A great big Munster thread

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Some big calls there. Leamy, O'Leary and Warwick dropped. Good chance for Barnes and Murray looks to have further cemented his place as Tony McGahan's starting scrum half. I applaud the coach's bravery in picking that team but disagree with his choice of props. Is Buckley injured (again)?

 

[profitius]

Gah so many people not a fan or Niall Ronan? I think he is a decent player , maybe not the biggest backrow around but from what I recall seeing of him he gets around the park and works very hard.

Lack of physicality. Good in open play, good skills an linking up with the forwards but although he is about 16st he lacks a physical impact.

 

[monkeypigeon]

Lack of physicality. Good in open play, good skills an linking up with the forwards but although he is about 16st he lacks a physical impact.

Don't think I've ever seen him do th job in a ruck once on his own...Neil Best style.

And he had one good season in open play now he just throws interceptions.

 

[munstermuffin]

Will start at front. Hayes picked for lifting ability and whatever TH started it was always going to be tough in scrum. Buckley just hasn't correct mindset. I agree with this as well as Archer on bench.
Horn in is because Wian hasn't had best of times against Jones andHoran in the past has dealt well with him. Admittedly he wasn't great in game this year but in general.
Leamy dropped for stupidity and poor form. Ryan had excellent game last week and form is rewarded.
Leamy hasn't been in superb form.
At 9 it's simple form was rewarded and Murray is the best man at 9 at moment. TOL is 3rd choice for Munstet at moment and 1st/2nd for Ireland. Will be interesting to see how Kidney goes about his selections.
Barnes is another rewarded for great display last week and I said it before we have to take these risks and find out can he last at this level. It's a small sacrifice in semi final and may be a great call.
Sherry on bench probably most unlucky to start.
Archer is another rewarded for form.
Niall Ronan I agree probably shouldn't be there when you consider Micko, Quinny, TOD and Nagle are all better options in my eyes.
Zebo is on bench ahead of Johne Murphy but was rewarded for form and probably just kept out of 15 because of form of back 3.

I don't get people they slam McGahan for not making calls and then when he does it still same. In fairness he doing a decent job and 1/3 of squad Saturday is youngsters.

 

[MunsterMan]

Nagle should have left. Has he even made a 22 since he signed the new contract? Madness. Great to see Conor Murray doing so well, same for Jones. Barnes was excellent yesterday, should get more gametime next season

And I am not a Niall Ronan hater, but he shouldn't be in match day squads ahead of O'Mahony and O'Donnell. Eoghan Grace playing in Exeter when Niall Ronan is playing for Munster?

 

[munstermuffin]

Eoghan Grace isn't ready yet for Munster and that is knowledge from seen him plenty of times. O'Mahony is a 6 and TOD I can agree should be ahead of Ronan based on form.
As for comment on Nagle, he is developing well and playing loads of games (obviously not first team games) but will feature heavily next season but he still needs a good summer in gym.
And by way he was in 23 last week and replaced Quinny.
And has been in a few times since signing.

I think we are starting to develop nicely and the young backs last night were influenced by Douggie calling the shots and confused O's at times.
For Barnes first try Earls was at 10 and Barnes on the wing and it was pre planned as it was tried a few times. Things may not be as bad as first feared

 

[Feicarsinn]

As for comment on Nagle, he is developing well and playing loads of games (obviously not first team games)

That's good

(obviously not first team games)

That's bad

 

[munstermuffin]

Lads Barry Murphy has decided to retire from rugby.
He was out of contract and had 2 offers in France on pay-as-you-play terms but he opted to retire as his injury is still 50/50 at best of times and the risk was not worth possible long term damage.
Barry started off as a very bright prospect but never fully recovered from that horrific ankle injury in Ulster game in his breakthrough season.
Hope he has a good retirement and wish him the best in his new ventures.

Also Fisher has joined the Brumbies as Jake Whites assistant. Best of Luck to him too.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

It's a real shame for Murphy and I'm sure he feels sick right now. He can look back on a hugely successful career though two Heineken Cups, a Magners League ***le and a few international caps. Best of luck to him in the future.

How did Fisher pick up such a plum job?!

 

[profitius]

Best of luck to him. I expected a few retirements but not youngish players like Dowling and Murphy. So thats B. Murphy, Dowling, Quinlan, Tuitupou, Warwick, Buckley and possibly others to leave. I think all the changes will freshen things up especially with Fisher heading back down under.

 

[munstermuffin]

It's a real shame for Murphy and I'm sure he feels sick right now. He can look back on a hugely successful career though two Heineken Cups, a Magners League ***le and a few international caps. Best of luck to him in the future.

How did Fisher pick up such a plum job?!

Rumour was Brumbies needed a Brumbies man on coaching ticket and well Fisher was the man. I think it best for all parties as he just didn't fit well here and strangely it was only after he got the boot he loosened up and was more approachable.

As for Murphy it is sad and strange when you consider himself and Dowling came through together and both forced to retire from the game through injury. At least he can always say he got a try against New Zealand too. But profitius you are right the bit of youth injected and the freshened up changes may be a blessing in disguise for us
B

 

[profitius]

Anybody know when the new academy players will be announced?

 

[gaaledgebag2k9]

I think some of you's are being too harsh on Ronan and Coughlan, they've made an impact in loads of matches. The frontrow and centre positions are where the weaknesses are.. Ian Nagle has played well every time I've seen him, hopefully he'll get more game time next season

 

[munstermuffin]

Anybody know when the new academy players will be announced?

Can post a full list in next few weeks should be finalized by mid June although some are already known - depends on budgets to see how many.

 

[profitius]

Cheers MM.

Only 2 Munster players in the Ireland U20 squad announced earlier. To put it into perspective Connacht have 4 in the squad.

 

[Conal]

Cheers MM.

Only 2 Munster players in the Ireland U20 squad announced earlier. To put it into perspective Connacht have 4 in the squad.

and ulster have 9 lenister 10
complete reversal of the norm for muster in the youth squads

 

[Feicarsinn]

I think some of you's are being too harsh on Ronan and Coughlan, they've made an impact in loads of matches. The frontrow and centre positions are where the weaknesses are.. Ian Nagle has played well every time I've seen him, hopefully he'll get more game time next season

Depends what you want to achieve really. Munster will be wanting to get themselves back to a level where they're competing for the Heineken Cup every season. Coughlan and Ronan aren't the class of player that you can do that with.

 

[munstermuffin]

Cheers MM.

Only 2 Munster players in the Ireland U20 squad announced earlier. To put it into perspective Connacht have 4 in the squad.

Thing about that is though we are trying hard here to get the balance between getting players from schools and from clubs correct and we are trying to model Leinsters approach in academy recruitment but Munster Schools rugby just isn't as big and pool of players is adequate at best compared to other provinces (and even before in Munster Schools History)

 

[profitius]

Thing about that is though we are trying hard here to get the balance between getting players from schools and from clubs correct and we are trying to model Leinsters approach in academy recruitment but Munster Schools rugby just isn't as big and pool of players is adequate at best compared to other provinces (and even before in Munster Schools History)

Leinster have 5 times the amount of schools players in that squad but about 2.5 times the amount of players playing schools rugby. So there has to be talent overlooked in Munster. I was surprised to see that Cathal O'Flaherty didn't make it.

Putting more into youths rugby is the way to go for Munster I'd say but then again Leinster have more players in the youths squad than Munster do even though the number of youths playing rugby in both provinces are similar. I hope Munster can start to catch up with Leinster in the coming years. I also saw that Ian Sherwin was saying the Munster youths team beat the exiles team handily enough but the exiles then had more players picked for the Ireland youths squad so it wouldn't surprise me if politics play a part in it too.

 

[profitius]

Depends what you want to achieve really. Munster will be wanting to get themselves back to a level where they're competing for the Heineken Cup every season. Coughlan and Ronan aren't the class of player that you can do that with.

Thats true although I'd like to keep Coughlan in the squad. He always plays to the best of his ability.