Munster Thread 2011-2012

[Oldschool]

Oldschool's comment "move him on" is absolute madness. Madness!

Ruddock has been labouring through the last third of the season with a hip complaint that required surgery, and carried a big weight as a 20-year old captain in the first third. He put in a really good shift for Leinster this year: 21 games [14 starts] as a 20/21 year old in a position where we've already got two internationals in Sean O'Brien and Kev McLaughlin. How many games had either of those lads played for Leinster when they were the same age as Ruddock is now? 0 and 0. Ruddock has played 41.

Just like Tadhg Furlong, Ruddock was born 6 weeks away from the turn of the year [both players born in mid-November]: being born those six weeks later would have put them in contention for three straight seasons for the Irish U20s, because they were both well able to hold up their end as 18 year olds in the respective 2011 Junior World Championships [Furlong] and 2009 U20 Six Nations [Ruddock].

I'm delighted that he signed on for another two years, and I'm very confident that he'll continue to improve. There are still a number of parts to his game that need work, but you could say that about any 21 year old.

Glad he does it for you, because he ain't doing it for me. My point is that the improvement trend has slowed.

Would you have turfed out Sean O'Brien at age 20 then, because he wasn't even good enough to get his game for Leinster? At least Ruddock is ahead of him at the same development stage.

My issue with Ruddock is that he carries the ball very soft. Whatever about him being upright, he is always dominated in the contact area, even against smaller guys. Very easy to bring down. He's a very good tackler technically, but similarly doesn't dominate with his hits.

He's young, true. But he's also a bigger unit than most guys of his age. He hasn't earned the profile he's enjoyed in Leinster, imo, but I'd still want to develop him because the power may come, as with big Dev. Also because, unlike many, I'm not 100% sold on Ryan yet. He's a classic tweener and master of none, as yet.

Strangely enough Jezzer, that just about sums up my own thinking on both players. Time will tell, however I think Ryan is the more likely of the two to develop his potential.

[sarah_lennon]

Niall O'Donovan Appointed Team Manager
12 June 2012, 1:02 pmBy The Editor
Munster announced today the appointment of Niall O'Donovan as their Team Manager and will take over the role from Shaun Payne who returns home to South Africa.
O'Donovan was assistant coach with Munster up until the end of the 2001/02 season before moving on to the role of Forwards Coach with the Ireland Senior squad.
In more recent times he has acted as Team Manager and Forwards Coach to the Munster British & Irish Cup squad who contested the inugural final and won the title recently with victory over Cross Keys.

Commenting on the appointment, Munster CEO Garrett Fitzgerald said "we are delighted that Niall has agreed to take over the role of Team Manager. Niall has had a long assocition with Munster Rugby and having acted as forwards coach in the past and more recently as Munster 'A' Team Manager he brings a wealth of experience that can only enhance the newly appointed coaching structure".

The Shannon clubman takes up the role on July 1st on a two year contract.

[ruck]

More jobs for the boys. Apocrypha will be delighted.

[Apocrypha]

Muster Rugby are a fcuking disgrace run by clowns. Figures released at the AGM state that we're now £1million in debt for 11/12, and this includes a year in which we had a home HEC QF, while making no repayments on our £10.2million IRFU Loan on the TP redevelopment. Carrott Schitz is leading us on the road to ruin. Instead of blaming Saracens and Racing Metro for having a proper investement strategy, why doesn't he sort out his own house. The man has destroyed Munster and should be removed from office before he leads us into liquidation a la Rangers.

Good to see NOD back on board the Ship of Fools. Where's Gaillimh when you need him to break out the booze on company expenses?

[Peg Leg]

More jobs for the boys. Apocrypha will be delighted.

They never really have to go far afield for their apprenticeships, do they?

[Stuka]

It would be quite astonishing to see Munster really get into real financial difficulty. They are a huge "brand" and must have a larger turn over then us or Ulster. Where has all the money gone? It also makes me worry about or financials....... are we in a position to be smug about or simpleton country cousin's situation?

[lummix]

How can munster be losing 1million a year, is this after the irfu grants etc. Would love to see a comparison between what Leinster and munster bring in and spend. Bet loads of the clowns who should have been put out to pasture are pulling big money (horan) etc. I'll tell you this there not getting much bang for their buck

[ronk]

How can munster be losing 1million a year, is this after the irfu grants etc. Would love to see a comparison between what Leinster and munster bring in and spend. Bet loads of the clowns who should have been put out to pasture are pulling big money (horan) etc. I'll tell you this there not getting much bang for their buck

It's the influence of the clubs.Munster got away with it for a while but their poor treatment of the MRSC season ticket holders came back to bite them when they needed to rely on their loyalty.

Two stadiums, two training bases, huge total squad and all sorts of hangers on. Because they built boxes, Munster were very dependent on corporate income and that's taken a hit, especially because they're in competition with their own clubs.

[tones]

Surely the Brave and the Faithful will be turning out in their droves like in the south of France to keep money coming in???
Munster, in alot of ways, got so far ahead of itself its ridiculous. Poor management accounting from themselves and the IRFU allowed this to happen. Repayments on a stadium redevelopment they will struggle to fill will haunt them for a while. How are they managing the payments for Musgrave park? Is there more redevelopments for Musgrave planned?

[Dave Cahill]

Is there more redevelopments for Musgrave planned?

On hold indefinitely.

[Dave Cahill]

It would be quite astonishing to see Munster really get into real financial difficulty. They are a huge "brand" and must have a larger turn over then us or Ulster. Where has all the money gone?

Munster aren't a big brand because they never nurtured or developed it. Like Apple, they found out to their cost that some guys are best suited to selling "sugar water".

[bgclaw]

CJ Stander Blue Bulls backrow signs 2 year contract munster.Project player.

[Donny B.]

Let's hope he works out better than Borlase or Manning.

[munster#1]

super signing, i don't agree that ireland need a project backrow player, but i'm excited by this signing

[Mackman15]

Let's hope he works out better than Borlase or Manning.

This country hasn't had the greatest of success with CJ's

[ellandleinster]

CJ Stander Blue Bulls backrow signs 2 year contract munster.Project player.

Looks a good signing.

Would have thought it would be a 3 year contract if he's a project player

[ratpack]

This guy will never play for Ireland, he's a "Project" player in name only just so Munster can fill a need in their squad. The two year deal is an indication of this.

Crackin' signing though.

[Dave Cahill]

Its three years to qualify alright, but this gives both sides an early out if things don't work out along that route.

[Dave Cahill]

This guy will never play for Ireland, he's a "Project" player in name only just so Munster can fill a need in their squad. The two year deal is an indication of this.

Crackin' signing though.

Two years is what project players get, Strauss for example got two years initially

[hugonaut]

This guy will never play for Ireland, he's a "Project" player in name only just so Munster can fill a need in their squad. The two year deal is an indication of this.

Crackin' signing though.

Two years is what project players get, Strauss for example got two years initially

Sykes had a three year deal, surely? And Jared Payne up in Ulster too?