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.

KiaRose wrote:

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.

Earls (& Jones) uses the same tackling technique that Doug Howlett used (which he probably developed from having to tackle all those islanders in Super Rugby).

Sample here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcW2Q6nrfBA

ME-109 wrote:Interesting to note that Mick O'Driscoll is joining the backroom staff at Munster as Technical advisor (with responsibility for Munster A)....

A nod to Con/Cork perhaps (Axel, Niall O'Donovan from Shannon/Limerick)? Mick was forwards coach for Clubs team during six nations as well.

I wonder will ROG be back?

ROG will be back. Way I reckon is to look at the age of his kids. The eldest are at school going age. Give him say two more years max until the schooling becomes important in terms of bedding in so lets say end of 2014-15 season.

Nod to Con/Cork - I suppose maybe the Grandees in Con were starting to make noise or something. Might be a way of keeping the son in law out of the equation   (even though he is a decent backs coach). Micko has done well at Con though and has always been interested in coaching so who knows.

Anyhow you couldnt trust the Limerick crowd to do it on their own. They'll only end up fighting with each other...  

Edit - Its usually been Brains from Cork, Brawn from Limerick....so it will be interesting either way.

Earls is a solid defender, there are some kinks in his game, he does a lot of things solidly whaty you want in a HC player. I wouldn't trust him up at 13 against some of the bigger guys but I wouldn't trust a lot of centres up against the Basterauds and Nonus.


ROG will come back, if he proves to do a good job at Racing then by all means hire him. Need to have a balance between keeping the ethos and opening up to new ideas.

Evening Echo in Cork are suggesting Elwood is in the frame for backs coach....

ME-109 wrote:Evening Echo in Cork are suggesting Elwood is in the frame for backs coach....

I suppose he will be bringing Henshaw with him then   

Thomond wrote:Earls is a solid defender, there are some kinks in his game, he does a lot of things solidly whaty you want in a HC player. I wouldn't trust him up at 13 against some of the bigger guys but I wouldn't trust a lot of centres up against the Basterauds and Nonus.


ROG will come back, if he proves to do a good job at Racing then by all means hire him. Need to have a balance between keeping the ethos and opening up to new ideas.

Earls is more than a solid defender.

I think we've had enough of new ideas over the last couple of years and have been lucky enough to have had some very good coaches. I'd say people are underestimating Mannix's capabilities like they rubished Laurie Fisher who seems to be a top, top technical coach. POC attributes his breakdown work to Laurie, so I presume that would have rubbed off on POM as well. McGahan also made an excellent contribution - he got Zebo on the right track and ROG said he was a great confidence builder. He also seems to be doing pretty well with the Rebels - in fact all our ex-coaches are doing well back in Aus.

Stop hiding away on your own thread, Munstermen and offer us the finest banter available to humanity on the match thread for the weekend:
https://www.606v2.com/t53068-munster-rugby-v-glasgow-warriors-12-april

ME-109 wrote:Evening Echo in Cork are suggesting Elwood is in the frame for backs coach....

Excellent choice if true.

I have also heard EOS is somewhat in the frame

Sin é wrote:

Thomond wrote:Earls is a solid defender, there are some kinks in his game, he does a lot of things solidly whaty you want in a HC player. I wouldn't trust him up at 13 against some of the bigger guys but I wouldn't trust a lot of centres up against the Basterauds and Nonus.


ROG will come back, if he proves to do a good job at Racing then by all means hire him. Need to have a balance between keeping the ethos and opening up to new ideas.

Earls is more than a solid defender.

I think we've had enough of new ideas over the last couple of years and have been lucky enough to have had some very good coaches. I'd say people are underestimating Mannix's capabilities like they rubished Laurie Fisher who seems to be a top, top technical coach. POC attributes his breakdown work to Laurie, so I presume that would have rubbed off on POM as well. McGahan also made an excellent contribution - he got Zebo on the right track and ROG said he was a great confidence builder. He also seems to be doing pretty well with the Rebels - in fact all our ex-coaches are doing well back in Aus.

It's hard to truly grasp the impact of a coach unless you are in the dressing room most of it is educated (or uneducated in the case of most of us!) guesswork. On Mannix I wouldn't know a huge lot on backs play but it seems liek a bit of a mixed bag for us. I think the centre partnership in Laulala and Downey have been a part of that, they've been solid but haven't produced spellbinding play bar one or two moments.


I can't remember the Echo getting many calls on the Rugby right, but Elwood would be a great option on the face of it.

Watching the Connacht game..jebus Toulon will be licking their lips

No injuries please

That was a great take from Poolman under pressure. In touch obviously, but great skills to even catch the ball.

How in Gods name are we winning, not to mind by 19 points

ME-109 wrote:How in Gods name are we winning, not to mind by 19 points

Don't be listening to royal nugent we are killing them at the breakdown and forcing errors with heavy hits

Love listening to Ryle...he sounds so disappointed when we are winning...a bit like Guns

Ryle suggests a yellow card...he is disappointed

Varley...you effin idiot

ME-109 wrote:Ryle suggests a yellow card...he is disappointed

It kills him he's gutted we got the bp

He perked up for the Connacht try though

Anyhow BP and no injuries thankfully...we could still sneak the home semi

Makes a change to win a match before big hc game! Thought Conway looked good tonight and would agree with butler getting mom

Still a mixed bag...looking forward to next week...real David and Goliath stuff..right up our street

Not about Munster but since it involves tonight's game, how was Henshaw?

What have you done with Conway lads? That hair...........   

Hes been there less than a year. Hanging out with Zeebs too much.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Not about Munster but since it involves tonight's game, how was Henshaw?

ordinary enough with a couple of flashes of what he can do.

Golden wrote:What have you done with Conway lads? That hair...........   

Hes been there less than a year. Hanging out with Zeebs too much.

makes him go faster, scored a good try and showed good form, closer to what he is capable...

Ye its nice to see what he can do when he is actually played.......

Really like the look of Leader for Connacht. Runs good lines, enters the plays well, is solid under the high ball and has a massive boot.

Golden wrote:Ye its nice to see what he can do when he is actually played.......

injuries haven't helped plus when earls and zebo are fit it will be hard for him. Big year next season

Only 6 days to go and already the nerves and excitement is kicking in! Gutted I'm not gonna make it to Marseilles but at least 10000 of the red hoardes will be making the trip!

News from Toulon is that johnny will play but bakkies Botha and Ali Williams won't play! Neither played in Toulouse away win in Perpignan

BlueMuff wrote:Only 6 days to go and already the nerves and excitement is kicking in!  Gutted I'm not gonna make it to Marseilles but at least 10000 of the red hoardes will be making the trip!

News from Toulon is that johnny will play but bakkies Botha and Ali Williams won't play! Neither played in Toulouse away win in Perpignan

Toulouse?

For any Munster fans who post on the Munster forum please convey the following message to a posted called 'Sewa'

You name is appropriate as you foul the place up with you ill informed diatribes and pathetic digs at all things non Munster - get a life and grow up'

It is a great shame because otherwise it is one of the better forums

geoff998rugby wrote:For any Munster fans who post on the Munster forum please convey the following message to a posted called 'Sewa'

You name is appropriate as you foul the place up with you ill informed diatribes and pathetic digs at all things non Munster - get a life and grow up'

It is a great shame because otherwise it is one of the better forums

Is it not best just to ignore?

Try but when he post spiteful Love sacks time after time it gets wearing

Especially on one of the better forums

geoff998rugby wrote:For any Munster fans who post on the Munster forum please convey the following message to a posted called 'Sewa'

You name is appropriate as you foul the place up with you ill informed diatribes and pathetic digs at all things non Munster - get a life and grow up'

It is a great shame because otherwise it is one of the better forums

Sewa is an institution on the Munster forum. He has been the provider of some of the best entertainment - just don't take him seriously. Funniest thread ever was about him giving out about his wife's driving and she caught him out.

http://www.munsterfans.com/threads/6594-Women-Drivers-please-leave-me-out/page2?highlight=driving+lessons+sewa

SIMBA is his wife.

Some institutions need closing down.

Some comedians aren't funny - Ken Dodd, Keith Lemon, Alan Carr anyone

POC & POM made the Longlist of European Player of the Year.

List is:

Steffon Armitage (Toulon)
Miles Benjamin (Leicester Tigers)
Sean Cronin (Leinster Rugby)
Jean-Marc Doussain (Toulouse)
Matt Giteau (Toulon)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Cian Healy (Leinster Rugby)
Fritz Lee (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
George North (Northampton Saints)
Paul O'Connell (Munster Rugby)
Peter O'Mahony (Munster Rugby)
Louis Picamoles (Toulouse)
Ruan Pienaar (Ulster Rugby)
Sitiveni Sivivatu (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon)


--

I'd love if POC got it. While he has made the best team of the first 15 years of the competition, he has never got it individually and somehow or other now he is ignored although he is generally one of the best players for every team he plays for.

The winner will come from the winners of the comp though!

Wasnt the list announced back in January after the group stages?

Anyway I'd say its between POC and Armitage for me. Wilko may get it for sentimental reasons.

Surprised the likes of North, Benjamin, Doussain and Goode made the list.

You have to take Sewa with a pinch of salt...he is very good a lot of the time...he does take exception to certain posters though...

Sewa is grand, just don't disagree with him...

Best of luck for Toulon, lads. Just remember, they don't like it up 'em.

The league table is also a lot more interesting after last night:

Team/Played/Won/Drawn/Lost/For/Against/Bonus Pts/Points

1   Leinster   20  15  1  4  517  319  12  74  
2   Glasgow   20  16  0  4  392  293  5  69
3   Munster   20  15  0  5  466  308  8  68  
4   Ulster   20  14  0  6  431  280  9  65  
5   Ospreys   20  12  1  7  499  338  10  60

Game on now George...looks like its a Glasgow/Munster semi...