Munster Team Talk Thread - Beirne After Reading

Buer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120089832#Comment_120089832

Whilst I've little or no time for PK and he definitely is looking for his next crusade, there does need to be a little context.

The interview took place back in September. The Steve Thompson story (a former team mate of Rowntree's) was very much in the media; the BBC announced the documentary around then. Caelen Doris publicly discussed his concussion issues in September too. The summer had seen the announcement of the legal cases for several players. Ryan Jones had announced his issues in July.

It was Brendan Fanning who publicly revealed the row. Kimmage didn't actually publish it at the time. Kimmage is a plonker using it as a vehicle now though for his own agenda.

I think that the question was fair game in a 2 hour interview and Rowntree was equally entitled to say he's not talking about it and move on. It's a fairly odd exchange between them overall, to be honest. Absolute storm in a teacup.

Quin_Dub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120090130#Comment_120090130

That's very poor from a professional Journalist.

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120090241#Comment_120090241

My bad then, I don't read the sindo and I only heard the piece being read out on the Monday night rugby on otb. Maybe it was an assumption on my part that it was a recent PK interview and that section was included in it by PK.

Neil3030

Kimmage has that special skill of pursuing an issue you fundamentally agree with, but with such a distasteful zeal and manner that you're tempted to flip to the opposite stance.

phog

There probably isn't a rugby coach or player in Ireland now that will meet Kimmage after this story. Why would they? He's bitten off his nose to spite his face.

Cookiemunster

Leamy has said in today press conference that Munster are not signing Malcolm Marx.

phog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120078752#Comment_120078752

Confirmed today by Munster that there is nothing in that rumour

Poorside

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120090636#Comment_120090636

Didn't want him anyway....

leakyboots

Nice piece of skill by Gavin Coombes I missed live

https://twitter.com/threeredkings/status/1611651541806587905?t=6yfUSmLJdDipr4J_XlVJ9g&s=19

https://twitter.com/threeredkings/status/1611651541806587905?t=6yfUSmLJdDipr4J_XlVJ9g&s=19

I think Kimmage started out with good intentions but his perspective seems to have become warped.

Rugby is a sport that is absolutely susceptible to abuse by participants taking performance enhancers but so much of the game is technical and skill based that the risk / reward is far lower than it would be for a sport like cycling.

I've seen the weekly schedule, fitness, conditioning and lifting targets for professional rugby players - they're very accessible and there is no obvious need to dope to achieve what is expected.

Whilst acknowledging that there is clearly a problematic culture in (for example) South Africa - I don't think the use of PED's is all that widespread within the sport generally speaking.

As for head injury, Rowntree is a coach - he's not a neurologist, Kimmage was quite out of order both in terms of trying to create a headline, but also engaging a non expert as an authority in something that is highly complex.

He's moved far beyond journalism and into the realm of witch hunting at this stage sadly enough.

jcon1913

Kimmage is a bit of a gobdaw - he got famous for hunting down drugs cheats years ago and is still high on the fumes of his own s****

Former Former Former

I'm no fan of Kimmage but not sure what he's actually done wrong in this instance.

phog

The game on Saturday will be on RTE2 for anyone that doesn't have BT Sport

@Buer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120092968#Comment_120092968

I don't necessarily have a problem with him asking the question in the context of a 2 hour interview - largely for the reasons @Buer articulated above (Steve Thompson etc).

But he has to recognise that Rowntree is well within his rights to not have any interest in discussing it.

I think what he's done wrong in this instance, is include the excerpt in the published piece. In fact, of the whole 2 hour time they spoke, this 5-10 min snapshot has become the only piece getting discussed since.

I don't think it's beyond the realms of possibility that Kimmage secured this interview under false pretexts, and that the real target of the piece was to get some controversial comments (either way, anything GR said on this would have been a headline for Kimmage) and spin that. And to me, that's shoddy journalism.

I think he's attempting to do what he's done successfully in the past of making it appear that once again here's crusading Paul Kimmage trying to get to the truth, and the rugby old boy's network are out there being defensive and practicing the culture of omerta again, which, I think is bullshit.

aloooof

Munster v Northampton at Thomond Park, seems only good and proper to post this, complete with Michael Corcoran's 100,000 phases.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfihOeFpJ_Y&ab_channel=Trevphone

Vinnie222

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120093446#Comment_120093446

Never get tired of hearing it 😅

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120093911#Comment_120093911

And did it again the following week over in Castres as well too!

aloooof

Sure, why not, take it away Michael:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQZV_IfXDi8&ab_channel=cillinco

Jump_In_Jack

https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/2023/01/10/italy-name-training-squad-ahead-of-2023-guinness-six-nations/

"The squad are set to meet for a camp in Verona between January 22-27..."

Benetton will surely be missing a lot of players if they will be in camp all week leading up to our next URC match with them on the 28th.

I make out the following is the list of Benetton players in the Italian squad for the 2023 Six Nations:

Forwards: Simone Ferrari, Federico Zani, Giacomo Nicotera, Niccolò Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Lorenzo Cannone, Michele Lamaro, Sebastian Negri, Giovanni Pettinelli, Manuel Zuliani.

Backs: Alessandro Garbisi, Giacomo Da Re, Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Matteo Minozzi, Edoardo Padovani.

Jump_In_Jack

Benetton being at home, and the training base being a little over an hour away might mean less disruption perhaps, but I don’t know.

Cookiemunster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120094882#Comment_120094882

First choice Italy players won't be released back to them. And the camp is 6 days long ending the day before the match, so any players who might be released wont be able to train with Benetton the week of the match.

Jump_In_Jack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120095039#Comment_120095039

I don’t know what injuries they have within their squad, but aside from the Benetton players in the national squad, they still have a decent team, some foreign players in key positions and a few names that I recognise so may be former internationals. I must look up their team that beat Ulster and see how many of them would be available.

We’ll be missing a few too of course.

budhabob

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120092989#Comment_120092989

Cheers, hadn't copped that. Set to record now.

phog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120096331#Comment_120096331

RTE has one match each weekend of the HCC pool games and as Munster & Leinster play at home in alternative weekends they'll show the Munster & Leinster home matches.

I'm not sure what happens once we go into knockout rugby

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120096605#Comment_120096605

I'd presume RTE will have one game per round and will be following Leinster in the Knockouts. They will probably have access to the final as well no matter who is in it

Also Gloucester V Leinster is on ITV on Saturday for anybody interested

mogwai81

What position will Ruadhan Quinn end up playing? I think I read he played 8 in schools and I believe he has come on at flanker for Munster. Seems to have serious weight/condition for someone so young.

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120100496#Comment_120100496

Played 8 at age grade but that wouldnt necessariy mean much. put your best option at 8 at age grade even if it wont be there position later. hard to say about his position when you consider other options Munster have. Will likely move between 6/8 a lot

mogwai81

Thanks

Not sure to many of thr young back rows will be tied down to one spot,

Kendellan 6,7,8

Hodnett 6,7

Quinn 6,8

Okeke seems loke an out and out 8 and iv been told edogbos younger brother is but haven't seen him play

ulsteru20s

From the small amount I’ve seen of Quinn, he seems to carry in similar channels to Hodnett. Obviously, fairly small sample.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120101637#Comment_120101637

Hes a bigger guy already which will help. Hodnett was a great 8 at 20s but is a bit small for it at senior level. Having said that i thought kendellan was similar but hes played a bit of 8 at senior already

Jump_In_Jack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120101592#Comment_120101592

Add to that depth, Jack O'Sullivan 6,7,8 and Jack Daly 6,7.

I'd also add a list for 5.5, i.e. lock/blind-side flanker, so I'd say Fineen Wycherley, Cian Hurley would both fall under that heading.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120101789#Comment_120101789

Od think their a level below the others as prospects. Maby not lower than okeke but he may be the best carrier of the lot

Jump_In_Jack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120101807#Comment_120101807

Jack O'Sullivan has had a bad run of injury, but he had huge potential at U20's, he has shown flashes of it at senior level but injuries have robbed him of the opportunity to demonstrate what he can do. It remains to be seen if he might find that form again.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120101845#Comment_120101845

Hes 24 at this stage with some extremely talented young back rows coming through itl be tough for him. I dont tmrecall him being a prospect like kendellan/hodnett/quinn but we will see

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120101637#Comment_120101637

It's a smart way to use a teenager in adult rugby, I suspect he will do a lot of hard carrying closer to the ruck for the 20s as he should be physically dominant at that level, we shall see.

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120102056#Comment_120102056

Exactly ya, a large part of the reason for his appearance was because of the injury list at the time. He was Munster's youngest ever player in the pro era when he came on. Seem well able tho.

I mentioned it on the U20s thread, but I went to see the game last Friday between Ireland U20s and Leinster Development - and despite a number of good performances from some really promising players, I thought Ruadhan Quinn was probably the most promising player on the field.

The comparison I used in terms of style and power mismatch was Sean O'Brien. He also looks to be a good footballer, with good handling and passing ability, and I liked that he seems to have a good level of aggression and fire about him too.

Really promising player in my opinion, and really looking forward to seeing him for the Irish 20s this year.

Cookiemunster

Team is in. No Murray on the squad. Fekitoa and Healy also out.

Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Jack Crowley, Shane Daly; Joey Carbery, Craig Casey; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, Roman Salanoa; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne; Jack O’Donoghue, Peter O’Mahony (C), Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Scott Buckley, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen, Paddy Patterson, Rory Scannell, Liam Coombes.

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120102601#Comment_120102601

a team selected on form??

i still fancy munster for a 5 pointer here.

northampton are a very poor travelling team; 0 for 7 this season

Eod100

Strong team. Murray went from starting against SA in November to not making the bench. Wonder will he make Irish squad at this rate.

aloooof

Lots of guys reward for their form their; Patterson is the obvious one, XCrowley also, but Salanoa too.

No Earls, injured? Or just more picking guys on form?

Former Former Former

Have to say I'd have kept Fekitoa either at 12 or on the bench.

If Earls and Murray are fit but just excluded, that would be a massive call, Murray particularly. Good to see Salanoa get the start.

Munster to get a BP win.

phog

Huge call not to have Murray in the 23 and Ryan on the bench, L Coombes too.

arsebiscuits1

If Patterson performs well here and gets a shot next week and goes well he puts himself firmly in the conversation for an Ireland call up I reckon.

Quin_Dub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120103029#Comment_120103029

No chance I'm afraid, as good a season as he's having so far.

6N squad is announced next Thursday so this week-end is the last shot.

20 minutes off the bench isn't going to get him anywhere near a National squad.

Poorside

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120103029#Comment_120103029

Wouldn't think so, just a bit to work on yet, he needs a bit more control on his pass to move up to international level, if he gets a call up it'll be to see if he can adjust his game.

He's having a great season, I just think he's too like Casey and JgP to get the nod yet, and that will be Murrays saving grace for this 6n.

Dubinusa

Northampton are a decent outfit but, Munster should put them to bed.

arsebiscuits1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120103075#Comment_120103075

Didn't consider that the squad would be named before the next game.

Pity. I think he's a close like for like to what JGP offers (alongside Blade)

Hopefully he keeps getting minutes this season. I'm glad Rowntree rates him higher that Cronin though. JVGs insistence of picking the exceptionally limited Cronin last season (378 minutes - 10 apps 5 starts) over Patterson (78 minutes - 5 apps all subs - 4 apps when Cronin started) was a real headscratcher

phog

Lawes is named in the Saints team for tomorrow, iirc, he missed out in the reverse fixture and he could make a difference for them. We were unlucky with the initial cards around the scrap but then coughed up two more in succession after that. We need to keep a clean sheet tomorrow.