Howlett out for the season

First topic message reminder :

Bad blow for Munster, commiserations to the fans.

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/9761.php

Hope the guy will come back next year, although that might be difficult, especially with the reduction of NIQ spots.

Any young Oirish wingers that could step up ?

Yup quite a few Munkian. The issue is that they may not be eligable for Europe this year due to player registration.

Munsters Wingers (or people who sometimes play wing):
- Keith Earls - 24 years old
- Doug Howlett - 33 years old
- Denis Hurley - 27 years old
- Johne Murphy - 27 years old
- Simon Zebo - 21 years old
- Luke O'Dea - 21 years old
- Danny Barnes - 22 years old
- Sean Scanlon - 23 years old

munkian wrote:Any young Oirish wingers that could step up ?

Plenty, but all the best ones are at Leinster.

In an ideal world we'll have a world class pack and any bunch of numpties behind the scrum could score with such a solid platform to work off.

red_stag wrote:In an ideal world we'll have a world class pack and any bunch of numpties behind the scrum could score with such a solid platform to work off.

Are you suggesting the Leinster backs are numpties

Don't be so flippant DOD Im clearly not saying that. Im saying there're ALL numpties

Fair enough...carry on.

red_stag wrote:Don't be so flippant DOD Im clearly not saying that. Im saying there're ALL numpties

Take that back,I played in the centres.

Really sucks for you guys I must say makes your backline EXTREMELY weak considering you guys are in the business of winning cups etc.

Fingers crossed Munster get something out of this game.

Part of me thinks someone like Conway should go to Munster maybe even on a loan, he'd be good enough to get into the team at the moment wouldn't he?

ASoreLeftSshoulder - unless its as a Trevor Halstead syle bashing 12 I dont want to know about it.

Pete - yea it could possibly do him good for a short term move but Im not convinced by it. It could take him time to settle, Munster may not want a rival player coming in for 3 months and trotting back to Leinster with Anthony Foleys secrets. He wouldn't be able to play in HEC and the likes of Luke O'Dea, Scott Deasy and Sean Scanlon will be fine for the Pro12.

red_stag wrote:ASoreLeftSshoulder - unless its as a Trevor Halstead syle bashing 12 I dont want to know about it.

I was more of a slow Gordon D'Arcy,good side step,couldn't pass,solid in defence,couldn't kick and very fond of putting my head down and running straight into 3 defenders.

asoreleftshoulder wrote:

red_stag wrote:ASoreLeftSshoulder - unless its as a Trevor Halstead syle bashing 12 I dont want to know about it.

I was more of a slow Gordon D'Arcy,good side step,couldn't pass,solid in defence,couldn't kick and very fond of putting my head down and running straight into 3 defenders.

I like it You were a forward playing in the backs.

Is there any rule allowing for other players to be added to the HEC squad in case of a lot of injuries?

I wanted to be a flanker but only started playing the game when I was 24 so they give you the high numbers 1st and you have to work your way down.I only ever got as far as 12 before banjaxing my shoulder.

Golden wrote:Is there any rule allowing for other players to be added to the HEC squad in case of a lot of injuries?

Not sure. Personally I dont agree with it. I didn't feel it was right for Stringer to join Saracens simply because they don't like their backup options at scrumhalf. Munster have other options too and its the luck of the draw.

Stringers gone to Saracens??? When did this happen?

red_stag wrote:

Golden wrote:Is there any rule allowing for other players to be added to the HEC squad in case of a lot of injuries?

Not sure. Personally I dont agree with it. I didn't feel it was right for Stringer to join Saracens simply because they don't like their backup options at scrumhalf. Munster have other options too and its the luck of the draw.

I agree with this 100%.
Strength in depth isn't valued as much if you can just buy a player in for a few moths.

Last week Golden! Where ya been?

Golden wrote:Stringers gone to Saracens??? When did this happen?

Last week. Its a 3 month deal. Their first and second choice scrumhalves are injured and so they signed Stringer.

Ah jaysus dunno how that slipped by. Have my head in the books atm except every 15 minutes when im back on this

Surely if stringer can get into the saracens HEC squad then munster can get O' Dea or other academy players in?

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:
Strength in depth isn't valued as much if you can just buy a player in for a few moths.

You really reckon Stringers worth a few moths?

Bathite wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Had he stayed in NZ I think he would still be starting for them. They had one natural winger (Guildford) during the RWC. They could have used Howlett for sure. He would be on my best all blacks team ever also, from what I have seen. A back three of him, Cullen and Lomu is mouth watering!

They had Jane as well and as much as I love Dougie Howlett, he would be way down the pecking order for the ABs.

Gear, Rockocoko, Sivivatu didn't make the squad
Add Ranger, Maitland to the mix

Jane is actually a natural full back.

When Howlett left NZ he was the starting winger, so why would that change now? He is still a great player. Rokocoko and Sivivatu are miles past their best. Gear would be the only challenge to Howlett starting, and nothing would stop them both starting.

I think when you guys say natural I think you really mean usually.
Jane has played fullback most of the time at level below All Blacks but has played almost all his ABs games on the right wing. Where he has been marvelous most of the time.
Howlett is/was a brilliant player - I remember predicting his greatness a couple of years before he was selected for the ABs. But I doubt he would make the team now.

Well when I say natural I do mean natural position.. as in the position they are accustomed to playing. He may play wing for the all blacks, but he is primarily a full back, who is being selected currently as a winger for the All Blacks.

I definitely think he would still be starting for the all blacks still. I don't see why he wouldn't be. Guildford and Gear are his only real threats for the wings.

EDIT: But you could throw in Kahui, Jane, and even SBW as they played wing during the world cup.

You would probably say Jane and Kahui are the incumbents. Guildford lucky to be picked for the WC squad and Gear lucky to get into the squad due to injury to Mils. Sean Maitland and Israel Dagg of course can play wing and both would be faster than Howlett now with more potential.

Well, I think Dougie would have had to have had 3 excellent seasons post RWC 2007 in order to keep his place in the AB squad. He wasn't used after scoring 2 tries to get the All Black try scoring record. Not saying that was beyond him, but realistically while the brain has gotten sharper, his blistering pace has waned and there is some serious pace at the ABs disposal.

Just found this and thought this was the place to put it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNrTsSOMazo&feature=related

Legend!

Yeah that sums Howlett up alright Golden, not the biggest bloke but tough as nails!

You don't mess with the Howlett!