Munster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

thomond2006 · 27-03-2012 02:15PM

Neither Conor Murray nor Paul O'Connell have been included in the Munster squad for Saturday's RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Leinster.

There had been optimism that Murray might make it back in time for this top of the table clash whereas O'Connell was always a doubt. It's hoped however that both may be in contention for inclusion in the squad for the game against Ulster on saturday week.

.... Meanwhile Munster have confirmed that Peter Stringer and Dave Foley have agreed one year contract extensions.

Stringer is currently on loan to Newcastle Falcons while Foley who is out injured with a shoulder injury opted for a one year contract instead of the offered two year deal.

Munster Squad (28):
Marcus Horan, Wian du Preez, BJ Botha, John Ryan, Stephen Archer,
Damien Varley, Mike Sherry, Denis Fogarty,
Donncha O’Callaghan, Mick O’Driscoll, Billy Holland,
Dave O’Callaghan, Peter O’Mahony, Tommy O’Donnell, David Wallace, James Coughlan,

Duncan Williams, Tomas O’Leary,
Ronan O’Gara, Ian Keatley,
Danny Barnes, Lifeimi Mafi, Keith Earls,
Simon Zebo, Denis Hurley, Johne Murphy, Scott Deasy, Felix Jones

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/10290.php

No word in the article about Donnacha Ryan but he's not included in the squad, so one can assume he's out as well. No Nagle or LOD either, although LOD did pick up a knock last week.

Interesting that Foley only signed a one year deal, perhaps he isn't sure if his long term future is with Munster and wants to keep his options open.

I haven't seen the last few Munster matches so I'm not sure on the team I want to see! One prop, one hooker, one backrower and 2 outside backs will not be included in the matchday 23. The interesting selections will be in the backrow (is Wallace ready?) and in the backthree where there are a lot of players in form.

Amazotheamazing · 27-03-2012 02:44PM

It makes sense for foley to sign a one year deal. Leinster and Connacht will be looking for locks in a season if he doesn't break into the Munster team.

As for O'Dea, he's picked up a lot of small knocks this season, there's no need to rush him.

justsomebloke · 27-03-2012 02:52PM

Fireball07 wrote: »

If we really have to, we could sign a NIQ as cover next season. Hopefully it won't be needed though.

Fraid not. With Pienaar contracted with Ulster till the end of the 13/14 season a NIQ scrum half is not an option

Fireball07 · 27-03-2012 05:47PM

justsomebloke wrote: »

Fraid not. With Pienaar contracted with Ulster till the end of the 13/14 season a NIQ scrum half is not an option

Forgot about that...but are the 1 player per position restrictions in place. Realistically, we only want someone to be decent cover for Murray and there are 3 NIQ tightheads in the provinces at the moment, 2 looseheads...

Pity LOD is injured, but I suppose he wasn't realistically going to play anyway. Ryan and POC both being out will be a big loss.

I want to see a back 3 of Zebo-Hurley-Jones and a backrow of POM-TOD-Coughlan. Wallace to come off the bench.

CIARAN_BOYLE · 27-03-2012 05:52PM

Fireball07 wrote: »

Forgot about that...but are the 1 player per position restrictions in place. Realistically, we only want someone to be decent cover for Murray and there are 3 NIQ tightheads in the provinces at the moment, 2 looseheads...

It doesn't apply at the moment, it comes in the season after next

irishbucsfan · 27-03-2012 06:16PM

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Fireball07 wrote: »

Forgot about that...but are the 1 player per position restrictions in place. Realistically, we only want someone to be decent cover for Murray and there are 3 NIQ tightheads in the provinces at the moment, 2 looseheads...

It doesn't apply at the moment, it comes in the season after next

It applies to any contracts that run into that season it seems. Or so Pienaars contract announcement implied.

CIARAN_BOYLE · 27-03-2012 06:32PM

irishbucsfan wrote: »

It applies to any contracts that run into that season it seems. Or so Pienaars contract announcement implied.

yep thats my understanding as well

Amazotheamazing · 27-03-2012 07:39PM

There's absolutely no reason to waste an NIQ spot on a scrumhalf, we have depth of sorts there.

thomond2006 · 27-03-2012 07:49PM

Detractors of Keatley would say that we need a Berquist type of signing to cover 10, but I think Keatley is good enough.

A top backrower would be nice, but it would have to be a seriously top drawer signing to be worth keeping someone like Coughlan out, the level of Pocock or Brussow. If Wallace gets back to 60% of what he was last season then Munster will be fine. Ronan and Leamy will be back from injury by next season too.

+1 to amazo's point, we definitely don't need a scrum half. We have 4 signed up anyway with Murray on a central contract (I assume?!), Stringer and Williams on provincial contracts and Sheridan on a development contract.

Podge_irl · 27-03-2012 09:04PM

It took Wallace a fair while to reach the level of performance he was displaying at the close end of last season. He had a middling first few months. I'd be worried about banking anything on him coming back strong now he's a year older (machine and all that he is).

Amazotheamazing · 27-03-2012 09:38PM

thomond2006 wrote: »

Detractors of Keatley would say that we need a Berquist type of signing to cover 10, but I think Keatley is good enough.

A top backrower would be nice, but it would have to be a seriously top drawer signing to be worth keeping someone like Coughlan out, the level of Pocock or Brussow. If Wallace gets back to 60% of what he was last season then Munster will be fine. Ronan and Leamy will be back from injury by next season too.

+1 to amazo's point, we definitely don't need a scrum half. We have 4 signed up anyway with Murray on a central contract (I assume?!), Stringer and Williams on provincial contracts and Sheridan on a development contract.

There's also guys like Gerry Hurley and Brian Haugh about, I don't think we'll be too badly caught.

Don't think we can really bank on Wallace, Leamy or even Ronan coming back as good as they were, and it'd be foolishness on our part to think we could.

thomond2006 · 27-03-2012 10:06PM

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

There's also guys like Gerry Hurley and Brian Haugh about, I don't think we'll be too badly caught.

Don't think we can really bank on Wallace, Leamy or even Ronan coming back as good as they were, and it'd be foolishness on our part to think we could.

Who do you think would fit into the first team along with the group of backrowers we currently have?

CIARAN_BOYLE · 27-03-2012 10:29PM

thomond2006 wrote: »

Detractors of Keatley would say that we need a Berquist type of signing to cover 10, but I think Keatley is good enough.

A top backrower would be nice, but it would have to be a seriously top drawer signing to be worth keeping someone like Coughlan out, the level of Pocock or Brussow. If Wallace gets back to 60% of what he was last season then Munster will be fine. Ronan and Leamy will be back from injury by next season too.

+1 to amazo's point, we definitely don't need a scrum half. We have 4 signed up anyway with Murray on a central contract (I assume?!), Stringer and Williams on provincial contracts and Sheridan on a development contract.

Aren't Munster down to project NIQs only? Rule is 4+1 for next year afaik
Botha, WDP, Lualua, Howlett is your four NIQs so only the project slot remains unavailable in terms of NIQ signings.

Anyway I think Munster might be a little stacked in terms of backrow numbers for next year.

Ronan, Leamy, Coghlan, POM, TOD, DOC2.0, Butler and that new 7 signed from the championship. If Wallace finds form I'd say he will get another year as well.

Amazotheamazing · 27-03-2012 10:35PM

thomond2006 wrote: »

Who do you think would fit into the first team along with the group of backrowers we currently have?

I genuinely don't know. It was obvious POM was going to be a good player if he could stay fit, if we'd bought somebody in we'd have probably missed out on POM. I think Butler is in a similar bind. I don't think guys like DOCv2.0 and TOD are in the same category but I'm not sure. I'd be reluctant to bring in any NIQ backrower unless it was a McCaw or Pocock type signing because it's so hard to judge backrowers without seeing a lot of them.

Amazotheamazing · 27-03-2012 10:39PM

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Aren't Munster down to project NIQs only? Rule is 4+1 for next year afaik
Botha, WDP, Lualua, Howlett is your four NIQs so only the project slot remains unavailable in terms of NIQ signings.

Anyway I think Munster might be a little stacked in terms of backrow numbers for next year.

Ronan, Leamy, Coghlan, POM, TOD, DOC2.0, Butler and that new 7 signed from the championship. If Wallace finds form I'd say he will get another year as well.

We are. It's possible our project will be Borlase, do we risk giving him a contract on the basis that he'll be IQ in 12 months?

bantron · 28-03-2012 09:15AM

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

We are. It's possible our project will be Borlase, do we risk giving him a contract on the basis that he'll be IQ in 12 months?

Why? He's not deserving of a professional contract and he can't serve much use to the squad, no point in having him around.

Amazotheamazing · 28-03-2012 09:18AM

bantron wrote: »

Why? He's not deserving of a professional contract and he can't serve much use to the squad, no point in having him around.

Don't know how anyone outside the squad can be sure eitherway tbh.

irishbucsfan · 28-03-2012 09:23AM

Has Borlase been playing AIL?

Amazotheamazing · 28-03-2012 09:33AM

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Has Borlase been playing AIL?

No. Because of certain rules in the AIL Dolphin have preferred to play Christy Condon as their contracted tighthead. Shows the dangers of having two contracted players in the same position for any club.

irishbucsfan · 28-03-2012 09:49AM

The IRFU need to sort out their AIL rules sharpish.

Has Borlase been playing B&I then? I'm just wondering if there's any evidence of him improving.

28-03-2012 09:54AM

irishbucsfan wrote: »

The IRFU need to sort out their AIL rules sharpish.
.

yes they do but at the same time you cant have all the contracted players playing for 1 or 2 clubs. i played in a successful underage team in cork but once it gets to senior level all our best players had to go to con or dolphin because they wouldn't get a look in with munster otherwise as a result our senior team is very average and this is unfair

Amazotheamazing · 28-03-2012 09:55AM

irishbucsfan wrote: »

The IRFU need to sort out their AIL rules sharpish.

Has Borlase been playing B&I then? I'm just wondering if there's any evidence of him improving.

He's had some gametime, not sure if he's started any games. There's a host of props like Borlase, Cotter, Kilcoyne and Ryan all knocking around, we badly need one or two of them to step up.

CatFromHue · 28-03-2012 10:22AM

In the circumstances, the ankle injury Ian Nagle picked up in Galway last "Saturday was decidedly ill-timed, and with Dave Foley also sidelined, it means Donncha O’Callaghan and Mick O’Driscoll pretty much pick themselves against Leinster, although they also have the versatility of Billy Holland.

Like Peter Stringer, Foley has agreed a new one-year contract, although given Foley could have taken up a two-year option, that seems like a statement of intent.

“Pre-season injuries robbed him of being the next one in line,” admitted McGahan. “I know he is very keen and he and Ian (Nagles) have a tremendous relationship and a real competitive environement that they have created around themselves, very similar to Paul and Donncha to a certain extent. They check out each others weights and times and I think he is putting himself on a timeline, he is really keen to back himself. He is out for the rest of the season and he is another player we have a lot of time for and are really excited about the prosepcts for him.”

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0328/1224314008837.html

McGahan talking in The Times about the game on the weekend and Nagle and Foley.

28-03-2012 10:41AM

CatFromHue wrote: »

In the circumstances, the ankle injury Ian Nagle picked up in Galway last "Saturday was decidedly ill-timed, and with Dave Foley also sidelined, it means Donncha O’Callaghan and Mick O’Driscoll pretty much pick themselves against Leinster, although they also have the versatility of Billy Holland.

Like Peter Stringer, Foley has agreed a new one-year contract, although given Foley could have taken up a two-year option, that seems like a statement of intent.

“Pre-season injuries robbed him of being the next one in line,” admitted McGahan. “I know he is very keen and he and Ian (Nagles) have a tremendous relationship and a real competitive environement that they have created around themselves, very similar to Paul and Donncha to a certain extent. They check out each others weights and times and I think he is putting himself on a timeline, he is really keen to back himself. He is out for the rest of the season and he is another player we have a lot of time for and are really excited about the prosepcts for him.”

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0328/1224314008837.html

McGahan talking in The Times about the game on the weekend and Nagle and Foley.

so are all 4 out for the ulster game?

Amazotheamazing · 28-03-2012 10:44AM

Diana Lively Survivor wrote: »

so are all 4 out for the ulster game?

Yep, missing POC, Ryan, Nagle and Foley. Nagle and Foley have had no luck this season.

Edit, missing them for the Leinster game, should be back next week, d'oh!

budhabob · 28-03-2012 10:55AM

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Yep, missing POC, Ryan, Nagle and Foley. Nagle and Foley have had no luck this season.

I got the impression that there was still strong hope for Ryan and POC for the Ulster game?

Amazotheamazing · 28-03-2012 10:57AM

budhabob wrote: »

I got the impression that there was still strong hope for Ryan and POC for the Ulster game?

Sorry, misread the post, thought he said Leinster game. Yeah, POC and Ryan should be back for Ulster.

jacothelad · 28-03-2012 11:01AM

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

He's had some gametime, not sure if he's started any games. There's a host of props like Borlase, Cotter, Kilcoyne and Ryan all knocking around, we badly need one or two of them to step up.

Props need to play every week and to have 'live' scrummaging practice.

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Yep, missing POC, Ryan, Nagle and Foley. Nagle and Foley have had no luck this season.

Edit, missing them for the Leinster game, should be back next week, d'oh!

"McGahan was speaking amid the sumptuous and expansive surrounds of the Fota Island Resort, where Munster assembled for a two-day camp, and he remained hopeful Paul O’Connell, Conor Murray and Donnacha Ryan would be fit for the Heineken Cup quarter-final against Ulster."

budhabob · 28-03-2012 11:11AM

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Sorry, misread the post, thought he said Leinster game. Yeah, POC and Ryan should be back for Ulster.

Oh thank feck, thought you knew something I didnt.

Amazotheamazing · 28-03-2012 11:13AM

budhabob wrote: »

Oh thank feck, thought you knew something I didnt.

Believe me I know nothing!

Munster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

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