Munster Team Talk Thread VI - Stander Up and Fight

Munster: Mike Haley; Darren Sweetnam, Sammy Arnold, Jaco Taute (C), Alex Wootton; JJ Hanrahan, Alby Mathewson; Jeremy Loughman, Kevin O’Byrne, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Darren O’Shea; Fineen Wycherley, Conor Oliver, Arno Botha.

Replacements: Mike Sherry, Dave Kilcoyne, Ciaran Parker, Gavin Coombes, Tommy O’Donnell, Neil Cronin, Bill Johnston, Shane Daly.

Great to see so many lads coming back from injuries.

Ian Keatley effectively done so? 5th choice potentially.

Eod100 wrote: »

Munster: Mike Haley; Darren Sweetnam, Sammy Arnold, Jaco Taute (C), Alex Wootton; JJ Hanrahan, Alby Mathewson; Jeremy Loughman, Kevin O’Byrne, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Darren O’Shea; Fineen Wycherley, Conor Oliver, Arno Botha.

Replacements: Mike Sherry, Dave Kilcoyne, Ciaran Parker, Gavin Coombes, Tommy O’Donnell, Neil Cronin, Bill Johnston, Shane Daly.

Interesting that Taute is playing inside centre, and also that he was named captain.
I think his contract is up at the end of this season, so I hope he puts in a solid performance. He hasn't really gotten back to the level he showed when he first arrived at Munster so I'd be a bit concerned for him. He's still quite young at 27 and he is a big strong guy, but not convinced about his pace and his tackling recently, and he has a long injury record.

Jump_In_Jack wrote: »

You'd have to wonder alright, it looks like the coach has lost faith in him, or perhaps there is something going on behind the scenes that the fans don't know about.

I'd say the problem is that both JJ and Bill Johnston have more potential going forward. Keats is a great servant to munster but he will never be more than a good club player whereas if JJ gets settled in and a bit of confidence he could possibly push carberry and then Johnston is obviously the future

Shefwedfan wrote: »

The non-Irish player should be brought in for specific cover. Not when you have plenty of cover in those position and all it means is pushing an Irish player further down the pecking order.



Also I think everyone can agree the IRFU is involved, otherwise Munster would be full of over the hill Southern Hemp ex international. Anyone remember Stephen Moore and the up roar after Munster wasn't allowed sign him

Its not like we are swimming in non-irish players particularly in our starting team. Its easy to get caught up in whats written in the media by certain journalists but every team in the world relies on a group of non-native players at times. It pushes on the irish players to be better

Shefwedfan wrote: »

So it is ok now if you sign a non-Irish player when they are deemed better than an Irish equivalent? Not sure the IRFU would see it that way

Mathewson was signed as injury replacement for Murray. Murray was back and he was signed again now your talking about another contract to cover the WC????

Currently Munster have 5 scrum halfs in the senior team, 2 in the academy and 2 in the A side. Ok Jack Stafford is in Academy and A side.

But why do they need 8 scrum half's? Why not give a chance to a young player....throw him in for one of the home Pro14 fixtures when the B team is sent over anyway???

Even consider the WC, Munster will lose 1 SH? so you will be left with 7 in the squad. Please explain why you would need 8?

Leinster, 3 Senior, 2 Academy

That's a total of 5.......with one joining Munster next season

Munster have the following scrum-halfs to consider at the moment:

Conor Murray - Lions Test Starter (contract recently extended to 2022)

Alby Mathewson - Capped All-Black (contract extended to March 2019)

Nick McCarthy - Transferring from Leinster at end of season (contracted to 2021)

Duncan Williams - Munster backup for 10 seasons (contract expiring June 2019)
James Hart - Played Top14 for a few seasons (contract expiring June 2019)

Neil Cronin - Promoted from the AIL (contract recently extended to 2021)

John Poland - A Team
Jack Stafford - Academy Year 2
Craig Casey - Academy Year 2

My guess for next season is we would have the following:

Murray for Heineken Cup and big Pro14 matches
Nick McCarthy covering for Murray during RWC and 6Nations and a few more Pro14 matches.
Neil Cronin - A few starts in the Pro14 against weaker teams (Kings/Dragons etc).
Jack Stafford - A few appearances off the bench in the Pro14 against weaker teams (Kings/Dragons etc).
John Poland - A Team / Reserve
Craig Casey - A Team / Reserve

Alby Mathewson - Will be released by April (Unless there are injuries)
Duncan Williams - Will be released at the end of the season
James Hart - Will be released at the end of the season

Riskymove wrote: »

can't see it

I'd imagine one of the academy would be dropped first.

If there are long-term injuries to one of Murray/McCarthy/Cronin between now and next season then anything is possible.
I'd imagine Mathewson is ahead of Williams in that scenario though.
I think Stafford is certain to have another year in the academy, not sure about Casey though, and no idea what is coming up from under-age at scrum-half.
I would imagine 3 senior scrum-halfs and 1 academy player nearing senior level is plenty.
If they need any more for the A Team matches they can draft in players from the AIL.
I'd imagine Duncan would go back playing AIL rugby and John Poland and Craig Casey would be extra cover as well.

Deleted User wrote: »

Every summer I go to Cork for a week and I have a Leinster jersey for each and every day!

You wear the same jersey for a week? You'll fit right in in Cork....:D

Apparently, Hart is looking to return to France. Shame it didn't go well for him.

Shefwedfan wrote: »

He wants to be starter and hugely rated in France so best option. It is a huge loss to Ireland and he should really have been moved to Ulster when he came back.

He’s a Pro14 standard player at best, how is it a huge loss to Ireland