Munster 2013/14

First topic message reminder :

Some news of players leaving Munster.

Doug Howlett has announced his retirement.

Other departures from the current squad - besides Peter Stringer who remains with Bath, Marcus Horan who announced his retirement recently, Sean Scanlon (Rotherham Titans) and Sean Henry (Connacht) - include Wian du Preez who returns to his native South Africa, Scott Deasy and Christy Condon.

BJ Botha will continue on with Munster having signed a two year contract extension while Danny Barnes has not been re-contracted but is understood to have negotiated an opportunity to play abroad and news of that will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

kunu wrote:Nachos I apologise. Don't post here too often, so had a look back through a few threads and realised I'm guilty of assuming you share the opinions of a couple other avid Munster fans who do very much consistently sensationalise the situation, often in jest. Was wrong.

Doesn't change my opinion that the situation concerning POC and Joe is pie in the sky

Not a problem Kunu.

But for every supposed bad Munster fan, there is always a GunsGerms to match

I better head off and say 10 our fathers and a decade of the rosary....

ME-109 wrote:Current suggested Munster team...

Mun XV: Jones, Earls, Laulala, Downey, Zebo, Keatley, Murray, Kilcoyne, Varley, Botha, Foley, POC, POM Capt., TOD, Coughlan

Replacements: Casey, J Ryan, Cotter, O’Callaghan, CJ, Williams, JJ, GVDH

A bit concerned by this, if POM is fully fit then absolutely but if not, bit of a risk I think.

He wasnt fully fit against Quinns last year but he did all right   

Is this day ever going to end???

Team has been confirmed

Problem I have is that if not fully fit, POM will continue to push himself to the max and may cause himself more damage.

No Cronin is a huge loss, not going to have a great time up front without him.

Nachos Jones wrote:Problem I have is that if not fully fit, POM will continue to push himself to the max and may cause himself more damage.

Possibly...but he is getting better at managing his injuries while playing...and sometimes when he has to think about things he is a better player rather than going head first...as he was in the QF and Semi last year.

I hope so, he is one player Munster don't want to be without for any length of time.

Anyhow....a little taster...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTNyoiOG7Ao&feature=youtu.be

ME-109 wrote:Anyhow....a little taster...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTNyoiOG7Ao&feature=youtu.be

Brilliant - guns did it make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up?

BlueMuff wrote:

ME-109 wrote:Anyhow....a little taster...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTNyoiOG7Ao&feature=youtu.be

Brilliant - guns did it make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up?

Hi Muff. I actually did watch it but no it didn't. It isn't a great clip as you cant see a lot really but Thomond Park. I am looking forward to the game, hope its a good one. Enjoy.

You seem fairly obsessed with what I think for some reason?

ME-109 wrote:Anyhow....a little taster...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTNyoiOG7Ao&feature=youtu.be

Top quality ME-109, thanks

As much as Munster is my fav Irish province, the gladiator theme in the background makes it a bit naff.
Anyway, Noves decided not to start McAlister nor Nyanga (they might not even be on the bench depending of their actual form).

Starting XV ( from15 to 1)
Medard ; Huget, Fritz, Fickou, Gear ; Beauxis, Vermaak ; Tekori, Picamoles, Camara ; Albacete, Maestri ; Montès, Tolofua, Steenkamp.

Nyanga will be a massive loss.

Thanks for the update whocares.

whocares wrote:As much as Munster is my fav Irish province, the gladiator theme in the background makes it a bit naff.
Anyway, Noves decided not to start McAlister nor Nyanga (they might not even be on the bench depending of their actual form).

Starting XV ( from15 to 1)
Medard ; Huget, Fritz, Fickou, Gear ;  Beauxis,  Vermaak ; Tekori, Picamoles, Camara ; Albacete, Maestri ; Montès, Tolofua, Steenkamp.

Of course its naff...its meant to be.

Munster folk love drama, emotion, big statements and propaganda. Isn't that right Skibbo? Real sky sports stuff.

According to Midi Olympic Zebo is a very talented player who could be the heir apparent to king O'Driscoll.

Leinster A beat Munster A 45-15. Bit surprised at the margin but it was a really good team they had out.

Guns...clearly as a Weshtmeath man you are really a lunster. Its probably the case that the majority of your neighbours and friends are Munster supporters. They wouldnt have anything in common with the D4 heads. You just have a false loyalty due to your clowngowes mates. Its clear as day. Come on how about a big Gwan for your spiritual team....

 

Enjoyed that.

ME-109 wrote:Guns...clearly as a Weshtmeath man you are really a lunster. Its probably the case that the majority of your neighbours and friends are Munster supporters. They wouldnt have anything in common with the D4 heads. You just have a false loyalty due to your clowngowes mates. Its clear as day. Come on how about a big Gwan for your spiritual team....

Sure Bressie, Conor Gilsenan and Joe Schmidt are all from Mullingar. Its a Leinster rugby hot bed Skibbo.

Easily amused Nacho?

GunsGerms wrote:

ME-109 wrote:Guns...clearly as a Weshtmeath man you are really a lunster. Its probably the case that the majority of your neighbours and friends are Munster supporters. They wouldnt have anything in common with the D4 heads. You just have a false loyalty due to your clowngowes mates. Its clear as day. Come on how about a big Gwan for your spiritual team....

Sure Bressie, Conor Gilsenan and Joe Schmidt are all from Mullingar. Its a Leinster rugby hot bed Skibbo.

Easily amused Nacho?

We know its the truth Guns....the ladyboy doth protest too much...   

Guns is on the Leinster/Toulon thread calling Munster folk "boggers".....     

What's the problem? I love boggers. Are you being a diva again Dod?

You are a bogger Guns, so no doubt you love them. I hope you wouldnt deny your roots now?

ME-109 wrote:You are a bogger Guns, so no doubt you love them. I hope you wouldnt deny your roots now?

My mum grew up in Cork. Total bogger, no issue with that. You stressed out about the game tomorrow Dod?

GunsGerms wrote:

ME-109 wrote:You are a bogger Guns, so no doubt you love them. I hope you wouldnt deny your roots now?

My mum grew up in Cork. Total bogger, no issue with that.

Poor woman...the shame of it. Having a real bogger of a son in weshtmeath. I understand it now. Having the pi.s taken out of where you came from and your funny accent must have scarred you completely. No wonder you have issues with Munster...   

Enjoy the match tomorrow Dod plenty more banter to come.

Did she sing De Banks to you when you were small, probably told you about all the all irelands Cork won and stuff like that or even if it was rugby the winning by Munster against touring sides...and all you have is weshtmeath. Feckin hell what would life have been like without the goys in clowngowes...

You are making a fool of yourself now Dod. Interesting imagination though. Enjoy the match.

Ah now, all I know is the fun we used to have with distant cousins up the country with their funny accents and weird customs...

anyhow..have a good one bogger.

McAlister is now starting... Typical Noves changing the starting team on the last minute. Nyanga not even on the bench though.

thanks whocares, who comes in for Nyanga?

Poitrenaud on the bench.

Cheers Vince.

Probably been mentioned before, but how likely is a back row of CJ,POM,Copeland for next season.

TOD's season has been destroyed by the injury he picked up last autumn.

Up to then he was sensational and a definite possibility for Ireland.

I'd go as far to say that if he winds himself back up to that level again he would have to start for Munster.

A backrow of POM, TOD and Copeland all operating at 100% is an awesome thought.

Not to mention Coughlan, CJ etc.

That will be a decent back row alright.

gleesonisgod wrote:Probably been mentioned before, but how likely is a back row of CJ,POM,Copeland for next season.

The jury is still out on Copeland and he has a long way to go to prove himself. The standout back row in a poor Cardiff team does not automatically put him ahead of Coughlan / CJ. Ive seen him play twice this year and nothind special stood out.

For me next year the only change will be whether CJ can break into HC if POM TOD Coughlan are all fit. Coughlan is pushing on a bit but at the moment hes like a good wine and is probably our players of the season so far.

It will require the newbies to earn the jersey. If they are good enough and better than the incumbents then they will start. For example there was always this thing by mostly non munster supporters that CJ should be starting etc while he had done nothing to suggest he was capable of doing that. Now that he has done well last weekend its up to him to continue in that form if he wants a shot at starting (if all three incumbents are fully fit). CJ has a tendancy to blow hot and cold.

Coughlan is another like Wally in that he is a fitness freak and keeps himself in great nick. He has yet again played consistently well and probably has one more year at the top so its going to be some hell of a battle to see him dislodged.

I didn't see myself but by all accounts I've read Copeland was the standout player on the field when Cardiff played Toulon in this seasons pool stage.

POM is having surgery tomorrow and looks as if he is out for the rest of the season....

Bugger.

News on Casey tomorrow...hopefully he will be back before the Semi...will need him against the Barsteward.

EDIT - looks like he will be ok for the Semi. Donnacha Ryan also possibly back in the mix.

POM is a HUGE loss - even though CJ was brilliant I just felt the intensity of the whole team dropped a little bit when he went off. He classic example of a guy that leads from the front.

Was just discussing yesterday who could play 13 to mark the fat Bas.... he was brilliant against Ireland and Leinster. We are very short on options here really just Earls and Dineen neither of which I was to see up against the human wrecking ball.

Earls's defence is great. He went very low at the weekend and had no problem flooring the Toulouse backrow. I'm fairly impressed with Gerhard so far, so I'd be happy enough with him on the wing.

Earls is really playing well. I don't think he made one error against Toulouse - decision making was top class as well as doing all the basics well. Schmidt is going to love him.

Lots of rucks resourced (actually he was excellent in this area). Also Zebo didnt do too bad either.

Sin é wrote:Earls's defence is great. He went very low at the weekend and had no problem flooring the Toulouse backrow. I'm fairly impressed with Gerhard so far, so I'd be happy enough with him on the wing.

Earls is really playing well. I don't think he made one error against Toulouse - decision making was top class as well as doing all the basics well. Schmidt is going to love him.

Interesting analysis on The Score
http://www.thescore.ie/munster-analysis-toulouse-heineken-cup-1403571-Apr2014/

reinforces the point, Sin, technique will often overcome sheer bulk, particularly with refernce to Earls at rucks. We have often seen how lighter scrums can overcome big beasts simply by being better technical scrummagers.

Interesting to note that Mick O'Driscoll is joining the backroom staff at Munster as Technical advisor (with responsibility for Munster A)....