Munster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

SARZY · 23-01-2012 11:50PM

The quicker he gets back in behind BJB the better as far as I am concerned.
He is a better second row than a back row.
And we need him in there.
There has to be a reason why he has been first choice with POC in the second row and our scrum in Northampton told the whole story.

profitius · 23-01-2012 11:56PM

the_blackstuff wrote: »

I think its that lack of raw power that makes me think he might work better at 7. He's super in contact. THe amount of ball he rips and gets to on the ground is amazing. He's really mobile to add. I was worried that he was a bit hot headed earlier this season but he seems to have calmed a bit. We need a good 6 now to allow him develop as a 7. Wallys not going to be around for ever unfortunately.

POM doesn't lack power. He flattens defenders regularly and is hard to stop with ball in hand, making ground.

PhatPiggins · 24-01-2012 12:05AM

SARZY wrote: »

The quicker he gets back in behind BJB the better as far as I am concerned.
He is a better second row than a back row.
And we need him in there.
There has to be a reason why he has been first choice with POC in the second row and our scrum in Northampton told the whole story.

BJ Botha getting owned by Tonga'uiha had nothing to do with the fact that it was DOC and not Ryan behind him in the second row. Some TH's just struggle against a particular type of loosehead. Botha struggled against Tonga'uiha last season when playing for Ulster, John Hayes traditionally struggled against the squatter loose heads like Domingo and Healy.

Ryan is ahead of DOC because he's far more dynamic, quicker around the park and is more of a ball handler. In terms of power and grunt in the scrum I'd say there's nothing between Ryan and DOC.

For what its worth I think Ryan could be an outstanding lock (I know he's not young) but is still an international standard 6.

Sindri · 24-01-2012 01:08AM

JustinDee wrote: »

Yes, Genia.
Even against lowly old Ireland, he has been shown up.

He's still savage. He's in front of a mediocre pack and still manages to be one of the best players on the pitch.

profitius · 24-01-2012 02:02AM

An interesting Munster fact is that they have blooded 9 new players in this seasons HEC! Good stuff.

GisforGrenade · 24-01-2012 03:56AM

I don't get the plaudits for POM, in the Northampton game he was largely anonymous apart from giving away penalties. He popped up once or twice to carry a ball then faded away and wasn't seen for another 20 mins. He also caused the first penalty try. I have watched every single one of the pool matches and he repeats the same behaviour again and again. Carries a few good balls, fades way, then gets injured or starts a fight. In the Northampton game he was carried by Coughlan and Donnacha Ryan who both put in massive games.

phog · 24-01-2012 07:33AM

SARZY wrote: »

The quicker he gets back in behind BJB the better as far as I am concerned.
He is a better second row than a back row.
And we need him in there.
There has to be a reason why he has been first choice with POC in the second row and our scrum in Northampton told the whole story.

If it was that simple then Munster would surely have swapped DOC and DR around at scrum time.

Benny Cake · 24-01-2012 08:32AM

GisforGrenade wrote: »

I don't get the plaudits for POM, in the Northampton game he was largely anonymous apart from giving away penalties. He popped up once or twice to carry a ball then faded away and wasn't seen for another 20 mins. He also caused the first penalty try. I have watched every single one of the pool matches and he repeats the same behaviour again and again. Carries a few good balls, fades way, then gets injured or starts a fight. In the Northampton game he was carried by Coughlan and Donnacha Ryan who both put in massive games.

Couldn't disagree more. POM has been one of Munsters most consistent performers. Guys like POM & Ryan have won nothing & you can see from the way they play they are hungry for success. He is guilty of getting involved in some needless off-the-ball stuff but tbh, I like a backrow to play with a bit of needle!

lologram · 24-01-2012 08:50AM

profitius wrote: »

An interesting Munster fact is that they have blooded 9 new players in this seasons HEC! Good stuff.

It's good that Munster have updated their team, it sorely needed it, but maybe if they'd been more proactive in the last 2 seasons they wouldn't have had to miss the quarterfinals of the HC last year. Also, a stagnant Munster is bad for Ireland.

Bit more of a well-rounded view in the future, as in not letting past-it players stay too long, and Munster will be set.

castie · 24-01-2012 09:28AM

lologram wrote: »

It's good that Munster have updated their team, it sorely needed it, but maybe if they'd been more proactive in the last 2 seasons they wouldn't have had to miss the quarterfinals of the HC last year. Also, a stagnant Munster is bad for Ireland.

Bit more of a well-rounded view in the future, as in not letting past-it players stay too long, and Munster will be set.

Which players were "past-it" and not being selected for Ireland or not performing?

jm08 · 24-01-2012 10:02AM

lologram wrote: »

It's good that Munster have updated their team, it sorely needed it, but maybe if they'd been more proactive in the last 2 seasons they wouldn't have had to miss the quarterfinals of the HC last year. Also, a stagnant Munster is bad for Ireland.

Bit more of a well-rounded view in the future, as in not letting past-it players stay too long, and Munster will be set.

I'd say a major factor was missing Paul O'Connell for most of the season would have been a major factor, not to mention the issue with the scrum (Buckley not being good enough and John Hayes having to stay).

profitius · 24-01-2012 11:34AM

GisforGrenade wrote: »

I don't get the plaudits for POM, in the Northampton game he was largely anonymous apart from giving away penalties. He popped up once or twice to carry a ball then faded away and wasn't seen for another 20 mins. He also caused the first penalty try. I have watched every single one of the pool matches and he repeats the same behaviour again and again. Carries a few good balls, fades way, then gets injured or starts a fight. In the Northampton game he was carried by Coughlan and Donnacha Ryan who both put in massive games.

Next time watch the ruck area. You must have ignored that. Watch the lineouts and restarts too.

PhatPiggins · 24-01-2012 01:01PM

profitius wrote: »

An interesting Munster fact is that they have blooded 9 new players in this seasons HEC! Good stuff.

To add balance to that 5 of those 'bloodings' have been forced on them by retirements and injuries to the incumbents

Amazotheamazing · 24-01-2012 01:21PM

So, who are the 9?

Archer? POM? DOCv2.0. Murray, Keatley, Barnes, Zebo, J. Ryan? Botha? Chambers? That's 10 but I think POM got some time last season.

Seems pointless to count Botha as he was a big signing and Chambers as he was a short term one. A few of the others only got a few minutes (Keatley, DOCv2.0)

ed7890 · 24-01-2012 01:29PM

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

So, who are the 9?

Archer? POM? DOCv2.0. Murray, Keatley, Barnes, Zebo, J. Ryan? Botha? Chambers? That's 10 but I think POM got some time last season.

Seems pointless to count Botha as he was a big signing and Chambers as he was a short term one. A few of the others only got a few minutes (Keatley, DOCv2.0)

No, POM's first HEC game was the Saints game. J.Ryan didn't get any game time yet. Tommy O'Donnell got his first run out, he's another one.

Archer, POM, DOC2, Murray, Keatley, Barnes, Zebo and TOD are 8. Thats all i can think of.

phog · 24-01-2012 01:57PM

ed7890 wrote: »

No, POM's first HEC game was the Saints game. J.Ryan didn't get any game time yet. Tommy O'Donnell got his first run out, he's another one.

Archer, POM, DOC2, Murray, Keatley, Barnes, Zebo and TOD are 8. Thats all i can think of.

Billy Holland?

ed7890 · 24-01-2012 02:03PM

No I think Billy got an appearance off the bench before

Brian · 24-01-2012 02:12PM

Coughlan's been called up to the International squad http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/10027.php

ormond lad · 24-01-2012 03:08PM

Benny Cake wrote: »

Couldn't disagree more. POM has been one of Munsters most consistent performers. Guys like POM & Ryan have won nothing & you can see from the way they play they are hungry for success. He is guilty of getting involved in some needless off-the-ball stuff but tbh, I like a backrow to play with a bit of needle!

tbf donnacha ryan has 2 magners and a heineken-not exactly starved of success. He played and came on in a couple of the heineken games that season

danthefan · 24-01-2012 05:25PM

ormond lad wrote: »

tbf donnacha ryan has 2 magners and a heineken-not exactly starved of success. He played and came on in a couple of the heineken games that season

He definitely didn't start any.

CiaranMT · 24-01-2012 05:27PM

Baza210 wrote: »

Coughlan's been called up to the International squad http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/10027.php

Brilliant news for the man! Delighted for him.

phog · 24-01-2012 06:06PM

Baza210 wrote: »

Coughlan's been called up to the International squad http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/10027.php

I'm delighted for him but in truth I really dont see him getting a cap, mind you I'd be over the moon if he did and I doubt that he'd let us down if he did take the field.

WeeBushy · 24-01-2012 06:08PM

From the IT's article it sounds like he isn't in the main squad, but is there just for the training camp.

Munster backrow James Coughlan has been called into the Irish senior squad in place of Cullen for their training camp in Limerick.

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/2012/0124/1224310697264.html

Either way, he must be delighted to be there considering where he was only a few years ago.

Cpt_Blackbeard · 24-01-2012 07:03PM

Interesting to see Danny Barnes involved with the Irish camp but, not included among the extra players. You'd assume that some Munster lads will be helping out in training as, they'd be in UL anyway.

profitius · 25-01-2012 01:19AM

Gareth Quinn-McDonagh is off to Doncaster. He is in his second year with the Munster academy. I don't think he would have made it with Munster. Good luck to him.

How many Irish players are in Doncaster now?

danthefan · 25-01-2012 08:50AM

There's a 30 man squad named on Monday for the first two 6N games, remains to be seen if Coughlan is in that.

vinny chase · 25-01-2012 10:45AM

profitius wrote: »

Gareth Quinn-McDonagh is off to Doncaster. He is in his second year with the Munster academy. I don't think he would have made it with Munster. Good luck to him.

How many Irish players are in Doncaster now?

Huge number alright.

Michael Keating and Robin Copeland are both doing really well this year, but I think they've got Zack Farivarz, Michael Noone, David McIlwaine, Michael Heaney & Royce Burke Flynn on their books at the moment too (thought not 100% sure if RBF is still there).

They've had lads like Matt d'Arcy there in recent times and Paul Devlin who was in some Munster squads and I think played Irish u-21s.

profitius · 26-01-2012 02:12PM

Highlights of the B&I cup game between Ulster and Munster. Luke O'Dea in particular (no 14) stood out. http://www.munsterrugby.ie/matchdaytv/

vinny chase · 26-01-2012 02:23PM

profitius wrote: »

Highlights of the B&I cup game between Ulster and Munster. Luke O'Dea in particular (no 14) stood out. http://www.munsterrugby.ie/matchdaytv/

Yeah O'Dea was good; that break from his own 22 was quality.

Thought Chambers was the most effective player on show though; his contributions in that clip were nearly all good imo.

Duncan Williams is really poor; in that clip he either takes a step and a half with the ball on every single pass; or the two he does sweep from the ground he misses the first receiver entirely and grounds the ball.

Good display from the young Munster lads though.

Fireball07 · 26-01-2012 02:31PM

For a scrum-half, Williams' passing was awful in that clip.

Chambers looked class, I wish he had clicked more in the first team, he was definitely good enough on his day. O'Dea is going to be a great player imo.

Munster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

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