Munster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

GerM · 10-06-2011 03:18PM

wixfjord wrote: »

Good player, and probably better than Leamy, but don't think he'd fit well into the Munster ethos for some reason. Would he also be one of the first English International players to play for Munster if it happened? Seem to remember there was a prop at one stage too was there, or am I missing someone obvious?

Think you've hit the nail on the head there. He wouldn't really fit in at Munster and I don't think the fans would really welcome his arrival. He's developed a reputation as a bit of a prat in his younger days and that has followed him. However, he's kept his head down in recent times and has become better known for his on the pitch performance rather than his off the pitch persona. He's head and shoulders above Leamy at this point in my opinion. He can play 6, 7 and 8 and make a pretty decent effort in all of them. He's a strong bloke, a good ball carrier and has an excellent work rate. He would be ideal for Munster in my opinion but people will always struggle to see past the Brand Haskell arrogance and judge him purely on rugby.

DDC1990 · 10-06-2011 04:20PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Question, based on one display vs McFadden, would you start Danny Barnes in his stead in an Ireland game?

If the answer to this is yes, you are thinking bizarrely irrationally.

People have got to understand that logically and rationally discussing a player is not an insult to them. Here are some facts.

Danny Barnes is 21 years old.
Danny Barnes has started 4 games for Munster in the ML this season.
He started 1 game in the previous season.
He scored 2 excellent tries in one of those games.
He gave a decent account for himself in the Magners League Final. He was not excellent, Mafi was the standout centre in the game.
He has shown glimpses of brilliance, but still has a lot to learn.
He is yet to have any European Exposure.

Are you using beliefs or facts to come to the idea of him being HEC standard, based on 4 games played?

Again, hyper-senstivity to rational thought is strange.

Nope wouldn't in a million years think of starting him ahead of McFadden, its far too early. He's looked solid, but has a lot of work to do.
But what were your grounds on saying he had a poor ML.
He barely got a chance to show his wares due to injury and reluctance from TM.

He showed very little weakness in his games to date. Not saying he's the next BOD or overreacting in any way. Just saying he's a solid player and look forward to him starting next season at center with Mafi (fingers crossed). With a few games under his belt next season after a good preseason, then we will be able to judge if he's good enough.

Along with Sherry, POM, Murray and all the young up and coming players.
I never once overhyped Barnes. I just think he has the potential of managed right to be a good solid HEC player for Munster.

PhatPiggins · 10-06-2011 04:22PM

DDC1990 wrote: »

Nope wouldn't in a million years think of starting him ahead of McFadden, its far too early. He's looked solid, but has a lot of work to do.
But what were your grounds on saying he had a poor ML.
He barely got a chance to show his wares due to injury and reluctance from TM.

He showed very little weakness in his games to date. Not saying he's the next BOD or overreacting in any way. Just saying he's a solid player and look forward to him starting next season at center with Mafi (fingers crossed). With a few games under his belt next season after a good preseason, then we will be able to judge if he's good enough.

Along with Sherry, POM, Murray and all the young up and coming players.
I never once overhyped Barnes. I just think he has the potential of managed right to be a good solid HEC player for Munster.

Ah here can you cut out the over hyping.......

DDC1990 · 10-06-2011 04:24PM

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Ah here can you cut out the over hyping.......

Sorry, who knew that to be playing alongside Mafi is the Mecca of Rugby now. To think he could be named in the same sentance as him is deemed hype now :P

10-06-2011 04:26PM

Could people refrain from misquoting me.

I never said he had a poor ML. He played 4 games, and had 3 sub appearances. He had a nothing ML, you cannot judge a player sufficiently on that number of games. He showed some good points, he showed some bad, again, I couldn't say much more other than he showed signs of promise, as do most young players.
In the ML final, he played his worst / least best (whichever way you want to phrase it) of his 4 games.

I'm agreeing with potential.

ffs, please think more. I am not saying that Barnes doesn't have any of these assets. You are agreeing with me but circling the statement that I am making.

Potential does not mean he will be good, it means he could be. There is a sweet distinction between the two. Hype and pressure will make it harder for a player to close the gap.

Give him a chance to do so before you judge him, either way. That is what I have said. I'm happy to discuss any other player in the world but Barnes at this stage, as people think that I have some sort of hidden agenda. I am being logical and rational, and some people are being over defensive.

totallegend · 10-06-2011 04:35PM

Some lunatic on the 'transfer' thread suggested Munster should sign D'Arcy, and it got me thinking; who is the last top-quality centre Munster have produced?
Working on the premise that Earls is a winger, I'm struggling here.

Podge_irl · 10-06-2011 04:37PM

Henderson?

Murphy could have been good it not for injuries

CatFromHue · 10-06-2011 06:02PM

totallegend wrote: »

Some lunatic on the 'transfer' thread suggested Munster should sign D'Arcy, and it got me thinking; who is the last top-quality centre Munster have produced?
Working on the premise that Earls is a winger, I'm struggling here.

i can only think of john kelly. i think he played wing and centre.

he wasn't a glitzy player but was quality.

GerM · 10-06-2011 06:51PM

I think this conversation took place on MF before and it was established that the last Munster born/bred 12 that started a HEC game was back in the last millennium. Cian Mahoney I think if the ERC site is correct. John Kelly is a Dub.

Munster have produced a few outside centres but 12 has always been a real issue for them. Killian Keane, Jason Holland, Halstead, Tuitupou, Mafi, De Villiers. If they could come up with a good home grown 12 it would give them so much freedom to solidify their back row.

Amazotheamazing · 11-06-2011 12:52PM

Even though what Buckley did yesterday was moronically stupid, it's not always bad to see a rough edge in a young player, it's easier imo, to smooth that out than to give a skillful player a hard side. Already he looks physically ready to play for Munster in preseason games, will be interesting to see if he escapes being cited.

razorblunt · 12-06-2011 10:13AM

On Haskell, I think he'd be a good signing. I think he gets a bit of a bad rep, but from following him on Twitter they guy has taken a week off and is straight into fitness training again.

Can't really see him anywhere but England though.

PhatPiggins · 12-06-2011 10:40AM

razorblunt wrote: »

On Haskell, I think he'd be a good signing. I think he gets a bit of a bad rep, but from following him on Twitter they guy has taken a week off and is straight into fitness training again.

Can't really see him anywhere but England though.

The Rebels are chasing hard for him by all accounts. He'd be well suited to super(ish) rugby

Amazotheamazing · 12-06-2011 11:30AM

Take Haskell every day over Powell but I can't see it happening tbh, an English club will sign him (well hopefully both of them) up.

CatFromHue · 12-06-2011 11:35AM

i would have thought the main reason haskell left stade was to comply with the if you want to play for england you must play in england rule.

that rules out ireland

Amazotheamazing · 12-06-2011 12:16PM

CatFromHue wrote: »

i would have thought the main reason haskell left stade was to comply with the if you want to play for england you must play in england rule.

that rules out ireland

Thought Stade cut him because they have financial troubles?

PhatPiggins · 12-06-2011 12:20PM

CatFromHue wrote: »

i would have thought the main reason haskell left stade was to comply with the if you want to play for england you must play in england rule.

that rules out ireland

Can see a challenge to the European Court of Labour on that one in the near future

Amazotheamazing · 12-06-2011 12:29PM

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Can see a challenge to the European Court of Labour on that one in the near future

I doubt it. Even if a case could be brought no player would bring it because national selection will always depend on the opinion of the coach. Haskell couldn't force a national coach to pick him. Anyhow, I doubt any such case would be winnable.

Do you ever see a situation where a player is so good he can sue his national team and still get picked? Nearest I can recall is Keith Wood's spat with the IRFU over image rights which is a very different issue.

jolley123 · 12-06-2011 12:47PM

So....Nonu said he's pretty much going overseas now that Hurricanes have let him go. Plus, his release is said to have angered both Gear and Conrad Smith. What are the chances of Munster grabbing Nonu. Didn't he say he liked the club?

Monty Burnz · 12-06-2011 12:48PM

jolley123 wrote: »

So....Nonu said he's pretty much going overseas now that Hurricanes have let him go. Plus, his release is said to have angered both Gear and Conrad Smith. What are the chances of Munster grabbing Nonu. Didn't he say he liked the club?

Angered them why?

ormond lad · 12-06-2011 12:58PM

Looks like Cathal Sheridan is staying with the Munster academy and isn't going to Edinburgh

jolley123 · 12-06-2011 12:59PM

Monty Burnz wrote: »

Angered them why?

Because they're close friends with Nonu or something. It might just be speculation, it's being commented about by a few kiwis. Gear has yet to renew his contract, so I'd say he will be leaving, but more than likely to another NZ club.

Anyway, here's the Nonu source.
http://planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,15994_6985856,00.html

thomond2006 · 12-06-2011 01:31PM

ormond lad wrote: »

Looks like Cathal Sheridan is staying with the Munster academy and isn't going to Edinburgh

Edinburgh signed Chris Leck, a scrum half from Sale. That might have pushed Sheridan out. He would be 4th choice (initially) when he arrives in Scotland. Although he may have been second choice during the World Cup if both Blair and Laidlaw are taken.

roycon · 12-06-2011 01:38PM

haskell is never going to munster although he would suit munster as a player it would be a mutual unsuitability as a person. melbourne rebels or a big english club are the only options. id say back to wasps or gloucester.

CIARAN_BOYLE · 12-06-2011 04:55PM

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Can see a challenge to the European Court of Labour on that one in the near future

Not gonna happen. The RFU is a company that has certain rights in the Premiership, they are basically saying if you want to work for me (play in the Elite Performance Squad) you have to add value in the other part of the company

Ireland's NIQ rules would be challenged first

profitius · 13-06-2011 02:14PM

In this months edition of Emerald Rugby Ian Sherwin talks about Munsters academy and going to a Cork Limerick U18 hurling match to check out a player on both sides!

He also talks about how the Munster academy has grown over the past few seasons and keeps evolving. Hopefully thats a good sign of changes taking place.

premierstone · 13-06-2011 02:53PM

profitius wrote: »

In this months edition of Emerald Rugby Ian Sherwin talks about Munsters academy and going to a Cork Limerick U18 hurling match to check out a player on both sides!

Not sure how watching them hurl could give any indication on there suitability to play Rugby, and besides Tomas O'Leary was a very gifted hurler, nuff said

profitius · 13-06-2011 03:19PM

premierstone wrote: »

Not sure how watching them hurl could give any indication on there suitability to play Rugby, and besides Tomas O'Leary was a very gifted hurler, nuff said

Skill, fitness, attitude, leadership etc are common to all sports.

Brian P · 13-06-2011 10:49PM

premierstone wrote: »

and besides Tomas O'Leary was a very gifted hurler, nuff said

He is an excellent scrum half.He takes far too much stick in my opinion.He has his faults but all scrum halves have.

jolley123 · 13-06-2011 10:59PM

Brian P wrote: »

He is an excellent scrum half.He takes far too much stick in my opinion.He has his faults but all scrum halves have.

True, he does take a lot of stick, but excellent is pushing it. Genia, Du Preez, Hougaard etc. Those are excellent scrum-halves. TOL is inconsistently decent. His pace and power are what sets him apart, but they haven't been compensating for his poor recycling and game-managmement.

13-06-2011 11:02PM

Brian P wrote: »

He is an excellent scrum half.He takes far too much stick in my opinion.He has his faults but all scrum halves have.

he's certainly not an excellent scrum half. I would challenge you to name 5 things that a scrum half does that he is excellent at.

He is a very good all round rugby player, but in a specialised position like scrum half, is severely lacking a lot of the skills necessary to be classed amongst the best.

Munster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

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