Munster swooping to sign Trio

First topic message reminder :

According to the Irish Times, it is a fairly done deal that Northampton centre James Downey will join Munster next season.

In addition, Munster are hoping to sign 21 year old Rhys Ruddock from Leinster and 29 year old centre Casey Laulala from the Cardiff Blues.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0119/1224310447569.html

Rory: https://www.606v2.com/t21647-topic-reply-notification-emails-and-how-to-turn-them-off

Cheers Thomond

Rory - Dom Gallagher isn't a distant relative of yours is he. I know he was playing for the Ulster Ravens and Trinity College. A pal of mine on his team was speaking volumes about him. Thought he might have been a relative of yours.

Search Rory Gallagher on youtube Stag - you won't be disappointed!

But I have heard good things about him. I think he also has a younger brother who plays 8, can anyone confirm that?

red_stag wrote:Rory - Dom Gallagher isn't a distant relative of yours is he. I know he was playing for the Ulster Ravens and Trinity College. A pal of mine on his team was speaking volumes about him. Thought he might have been a relative of yours.

I don't think Rory's real name is actually Rory Gallagher Stag...

Think it's an homage to this lad:

Spoiler:

Stag, I'm going to take a wild stab in the dark here and say Rory-Gallagher isn't his actual name. He is named after the world famous Cork guitarist Rory Gallagher.(He wasn't born in Cork but he was a Cork man)

Who's Rory Gallagher.

Hes a derry man stag.....

Oh sorry Rory just seen Thomonds post. Your named after this local Cork guitar fella? Is he your man who plays in the Brogue and the Marquee during UCC RAG week?

roddersm wrote:Hes a derry man stag.....

Donegal actually. Ballyshannon.

Stag, I'm guessing you have heard of Jimi Hendrix if you haven't there is something wrong with you. There is a Hendrix quote in which Jimi is asked how it feels to be the best guitarist ever. He replied...

"I don't know, ask Rory Gallagher."

Stag hes the greatest Guitar player who ever lived!!

Lads Im only taking the pish.

Gotcha Rodders

Mickado wrote:

roddersm wrote:Hes a derry man stag.....

Donegal actually. Ballyshannon.

Went to school in Derry though.

Best things are always related to Cork..... Just ask Lonely Planet

Stag!!!

Good signings by Munster, although I think Laulala has been much less impressive this season than in his last two seasons with the Blues- still a class player though.

Downey probably should of happened sooner so a great buy, bit disappointed with Ruddock choosing not to come to Ulster but now choosing to go to Munster instead, its his choice I suppose and he must have his reasons. Besides Ulster have now brought Roger Wilson in anyway.

Donegal is where the man himself is from!

You ever go to the festival rory?

Nice signings...Stag but do you really think Earls is going to be moved back to Wing...I doubt it.

If we sign two centres I'd imagine he would. I know what you mean DOD. I doubt it too but we're hardly going to sign Downey and Laulala to sit on a bench.

Golden wrote:Im surprised that Leinster would let Ruddock go he seems to be the preferred choice to Dom Ryan this season.

Ruddock is preferred this season because Dom Ryan has been out injured for ages - last season Ryan was defo ahead of him and when he's fit I'd still have him way ahead of Ruddock. Most times Ruddock comes off the bench and to be honest doesn't usually do an awful lot - ok he got a try against Bath but that's a rarity. With SOB, Jennings, Heaslip, Ryan and McLaughlin in the back row, Leinster can afford to let Ruddock go

If Howlett goes and Mafi stays he may well be.

Laulala, Mafi, Downey, Barnes all vying for centres positions

Leaving a good chance for Earls to play where he belongs

Everyone's happy Great signings!

red_stag wrote:Who's Rory Gallagher.

Stag, I know you're a youthful 23 and are from Limerick and Rory Gallagher is more of my fiftysomething vintage, but am gobsmacked at anybody not knowing who Rory is. Ireland's greatest rock/blues musician who passed away at a tragically young age.

Brenno, I do know who he is. I was only playing dumb.

red_stag wrote:Brenno, I do know who he is. I was only playing dumb.

Only joking, Stag!!!

brennomac wrote:

red_stag wrote:Who's Rory Gallagher.

Stag, I know you're a youthful 23 and are from Limerick and Rory Gallagher is more of my fiftysomething vintage, but am gobsmacked at anybody not knowing who Rory is. The world's greatest rock/blues musician who passed away at a tragically young age.

Fixed With competition of course coming from Hendrix and a few notable others.

Lets get to the meat of this, we'll only give you Ruddock in exchange for Nagle. Now i know you need to play him week in week out for the A team, but he could do with a bit of gametime at a higher level.

Mickado wrote:Lets get to the meat of this, we'll only give you Ruddock in exchange for Nagle. Now i know you need to play him week in week out for the A team, but he could do with a bit of gametime at a higher level.

I think realisitcally Munster will lose Nagle and I'd consider that a fair swap.

I consider it daylight robbery.

Ruddock is 2 years younger, has played twice as many league games, 4 HC games to Nagles zero and has international experience.

A fair swap would be lobbing Jones and Keatley into the deal. But for now, these are my demands…

My opinion on Lualua as a blues fan:

He can be excellant, his first season he was brilliant alongside Jamie Roberts, that was a perfect centre pairing in my eyes. His attacking the line, his offloading, quick hands and feet and an eye to play the game with a focus on attack. He never shirked his defensive responsibilities either.

Since then, he's become a lot more hit and miss, when hes hitting, hes excellant again. His defense isnt shirked and he can make some nice hits, and generally anticipate play as a good 13 should.

When hes missing, hes throwing wild offloads and running way away from support and all he is undoing all of his goodwork making the break. His defense also seems to become optional.

I think some of that is down to the blues not being able to put a consistent 10 out on the field who'll get the backline moving mind. Roberts has also been in and out of the team (injuries/wales etc) and Hewitt/Evans just aren't Roberts, meaning the defence tend to be able to focus on Lualua.

As long as their is a threat at 12, he will shine at 13.

I think he'll be a very good signing for munster if they can bring him into their team spirit and use Downey/Mafi properly at 12

Mickado wrote:I consider it daylight robbery.

Ruddock is 2 years younger, has played twice as many league games, 4 HC games to Nagles zero and has international experience.

A fair swap would be lobbing Jones and Keatley into the deal.

Yes but Leinster are DESPARATE for second rows. Supply and Demand my friend.

Would be delighted with those signings.
Downing, a really strong physical centre, the kind of player we have really been crying out for. Not thing spectacular but from what I've seen his performance level seems to be very stable, one of those players where you always know what your going to get.

Laulala: Don't know alot about this guy - although I have read about him I have only seen him play once or twice. Based on reports here he would be a good positive addition.

Ruddock: I really rate this guy. I think that we could have a fair fight for him as he is really rated in Leinster. I would be delighted if he came, I also think that he could provide a bigger impact for us than Leinster - in his positions there is a change of the guard going on and hopefully he will see that this will provide greater opportunity.

Regarding Howlett v Mafi - this would always be Howlett. Mafi is a great servant to Munster and has been since he arrived. But Howlett offers something different and he still has more to give I think. His game is based on workrate and intelligence and I think that our players still could learn a lot from him. Also, he is our best back and up to his injury was most likely our best player this season up to the injury - I have no doubt he'll still do it when he comes back. Further to what another poster said, I would already be offering him a coaching deal now.

Mickado wrote:I consider it daylight robbery.

Ruddock is 2 years younger, has played twice as many league games, 4 HC games to Nagles zero and has international experience.

A fair swap would be lobbing Jones and Keatley into the deal. But for now, these are my demands…

If ye are taking Keatley then I want Madigan........hands off Jones, you had your chance there

red_stag wrote:

Mickado wrote:I consider it daylight robbery.

Ruddock is 2 years younger, has played twice as many league games, 4 HC games to Nagles zero and has international experience.

A fair swap would be lobbing Jones and Keatley into the deal.

Yes but Leinster are DESPARATE for second rows. Supply and Demand my friend.

f*** this, DEAL IS OFF!

red_stag wrote:If we sign two centres I'd imagine he would. I know what you mean DOD. I doubt it too but we're hardly going to sign Downey and Laulala to sit on a bench.

I cant see Earls moving back to the wing after this season. If he does/is move(d) this is really unfair on him. Would really like to see him get the chance to develop in the position at this stage. Competition will be good though.

Also I get the impression its either/or with regards to Downey and Lualua. Therefore I cant see Mafi going anywhere yet.

Don't see what is unfair about moving a utility back from centre to wing, especially when he played so well there last season/the RWC. As I have said previously though, I would love to see Earls at 15 and show his true potential in attack. I think he could be the most dangerous 15 around if he got the chance.

Why would you move Munster's best back last season though Rory (talking about Jones here) He could well have goen to the RWC if not for injury.

Because Munster's best back has been out the entire season unfortunately. Nor do I know when he is coming back. Jones is fantastic yes, but he seems to be very injury prone. Earls should get the chance in his absence.

11) Zebo
14) Howlett
15) Earls

Now to me, that looks very dangerous.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uP18Fn2Qhv4

Just to reshow...Earls scoring lots of tries from IC/OC and Wing position...

My favourite is the one in the Lions from OC.

Rory, a neck in jury and an injury from a fall are more accidental than anything.

Earls scores tries from every position - I think he is a very important addition to both Munster and Ireland, but atm he is a utility back who can slot in different positions. Like I said I would love to see him running from deep at full-back, where I think he could be a real threat to any team.

Thomond what matters is, Jones has been out for a long time before and now he is out again. He is suffering from a lack of game-time where other players of his calibre are making a name for themselves. I thought he was the best Irish full-back available but now Kearney has overtaken him. Is there any news on when Jones does return?

Jones has been registered again for the HC and he is expected back in the next month.

Lua has looked a bit disinterested for me this season, he is cracking off first phase short range attacks, like a scrum five, and tends to score from those types of situations. But anyone who think they have acquired a world class New Zealand international will be disappointed. Him not pulling his weight is one of the reasons that the Blues have had such a yo-yo season.

I don't think many players have been pulling their weight for the Blues, from what i've seen.

About Earls - does anyone else get reminded of Cullen the way he runs with the ball? And with that similar look/style/build. That is who I thought he was like when I first saw him a few years ago.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:I don't think many players have been pulling their weight for the Blues, from what i've seen.

About Earls - does anyone else get reminded of Cullen the way he runs with the ball? And with that similar look/style/build. That is who I thought he was like when I first saw him a few years ago.

You're being very flattering to Leo there.

Yes he reminds me a bit of Cullen, I agree that he'd be a good fullback but with Felix Jones at Munster and Kearney at Leinster he'll find his opportunities limited for the forseeable future.

Mickado wrote:Lets get to the meat of this, we'll only give you Ruddock in exchange for Nagle. Now i know you need to play him week in week out for the A team, but he could do with a bit of gametime at a higher level.

Ruddock only signed a one year contract last year so there won't be any exchanging of players happening.

Ruddock to Munster makes some sense but Nagle to Leinster makes much more sense, Ruddock is still
getting quality gametime at Leinster whereas Nagle must be regretting turning down the contract from
Northhampton last year. He would have got a lot more proper gametime there than the amount Munster
are giving him.

Mickado wrote:

roddersm wrote:Hes a derry man stag.....

Donegal actually. Ballyshannon.

You still peddling that Mickado. Of course he spoke with a real Donegal accent like, and he clearly was influenced strongly in his music as he had become an Intl star by the age of six.. As Wellington said about being born in Ireland (stable) doesn't make you a horse.