RaboDirect Pro 12 - Aironi vs Munster - 11/03/2012

[Feicarsinn]

Munster are producing young players in fairness. DOC2, Luke O'Dea, Butler, Archer, Sherry, Nagle, Foley, Zebo, Murray, Barnes, POM, all in the last 2 seasons. This loss against Aironi was nothing to do with team quality, it was more to do with players who couldn't be arsed to put the effort in.

Oh I dunno about that. Billy Holland for example isn't good enough to be a pro rugby player in my eyes. Stephen Archer is debatable too.

While some of those are good young players others are simply young. I mean Archer he's bloody useless and Barnes isn't exactly great either.

Also as Feic said compared to the quality of the Leinster and Ulster players produced in this period they're not great.

That's not what I said. I said that Munster aren't bringing through the same amount of quality young players, not that the players they do produce aren't talented. For example both Danny Barnes and Simon Zebo look like useful players, but in the time they've come through Leinster have come up with Dave Kearney, Eoin O'Malley, Andrew Conway, Ian Madigan and Brendan Macken. In league games during the 6 nations it's depth as opposed to first team quality that's important.

In any case, I think I was wrong in my assessment. Munster's real problem is that they lack a crop of good players in their mid 20's. They have a nice new generation coming through at the moment, but aside from Donnacha Ryan, they have no one around 25-29 who's Munster raised and in the first team. The fallout from the Kidney era one might say.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

What's happened with Danny Barnes?
I remember last season (I think?) thinking he looked really good. Has he nosedived, or just peaked, or is he just not that great?

 

[Feicarsinn]

What's happened with Danny Barnes?
I remember last season (I think?) thinking he looked really good. Has he nosedived, or just peaked, or is he just not that great?

Probably more of the latter. He's a good player, but I don't think he has what it takes to be a international 13. I'd kind of class him in the Fergus McFadden zone, ie. if he reaches his maximum potential he might pick up a few caps, but he's never going to hold down a starting spot. Munster seem to prefer Earls at 13 for whatever reason, but that said he's started two heineken cup games this year. 18 appearances, 5 tries thus far in 11/12.

With Munster bringing in two more centres and with Earls ahead of him however, he may seriously struggle for game time next season. Anyway, Munstermuffin would know a lot more about him than me, so no doubt he'll give you the low down.

 

[big ginger 8]

That's not what I said. I said that Munster aren't bringing through the same amount of quality young players, not that the players they do produce aren't talented. For example both Danny Barnes and Simon Zebo look like useful players, but in the time they've come through Leinster have come up with Dave Kearney, Eoin O'Malley, Andrew Conway, Ian Madigan and Brendan Macken. In league games during the 6 nations it's depth as opposed to first team quality that's important.

Sorry misread you I'd still personally say the quality and quantity of players Leinster are producing are in general better. Munster are producing some good players but not to the same level.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Sorry misread you I'd still personally say the quality and quantity of players Leinster are producing are in general better. Munster are producing some good players but not to the same level.

Really? Peter O'Mahony is as good as any of our young back rows. DOC2.0 and Paddy Butler are no slouches in that department either. Murray is a better scrum half than Cooney (albeit not as good as McGrath promises to be, but he's a long way away from ready yet), Dave Foley and Ian Nagle would be a match for Mark Flanagan if not better, JJ Hanrahan looks like a serious prospect wherever he ends up playing and we don't have a young hooker of the calibre of Mike Sherry. It'd be pretty unfair on those lads to say that they aren't as good as their Leinster counterparts.