Munster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

phog · 07-02-2012 08:37PM

durkadurka wrote: »

I think there's a couple of free weeks in march.

Yeah, just checked the fixtures and it looks like the 2 weekends of the last 2 rounds of the 6Ns are free so it could be held then.

profitius · 07-02-2012 10:07PM

PhatPiggins wrote: »

If Howlett and Jones hadn't gotten injured you wouldn't even know what Luke O Dea looked like (general statement, you probably watch a bit of B&I Cup).

Munsters new found trusting in youth is purely injury driven. You know they're going to resort to type with their signings in the summer.

Indeed. Even Connor Murray needed players above him to get injured becfore we saw him. Last season Duncan Williams was ahead of him!

Amazotheamazing · 07-02-2012 11:44PM

PhatPiggins wrote: »

If Howlett and Jones hadn't gotten injured you wouldn't even know what Luke O Dea looked like (general statement, you probably watch a bit of B&I Cup).

Munsters new found trusting in youth is purely injury driven. You know they're going to resort to type with their signings in the summer.

You never know, it might just be that the younger guys are better now than the guys who were 21/22 a few years ago.

muscleshirt · 08-02-2012 12:06AM

flannery got on because frankie was injured

jm08 · 08-02-2012 12:16AM

profitius wrote: »

Indeed. Even Connor Murray needed players above him to get injured becfore we saw him. Last season Duncan Williams was ahead of him!

Don't think Peter Stringer was injured and he was picked ahead of him. When Murray got his chance he took it.

Felix Jones was given his chance as soon as he was fit and will probably get a chance as soon as he is fit.

PhatPiggins · 08-02-2012 12:50AM

jm08 wrote: »

Don't think Peter Stringer was injured and he was picked ahead of him. When Murray got his chance he took it.

Felix Jones was given his chance as soon as he was fit and will probably get a chance as soon as he is fit.

Felix Jones isn't a young Munster player we've brought through ourselves. He was a relatively big name signing from Leinster. Not the same thing at all.

Rattlehead_ie · 08-02-2012 10:26AM

Seems as if game against Aironi has been cancelled due to weather conditions -12 supposedly

OUCH.
New date to be set later

CatFromHue · 08-02-2012 10:32AM

It's a good idea calling it so early, it's a long way to travel for no reason.

I'd imagine Munster would want it to be replayed on the 10th or 17th of March, the next break in the Pro12 after this block of 4 games, as after that they're looking at nearly a game a week.

CIARAN_BOYLE · 08-02-2012 10:39AM

CatFromHue wrote: »

It's a good idea calling it so early, it's a long way to travel for no reason.

Gotta agree it would really piss the fans off if they traveled or were unable to cancel deposits

Amazotheamazing · 08-02-2012 10:53AM

Felix Jones is playing for Shannon this weekend.

ormond lad · 09-02-2012 02:27PM

munsterrugby.ie

New Date For Aironi Game
9 February 2012, 12:24 pm
By The Editor

Sunday March 11th is the new date set for Munster's game with Aironi, the RaboDirect PRO12 game that was scheduled for this weekend. A blanket of snow overs the Stadio Zaffanella outside Viadana and with temperatures forecast to fall further this weekend the chances of the pitch being avalable were deemed highly unlikely.

Munster play Dragons the previous weekend (3rd) and the trip to Italy is then followed by a weekend off before they head to Galway and the March 24th clash with Connacht, their third successive away trip.

phog · 09-02-2012 02:46PM

Ml Corcoran has tweeted that Tommy Bowe has signed for Ulster and that Munster rumour mill is suggesting Casey Laulala signing could be done.

This could all turn out to be some rubbish :rolleyes: but you never know

profitius · 09-02-2012 03:05PM

phog wrote: »

Ml Corcoran has tweeted that Tommy Bowe has signed for Ulster and that Munster rumour mill is suggesting Casey Laulala signing could be done.

This could all turn out to be some rubbish :rolleyes: but you never know

The Lualala talk is hotting up in the press. I dunno, good player but is just past his prime now. He'll be good for a few seasons though. I don't rate Mafi at all as a 12 so I wouldn't be sorry to see him go.

leakyboots · 09-02-2012 03:23PM

McGahan apparently getting offered a two-year extension, Cork Echo.

CiaranMT · 09-02-2012 04:19PM

profitius wrote: »

The Lualala talk is hotting up in the press. I dunno, good player but is just past his prime now. He'll be good for a few seasons though. I don't rate Mafi at all as a 12 so I wouldn't be sorry to see him go.

He's not an IC. He's an OC who I think should have been tried out on the wing more.

agentgreen · 09-02-2012 04:53PM

Laulala confirmed:

http://www.cardiffblues.com/news/5716.php

budhabob · 09-02-2012 04:55PM

agentgreen wrote: »

Laulala confirmed:

http://www.cardiffblues.com/news/5716.php

Not sure how I feel about this, however I reckon he is the type of player who could buy into munster, and him and downey could make a good platform to work from.

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/10089.php

totallegend · 09-02-2012 05:16PM

agentgreen wrote: »

Laulala confirmed:

http://www.cardiffblues.com/news/5716.php

So with Downey and Laulala signed for next season, it looks like Kidney really is the only person in the country who sees Earls' future at centre.

Amazotheamazing · 09-02-2012 06:49PM

from the centres thread.

thomond2006 wrote: »

Is Smith any good?

Only seen clips of him for the A team but he looks ok. Hard to know how any back will be after a knee op, took Fitz ages to get back to his best.

phog · 09-02-2012 06:59PM

Delighted to see Casey signing for Munster, would have preferred Bowe but now we have our own Big Bang Casey

Tox56 · 09-02-2012 07:00PM

Considering Munster can get as far as they have in the HEC this year with the team they currently possess, they could be a big contender for the title next year.

Particularly looking forward to seeing that Back 3 in action, whatever form it takes (Zebo/Howlett, Jones, Earls or something similar)

phog · 09-02-2012 07:01PM

totallegend wrote: »

So with Downey and Laulala signed for next season, it looks like Kidney really is the only person in the country who sees Earls' future at centre.

I would think it was if Munster got Bowe then Keith would be a centre if we got Laulala thern Keith would on the wing.

trackguy · 09-02-2012 07:10PM

phog wrote: »

I would think it was if Munster got Bowe then Keith would be a centre if we got Laulala thern Keith would on the wing.

That seems fairly indecisive regarding Earls?

Munster back-line lining up nicely for next year. Murray, ROG, Zebo, Downey, Laulala, Earls, Jones? That's a nice backline!

irishbucsfan · 09-02-2012 07:52PM

phog wrote: »

I would think it was if Munster got Bowe then Keith would be a centre if we got Laulala thern Keith would on the wing.

Munster approached Laulala well before Bowe started talking to the IRFU though. I don't think it went down that way at all. I think we would have just seen Bowe replace Howlett straight up with Earls on the other wing. Instead now I expect we'll see Zebo/Murphy looking to replace Howlett with Downey/Laulala in the middle and Earls at 11 (where he should be).

Benny Cake · 09-02-2012 07:56PM

totallegend wrote: »

it looks like Kidney really is the only person in the country who sees Earls' future at centre.

Not really, just that he is the best option currently available. BOD, & most likely Cave, would both be ahead of him were they fit. All Keets selection for Ireland means is that Kidney rates him ahead of Mcf & EOM which isn't as bizarre as some posters here would have you believe.

profitius · 09-02-2012 08:01PM

The squad for next season is taking shape.
Back 3 players: Earls, Jones, Zebo, Howlett, O'Dea, Scanlon, Hurley, Murphy
Centers: Lualala, Downey, Barnes, Earls,
Outhalfs: ROG, Keatley, Hanrahan
Scrumhalfs: Murray, Tol, Williams

The centers are not the most skillful but they are direct and reliable and Hanrahan is an option at 12 too. The back 3 has plenty of pace and the half backs are good. All we need now is a new backs coach.

phog · 09-02-2012 08:19PM

trackguy wrote: »

That seems fairly indecisive regarding Earls?

I know they've cloned dolly the sheep but we've yet to manage that with a professional rugby player, no matter how good he is he can only play in one position,

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Munster approached Laulala well before Bowe started talking to the IRFU though.

You hear that from Frankie?

Amazotheamazing · 09-02-2012 08:34PM

Benny Cake wrote: »

Not really, just that he is the best option currently available. BOD, & most likely Cave, would both be ahead of him were they fit. All Keets selection for Ireland means is that Kidney rates him ahead of Mcf & EOM which isn't as bizarre as some posters here would have you believe.

It's not bizarre in the slightest.

Mcfadden should move to 12.

Benny Cake · 09-02-2012 08:37PM

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

It's not bizarre in the slightest.

Mcfadden should move to 12.

Exactly. Darcys time at 12 in an Irish shirt should be at an end.

messi1985 · 09-02-2012 11:07PM

is the bowe talk dead in the water so with lualala signing??

Munster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

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