Munster Rugby 2021/2022 - Search for the Holy Grail

[mildlyinterested]

Clote posting anti-vax stuff online. Wondering if that will get a censor from the IRFU? Can't imagine the sponsors will be delighted with him.

Hard to believe that Munster have a player like him on the books, and now it turns out he's anti vax as well!

is it hard to believe? they love their south africans and south africans love their juice and freedom.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Clote posting anti-vax stuff online. Wondering if that will get a censor from the IRFU? Can't imagine the sponsors will be delighted with him.

Hard to believe that Munster have a player like him on the books, and now it turns out he's anti vax as well!

is it hard to believe? they love their south africans and south africans love their juice and freedom.

Show Spoiler:

WHOOSH

[Dave Cahill]

Munster's preseason friendly with Bath has been called off as Bath were unable to travel due to you know what

[ronk]

Playing a challenge match. They'll refund tickets but let them also be used for free entry to the new game. Seems like a decent idea.

https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2021/08/26/ ... mond-park/

[deco]

Can someone insert a poll to decide what's the holy grail for a club of Munster's standing?

-more excuses
-another South African/Leinster player
-Stuart Lancaster
-the Rainbow Cup
-Holy Communions on match day
-some pens

[FLIP]

Can someone insert a poll to decide what's the holy grail for a club of Munster's standing?

-more excuses
-another South African/Leinster player
-Stuart Lancaster
-the Rainbow Cup
-Holy Communions on match day
-some pens

Having a "miracle match" against a mid table English side and claiming it to be legendary?

[mildlyinterested]

LH Prop
Dave Kilcoyne(32)
Liam O'Connor(26)
Jeremy Loughman(26)
James French(22)
Josh Wycherley(22)
--
Mark Donnelly(20)

TH Prop
Stephen Archer(33)
John Ryan(33)
Roman Salanoa(23)
Keynan Knox(22)

Hooker
Kevin O'Byrne(30)
Niall Scannell(29)
Diarmuid Barron(23)
--
Scott Buckley(21)

Lock
Tadhg Beirne(29)
Jean Kleyn(28)
RG Snyman(26)
Jason Jenkins(25)
Fineen Wycherley(23)
Thomas Ahern(21)
--
Cian Hurley(21)
Paddy Kelly(21)
Eoin O'Connor(21)

Backrow
Peter O'Mahony(32)
Chris Cloete(30)
Jack O'Donoghue(27)
Gavin Coombes(23)
Jack Daly(23)
Jack O'Sullivan(22)
John Hodnett(22)
--
Alex Kendellen(20)
Daniel Okeke(19)

Scrumhalf
Conor Murray(32)
Neil Cronin(28)
Rowan Osborne(24)
Craig Casey(22)
--
Paddy Patterson(22)
Ethan Coughlan(19)

Outhalf
Joey Carbery(25)
Jake Flannery(22)
Ben Healy(22)
Jack Crowley(21)

Centre
Damian de Allende(29)
Chris Farrell(28)
Rory Scannell(27)
Dan Goggin(26)
Alex McHenry(23)

Back Three
Keith Earls(33)
Simon Zebo(31)
Andrew Conway(30)
Mike Haley(27)
Matt Gallagher(24)
Liam Coombes(24)
Shane Daly(24)
Calvin Nash(24)
Seán French(22)
--
Jonathan Wren(22)
Conor Phillips(22)

[the spoofer]

LH Prop
Dave Kilcoyne(32)
Liam O'Connor(26)
Jeremy Loughman(26)
James French(22)
Josh Wycherley(22)
--
Mark Donnelly(20)

TH Prop
Stephen Archer(33)
John Ryan(33)
Roman Salanoa(23)
Keynan Knox(22)

Hooker
Kevin O'Byrne(30)
Niall Scannell(29)
Diarmuid Barron(23)
--
Scott Buckley(21)

Lock
Tadhg Beirne(29)
Jean Kleyn(28)
RG Snyman(26)
Jason Jenkins(25)
Fineen Wycherley(23)
Thomas Ahern(21)
--
Cian Hurley(21)
Paddy Kelly(21)
Eoin O'Connor(21)

Backrow
Peter O'Mahony(32)
Chris Cloete(30)
Jack O'Donoghue(27)
Gavin Coombes(23)
Jack Daly(23)
Jack O'Sullivan(22)
John Hodnett(22)
--
Alex Kendellen(20)
Daniel Okeke(19)

Scrumhalf
Conor Murray(32)
Neil Cronin(28)
Rowan Osborne(24)
Craig Casey(22)
--
Paddy Patterson(22)
Ethan Coughlan(19)

Outhalf
Joey Carbery(25)
Jake Flannery(22)
Ben Healy(22)
Jack Crowley(21)

Centre
Damian de Allende(29)
Chris Farrell(28)
Rory Scannell(27)
Dan Goggin(26)
Alex McHenry(23)

Back Three
Keith Earls(33)
Simon Zebo(31)
Andrew Conway(30)
Mike Haley(27)
Matt Gallagher(24)
Liam Coombes(24)
Shane Daly(24)
Calvin Nash(24)
Seán French(22)
--
Jonathan Wren(22)
Conor Phillips(22)

Front row options are underwhelming.

[ronk]

Aside from the Scannells and JOD theres very little contribution for Munster developed players between 23 & 30, which should be the core of their squad.

Even with the many signings the prime age player panel feels light. If Munster don't make a lot of progress fast their squad is at risk of falling apart. Especially in the front row.

[Oldschoolsocks]

Dunno, your man Gavin Coombes is pretty good

[munster#1]

Looking at the pre season training pics today it really struck me how many young, exciting, homegrown players Munster have at their disposal for this coming season.

I definitely believe that the loss of JJ, Cronin, Billy and of course CJ will leave a big whole in the squad, especially when it comes to the tight, niggly games, but the current squad is pack full of potential.

It is clear, as highlighted in the current squad that Munster have worked hard to cut the squad over the last few years, and year on year we have seen a high number of squad players leave at the end of the season.

The next step will be turning this potential into reality.
Having players like Killer, Scannell, POM, Murray, RG, DDA,Earls,Zebo around the squad will provide a solid backbone, but the next generation will have to stand up and be counted.

As a fan I am both excited and nervous.

[ronk]

Dunno, your man Gavin Coombes is pretty good

I agree. He's 23 though.

They have an exciting crop of young talent. All the more remarkable given how poor it's been.

The 2 Wycherleys, Ahern, Coombes, Kendellan, Casey, Healy/Crowley, Daley. That's half a team right there. Some of them have arrived, some might.

But against that there's Kilcoyne, Archer, Ryan, POM, Cloete, KOB, Earls, Zebo, Conway all in their 30s and most probably not that long in the game. And that's before we count the players who just left: CJ, Holland, Cronin, Hanrahan, TOD, Marshall.

There's a narrow window where the next generation may arrive before the last leave and Munster have a strong squad. But when the old generation leave there's also a lot of rebuilding. The new generation may simply not be enough players to cover the needs of the squad.

Especially as Snyman, de Allende, Jenkins are likely to move along in the middle term.

[munster#1]

Two very exciting teams for this challenge match, with plenty of interesting head to heads.
Unfortunately I will miss it due to a family commitment.

Munster Red: Matt Gallagher; Seán French, Calvin Nash, Alex McHenry, Conor Phillips; Jack Crowley, Rowan Osborne; Liam O’Connor, Scott Buckley, Keynan Knox; Jean Kleyn, Thomas Ahern; Jack O’Donoghue (C), Jack Daly, Daniel Okeke.

Replacements: James French, Mark Donnelly, Roman Salanoa, Neil Cronin, Ben Healy.

Munster Grey: Simon Zebo; Jonathan Wren, Liam Coombes, Rory Scannell (C), Ethan Coughlan; Jake Flannery, Paddy Patterson; Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron, Stephen Archer; Cian Hurley, Paddy Kelly; TBC, Chris Cloete, Alex Kendellen.

Replacements: TBC

[wixfjord]

Patterson & Osborne clashing in red!

[FLIP]

Imagine being Salanoa and be riding pine in a preseason match which is two Munster teams playing against each other, instead of probably starting a preseason match next week for Leinster given he was higher rated than our current 3rd choice TH.

Leinster player moves directly to Munster and their career suffers non shocker.

[Oldschoolsocks]

Two very exciting teams for this challenge match, with plenty of interesting head to heads.
Unfortunately I will miss it due to a family commitment.

Munster Red: Matt Gallagher; Seán French, Calvin Nash, Alex McHenry, Conor Phillips; Jack Crowley, Rowan Osborne; Liam O’Connor, Scott Buckley, Keynan Knox; Jean Kleyn, Thomas Ahern; Jack O’Donoghue (C), Jack Daly, Daniel Okeke.

Replacements: James French, Mark Donnelly, Roman Salanoa, Neil Cronin, Ben Healy.

Munster Grey: Simon Zebo; Jonathan Wren, Liam Coombes, Rory Scannell (C), Ethan Coughlan; Jake Flannery, Paddy Patterson; Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron, Stephen Archer; Cian Hurley, Paddy Kelly; TBC, Chris Cloete, Alex Kendellen.

Replacements: TBC

OK, I'll bite - is the family commitment a communion?

[munster#1]

Two very exciting teams for this challenge match, with plenty of interesting head to heads.
Unfortunately I will miss it due to a family commitment.

Munster Red: Matt Gallagher; Seán French, Calvin Nash, Alex McHenry, Conor Phillips; Jack Crowley, Rowan Osborne; Liam O’Connor, Scott Buckley, Keynan Knox; Jean Kleyn, Thomas Ahern; Jack O’Donoghue (C), Jack Daly, Daniel Okeke.

Replacements: James French, Mark Donnelly, Roman Salanoa, Neil Cronin, Ben Healy.

Munster Grey: Simon Zebo; Jonathan Wren, Liam Coombes, Rory Scannell (C), Ethan Coughlan; Jake Flannery, Paddy Patterson; Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron, Stephen Archer; Cian Hurley, Paddy Kelly; TBC, Chris Cloete, Alex Kendellen.

Replacements: TBC

OK, I'll bite - is the family commitment a communion?

Ha ha. No not this time.

[munster#1]

Imagine being Salanoa and be riding pine in a preseason match which is two Munster teams playing against each other, instead of probably starting a preseason match next week for Leinster given he was higher rated than our current 3rd choice TH.

Leinster player moves directly to Munster and their career suffers non shocker.

On the “Flip” side, Patterson and Osborne (actual Leinster players) are starting whereas had they stayed with Leinster they would likely be prepping for AIL action.

[FLIP]

Imagine being Salanoa and be riding pine in a preseason match which is two Munster teams playing against each other, instead of probably starting a preseason match next week for Leinster given he was higher rated than our current 3rd choice TH.

Leinster player moves directly to Munster and their career suffers non shocker.

On the “Flip” side, Patterson and Osborne (actual Leinster players) are starting whereas had they stayed with Leinster they would likely be prepping for AIL action.

Nice of them to get some time considering everyone ahead of them is on international rest. Probably one of the few times we'll see them this season.

And Salanoa was an actual Leinster player, or are you just being a bit racist now?

[mildlyinterested]

Leinster will regret letting Patterson leave IMO.

Salanoa situation is incredible.