A great big Munster thread

[Umaga's Witness]

Ryan Crotty - I have not forgotten and I have certainly not forgiven. Meet me outside Hillbilly's on Grand Parade after the match so we can settle this once and for all.

When we've had it out we can share a garlic cheese chips like men and part as friends.

I swear Munster charged that conversion early. Should have been able to retake it

 

[munstermuffin]

I swear Munster charged that conversion early. Should have been able to retake it

As I said whatever 15 take the field we would be competitive.
Should have won by more

 

[Umaga's Witness]

As I said whatever 15 take the field we would be competitive.
Should have won by more

I was surprised you said they'd be competitive, seemed pretty clear to me they should be strong favourites, despite the injuries. I tried to bet on it, but the betting agency didn't offer it.

Apart from how close it was, it went pretty much as I expected. I thought munsters execution would be better. And I thought Munster would win more breakdown turnovers (to be fair they were close on a number of occasions)

 

[munstermuffin]

I was surprised you said they'd be competitive, seemed pretty clear to me they should be strong favourites, despite the injuries. I tried to bet on it, but the betting agency didn't offer it.

Apart from how close it was, it went pretty much as I expected. I thought munsters execution would be better. And I thought Munster would win more breakdown turnovers (to be fair they were close on a number of occasions)

Alot of our guys weren't first choice or even fully pro.

 

[sugary tae]

1. 3rd choice
2. 3/4
3. 3
4. 5th choice lock
5. First choice 8
6. 6th choice. Think may be a star
7. 3rd choice
8. 3rd. Back from a v long lay off.
9. 4th
10. 2nd
12/13 first choice
11/14 2/3. Cupboard bare.
15. First choice wing.

2 guys who aren't even in the sub academy.

Interesting game. Think both sides will gain a lot from it. We seem keen to keep playing ball in hand. Must make Rob Penney laugh given the resistance he found to playing. A much needed gametime and a positive experience from some guys returning.

Couple of noticeable talented guys in the saders team. Booze fest for the crowd. Very enjoyable.

 

[Umaga's Witness]

Alot of our guys weren't first choice or even fully pro.

Fair enough. Still, it's not like all the injuries occurred at the same time, So to some extent the players had still had game time together.

For some comparison, The chiefs, who still have the same coach and until the final were the dominant super rugby team last year, lost 38-14 to the wild knights (best Japan league one team, 6 games into season).

Anyway, the result would suggest you were more right than me.

 

[Umaga's Witness]

1. 3rd choice
2. 3/4
3. 3
4. 5th choice lock
5. First choice 8
6. 6th choice. Think may be a star
7. 3rd choice
8. 3rd. Back from a v long lay off.
9. 4th
10. 2nd
12/13 first choice
11/14 2/3. Cupboard bare.
15. First choice wing.

2 guys who aren't even in the sub academy.

Interesting game. Think both sides will gain a lot from it. We seem keen to keep playing ball in hand. Must make Rob Penney laugh given the resistance he found to playing. A much needed gametime and a positive experience from some guys returning.

Couple of noticeable talented guys in the saders team. Booze fest for the crowd. Very enjoyable.

Coombes wasn't too bad at lock.

Who did you think was talented in the saders team?

 

[munstermuffin]

Fair enough. Still, it's not like all the injuries occurred at the same time, So to some extent the players had still had game time together.

For some comparison, The chiefs, who still have the same coach and until the final were the dominant super rugby team last year, lost 38-14 to the wild knights (best Japan league one team, 6 games into season).

Anyway, the result would suggest you were more right than me.

Actually the opposite. We had a week off last week so lads were in USA, Dubai, Europe etc. Had 3 days together. And I'd say majority have nearly no gametime together or as units. I think Nanks and Frisch are only 2 that would be settled as a unit

 

[munstermuffin]

1. 3rd choice
2. 3/4
3. 3
4. 5th choice lock
5. First choice 8
6. 6th choice. Think may be a star
7. 3rd choice
8. 3rd. Back from a v long lay off.
9. 4th
10. 2nd
12/13 first choice
11/14 2/3. Cupboard bare.
15. First choice wing.

2 guys who aren't even in the sub academy.

Interesting game. Think both sides will gain a lot from it. We seem keen to keep playing ball in hand. Must make Rob Penney laugh given the resistance he found to playing. A much needed gametime and a positive experience from some guys returning.

Couple of noticeable talented guys in the saders team. Booze fest for the crowd. Very enjoyable.

Rob is a nice guy and I enjoyed when he was here. He did get a subtle dig in though in saying people "thought I was wrong but 2 years later Pat Lam arrived and won URC using exact structures I had planned" and also he hadn't full trust in Limerick when he was in Cork base.

 

[sugary tae]

Coombes wasn't too bad at lock.

Who did you think was talented in the saders team?

I think you'll do well to keep fihaki. He'll get plenty offers

 

[Umaga's Witness]

I think you'll do well to keep fihaki. He'll get plenty offers

I can see that, especially as he has struggled for game time, and will probably continue to, barring injuries.

Depends how strong his all blacks dream is

 

[munstermuffin]

A great piece done on the Munster coaching times of past today by a South African journalist.
A coaching team of the past which Axel was part of got dogs abuse from alot of corners and a certain part of the D4 media campaign said were spoofers and would not succeed yet you look at:
- Rassie has 2 RWC and is proven to be a successful organiser
- Jacques N is a top defense coach, proven class and a 2 time RWC winner. And now Leinster have turned to him to be their missing jigsaw piece.
- Felix has carved out a great career and is highly respected. And now is part of English set up as a 2 time RWC winner.
- Jerry Fla has went away, done great work with Harlequins, won a Premiership and now moving on to SA.

It really is a great bittersweet story.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

A great piece done on the Munster coaching times of past today by a South African journalist.
A coaching team of the past which Axel was part of got dogs abuse from alot of corners and a certain part of the D4 media campaign said were spoofers and would not succeed yet you look at:
- Rassie has 2 RWC and is proven to be a successful organiser
- Jacques N is a top defense coach, proven class and a 2 time RWC winner. And now Leinster have turned to him to be their missing jigsaw piece.
- Felix has carved out a great career and is highly respected. And now is part of English set up as a 2 time RWC winner.
- Jerry Fla has went away, done great work with Harlequins, won a Premiership and now moving on to SA.

It really is a great bittersweet story.

Did anyone actually criticise the appointment of Rassie and Neinaber or is that rewriting history to deflect from where Munster really were in 2015/16? Axel needed help and got it, Munster were fans booing their own players in his last season before Rassie and Neinaber joined. They weren't well known here but no one was criticising change.

 

[munstermuffin]

Did anyone actually criticise the appointment of Rassie and Neinaber or is that rewriting history to deflect from where Munster really were in 2015/16? Axel needed help and got it, Munster were fans booing their own players in his last season before Rassie and Neinaber joined. They weren't well known here but no one was criticising change.

Yes quite heavily too. No hiding it was also aligned with Axel being demoted.
And when I say D4 that isnta dig at Leinster or anyone. Ruaidhri O'Connor was the person who called the lads 2 spoofers and no concept of a game plan.
I was there involved with lads and can tell some tales. But I don't hide away from we were in a bad place before the 2 lads came in, Keats being booed although some of those "fans" probably couldn't name 5 players. But alot of criticism was there. Partly as you had guys like Woody who were against it from start, others due to not liking Rassie, others just wanted to kick Munster when down but I will never forget alot. Even after we lost to Saracens in the Semi final in Aviva and the crap the press threw at lads.
I'm not hammering the change either as it was needed but as I said some just had it in. And I'm not on about fans. Again Ruadhri O Connor got banned from Munster media gigs for a while as he was so toxic and twisting

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I'd need to see the receipts to be honest. Seen too much Munster against the world/media/illuminati to find it very credible at this point.

 

[munstermuffin]

I'd need to see the receipts to be honest. Seen too much Munster against the world/media/illuminati to find it very credible at this point.

Plenty there to be honest and not the world just a certain section. Plenty of articles there not just on that.
Alot of people couldn't have all been wrong to extent certain people werent welcome and all that is fact.
As I said some said at time "Leinster would never go down that route and get coaches like that in" and we'll it would be ironic if Nienaber is the missing link.

Anyways my point is not about Munster more that coaching team who have all done OK for themselves despite a few in an office up in Dublin who "expertly" knew none would go far.

 

[sugary tae]

Sticking the boot into munster made for glorious clickbait for a few journalists

 

[munstermuffin]

Sticking the boot into munster made for glorious clickbait for a few journalists

To be honest even now it happens to a lesser extent. Depending on who you read/listen to. Crowley isn't international standard.

 

[sugary tae]

To be honest even now it happens to a lesser extent. Depending on who you read/listen to. Crowley isn't international standard.

absolute baller

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I genuinely haven't seen any real criticism of Crowley. Everyone is saying how good he was yesterday in a game where he kicked 40%, got charged down and had a few other ropey kicks. And rightly so because ball in hand he suits the team so well. He will need to learn how to orchestrate opportunities to win big games like Johnny used to but Johnny took about two years to build that into his game from his international debut (and then was hamstrung by a bad coach for another two).

I think the sensitivity is wild. Up until his game against the Tigers you'd swear Harry Byrne wasn't AIL standard, the media punched on Frawley even though his starts at 10 have all been middling to poor. I think he's the clear back up and a good variance on Crowley as they're generally strong where the other is weak.

I think the much maligned Virgin team were more or less saying that's the order too yesterday but any positive words regarding a Byrne are seen as direct attacks on Crowley below. They asked a hypothetical question regarding kicking and answered it correctly. The question was premature though, HB has had days like that and there's no sign of Crowley pulling a Manie Libbok any time soon.