Munster Team Talk Thread - New season title pending....

phog · 21-09-2023 3:18pm

Munster v Connacht pre-season game in Galway

https://twitter.com/Munsterrugby/status/1704860910748115077?t=XMB8OBm6pBbTR6lhGZMKkg&s=19

Munster: Simon Zebo; Shay McCarthy, Antoine Frisch, Rory Scannell, Calvin Nash; Joey Carbery, Ethan Coughlan; Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron, Stephen Archer; Gavin Coombes, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue (C), John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen.

Replacements: Niall Scannell, Kieran Ryan, John Ryan, Tom Ahern, Jack Daly, Neil Cronin, Stephen Kiely, Josh Costello.

phog · 21-09-2023 3:22pm

Great to see Carbery starting and Ahern back from injury

Quin_Dub · 21-09-2023 3:22pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121138802#Comment_121138802

Coombes starting in the 2nd row again??

phog · 21-09-2023 3:56pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121138822#Comment_121138822

Yes, we have 3 locks away at the RWC, Ahern coming back from injury and I assume Edogbo will be named for the Munster A side to play Connacht A (eagles) tomorrow

It could also be something that Munster or Farrell are looking at as back up or another string to his bow

phog · 21-09-2023 5:40pm

The A Team

Munster A: Ben O’Connor; James Conroy, Harry Long, Gordon Wood, Oisín Pepper; Tony Butler, Andrew O’Mahony; George Hadden, Chris Moore, Keynan Knox; Edwin Edogbo, Evan O’Connell (C); Seán Edogbo, Ruadhán Quinn, Brian Gleeson.

Replacements from: Adam Wrona, Ciaran Ryan, Darragh McSweeney, Eanna McCarthy, Conor Ryan, Jacob Sheahan, Daniel Okeke, Jack Oliver, Cillian O’Connor, Aaron Quirke.

phog · 21-09-2023 5:42pm

Really like how URC Twitter account keeps up the interest in the offseason.

I'll never tire of watching this

https://twitter.com/URCOfficial/status/1704158006659674521?t=iWtt4A27Ck44rHcrAvjaHQ&s=19

leakyboots · 21-09-2023 7:36pm

I wonder could they do one of him steamrolling Harry Byrne?

22-09-2023 8:45am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121140013#Comment_121140013

Crowley steamrolling Byrne is up there with Fineen ragdolling Sexton. A sight to behold

letowski · 22-09-2023 9:04am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121139474#Comment_121139474

Some exciting young players on this team, particurly in the pack. Evan O'Connell captaining a mens team as a teenager, kind of shows the level of prospect he is.

Red Silurian · 22-09-2023 9:10am

I've been informed that for the double header against Barbarians the North and South terraces will be closed. Meanwhile the (single header) friendly against Crusaders is looking likely to be sold out

Anybody who still thinks these games would draw a bigger crowd in Thomond needs to start changing their tune fairly rapidly. I include myself in that!

phog · 22-09-2023 9:24am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121141727#Comment_121141727

There are many, many reasons for this and of course some will just look at attendances and draw whatever conclusions they want to suit their narrative.

Would the double header have got more ticket sales in Cork? It's very hard to know but I doubt it in the same way I didn't think we'd sell out Thomond Park for it.

Cookiemunster · 22-09-2023 9:35am

The Barbarians game is in the middle of the RWC. It was never going to be anything close to a sell out. Crusaders would have sold out Thomond.

Red Silurian · 22-09-2023 9:37am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121141775#Comment_121141775

Yes there are many reasons for this but the main reason I think is that support for Munster rugby is dropping off in what was once the biggest city in the country for rugby support

The narrative I'd be pedaling here is that Thomond can't sell out for a double header against the Babas but that Cork can sell out a significantly bigger stadium for a friendly against a small club.

Red Silurian · 22-09-2023 9:39am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121141817#Comment_121141817

Is all of Limerick going to the RWC? Crusaders is February 3rd which is the day after France V Ireland in the 6N

I don't know how you can claim Crusaders would have sold out Thomond when two Babas teams can't

Cookiemunster · 22-09-2023 9:40am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121141827#Comment_121141827

There is no narrative. The games that went to Cork (SA and Crusader) would have sold out Thomond. The Barbarians games would probably have sold out Musgrave, but nothing bigger than that.

aloooof · 22-09-2023 9:40am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121139474#Comment_121139474

Huge potential in the back 5 of that pack.

Red Silurian · 22-09-2023 9:43am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121141849#Comment_121141849

Judging by what metric?

Cookiemunster · 22-09-2023 9:47am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121141841#Comment_121141841

Limerick, on it's own, never sells out Thomond. We rely on fans travelling from around the province and country. The Barbarians are a shadow of what the used to be and haven't been a draw in years. They don't fill stadiums any more and were never going to draw fans from around the province in preseason during the world cup.

The Crusaders are one of the best club sides in the world and are a draw. They will draw fans from all around the province and country. Cork fans on their own wouldn't have sold out the SA game. That game sold out in a few days BTW and the Crusader still hasn't sold out.

Red Silurian · 22-09-2023 9:56am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121141875#Comment_121141875

A quick look on ticketmaster suggests that most of the east/west stands are available for babas suggesting it could be a very small crowd there. Meanwhile the MRSC allocation of Crusaders was sold out in just a few days and even now there are only Blackrock/City terrace tickets left on TM

You keep beating the World cup drum, yet Ireland aren't even playing next weekend what could possibly be on that would clash with this?

Cookiemunster · 22-09-2023 9:59am

Look, you've a history of running with your hot takes, that literally nobody agrees with. I'm not going down that rabbit hole again, so I'm leaving it there.

snotboogie · 22-09-2023 10:05am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121141850#Comment_121141850

Agreed. Not sure how balanced it is and they have a long way to go on development (not sure Sean even makes the academy) but that's one of the most athletic back rows you'll ever see in a Munster jersey.

Red Silurian · 22-09-2023 10:49am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121141929#Comment_121141929

You have a history of thinking you're always right and belittling people who you disagree with so forgive me if I celebrate you leaving it there

But just so you know "hot takes" are personal opinions, strong ones at that. Munster selling more tickets to Cork friendlies V Thomond friendlies is not an opinion of any kind, it's a fact

Eod100 · 22-09-2023 1:28pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121138802#Comment_121138802

Seems like a fairly early ko. Not like it would be clashing with a later RWC match if it was on later. Is it cause its a friendly and time suits home team/supporters better?

Cookiemunster · 22-09-2023 1:32pm

Funnily enough it's clashing with Argentina v Samoa. I would have thought getting to the Sportground for 5:30 on a Friday would be chaotic with the traffic in Galway.

22-09-2023 1:54pm

I personally don't think the Barbarians are they draw they once were. I'm a season ticket holder, haven't missed a game in years and will probably give this game a skip. Even the majoirty of the squad are fairly poor, to be expected with it being played during the RWC. I expected to see some Irish fringe players line out with a view to keeping them match sharp in the event of a call-up.

The Baa-Baas are over-saturating themselves imo. They've played Bristol, Northampton and Scarlets in the past 3 weeks. They have a fixture vs Harlequins next month and I believe there is a Barbarians squad playing Gloucester the same day they play Munster. Its obvious their fee isn't massive or clubs wouldn't be booking them to pay.

I looked online for attendances from any games they've played recently. The only comment I could see from the Bristol fixture was from Bristol Live "Not sure if we'll get an official figure but I reckon we're looking at a quarter-filled Dolman, a third-filled South Stand and roughly about the same for the Lansdown Lower." 1/4 Dolman stand = 1500. 1/3 full South Stand = 2000 and 1/3 full Lansdown Lower = 2000. Approx 5500 in attendance. If Munster do 8-10k, they'll do well.

Interestingly, it appears whoever is brokering the deals for the touring sides has a good relationship with Munster and Bristol. By next February, both will have played SAA, Barbarians and Crusaders.

phog · 22-09-2023 5:06pm

From MFs

Result of the A game

FT Connacht 45- 31 Munster 'A'

Munster led by 21 at ht

Cookiemunster · 22-09-2023 7:48pm

Munster beat Connacht 24 - 19 according to twitter. Trys from Coombes, Barron and Scannell. 3 cons and a pen from Carbery

23-09-2023 4:39am

I purchased the stream from Connacht Rugby for €7.

i thought Joey looked sharp, which I’m delighted to see. Let’s hope he can put last season behind him now and kick on with a run of games.

Shay McCarthy went well also.

Physicality wise it looked more like a URC game than a pre-season friendly. Should definitely stand to both teams

Red Silurian · 25-09-2023 9:53am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121143016#Comment_121143016

Once upon a time Munster and Thomond used to be the draw. Now we have a double header with decent ticket prices and it's looking like we would be doing well to draw a few hundred in.

Interestingly, it appears whoever is brokering the deals for the touring sides has a good relationship with Munster and Bristol. By next February, both will have played SAA, Barbarians and Crusaders.

This came to my mind also, I think it's good to see happen, such coordination is always a draw for touring sides

Lost Ormond · 25-09-2023 11:28am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121153655#Comment_121153655

Its the babas not being a draw pretty much anywhere combined with its timing. cant compare it to the big touring international sides.

Munster Team Talk Thread - New season title pending....

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