Munster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread IV

phog

Foley on our game v Gloucester

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/mobile/news/18916.php



Live Blog from the game:

Munster fans call follow all the action live on Twitter - @munsterrugby or on a live blog through the Gloucester Rugby website, details of which will be announced here in the coming days.

Molester Stallone II

Paul Warwick has been appointed to the coaching staff of Worcester Warriors

marienbad

Molester Stallone II wrote: »

Paul Warwick has been appointed to the coaching staff of Worcester Warriors

Delighted for him and his family- a gentleman and a scholar as we used to say.

uggybear

Find it worrying that Mike Sherry will be out for up to 6 monthes, not an ideal way to start the season imo, this article concerning the injury list in today's edition of the independent was a tough read:http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/guinness-pro12/hooker-woe-for-munster-as-sherry-out-for-six-months-30521058.html

CatFromHue

Not a good time to be injured considering how Casey faired last season.

By the time Sherry gets back he could be well down the pecking order.

If I remember right too Casey was pretty solid in the lineout, which isn't something that could be said to the same degree for Varley or Sherry!

thomond2006

CatFromHue wrote: »

Not a good time to be injured considering how Casey faired last season.

By the time Sherry gets back he could be well down the pecking order.

If I remember right too Casey was pretty solid in the lineout, which isn't something that could be said to the same degree for Varley or Sherry!

I think Casey will be going to the World Cup. Injury aside he'll be Munster's number one hooker by the end of the season.

phog

MRSC AGM is on next Wednesday

We would like to remind all members that the Supporters Club Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 27th August, at 7.30p.m. in the Charleville Park Hotel.

irishbucsfan

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/18918.php

Team announced, 26 man squad.

thomond2006

Munster:
Stephen Fitzgerald; Ronan O'Mahony, Cian Bohane, Ivan Dineen, Darren Sweetnam; Johnny Holland, Duncan Williams; Alan Cotter, Ger Slattery, BJ Botha; Donncha O'Callaghan Capt., Sean McCarthy; Shane Buckley, Barry O'Mahony, CJ Stander.

Replacements from: Niall Horan, Kevin O'Byrne, John Ryan, John Madigan, Ryan Murphy, Cathal Sheridan, David Johnston, Ned Hodson, Rory Scannell, Ryan Foley, Greg O'Shea.

The big position up for grabs in terms of Edinburgh are the wings with Earls and VDH injured and Zebo presumably rested for one or two weeks.

Very weak squad overall.

phog

Delighted to see Madigan, O'Shea, Sweetnam, McCarthy, Buckley and Fitzgerald getting the games early in the season while the Internationals are rested. A few of these lads played int he 7s tournament so probably impressed Foley last season or early this season.

I'm heading to Waterford next week so I hope we name a similar team V LI

Edited to add, Great to see Cathal Sheirdan return from his long term injury.

thomond2006

Ivan Dineen is the senior player in that backline. He turned 27 last month. I thought he was promising in his appearances last season and certainly offered more than Downey. This is a big season for him, he's the only out and out 12 in the squad now and if Foley doesn't feel like putting another flyhalf at first centre then Dineen becomes the obvious choice.

Essentially this match is a run out for what will be the guts of the B&I Cup team.

Eod100

thomond2006 wrote: »

Ivan Dineen is the senior player in that backline. He turned 27 last month. I thought he was promising in his appearances last season and certainly offered more than Downey. This is a big season for him, he's the only out and out 12 in the squad now and if Foley doesn't feel like putting another flyhalf at first centre then Dineen becomes the obvious choice.

Essentially this match is a run out for what will be the guts of the B&I Cup team.

Dunno why but always thought Dineen was a year or 2 younger than that.. Looking forward to seeing what he can do this season!

Eod100

Fixtures out for Musgrave Park

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/18920.php#.U_YJoPldXsY

phog

Glocester team

http://www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk/mobile/news/rugby_news.php#/mobile/rugby/matchcentre/10294.php

Rob Cook, Charlie Sharples, Henry Trinder, Billy Twelvetrees (capt), Jonny May, James Hook, Greig Laidlaw; Dan Murphy, Richard Hibbard, John Afoa; Tom Savage, James Hudson; Sione Kalamafoni, Matt Kvesic, Ben Morgan.

Replacements

Yann Thomas, Darren Dawidiuk, Shaun Knight; Elliott Stooke, Tom Palmer, Jacob Rowan, Ross Moriarty; Callum Braley, Aled Thomas; Shane Monahan, Mark Atkinson, Tom Isaacs, Henry Purdy, Steve McColl

mogwai81

phog wrote: »

Glocester team

http://www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk/mobile/news/rugby_news.php#/mobile/rugby/matchcentre/10294.php

Rob Cook, Charlie Sharples, Henry Trinder, Billy Twelvetrees (capt), Jonny May, James Hook, Greig Laidlaw; Dan Murphy, Richard Hibbard, John Afoa; Tom Savage, James Hudson; Sione Kalamafoni, Matt Kvesic, Ben Morgan.

Replacements

Yann Thomas, Darren Dawidiuk, Shaun Knight; Elliott Stooke, Tom Palmer, Jacob Rowan, Ross Moriarty; Callum Braley, Aled Thomas; Shane Monahan, Mark Atkinson, Tom Isaacs, Henry Purdy, Steve McColl

Looks like a pretty strong Gloucester team

irishbucsfan

That's a stronger Gloucester team than the one who played Munster in the H Cup last season...

Buer

Tyler Bleyendaal playing for Canterbury this morning against Waikato. Bagged himself 15 points including a try before coming off. Canterbury crushing their hosts who, interestingly, have a 37 year old Marty Holah on the bench (38 in 2 weeks).

phog

Buer wrote: »

Tyler Bleyendaal playing for Canterbury this morning against Waikato. Bagged himself 15 points including a try before coming off. Canterbury crushing their hosts who, interestingly, have a 37 year old Marty Holah on the bench (38 in 2 weeks).

He has a reasonable game last week too giving Auckland a fair beating, Anscombe played outhalf for Auckland.

Are Cantebury that good or have just met two poor teams?

Buer

irishbucsfan wrote: »

That's a stronger Gloucester team than the one who played Munster in the H Cup last season...

They've the makings of a bloody good team this year if their signings get the finger out and, with the acquisitions they've made off the field, I think they've the right people to guide them.

You'd have to say that lock is the one area that perhaps they're looking a little light in that side but then you realise they've Tom Palmer (should be good for one season anyway) and Mariano Galarza coming in there. Galarza has really developed from a wishy washy player who had talent to a solid international now.

phog

From the Times

Munster coach Anthony Foley has named a team with an extended list of replacements for his first game in charge of the province, the pre-season friendly against Gloucester at Kingsholm on Saturday (3.0).

There are potentially 11 players in line to make their senior debuts in a team that will benefit from the presence of the experienced Donncha O’Callaghan and BJ Botha.

In the frontrow Alan Cotter and BJ Botha pack down on either side of Ger Slattery. The Young Munster club player made his competitive debut for Munster against Connacht in December 2013 and claimed his first points when scoring two tries against Zebre the following February.

O’Callaghan, Munster’s most capped player, will captain the squad and he lines out alongside Academy player Sean McCarthy in the second row.

Shane Buckley starts at blindside flanker, while Barry O’Mahony and CJ Stander complete the backrow. Duncan Williams partners Johnny Holland at halfback.

One time Cork hurler and Irish underage international Darren Sweetnam makes his first Munster senior appearance on the left wing whie new academy recruit Stephen Fitzgerald starts at fullback.

Fitzgerald, 18, represented Ardscoil Rís in the 2014 Munster Schools Senior Cup Final in March.

Buer

phog wrote: »

He has a reasonable game last week too giving Auckland a fair beating, Anscombe played outhalf for Auckland.

Are Cantebury that good or have just met two poor teams?

Canterbury have been extremely dominant at that level in recent times; they're on course for their 7th championship win in a row.

I suppose a big factor is that, if you look at the ITM Cup sides, the only sides from the south island are Canterbury, Southland, Otago and Tasman (out of 14). So essentially, a lot of players that are with the Crusaders will automatically play for Canterbury. There's a much larger spread of resources in the north island.

One of the NZ posters would be far better placed to comment accurately, however.

phog

Eod100 wrote: »

Fixtures out for Musgrave Park

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/18920.php#.U_YJoPldXsY

With Sky showing our away fixtures v Cardiff and Glasgow I think our fixtures in Musgrave Pk will be Friday evening games, Connacht in TP will probably be Saturday as Sky might show it. Treviso and Dragons at best might make TG4 so again Friday evening games.

13/14/15 Feb Cardiff Musgrave Pk
27/28 Feb, 1 Mar Glasgow Musgrave Pk
27/28/29 Mar Connacht Thomond Park
24/25/26 Apr Treviso Musgrave Pk
15/16/17 May Dragons Musgrave Pk

Eod100

phog wrote: »

With Sky showing our away fixtures v Cardiff and Glasgow I think our fixtures in Musgrave Pk will be Friday evening games, Connacht in TP will probably be Saturday as Sky might show it. Treviso and Dragons at best might make TG4 so again Friday evening games.

13/14/15 Feb Cardiff Musgrave Pk
27/28 Feb, 1 Mar Glasgow Musgrave Pk
27/28/29 Mar Connacht Thomond Park
24/25/26 Apr Treviso Musgrave Pk
15/16/17 May Dragons Musgrave Pk

Could be right! First Dragons clash doesn't seem to be televised so possibly could be some flexibility in holding it on a Saturday.. Probably much of a muchness when they're on for anyone in Cork but anyone with Limerick with a dual season ticket might be annoyed. Basically reverse of good few of the TP fixtures being on a Friday.

phog

Eod100 wrote: »

Could be right! First Dragons clash doesn't seem to be televised so possibly could be some flexibility in holding it on a Saturday.. Probably much of a muchness when they're on for anyone in Cork but anyone with Limerick with a dual season ticket might be annoyed. Basically reverse of good few of the TP fixtures being on a Friday.

The issue of Friday night games are made look worse because of Musgrave being unavailable until 2015. If it was available for the full season then games could alternate between both locations.

I love the Friday evening games in Limerick but will hate having to try and get to them in Cork, the reverse is probably true for Cork based fans and fans based further afield will probably hate all Friday evening games. We may as well get used to it as TG4 seem to like Friday evening games.

Kirk Van Houten

phog wrote: »

The issue of Friday night games are made look worse because of Musgrave being unavailable until 2015. If it was available for the full season then games could alternate between both locations.

I love the Friday evening games in Limerick but will hate having to try and get to them in Cork, the reverse is probably true for Cork based fans and fans based further afield will probably hate all Friday evening games. We may as well get used to it as TG4 seem to like Friday evening games.

Its Sky's deal that says they have exclusive rights to Sat games that is the issue.

"Sky Sports have come on board this year and will cover 32 of the PRO12 games and as per their contract, all games on Sky will be played and transmitted on Saturday afternoons or evenings, and to the best of my knowledge, unless Sky are involved, no other broadcaster can transmit games on a Saturday." - Garrett Fitzgerald

I'm very thankful that at least TG4 are showing games and have a real commitment to sport unlike RTE. RTE's presenters, commentators and analysts last season did the league no favours with their belittling of the standard of skills, play, commitment, teams on show etc. It was nothing short of a disgrace.

TG4 have spent money on the exclusive European highlights and now are the only Irish broadcaster for the Pro12. RTE get the License Fee money as well as advertising money yet even with rugby fan Ryle Nugent as head of sport they seem happy to spend money on the English Football highlights and forget about the provincial game here in our own country.

former legend

Kirk Van Houten wrote: »

TG4 have spent money on the exclusive European highlights and now are the only Irish broadcaster for the Pro12. RTE get the License Fee money as well as advertising money yet even with rugby fan Ryle Nugent as head of sport they seem happy to spend money on the English Football highlights and forget about the provincial game here in our own country.

While I agree that RTE's coverage of the Pro12 was crap, they don't show the premiership any more.

S12b

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8mDt94GStA

letowski

It would be nice to see some of the new fellas make a good impression.

Hoping for a big season for Cian Bohane too.

kingtiger

S12b wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8mDt94GStA

love the comment

"Water instantly turned into steam"

phog

Fla on coming back to coach Munster

http://www.limerickpost.ie/digital/2014/2014-08-23/html5/index.html?page=66


It's their digital copy so hope it works

phog

A blast from the past

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tippryan/sets/72157646329615169/

phog

http://www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk/mobile/news/10295.php

Deano7788

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m14WmB8UhtY

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

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/18922.php#.U_ise_mwJoc


Also, Gloucester are 13-3 up after 43 minutes. Over 12,500 attendance which is really good for a pre season match.

Deano7788

23-3 now, another Hook penalty and a converted Twelvetrees try.

Deano7788

40-3 after 67 minutes.

Deano7788

Finished 45-8. Not really unexpected considering the difference in teams named.

SillySimon

jesus thats awful

Deano7788

SillySimon wrote: »

jesus thats awful

I wouldn't really say that, or be that harsh. Munster had an extremely inexperienced side out, with 11 players afaik making their 1st appearance. Gloucester had pretty much a full strength side out that was probably stronger than the team we played in Europe last year. Their front row had Hibbard and Afoa for instance.

We were able to keep it close in the 1st half but experience and I'd imagine the greater physicality of the older Gloucester side told in the 2nd. It's not really unexpected.

phog

Colm Kinsella (@ckSportLeader) tweeted at 4:50 PM on Sat, Aug 23, 2014:
Gloucester 45, Munster 8 full-time in pre-season game in Kingsholm. 11 Munster players made their debut


An not unexpected result, though, I had hoped we'd score a few more points, the try was a real consolation try scored.

Different team next week for Waterford

SillySimon

still a bit too one sided, would hope they could keep it a bit closer really..

The Lost Sheep

SillySimon wrote: »

still a bit too one sided, would hope they could keep it a bit closer really..

Wasn't too one sided when you look at strength and experience of senior level on each side. Gloucester had a much stronger side out so no shame in that result

SillySimon

it was 40-3 until the near end compared to other provinces it wasnt a good showing

phog

SillySimon wrote: »

it was 40-3 until the near end compared to other provinces it wasnt a good showing

Foley out :-)

S12b

Ignore him, he's already been kicked out of the Leinster thread.....anyone who thinks Gloucester's 1st team thumping Munster's 3rd or 4th team is surprising isn't worth arguing with.

Molester Stallone II

His username is quite apt methinks

Molester Stallone II

Molester Stallone II wrote: »

His username is quite apt methinks

Well jaysus I hope yours isn't anyway.

thomond2006

This kind of result really shows how incompetent this jobs for the boys management team is.

athtrasna

thomond2006 wrote: »

This kind of result really shows how incompetent this jobs for the boys management team is.

That's a bit harsh. Our record in pre-season games over the last few years is pretty dire. As others have pointed out, 11 debuts vs a team that included the likes of Afoa and Twelvetrees was never going to go another way.

thomond2006

thomond2006 wrote: »

This kind of result really shows how incompetent this jobs for the boys management team is.

Even as a Leinster fan I'd say you're being a bit harsh there. Was a complete scratch side against a much stronger Glaws selection. Was only ever going one way.

If it makes you feel any better, Joe Schmidt's first ever game in charge of Leinster was a pre-season game in Donnybrook against Wasps, and Leinster got absolutely annihilated. I think Wasps scored 60 plus. Things turned out fairly alright there.

bilston

thomond2006 wrote: »

This kind of result really shows how incompetent this jobs for the boys management team is.

Don't judge it on pre season. The Premiership clubs are a week ahead of the provinces usually in pre season which is pretty telling at this time of the year.