A great big Munster thread

[munstermuffin]

I'm only saying they are options been explored nothing concrete or certain only Munster officals are meeting IRFU and Ross this morning

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Downturn halts Munster's Musgrave Park stand plans
By Barry Coughlan

Friday, February 18, 2011

THE economic downturn has forced the Munster Branch of the IRFU to postpone plans for a new state-of-the-art 6,500 capacity stand at Musgrave Park.


Instead, the Branch is to seek Cork City Council approval to install a temporary 4,000-seat structure to meet competition requirements until such time as it can raise the necessary funds needed to go ahead with original plans.

Munster, through its development committee, had hoped to raise sufficient funds through the sales of up to 1,000 seven-year ticket packages to allow work start on the original structure, but in the current climate there appears to be resistance in the market to spending between €2,500 to €4,000 (three categories) on rugby tickets.

Development committee chairman Niall O'Driscoll, a former president of the Branch, explained: "It's a difficult time, you're not going to get finance from banks and you're not going to get support from the IRFU to support borrowings from banks in the current economic climate.

"Therefore, we've got to go out to get packages of tickets sold to bring more money on the table. We do have funding but we need more and as much as we possibly can before the finance committee will allow the original development to go ahead."

He explained the necessity to maximise revenue from Magners League games in Cork, and pointed out that the current stand catered for only 430 people that produced little or no revenue.

"To participate in Magners League rugby you've got to provide seated accommodation, so as an interim measure the plan is for a temporary stand to go in there for probably a 12 month period, installed sometime around June or July."

The structure would, he said, be self-financing in that seated accommodation generates considerably more income than terrace tickets and the investment would be very modest compared to the €6m-€7m needed to provide the permanent structure.

Mr O'Driscoll insisted the development committee would plough ahead with fund-raising plans in a bid to put more money on the table but he expects now that tenders for the original stand would probably not need to go out for about six more months; however, the Branch is conscious that the project will have to move ahead within the time frame allowed by the planning laws.

A 4,000-seater stand will bring the capacity of Musgrave Park to 10,000 — still 2,500 short of their medium term goal. Munster's long term plans include development of the other side of the ground with a similarly sized 6,000-seater structure and enhanced terracing that would eventually bring the capacity of the ground close to 20,000.

Shame. Musgrave Park is a kip and badly needs to be redeveloped.

 

[munstermuffin]

Snoop that is simply money needed elsewhere. I agree Musgrave Park is a Kip and in an awful location. But we have 1 state of the art facility and while work is needed in Musgrave it isn't a neccessity. We need to fix team and keep competitive so fans will keep coming. Then I'm sure that project will be carried through.

 

[monkeypigeon]

Snoop that is simply money needed elsewhere. I agree Musgrave Park is a Kip and in an awful location. But we have 1 state of the art facility and while work is needed in Musgrave it isn't a neccessity. We need to fix team and keep competitive so fans will keep coming. Then I'm sure that project will be carried through.

It's a kip but the location is grand. The only problem is parking but it's a 15 minute walk from the People's Capital making it an ideal location for anything.

 

[munstermuffin]

I jave to disagree as I think it is a poor area and well too close to Turners Cross, Douglas is a decent area but just think there is faults in area.

On Munster -
Mike Ross will decide in next few weeks (Probably after 6Nations where he will go after meeting Munster officals Friday and having "positive" talks but I believe his family is supposedly settled in Dublin and that could be a sticking point.

Rumours on Donald coming are ridiculous and well been honest I think we'd rather Jeremy Staunton over him. I don't think fans would take to him and well we have Keatley. But Bullitt you will love this, the rumours really building that James Downey is being chased after and well is seen as the Trevor Halstead-type guy we need at 12
I know he only signed a new contract last year but the word is it's only a year-to-year agreement and he is interested in a return.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Downey will be 30 by the start of next season. Munster would be better off looking elsewhere.

 

[munstermuffin]

I don't think there much truth in it Snoop but it'd probably be short term option anyway. I think the Nonu deal isn't of cards yet as is situation with Conrad Smith but our focus primarily still has to be a TH prop

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Munster could do worse than try and get Jeremy Staunton,
I know a lot of Ireland fans don't like him, but he's come on leaps and bounds, and I've been impressed with him for a while
If he left Tigers it'd also mean Twelvetrees would get more game time, so it's a win win situation for all involved
Though he is 30, so a younger guy would probably be preferable

Edit: Just seen that his contract doesn't run out until 2012, so that's that out of the window

 

[Peat]

Downey will be 30 by the start of next season. Munster would be better off looking elsewhere.

He'd give them two or three years to bring through a youngster there (such as, say, Hanrahan) while not taking up an NIQ slot. Two or three years is probably the most they'd get out of a NIQ anyway and out of the IQ options, he's probably the most sensible. Probably wouldn't be absent for international duty much either.

 

[munstermuffin]

We have Hanrahan, Dineen and I think Keatley could feature at 12 at times too and Downey would fill a gap while these guys find their feet at this level

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

He'd give them two or three years to bring through a youngster there (such as, say, Hanrahan) while not taking up an NIQ slot. Two or three years is probably the most they'd get out of a NIQ anyway and out of the IQ options, he's probably the most sensible. Probably wouldn't be absent for international duty much either.

When you look at it like that it makes sense. I'd contend that Munster should be fighting to win Heineken Cups and a 30 year old Downey with a lot of rugby behind him may not be the right guy to help them get to that level. He's certainly good enough to get in the team though and you're correct, wouldn't miss time for internationals.

I'm not sure getting 2 or 3 years out of a player is good enough for Munster either. The 12 shirt has been passed around between Mike Mullins, Rob Henderson, Trevor Halstead, Gary Connolly, Rua Tipoki, Lifeimi Mafi, Jean de Villiers and Sam Tuitupou over the last decade. Munster really need somebody to come in and make the shirt his own long term. Downey would be another quick fix. I think munstermuffins suggestion of giving Hanrahan and Keatley opportunities at inside centre has a lot of merit. Bring in a quality 13 outside him/them and Munster are well set.

 

[munstermuffin]

I think Snoop we have to be smart and well I agree in regards 13 is a problem spot too because Earls is superb at running but doesn't have the creative lines like BOD and his defense needs to be more assured.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

I think Snoop we have to be smart and well I agree in regards 13 is a problem spot too because Earls is superb at running but doesn't have the creative lines like BOD and his defense needs to be more assured.

A Munster fan finally agrees with me! Earls is a good tackler but he's not a good defender. He's often caught out of position when he faces decent opposition 13s.

Do you think Earls is strictly a winger or can he develop as a 13? I don't think he's improved as a player over the last 2 years which is very disappointing after his breakthrough season in 08/09. That to me is an indictment on the coaching he's received both for province and country. With the right coaching he could become a 13 but I don't know if it's wise sticking at that position for his country with Spence, Cave, McFadden, O'Malley, Griffin and Macken all developing nicely.

 

[munstermuffin]

I'm one of Keiths biggest fans but will call it honestly.
He can make a good 13 but between injuries and no back coach of a certain standard at munster he looses out. He thinks he's a better 13 where as I think he is better when counter running in broken play be it from fullback or the wing. Also Earls is good (but not always certain) at tackling but also can forget his positioning at times. I think he can be a worldclass wing or a decent 13 but never be a standout.

 

[Peat]

Snoopy, I'd agree that Munster need a long term 12, but all the options are young and someone to man the gap while they develop is needed.

Earls' defence on the wing wasn't wunderbar either. I'd develop him long term there though.

MM, what did you think of Johne Murphy in the centres? Is that a long term option maybe?

 

[munstermuffin]

Johne has potential to be decent ML standard 12

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Snoopy, I'd agree that Munster need a long term 12, but all the options are young and someone to man the gap while they develop is needed.

That's a good argument but not one I subscribe to. I'd argue that a 24 year old Ian Keatley or a 22 year old Scott Deasy have enough experience to step up at 12 if needs be. Hanrahan may be young but come next season he'll be 19. At 18/19/20 Nevin Spence, Craig Gilroy, Paddy Jackson, Andrew Conway, Brendan Macken, Ian McKinley and Luke Marshall all began to make the step up to Magners League level. I think Munster must bring through talented young players and not rely on short term signings to plug a gap. If Downey, for example, was brought in for 2 seasons, Hanrahan, Deasy and Keatley would be no further along in their development and another 12 would be brought in on another short contract.

I'd like to see a young 12 learn alongside the experienced Ronan O'Gara with an experienced, top class 13 outside him.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Munster team for the B&I Cup clash with Bristol:

S Deasy (Cork Con); D Barnes (Dolphin), T Gleeson (Cork Con), T Smith (Midleton), S Scanlon (Cork Con); D Cusack (Garryowen), C Murray (Garryowen); D Kilcoyne (UL Bohs), D Casey (Shannon), P Borlase(Dolphin); B Holland (Cork Con)capt, D Foley (UL Bohs); D O'Callaghan (Dolphin), B O'Hara (UL Bohs), P Butler (Shannon). Replacements: G Slattery (Young Munster), D Hurley (Cork Con), B Hayes (Cork Con), K Essex (UL Bohs), P Rowley (UL Bohs), C Hircock (Garryowen), R O'Mahoney (Garryowen).

I like the look of the backrow- plenty of talent there. No sign of Simon Zebo, Ivan Dineen, Duncan Williams or Ian Nagle in the team. I assume they could feature for the full team at the weekend.

 

[munstermuffin]

Snoop you got it in one. Zebo and Nagle will probably see game time in Aironi. Ivan has been going well last few months and I personally hope he gets a go as when he played earlier in season he was good.
But still it's a nice strong team we are sending to Bristol and well watch out for Scanlon on the wing he has potential to be a great player.

As for argument on bringing in NIQ players my belief is you bring in a class act player who 4/5 IQ players can learn from.
My example is in Leinster and Elsom. He came in and was a class act but it was also from him players learnt and it was noticeable. In 2 years players who have really came up a step.
Heaslip lifted it that season, O'Brien, McLaughlin and Jennings and then in return they brought on Ruddock, Ryan and that is how process should be. Leinster don't need a NIQ now for long time in back of scrum

 

[profitius]

Snoop you got it in one. Zebo and Nagle will probably see game time in Aironi. Ivan has been going well last few months and I personally hope he gets a go as when he played earlier in season he was good.
But still it's a nice strong team we are sending to Bristol and well watch out for Scanlon on the wing he has potential to be a great player.

Fully agree about Scanlon. I hope he gets a contract because IMO he could be a fantastic player.