Transfers 2015/16

[munstermuffin]

Groundhog I'll repeat speaking as a man who knows facts. Money was 5% the issue. No more. JJ isn't an angel in all this either and Axel isn't a majority blame either.
Regards 2 guys I said rumoured. Beale would be viewed as a 12 should it become a reality and would fit well. Smith would be 13 and replace his namesake Andrew.
P. O'Mahony has signed new deal and that'll be announced in next few days. But Cmac your totally wrong in slamming Foley. I'd ask was Schmidt to blame when Sexton went? No didn't think so. These are similar issues that the head coach isn't the centre of focus for. It'll be a loss but Tyler is coming next month hopefully so if we can get him settled for next season and keep building we will be ok. No player is bigger than any club. JJ is a talent and I hope he has a super time at Saints and1 day rejoins us but for now we move on and it's not as bad as is being reported.
FWIW Botha may be going at end of year too and Nathan White coming in. Also to stress it out Henshaw may be on our radar now too

 

[munstermuffin]

JJ > Any centre in Munster but hey I did hear Axel has been a life long Saints fan.

What has Axel done can I ask in this? Would Schmidt be a Racing Metro fan so?
And maybe it was JJ who said he's not playing centre or 15?
Maybe you got to learn facts

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Sexton was a money issue, JJ left because Axel valued Denis Hurley over him. It would be comparible to Sexton leaving had Schmidt played Noel Reid over him!

I think this proves that Foley was as bad a coaching choice as Mr. O'Connor, well along with the whole getting knocked out of Europe in the group stages too.

 

[munstermuffin]

Sexton was a money issue, JJ left because Axel valued Denis Hurley over him. It would be comparible to Sexton leaving had Schmidt played Noel Reid over him!

I think this proves that Foley was as bad a coaching choice as Mr. O'Connor, well along with the whole getting knocked out of Europe in the group stages too.

Oh really if you think that's why JJ is leaving you have a totally wrong story. Also you'd want to learn full facts on Sexton deal too. (Both linked with same agent who's central in this).
Again how is Foley such bad coach over this? Even if JJ was leaving because he wasn't picked, which isn't the reason at all, why is a coach awful for making a call. Hurley has done well at 12 so it's not like he picked a poor form 12 by the way.
So again if say learn your facts about both. Sexton leaving wasn't simply down to money although through his agent a hissy fit was thrown as he wasn't getting parity with Heaslip. But JJ isn't to do with Foley. If Axel was such a large issue then Axel is stubborn enough that he wouldn't have played him in Clermont.

And just to add even if we'd best coach in world. Considering our resources and where we are in comparison to French and English teams I'd say our season has been decent. Not spectacular but coach hasn't disgraced himself

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Oh really if you think that's why JJ is leaving you have a totally wrong story. Also you'd want to learn full facts on Sexton deal too. (Both linked with same agent who's central in this).
Again how is Foley such bad coach over this? Even if JJ was leaving because he wasn't picked, which isn't the reason at all, why is a coach awful for making a call. Hurley has done well at 12 so it's not like he picked a poor form 12 by the way.
So again if say learn your facts about both. Sexton leaving wasn't simply down to money although through his agent a hissy fit was thrown as he wasn't getting parity with Heaslip. But JJ isn't to do with Foley. If Axel was such a large issue then Axel is stubborn enough that he wouldn't have played him in Clermont.

And just to add even if we'd best coach in world. Considering our resources and where we are in comparison to French and English teams I'd say our season has been decent. Not spectacular but coach hasn't disgraced himself

How is that not a money issue? As far as I know, which admittedly probably isn't as much as you, JJ left mainly due to a lack of playing time because believe me as someone who has spent more than enough time in Northampton all the money in the world isn't worth living there! As a 10/12 JJ was up against Keatley and Hurley who are both solid players, not exactly exceptional and JJ who is a better 12 and has far more potential at 10 has started 7 Pro 12 games and a European game this season, 4 in each position, which is half of Munster's games this season. Considering Munster have a huge lack of young backs with potential and a famously weak three quarter line JJ in my opinion is rightly ****** off at this amount of game time and correct to move on. These are the only facts I have access to as everything else is just hearsay and these facts, to me, point towards Axel being completely naive with his most promising back, thinking he'll never leave Munster and the whole thing blowing up in his face. I could be completely wrong of course but it is very easy to come to the conclusion that Foley should be taking a large percentage of the blame.

 

[Groundhog]

Sexton was a money issue, JJ left because Axel valued Denis Hurley over him. It would be comparible to Sexton leaving had Schmidt played Noel Reid over him!

I think this proves that Foley was as bad a coaching choice as Mr. O'Connor, well along with the whole getting knocked out of Europe in the group stages too.

Christ wept. Hanrahan isn't as good as you seem to think he is. He's a high potential player who hasn't been on good form this season. He really hasn't. People point to lack of game time, but he was injured at the start of this season, and has been rotated since. You don't just definitavely drop a player of Hurley's experience (while average) because Hanahan has potential. It's his job to outperform him, which I'm sure he would have done in time. If I was Foley I would have given him a bit more gametime in preference to Hurley, but neither have set the world alight there. Comparing it to Reid being picked over Sexton is utter poppycock. Beyond the issue of form, can Munster really afford to match the money Northampton bring to the table for a 22 year old who still has a lot of growing to do? No probably not. Northamton are taking a risk in going for Hanrahan. One which I reckon will pay off for them, given his talent, but they have the money to do that.

 

[munstermuffin]

How is that not a money issue? As far as I know, which admittedly probably isn't as much as you, JJ left mainly due to a lack of playing time because believe me as someone who has spent more than enough time in Northampton all the money in the world isn't worth living there! As a 10/12 JJ was up against Keatley and Hurley who are both solid players, not exactly exceptional and JJ who is a better 12 and has far more potential at 10 has started 7 Pro 12 games and a European game this season, 4 in each position, which is half of Munster's games this season. Considering Munster have a huge lack of young backs with potential and a famously weak three quarter line JJ in my opinion is rightly ****** off at this amount of game time and correct to move on. These are the only facts I have access to as everything else is just hearsay and these facts, to me, point towards Axel being completely naive with his most promising back, thinking he'll never leave Munster and the whole thing blowing up in his face. I could be completely wrong of course but it is very easy to come to the conclusion that Foley should be taking a large percentage of the blame.

Or maybe the ultimatum of I'm playing only 10 or I won't play at all and I want my contract matched to Northampton offer was reason?? Saints offer £145k. So Axel can't play him 12 or 15 only 10. And this is a player with great potential but nothing proved yet as a 10. As at 1 stage his agent wanted in writing. And that tip of it. So your saying Munster are wrong that they didn't blow large chunk of there budget on a guy who wants to dictate where he plays and trying to call some shots. JJ has played 27 games last season. Only Donnacha O'Callaghan played more games. This season he's had 649 minutes over 13 games (10 league & 3 Europe) so it's not as if he's getting no games. Yes he wants to play and start more big games but that's where you stay and fight. If it was just Foley that would be easily sorted but again I can agree you've very little facts and are nowhere near truth.
Sexton also had major issues with imaging rights and his position in captaincy line. They were both highlighted again by Fintan Drury. Who if you ask me is the big problem with IRFU. May I also add IRFU personnel also sat in on negotiations.
So glad that's all you got to say on it as it's not very accurate

 

[Tadginator]

I like to see how the game is developing. Money talks and if we want our game to grow and improve we need to sell our souls a little. I have respect for jj to have the courage to see the future and embrace it. I respect his desire for wealth above loyalty. He's a forward thinking man and can drag rugby kicking and screaming into the 21st century

 

[profitius]

How is that not a money issue? As far as I know, which admittedly probably isn't as much as you, JJ left mainly due to a lack of playing time because believe me as someone who has spent more than enough time in Northampton all the money in the world isn't worth living there! As a 10/12 JJ was up against Keatley and Hurley who are both solid players, not exactly exceptional and JJ who is a better 12 and has far more potential at 10 has started 7 Pro 12 games and a European game this season, 4 in each position, which is half of Munster's games this season. Considering Munster have a huge lack of young backs with potential and a famously weak three quarter line JJ in my opinion is rightly ****** off at this amount of game time and correct to move on. These are the only facts I have access to as everything else is just hearsay and these facts, to me, point towards Axel being completely naive with his most promising back, thinking he'll never leave Munster and the whole thing blowing up in his face. I could be completely wrong of course but it is very easy to come to the conclusion that Foley should be taking a large percentage of the blame.

I'd say you have that spot on.

I don't think money was the issue at all but mainly down to his career being stalled by Foley. Munsters play this season has been turgid.

 

[munstermuffin]

I'd say you have that spot on.

I don't think money was the issue at all but mainly down to his career being stalled by Foley. Munsters play this season has been turgid.

Maybe game plan but fact is JJ wants to be 10 and a starting 10 at that and as I said yes I do think he should be a starter at 10 but he hasn't played well (hindered by injury) this season and hasn't earned the shirt

 

[Peat]

If MM is right that Hanrahan only wanted to play 10 - which I strongly doubt will turn out to be his strongest position - then I don't see what else Foley is meant to have done. I think Hanrahan is a player with huge natural talent, I think he's the sort of player that the Irish provinces need to bend over backwards to keep, but there's a limit and "10 or nothing" would have been mine and greatly reduces the possible use that Saints will get out of him tbh.

The problem with TJ Ioane (as @Darwin always pointed out - and I know he still checks in on the forum ) - is that his handling has been prone to be a bit shaky.

Where is he?

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

If MM is right that Hanrahan only wanted to play 10 - which I strongly doubt will turn out to be his strongest position - then I don't see what else Foley is meant to have done. I think Hanrahan is a player with huge natural talent, I think he's the sort of player that the Irish provinces need to bend over backwards to keep, but there's a limit and "10 or nothing" would have been mine and greatly reduces the possible use that Saints will get out of him tbh.



Where is he?

What do you think will be JJ s best position then?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

10 IMO unless he bulks up.

 

[Peat]

What do you think will be JJ s best position then?

Playmaking 12. He'd be a fantastic 10 if he develops the game management required, but I'm dubious about that.

 

[munstermuffin]

Yes 10 May be his best position but he has to realise he's developing and playing some games at 12 or 15 will aid him with less pressure. JJ will be a superb player and going to Saints will not harm him as they seem to be good developing guys too but at this stage he isn't head and shoulders over Keatley as a 10 so can't be treated as he was. It'd be like Madigan kicking a fuss over fact he's playing 12/15 but he doesn't he goes about his business and well let's media do the whinging while he does his chatting on pitch. Like you have to learn as a 10 and JJ still has to learn. Examples being - like Madigan he can be exciting but hasn't got a great kicking game. Also JJ has to still develop decision making better. Remember Edinburgh game away last year his chip. Well that has happened a few times this year too. So there's still work to do. Like it's not as if he's the finished article like a POC or a Sexton.
Also dare I say it. I think he will be a world star 1 day but at moment all it is is potential and we've heard many like him before that haven't went to plan.

 

[welshglory]

He looks to be in the Matt Giteau mould from what i've seen. He will certainly have to learn to manage a game to play 10 in the premiership, just ask Geraghty and Burns

 

[Irishkid]

Ray Lee-Loo ---> Cardiff Blues

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Dan Robson ---> Wasps confirmed by the club.

http://www.wasps.co.uk/news/article/2015/01/08/dan-robson-to-join-wasps-at-end-of-season

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Should have gone to Exter imo if there was a choice.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Should have gone to Exter imo if there was a choice.

wahh?

I don't think he'll have too much trouble cementing himself as first choice after a couple of years. Simpson is but a one-trick pony (albeit, a very good trick)