Grahamunster - Graham Rowntree's Munster 2022/2023

[Laighin Break]

In case anyone missed the game and the result
www.twitter.com/diddragonslose

[enby]

He contrasted the second tier players' performances with those of the Leinster second tiers naming McGrath and Ruddock as examples of such players who don't let their team down with rubbish performances.

[Oldschoolsocks]

He contrasted the second tier players' performances with those of the Leinster second tiers naming McGrath and Ruddock as examples of such players who don't let their team down with rubbish performances.

DOC’s an awful lot closer to second tier than our Rhyss ever is or was.

[Laighin Break]

He contrasted the second tier players' performances with those of the Leinster second tiers naming McGrath and Ruddock as examples of such players who don't let their team down with rubbish performances.

DOC’s an awful lot closer to second tier than our Rhyss ever is or was.

I don't think he was trying to be insulting with the term second tier. He just meant the players that aren't away a lot of the time, due to international camps and games, that stand up and lead.
Whether we agree with the decisions or not, Rhys does fit into that category. DOC however must be around 10th in Ireland's most capped list, far from second tier.

[Laighin Break]

From The42

"The next game is always must-win and we have to be better against Zebre," said Rowntree.
"We have a very large and competitive squad. We had British Lions on the field but whoever has got the shirt, we just expected more accuracy.
"We can’t afford another performance like this."

That's not going to help him win over any fans (or players).

[ronk]

Early days yet - we were in a similar position this time in 2010 after losing to Treviso (if memory serves we lost three out of the first four that season) and it turned out okay

It helped that we’d won the Heineken cup the year before though, there was a handy enough squad to work with.

Yeah we were in a much better position in terms of what the previous coach left behind, but still, if (and lets just presume that Rowntree does) you intend to change the way a team plays root and branch, there is going to be some pain. If they're still losing the wrong games come Christmas, then it's time to be really worried.

Leinster were replacing a Heineken Cup winning coach with an inexperienced innovator at the helm of a stable squad.

Munster were 6th in the URC and have promoted their very highly experienced assistant coach with a need to significantly revamp the playing style.

Very different situations, but in either case Rowntree should get time. He has a lot of work to do and there are in-built defence mechanisms against some of the things he needs to change.

[ChrisUppy]

He contrasted the second tier players' performances with those of the Leinster second tiers naming McGrath and Ruddock as examples of such players who don't let their team down with rubbish performances.

DOC’s an awful lot closer to second tier than our Rhyss ever is or was.

I don't think he was trying to be insulting with the term second tier. He just meant the players that aren't away a lot of the time, due to international camps and games, that stand up and lead.
Whether we agree with the decisions or not, Rhys does fit into that category. DOC however must be around 10th in Ireland's most capped list, far from second tier.

Not to mention he's a British Lion himself

[riocard911]

DOC’s an awful lot closer to second tier than our Rhyss ever is or was.

I don't think he was trying to be insulting with the term second tier. He just meant the players that aren't away a lot of the time, due to international camps and games, that stand up and lead.
Whether we agree with the decisions or not, Rhys does fit into that category. DOC however must be around 10th in Ireland's most capped list, far from second tier.

Not to mention he's a British Lion himself

LOL!

[Dave Cahill]

If Worcester go tits up, I wonder if Munster might sign centre/wing Oli Morris when he is released. He's IQ and has been in u20s squads previously

[deco]

If Worcester go tits up, I wonder if Munster might sign centre/wing Oli Morris when he is released. He's IQ and has been in u20s squads previously

Given that their modus operandi is to sign anything with a pulse, the wonder would be if they don't.

[wixfjord]

According to MK on the 42 pod today, he has heard Snyman had a setback and won't be back until December.

The lad can't catch a break.

[paddyor]

Launchbury might be available soon enough

[hugonaut]

Early days yet - we were in a similar position this time in 2010 after losing to Treviso (if memory serves we lost three out of the first four that season) and it turned out okay

They have a very new coaching team, and it's pretty normal to take some time for them to gel. Cockerill has never coached with Prendergast before, he's never coached with Leamy before, Prendergast and Leamy have never coached together ... they have to find out the best way to work together.

There's always the chance that maybe there is a mismatch between a couple of the coaches: not that they hate each other or anything like that, but just that the best they can hope to be is a sum of their parts, rather than greater than the sum of their parts.

Secondly, Cockerill has never been a head coach before. Everyone who has ever talked about it [most recently ROG and Berch] have said that despite the fact that they had been in professional rugby their entire adult lives, and despite the fact that they had been professional assistant coaches, they were not prepared for the workload and the stress of being head coach.

[mildlyinterested]

Cockerill? You means Rowntree?

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Not like Hugo to make a big Rownt up like that.

[riocard911]

Not like Hugo to make a big Rownt up like that.

Those Leicester front rowers all look the same!!!

[hugonaut]

Not like Hugo to make a big Rownt up like that.

Those Leicester front rowers all look the same!!!

I obviously have a mental block in there somewhere. The other thing I meant to add was that if you look back over the last ten years of Munster's coaching staff, they went:

2012-14: Rob Penny [previous experience as head coach - 2005-2011, Canterbury]
2014-16: Anthony Foley [previous experience as head coach - nil]
2016-17: Rassie Erasmus [previous experience as head coach - Free State/Cheetahs 2004-2007, Western Province/Stormers 2007-11]
2017-22: Johann van Graan [previous experience as head coach - nil]

Almost all professional head coaches will start as an assistant coach, that should go without saying. And appointing a guy with head coaching experience doesn't automatically mean he will be successful [for example, Kieran Keane at Connacht]. But Munster have probably done a little bit better under head coaches who have had head coach experience.

[blockhead]

According to MK on the 42 pod today, he has heard Snyman had a setback and won't be back until December.

The lad can't catch a break.

Simply awful for the lad.

[ronk]

If Worcester go tits up, I wonder if Munster might sign centre/wing Oli Morris when he is released. He's IQ and has been in u20s squads previously

A centre? Even if they didn't actually have a gap at centre they'd still need to sign one.

[wixfjord]

Caroline Currid (very highly rated sports psych who worked with Limerick hurlers) has left Munster set up.
Cathal Sheridan has moved into the role.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ ... 19150.html