't. He signed with New Zealand for next year anyway, not sure after that.

thomond2006 · 06-05-2011 08:06PM

So thoughts on Ospreys next week? 5th meeting between the sides this season.

Cpt_Blackbeard · 06-05-2011 08:12PM

David900 wrote: »

No he isn't. He signed with New Zealand for next year anyway, not sure after that.

Is his contract not just until the WC or something?

irishbucsfan · 06-05-2011 08:41PM

Ospreys won't be an easy encounter. But Munster at home are very very hard to beat (or used to be).

Should be a cracker.

Munster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

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