I blame the IRFU and their silly made up rules that meant Munster had to choose between Snyman and Kleyn. Spend years getting him back right for him to walk up the road. Kleyn incidentally wonât play for SA again so at least he will be available. Kept OâMahony whose powers are dwindling and bomb out the best player in the country.
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I had said when they turned zebo and Ryan done for irfu deals they were basically resigned Munster to mediocrity.
They were in the semi finals three seasons in a row werenât they.
Now nearly all their central contract players are coming off those deals so they have to find money from somewhere.
Lost Ben Healy and carberry replaced with billy burns.
Lost Synman because Kleyn wasnât capped.
Lose earls, Conway and zebo in the space of 9 months.
Keep o mahony in a position theyâve loads of cover.
Itâs a mess.
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The ultimate irony is Paul OâConnell missed huge periods of time injured but he came back to lead the team again. Snyman and POCâs injury records would be similar. He wasnât looking to leave. Its not like they hadnât seen anything like this before. You have to make allowances for world class talent.
OâGara would have been back by now if he wanted to be. He has approached his coaching career rationally, seeing the big picture. Munster will always be there for him at some point.
Perhaps family circumstances will change things for him, it does for lots of people. He is making so much in La Rochelle though (all else being equal) that I think heâll stick there for another couple of years. Perhaps heâll take on an international gig if one opens up pre World Cup.
Where would you pick up two props at this time of the year I wonder. You need 4 in reality
Lam has a v long contract with Bristol (who are in superb form this season) as well
A decent hooker would sort a lot of shit out for them. Scannel has to be the worst number 2 in world rugby at this stage.
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He is useless alright but plenty worse than him. Just not playing for clubs with profile and expectation of Munster
Hooker would help alright but props an absolute minimum requirementâŚlineouts etc all at mercy of an ancient front row lifting etc when absolutely bolloxed
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It isnât just Munster being hard-done by on the the refusal to sign NIQ props because Ulster got shafted when Kitschoff fucked off. Theyâre lenient on Leinster signing an NIQ prop because in recent years they lost Aungier, Dooley, Ed Byrne, the Hawaiian lad that did nothing at Munster and probably a few more Iâm forgetting.
Good props are hard to come by too, especially jokers.
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Would Donal Lenihan take it until the end of the season?
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A tremen-jous idea
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As I said when Leinster were down in the dumps in 07/08 they allowed them sign the NIQ players to make them competitive.
Now they are rewarding Leinster for producing Irish players by allowing them sign top NIQ players. You basically then have a self fulfilling prophecy. It becomes over an extended period very difficult for the other provinces to compete.
The policy change came at wonderful time for Leinster anyway.
The central contract system is broken too. Rugby is careers can change very quickly. The wrong players can get left on contracts and can be second fiddle at their provinces. Look at Murray as example.
At the minimum there should be some sort of parachute payments for the provinces with players coming off them.
Munster are well stocked in the back row but Pom comes off one and then they are left making another incredibly awkward decision on him.
Maybe stop giving them to lads over the age of 29 or allowing lads over a certain age to play abroad and still be in Irish contention.
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A retirement gig
Isnât there a âplayer of national importanceâ type contract for players coming off centrals which tops up their salary? Apparently even with that, Munster still made a balls of the POM situation.
Theyâre an amateur setup in a professional game.
Iâm not exactly sure tbh.
Ya I have issues with how they are run. Keep giving Brian fitz 3 months deals. Give the lad a season for goodness sake. Theyâve given much worse players deals.
I do think they have a better calibre of player coming through but that can also mean if they donât make the Irish squad they are more attractive to clubs outside of England or Ireland.
Somebody like Coombes could get a nice pay day.
Since season one of rowentree they lost zebo
Earls fekitoa frisch Conway Healy and carberry. That is a lot of players to replace for Munster with their budget.
Of those they lost zebo earls and Conway to age or injury
Carbery wasnât available ever
Fekitoa was replaced by Nankivell a fair swap
Frisch and Healy were lost alright
Ive seen many professional players and wondered how the fuck they have a contract and hes certainly the worst
He was highly rated too
I dont follow Munster much anymore
but I am reading the situ right in that Munster have won fcuk all in 10 years except last year when Rowntree was the gaffer and now they have shown the only man to bring them silveware the door?
Another queston is that lad from the Barrs Ben OâConnor getting any game time?
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How was he rated? Seriously, ive seen him at AIL, he was rubbish