Munster Team Talk Thread - Beirne After Reading

I can certainly see why ROG would look to sign him. He's a talented bloke and his running game would work well on the firmer ground of France than in the sodden pitches of Ireland.

I do feel that, similar to the Leinster back row situation, something has to give in Munster with their outhalves. It might not be Carbery but I do feel that one of the options is going to have to depart in the next 18 months. Jake Flannery was a highly rated player. People forget that he was mostly a full back at U20 level yet still got the nod ahead of Ben Healy at 10 in the JWC when Harry Byrne was injured.

All three of Crowley, Flannery and Healy are now 21 so there's very little between them in terms of profile. Healy will certainly move to a senior deal this summer. Flannery will go into year 3 and Crowley into year 2 of the academy respectively. Flannery is going to be playing for a contract next year and, if he isn't showing up too well, I can see him being cut and Crowley being given the nod.

Even at that, Crowley has a big waiting list ahead of him with 3 established senior outhalves already in the squad (based on the optimistic assumption that Joey Carbery remains fit for any sustained period). I think that Munster will probably continue to look at Crowley as a 12 to try and accommodate him within the squad but they'll need to focus on that fairly intensely if they want him to make it there. This year has been a near write off in terms of development for guys if they aren't in the senior squad with so little rugby being played in the last 12 months.

2022
It'll be Healy and Crowley fighting it out for the No.10
JJ will be third choice
Unfortunately I don't see Carbery making it back