The Province Formerly Known As Munster 2018-19

[TrapperChamonix]

I hope Munster take this chance and put in a CEO with serious business acumen. The amateur guys are retiring now so now is the time for new blood to come in from outside and not another blazer from within.

Jeeze dude, now's not the time to be having a pop!

[dropkick]

I hope Munster take this chance and put in a CEO with serious business acumen. The amateur guys are retiring now so now is the time for new blood to come in from outside and not another blazer from within.

Jeeze dude, now's not the time to be having a pop!

He's right though.

[olaf the fat]

I hope Munster take this chance and put in a CEO with serious business acumen. The amateur guys are retiring now so now is the time for new blood to come in from outside and not another blazer from within.

His record is pretty good compared to most other professional clubs though. In 4 Hcup finals and regular semi-finalists. Its Munster Fans expectations that are really wide of the mark.

[blockhead]

I hope Munster take this chance and put in a CEO with serious business acumen. The amateur guys are retiring now so now is the time for new blood to come in from outside and not another blazer from within.

His record is pretty good compared to most other professional clubs though. In 4 Hcup finals and regular semi-finalists. Its Munster Fans expectations that are really wide of the mark.

Thomond Park, although still not paid for, is one of the finest club rugby grounds in Europe, surpassed now by Racing's one I suppose.
Some think its too big, but it's full on enough occasions to justify it.

[Ruckedtobits]

After 20 or so years Garrett Fitzgerald is to retire from Munster. Had been out with illness of late, best of luck to the man.

+1
Did a great job in driving the Province from an amateur ethos and facilitated them becoming European Champions, despite the dual-base structure which ultimately derailed the Province in so many ways, financially, talent development and spectator support when times got tougher.

Allowing Limerick to acheive primacy as the "centre" of Munster Rugby was orchestrated outside his control but Garrett kept the rugby direction going forward as long as possible, despite poor decisions elsewhere.

Hope he recovers from his illness and enjoys his deserved retirement.

[jimbobjoe]

Graham Rowntree signs as TPFKAM forwards coach til 2022. Not a bad addition! Joins post RWC.

https://www.the42.ie/graham-rowntree-mu ... 6-Jun2019/

[R-Dog]

Munster Rugby and the IRFU are pleased to confirm Graham Rowntree will join the province as forwards coach on completion of his duties with Georgia Rugby in the Rugby World Cup.



Munster Rugby and the IRFU are pleased to confirm Graham Rowntree will join the province as forwards coach on completion of his duties with Georgia Rugby in the Rugby World Cup.
A highly experienced coach with a wealth of experience at Test level and across the Premiership, Rowntree, who is currently forwards coach for Georgia Rugby, has signed with the province until June 2022.
Commenting on the appointment, Acting CEO Philip Quinn said, “We are really pleased to have secured Graham in such a timely manner. The Professional Game Board and Johann have been tirelessly working on our coaching appointments for the past month and to secure a coach of Graham’s calibre is a credit to the work going on behind the scenes.
“We believe Graham is a fantastic appointment for the province as he brings a wealth of experience from an extensive list of top-level coaching positions, and will add further value to our coaching ticket.
“We understand there is more work to be done on the coaching front, and we will continue in our search for experienced coaches to join Johann and the province.”
Looking forward to joining the province, Rowntree said, “I’m delighted to be joining such a prestigious club. Although fully committed to Georgia until the end of the World Cup, I’m really looking forward to working with Johann and his team.”
Having managed and coached elite players at Premiership and international level, Rowntree was assistant coach on the 2009, 2013 and 2017 British and Irish Lions Tours.
He held the roles of assistant coach and forwards coach with England Rugby over a seven-year period, and has previously worked as forwards coach with Premiership sides Harlequins and Leicester Tigers.



Donal Lenihan quoted to be saying he has already really bought in to the Munster way.....

[LeRouxIsPHat]

I find it strange that they've hired a coach who won't be around for pre season, and if Howley gets the attack gig then he'll be the same and it could be a right mess.

[hugonaut]

I find it strange that they've hired a coach who won't be around for pre season, and if Howley gets the attack gig then he'll be the same and it could be a right mess.

I suppose it's a long-term vs short term argument. Rowntree has a very strong coaching CV to his name. My feeling is that Flannery was doing a very reasonable job as forwards coach anyway though, so there won't be that many gains available to Rowntree. Obviously it'll help van Graan to get another senior coaching voice to talk things through with, but they didn't really have any issues with the performance of their forwards as a unit. Good set-pieces, good over the ball, good maul, decent ruck-to-ruck. Much bigger issues in backline and attack.

[harblstuff]

Munster: Carbery and Nick McCarthy should move to Munster, he'll get more game time and will develop his skills, help unlock our back line and we'll be a powerhouse

12 months later: Munster are still ineffective, backs are still very limited, attack is lacking any creativity, Carbery isn't developing (but not getting worse), medical joker signed on for full year ahead of NMC.

Munster's excuse: We need to deviate from our forwards dominant game plan, it's traditional Munster but we need more strings to our bow, we'll hire a backs coach to help Felix and we'll kick on from here, Carbery will get loads of game time and will develop into a world class back and this will benefit Ireland

Jones and Flannery both unexpectedly quit, Munster hire Graham Rowntree while an amazing coach this is effectively doubling the f%~k down on their forwards dominated game plan (and he won't join until after the RWC) and rumours of Rob Howley coming in as backs coach, which could have hilarious results (especially with Robin McBryde knowing him very well from their tenure in the Welsh coaching setup)

Maybe there will be results down the line but for next year I predict another two Semi Finals at best, depending on the pools it could be one quarter and one semi.

[wixfjord]

Mathewson hasn't signed on for a full year, current contract is until end of WC.

[johng]

Mathewson hasn't signed on for a full year, current contract is until end of WC.

When did he start though?

[johng]

I don't think they are getting Howley. They are getting someone from a lot further south.

[OTT]

I don't think they are getting Howley. They are getting someone from a lot further south.

Where?

Barry?

[johng]

Canberra

[CiaranIrl]

Larkham and Rowentree coaching together, advising a thirty something year old South African coach sounds like the start of a comedy sketch.

[wixfjord]

Mathewson hasn't signed on for a full year, current contract is until end of WC.

When did he start though?

He's not signed on for a full year ahead of McCarthy.

[fourthirtythree]

But he does appear to be signed for the period of time when Mccarthy would be looking to be getting his main playing experience.
don't think you'd see us signing an outhalf to cover Sexton going to the world Cup.

In fact it's not that long ago that Sexton and Carbery were injured playing for Ireland and Marsh was also injured leaving us with one senior outhalf, an untried one, and we were told to get on with it and no injury cover. That we also got punished for getting on with what we have just makes the hypocrisy funnier.

Okay, to be fair, Sexton wasn't actually injured according to the IRFU, but we weren't allowed to play him. Again, the ironing...

[ronk]

But he does appear to be signed for the period of time when Mccarthy would be looking to be getting his main playing experience.
don't think you'd see us signing an outhalf to cover Sexton going to the world Cup.

In fact it's not that long ago that Sexton and Carbery were injured playing for Ireland and Marsh was also injured leaving us with one senior outhalf, an untried one, and we were told to get on with it and no injury cover. That we also got punished for getting on with what we have just makes the hypocrisy funnier.

Okay, to be fair, Sexton wasn't actually injured according to the IRFU, but we weren't allowed to play him. Again, the ironing...

Senior? We were 2 deep in the academy with our season on the line.

[blockhead]

But he does appear to be signed for the period of time when Mccarthy would be looking to be getting his main playing experience.
don't think you'd see us signing an outhalf to cover Sexton going to the world Cup.

In fact it's not that long ago that Sexton and Carbery were injured playing for Ireland and Marsh was also injured leaving us with one senior outhalf, an untried one, and we were told to get on with it and no injury cover. That we also got punished for getting on with what we have just makes the hypocrisy funnier.

Okay, to be fair, Sexton wasn't actually injured according to the IRFU, but we weren't allowed to play him. Again, the ironing...

And still Munster didn't get a Heino home QF or a Pro14 Home semi this season. They need those to pay off the TP debt.
8 years without a trophy.