Munster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

BoardsMember wrote: »

Are you selecting a game where the pack was being massacred? Is that appropriate. If you want to pick individual games, how about the Ireland England game last season where he was brilliant, allowing us to play quick attacking rugby, utilising our talented backline?

Or how about looking at the bigger picture - Leinster with Reddan/Sexton at 9/10 are arguably the best backline in Europe. Is is possible that Reddan is a poor scrum half when that is the case?

I agree, but it's the usual stuff, Murray's good performances v Scarlets and v. France are overlooked and the bad ones examined in detail. Fact is no scrumhalf will look good for Munster or Ireland until they ditch the static pod system.

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Anyone here how the Munster development team got on against Ensei STM.

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/10352.php

Development Side Outmuscles Russians
10 April 2012, 10:59 amBy The EditorA gritty performance from a Munster Development XV resulted in a hard earned 34-24 win against the fully professional Enesei STM team at Dooradoyle yesterday.

The Russians had beaten Connacht A earlier in the week very comfortably, and came into this game full of confidence. As Munster A had played on Friday night, Munster selected from the Academy and the clubs of Munster.
An early try from the Russians from their first entry into the Munster 22 was an ominous sign and Munster struggled to regain possession from the physical Russians whenever they got into the Munster 22.

A half time score of 17-10 was a fair reflection of the game as the Russians had dominated possession and only some disciplined and physical defence held the Russians at bay. The back row of Shane Buckley, John Quill and Liam Og Murphy stood out in the 1st half as they led the defensive line.

Corey Hircock with a try and John Holland with a penalty and conversion got the scores for Munster. Brian Haugh at scrum half kept the tempo of the game up for Munster and was a real live wire at the base.

As the 2nd half wore on the Russians began to tire as Munster upped the ante and kept the ball in hand. Two excellent scores from Hircock and Darren Moroney both converted by Holland put Munster 24-17 in front.

Enesei came back to level with a try from a series of pick and drives, but with James Cronin and replacements Ger Slattery and John Shine prominent Munster finished strongly with a penalty and a converted try all scored by Holland to win by a ten point margin.

Munster Development: Darren Moroney (UL Bohemians); Cathal Quinn (Cork Con), Corey Hircock (Garryowen), Cian Bohane (Dolphin), Luke Duffy (UCC); Jonathan Holland (Cork Con), Brian Haugh (Young Munster).James Cronin (Dolphin), James Rael (Garryowen), Christy Condon (Dolphin), Phil Donnellan (Cork Con) capt, Darren O’Shea (Dolphin); Liam Og Murphy (Young Munster), John Quill (Dolphin), Shane Buckley (Garryowen). Replacements: Ger Slattery (Young Munster), Peter McCabe (UCC), Rob Herlihy (Dolphin), John Shine (Bruff), Brian Slater (UCC), Brian Cahill (Bruff), Tom O’Callaghan (Bruff)..

I'm in Dublin airport and those Russians are walking around the departures

Massive boys.................to say the least

skregs wrote: »

He looked brilliant in the ML final against Leinster. But, since then, he's been in a steady decline. It's like his natural instinct is being trained out of him and he's been made to second guess himself.

I think there's something like that going on and it makes absolutely no sense given the games we play. I can understand doing it when closing out a game, or seeking to frustrate the opposition but lately it's been an 80 minute tactic for both Ireland and Munster, and (somewhat incredibly) when we deviate from it we do better (England last year, France this year).

leftleg wrote: »

We are not talking about any other Pro12 team; This is Munster; one of if not the best club team in Europe and up there with the best teams in the world;

There form in the HCup over the last 2/3 seasons has not been up to the hefty standards that Munster players, management and supporters would want; They have been going through a rotten on-field period.

Sorry if that statement earlier annoyed you but its simply the truth with no malice intended;

I can see what you mean but I'd be fairly confident we aren't facing into a decade in the wilderness for a few reasons.
Firstly, this years HEC team, especially last Sunday's was inexperienced. Guys like Sherry, Ryan, TOD, POM, Coughlan, Murray, Zebo and Jones are inexperience at this level, even if guys like Ryan and Coughlan shouldn't be, considering their age.
Secondly, we've been able to give decent levels of gametime to the above players, as well as DOCv2.0 and Archer in the Pro12.
Thirdly, we have a good A team coming through. It might take a few seasons but guys like O'Dea can step up, imo.
Fourthly, our purchasing power is due to increase in a few seasons after Thomond Park's loans are paid off.
Fifthly, we're seeing more and more Munster players coming into the Irish
u18's sides, which implies on some level we are catching up with Leinster and Ulster underage.

That has to be balanced with the fact we will be losing guys like Howlett and O'Gara soon but I don't think it's all negative.

leftleg wrote: »

It remains to be seen if they will actually make the step up or just end being a team of Billy Hollands.



Eh didn't Munster just post a deficit this year; How the Fuk could Thomand be close to being paid off already. I would have thought your being overly positive in that front. Correct me if i'm wrong though.

Thomond was due to be paid off over a short period of time, afaik, though I'm willing to be corrected if people will post actual links as opposed to pub talk about it.

And of course, the entire A team could quit in the morning but some of them will make it through.