A great big Munster thread

[profitius]

No secret that Jim Williams assisted by Axel (forwards) and Dougie (backs) is doeng rounds

Jim Williams? No thanks. Munster need a proven coach this time not somebody learning his trade. McGahan just starts to come good and hes off.

 

[psychic duck]

Jim Williams? No thanks. Munster need a proven coach this time not somebody learning his trade. McGahan just starts to come good and hes off.

Jim Williams is a Munster legend and did really good service for the province, and coached the forwards in the Munster H Cup winning side in 2006 and 08, and has helped coach Australia since Deans took over

That's 7 years of experience of coaching with two big sides, saying Howlett is inexperienced fair enough but Williams has some experience and although not a Munster fan I rate highly as he seemed to really buy into the Munster ethic and give great service both on and off the pitch, much better than the second Williams Munster signed ... Nick

 

[Feicarsinn]

Jim Williams? No thanks. Munster need a proven coach this time not somebody learning his trade. McGahan just starts to come good and hes off.

Agreed. It would do Munster no harm to get a new voice into the club either. Williams may be very respected in Munster, but he's been there and done that. The two proposed assistants have also been around the club for a long time now too. As have Jason Holland and Shaun Payne. Occasional change is vital to prevent stagnation and lethargy. An outsider who wasn't had much involvement with Munster might be just the ticket.

 

[munstermuffin]

Well my first choice would be Conor O'Shea but I suppose there are plenty of names such as Eddie O'Sullivan, Mike Ruddock, Deccie ?? and maybe Elwood are all choices within IRFU ring.
Outside maybe someone fancy a crack like Mallet (Ulster bound?) or Pat Sharpe. Hey knowing the brains in IRFU I here there is a fine coach from SA called P. Divvy who ticks the box

 

[big ginger 8]

Kidney going back to Munster would be good. For a lot of people.

 

[Gavin]

Nick Mallet? Why not.

 

[Peat]

Please take O'Sullivan and spare me rumours about him coming to Ulster. Ta.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Tony McGahan won't get the respect he deserves until he's long gone. For a guy who "just starts to come good now" a record of two league ***les with an old team is an outstanding achievement. As has been said, he's retooled the squad with young, hungry, talented players which Declan Kidney singularly neglected to prepare for in his time as coach- that's not me being wise in hindsight; I've been saying it for years.

John Kirwan will unquestionably put his name forward but who are the realistic contenders? Nick Mallet (hugely overrated), Anthony Foley, Jim Williams, Dean Richards and Eddie O'Sullivan are the names that immediately spring to mind. Les Kiss and Gert Smal of the Ireland staff have openkly expressed a desire to become head coaches too. Maybe they'll go another route and spring a surprise like Leinster did with Joe Schmidt. I wonder does Conor O'Shea regret extending his contract with Harlequins a couple of months ago. I believe Brian McLaughlin may be after a head coaching gig too.........

 

[profitius]

How about Ewan McKenzie. Who are best coaches in New Zealand?

 

[Robert Prosser]

What do you think of Mike Ruddock he could be in with a shout.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

How about Ewan McKenzie. Who are best coaches in New Zealand?

He'd be an excellent appointment as he has a strong CV backing him up. I think he'd rather remain in Australia though as he appears the heir apparent to the Wallabies job. Moving to Munster could be a case of out of sight, out of mind.

What do you think of Mike Ruddock he could be in with a shout.

He could come into contention but I think Munster will set their sights higher. Ruddock hasn't done anything of note as a coach since 2005.

Looking at this coldly, Tony McGahan leaving Munster at the end of this season is a brilliant move for him notwithstanding the job he has lined up with Australia. While he has done an exceptional job rebuilding the side, he has yet to find anybody even close to filling Ronan O'Gara's spot in the 10 jersey. Ian Keatley looks to be a good player but to be a top contender, Munster need better. Jumping now means McGahan won't have to deal with that headache. Whoever gets the job will have a huge task replacing O'Gara, probably in the summer of 2013.

 

[munstermuffin]

Doug Howlett has signed on for another season

 

[Irishflanker]

Doug Howlett has signed on for another season

Excellent news, by the sounds of things he is planning on staying on as a coach as well, which I'd imagine would massively improve the fairly dire backplay that Munster have put on show the last few years.

 

[monkeypigeon]

http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/news/13512.php

Loads of of Munster contract extensions in the last week or so:

Johne Murphy,
Duncan Williams,
John Ryan,
Marcus Horan,
Sean Scanlon,
Tommy O'Donnell,
Wian du Preez,
Doug Howlett
Donnacha Ryan,
Niall Ronan,
Denis Hurley,
Billy Holland

Billy Holland, Niall Ronan, but if you're cutting back on the massive Munster squad you'd have though these guys would have been on the cutting room floor.The rest are fairly average players, except for D. Ryan. Douggie's a plesant suprise and Du Preez is necessary. Sean Scanlon is listed with the full contracts but I'm wondering if he's actually on a development...

Development Contracts:

JJ Hanrahan (centre),
Dave O'Callaghan (wing-forward),
Luke O'Dea (wing),
Cathal Sheridan (scrum-half)
Alan Cotter (prop)

Happy enough with the academy promotees. Hopefully JJ gets a few games next year or at the end of this season. DOC and LOD have been impressive whenever they play and also provide us with some much needed 'o' power. The more scrummies the merrier, and we have a new prop to be overly hopefull about before eventually being very disappointed.

They've also signed Sean Dougal who joins from Rotherham ***ans on a one year contract...anyone who knows anything about that feel free to fill me in.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

This may be a really stupid question, but are Johne and Geordan Murphy related?

Sent from my HTC Incredible S using Tapatalk

 

[monkeypigeon]

This may be a really stupid question, but are Johne and Geordan Murphy related?

Sent from my HTC Incredible S using Tapatalk

Nope. I think everyone wonders that at some stage, seeing as they have the same name, played for Leicester and went to the same school. But no he's not.

 

[big ginger 8]

How longs Horan resigned for?

 

[Gavin]

How longs Horan resigned for?

Too long whatever the contract.

 

[big ginger 8]

Too long whatever the contract.

My sentiments exactly.

 

[Peat]

They've also signed Sean Dougal who joins from Rotherham ***ans on a one year contract...anyone who knows anything about that feel free to fill me in.

Openside flanker from Ulster. Don't know too much about him, but a quick search reveals he's captained Rotherham, which is pretty impressive for a 22 year old, and doesn't appear to have the greatest injury record. If he turns out to be any cop, we'll have him back.