CatFromHue wrote: » Sean Henry going to Connacht is obviously a factor here. Also comparing Leinster to Munster in the Hooker dept is silly. Both of Leinster's first choice Hookers, when fit, are always in the Ireland squad. Our Hooker ticket is fairly settled too with Cronin, Strauss, and Dundon all at least in their third season with the club now.
Foxtrol wrote: » Sexton left Leinster in the last year as well so that's just as much a factor for them, not to mention JHW leaving a year or so before.
PlayerTrader13 wrote: » Leinster had Cronin, Dundon and Strauss in the squad. Then they have Tracy who moved to hooker during preseason who is still in the academy and Byrne who just turned 20. Strauss is done for the season and Cronin will miss large chunks of leinster's season with Ireland. Leaving Leinster with Dundon, Tracy(a novice hooker at best) and Byrne(a young academy player who isn't ready). Munster will have Varley, Casey and Scannell. Casey and Scannell are clearly ready for top level rugby unlike Tracy and Byrne. One injury to Dundon and Leinster would be playing tracy at hooker, he might have less than 10 games total at any level playing hooker. you can moan all you want but its clear which team needs a medical joke and which doesn't.
Foxtrol wrote: » This is the exact crap I knew was going to start with that comment earlier. So you’re asking what game time MOC has given to his 4th/5th choice hooker after his #1 was ruled out and the IRFU had already sanctioned a medical joker, given the fact his #2 is nailed on Irish backup and will miss several games at least? Think the more pertinent question for Munster fans is how has Penney gotten into the situation again where he’s left with his 3rd choice being required to step up after being given barely any experience previously. This is becoming a trend (SH, LH, TH) and should be something to be focusing on rather than moaning about the situation another province is in.
phog wrote: » So you've avoided the question and stated the facts, so I'll ask again. What has MOC done to give gametime to Tracy or his other academy player once he knew he was down to 2 hookers, knowing he would be without Cronin for small chunks of the season.
phog wrote: » What the IRFU will decide is their business but it's mad to say that either Casey or Scannell is up to replace Sherry, which was the original point about Munster not needing a medical joker because they had academy players.
What the IRFU will decide is their business but it's mad to say that either Casey or Scannell is up to replace Sherry, which was the original point about Munster not needing a medical joker because they had academy players.
CatFromHue wrote: » I don't think Sexton was ever ahead of Dundon, from what I can remember anyway.
PlayerTrader13 wrote: » neither casey or scannell are in the academy, both are registered for the heinken cup and are on development contracts, both were chose ahead of henry and rael, both are highly rated and experienced hookers, who are ready for the step up.. you would think as a munster fan you'd be excited about this but apparently your not.
Foxtrol wrote: » Why would he? He had his 2nd and 3rd choice available for nearly every game in the interim and the medical joker was already approved; they’re just finalizing the contract/work permit. We don’t know because again Munster have been left in a situation where they have young lads who are 3rd choice but have been given no first team experience.
phog wrote: » Because like Muster, Leinster could lose a hooker overnight and as you say it's almost criminal that the coach hasn't taken steps to have experienced players ready to take the step up.
Foxtrol wrote: » Dundon was found in the AIL while Sexton was contracted to Leinster so he was definitely ahead of him at one point. Either would be a solid 4th choice with more experience than either of the Munster 3rd choices at the minute.
shuffol wrote: » Teams should be able to cope with one injury in a position without having to revert to a medical joker, I can understand Leinsters need being a bit greater as they'll be without 2 players during an international window. The 3rd choice in a position should be able to offer adequate cover.
CatFromHue wrote: » Munster would be able to cope as long as Varley isn't called up for Ireland. The problem is though it's a very strong possibility that he will be. Strauss is out for the season and Best is not expected to play any rugby until mid to late January but Ulster don't play a game after 18 Jan until 7 Feb and Ireland play the first 6N game on 2nd Feb. In all likelihood Varley is going to be called up to Ireland for the start of the 6N which will leave Munster without their first and second choice Hookers 3 games in the Rabo in February.
Foxtrol wrote: » With that timetable at worst Best should be well able to bench after being fully fit two weeks before the 6 nations start. There’s also a Wolfhound game the 25th of January for gametime. I can see him being called up but released and he definitely wouldn’t come under any player welfare issues like Cronin will.
Foxtrol wrote: » They already have a hooker coming in to replace Strauss so there is no need to throw a 22 year old LH convert or a 20 year old into game time, how do you not understand this is different than the situation at Munster? Penney has left Munster in a situation where no one knows who their 3rd choice is and both candidates have practically no experience and it’s not the first time this has been an issue over the last year or even currently in other positions. It's madness how you keep pointing the finger at other provinces without looking at the mess of a situation the coach has left yours in.
CatFromHue wrote: » Another thing to think about is who can Munster even get at this stage?
phog wrote: » Yet, other posters are claiming Munster are best placed of the two provinces to go without a medical joker as they have highly rated replacements. If this was a short term replacement I'd have no issue using the two guys but from what Thomond2006 has predicted this is a season ending injury, there isn't a hope in hell anyone could have prepared either of the hookers to be ready to step up for the remaining games and that's even excluding knock-out games.
Foxtrol wrote: » Munster are on paper/reputation in a much better position to weather the injury to their starter than Leinster are, the problem is we have no idea if the guys are or aren’t ready because both of the candidates for #3 hooker spot have not been given any first team experience by Penney. Off the top of my head this issue has raised itself previously when it came to OH, LH and TH, you can’t be continuously expecting the IRFU to bail your team out if you have no depth past one injury due to the coach hasnt even attempted to give game time to your #3 option.
phog wrote: » To be fair to Penney he has given more gametime to younger players then most coaches, he has a very young squad, one that lacks experience in places so that makes his job of dipping players into matchday squads a tad harder. I'm sure Penney had plans to use either Casey or Scannell but Sherry's injury has left him in the lurch. Afaik Munster never looked for the IRFU to allow us sign an NIQ OH or LH. In fact if the rumours are correct we released an experienced LH to keep Botha
CatFromHue wrote: » It wasn't known for sure if ROG was retiring or not until very late in the season. As far as I know anyway. If he hadn't have been dropped for Ireland like he was who knows what would have happened! I find it hard to criticise Penny here to be honest, I'm not sure what else he could do. Realistically the third choice player should be looking at game time in the A league and maybe be on the bench once or twice with the Seniors.
phog wrote: » If it was as simple as that then there should be no need for medical jokers.
jacothelad wrote: » I look at Wales playing 2 20 year old props in a full international and then looking at us here blathering on about 23/4/5/ year olds needing experience. Same old bilge that leads us to playing dad's army sides with 'inexperienced'guys in their mid 20s sitting in the stands.
Foxtrol wrote: » He has a very young squad but that has very little to do with himself, more so what he inherited. Penney complained about not being allowed to sign an NIQ OH to the media (though that was contradicted by the CEO) after giving JJ very little game time last season as 3rd choice knowing full well ROG wasn’t going to be around for long. If you have a long term injury to Cronin/Kilcoyne would you not be in a similar enough position as you are now at hooker?
Foxtrol wrote: » If you have a long term injury to Cronin/Kilcoyne would you not be in a similar enough position as you are now at hooker?
