Munster 2017 -2018

[janeymac08]

The Pau exodus from Munster was interesting in its own way. As Munster signed South Africans, guys were getting out.

As Munster have pivoted hard away from their academy this year, effects are already visible.

Well, look at it this way. Pau has benefitted from Munster's Academy with first of all Coughlan, then Butler & Foley, not to mention all the backroom staff that learned their trade in Munster. Why would Munster continue to develop players for Pau in its academy if they realise that these players will not be good enough for Munster's senior team?

As for the Saffers in the Munster Academy - which is better- letting SA develop them and Munster recruit them in 4 or 5 years time or Munster take the risk that they will develop into players good enough to play for Munster and Ireland?

[LeinsterLeader]

The Pau exodus from Munster was interesting in its own way. As Munster signed South Africans, guys were getting out.

As Munster have pivoted hard away from their academy this year, effects are already visible.

T'Pau?
Ask your Dad.
I'll get me coat.
Before I go though, 7 consecutive seasons without winning anything.
And the Leinster trophy room is so crammed, Smaug could arrive any day.

You have to handle these academy prospects gently, it's as if they're China in your hands....

Yes but they have to give a little bit of heart and soul.....

I feel unclean

[LeinsterLeader]

The Pau exodus from Munster was interesting in its own way. As Munster signed South Africans, guys were getting out.

As Munster have pivoted hard away from their academy this year, effects are already visible.

Well, look at it this way. Pau has benefitted from Munster's Academy with first of all Coughlan, then Butler & Foley, not to mention all the backroom staff that learned their trade in Munster. Why would Munster continue to develop players for Pau in its academy if they realise that these players will not be good enough for Munster's senior team?

As for the Saffers in the Munster Academy - which is better- letting SA develop them and Munster recruit them in 4 or 5 years time or Munster take the risk that they will develop into players good enough to play for Munster and Ireland?

or, option C........ just produce your own players and stop treating SA likes it's the 7th county of Munster

[ronk]

They'll never be good enough if they don't get a chance.

Guys who make it in the Top 14 are usually good enough for Pro 14.

[janeymac08]

The Pau exodus from Munster was interesting in its own way. As Munster signed South Africans, guys were getting out.

As Munster have pivoted hard away from their academy this year, effects are already visible.

Well, look at it this way. Pau has benefitted from Munster's Academy with first of all Coughlan, then Butler & Foley, not to mention all the backroom staff that learned their trade in Munster. Why would Munster continue to develop players for Pau in its academy if they realise that these players will not be good enough for Munster's senior team?

As for the Saffers in the Munster Academy - which is better- letting SA develop them and Munster recruit them in 4 or 5 years time or Munster take the risk that they will develop into players good enough to play for Munster and Ireland?

or, option C........ just produce your own players and stop treating SA likes it's the 7th county of Munster

Why?

[janeymac08]

They'll never be good enough if they don't get a chance.

Guys who make it in the Top 14 are usually good enough for Pro 14.

But they need to be of international standard - which is the main thing that holds onto Irish players. The three lads that moved to Pau (Coughlan, Foley & Butler) would be on a lot more money there than if they stayed in Ireland on a provincial wage for Munster.

[Oldschoolsocks]

good point, why bother.

the bandwagon does not demand local talent, it demands results

[FLIP]

good point, why bother.

the bandwagon does not demand local talent, it demands results

Such a shame that they have neither.

[paddyor]

They'll never be good enough if they don't get a chance.

Guys who make it in the Top 14 are usually good enough for Pro 14.

But they need to be of international standard - which is the main thing that holds onto Irish players. The three lads that moved to Pau (Coughlan, Foley & Butler) would be on a lot more money there than if they stayed in Ireland on a provincial wage for Munster.

Munster by the grace of god, Pau by filthy lucre!

[ronk]

International standard like Ryan and Zebo?

Or is Nucifora clearing out to make space for his recruits?

[Ruckedtobits]

International standard like Ryan and Zebo?

Or is Nucifora clearing out to make space for his recruits?

Nucifora wasn't anywhere near these decisions. Once they outside the Munster Academy this is between Agents and Munster Rugby. In fact Munster Rugby do not even have a veto on their moving if they are over 18.

[ronk]

International standard like Ryan and Zebo?

Or is Nucifora clearing out to make space for his recruits?

Nucifora wasn't anywhere near these decisions. Once they outside the Munster Academy this is between Agents and Munster Rugby. In fact Munster Rugby do not even have a veto on their moving if they are over 18.

I hadn’t meant to point that one at Nucifora but it does read that way.

I was thinking more about the extent to while Munster are blithely letting Irish players go while recruiting in the same positions. They’ve lost some of their elite talent too.

Nucifora supplies the replacements, but the exodus is on Munster.

[MelbourneRebel]

big fan of Donncha Ryan but was it cost-effective to re-sign him? I think it was the right call for all concerned.

I expect we will see a similar situation with Sean O'Brien at the end of his contract.

[ronk]

big fan of Donncha Ryan but was it cost-effective to re-sign him? I think it was the right call for all concerned.

I expect we will see a similar situation with Sean O'Brien at the end of his contract.

I get that Munster might feel they get better value from Grobler and Kleyn than Ryan and Foley. I don't respect them for it and I'm angry that the IRFU help them do it.

[fourthirtythree]

I think Melbourne might have been alluding to Leinster possible attitude to Sob when his central ends.

I can't see Leinster paying for him.

I don't know why they didn't want to keep Zebo though as he, unlike Sean, played a huge amount of games for them.

[CiaranIrl]

I think Melbourne might have been alluding to Leinster possible attitude to Sob when his central ends.

I can't see Leinster paying for him.

I don't know why they didn't want to keep Zebo though as he, unlike Sean, played a huge amount of games for them.

Difference being that I can't see any big french club offering serious money to O'Brien for the 2019/2020 season. He would barely play for them. He's in bits.

[hugonaut]

I think Melbourne might have been alluding to Leinster possible attitude to Sob when his central ends.

I can't see Leinster paying for him.

I don't know why they didn't want to keep Zebo though as he, unlike Sean, played a huge amount of games for them.

Zebo wanted to leave specifically to play in France. He has been open about it. Fair play to him, he made his choice [a difficult one] and is following through on it. I thought that he milked it a bit at the end [last game in Cork, last game in Europe, last game in Thomond, last game for Munster etc.] but that's just a personal taste thing. I wish him well.

I think Ryan just wanted to play somewhere else after a long, long time doing the same job in the same environment. I've no insight on the situation, it's just a hunch. It's not at all unheard of - O'Connell did the same thing at the end of his career, it's just that injury prevented him from playing for Toulon. He was a Toulon player when he retired ... I don't mean that as a slight on him or Munster, but he had signed for them, moved there and wanted to play for them.

[BlueBlue]

Ryan, was also quite open about wanting to try another environment before hanging up his boots, he was on record, even said he signalled it to the IRFU a year out from the move. But all that just got in the way of a good hard luck story and so was forgotten about.

[CiaranIrl]

Ryan, was also quite open about wanting to try another environment before hanging up his boots, he was on record, even said he signalled it to the IRFU a year out from the move. But all that just got in the way of a good hard luck story and so was forgotten about.

Yeah, but it's dead easy to shoot down all the direct quotes from Zebo & Ryan with, "yeah, but they have to say that. They don't want to bad mouth the IRFU because they're so incredibly honerable and they love Ireland so much they don't want to let go of the last shred of hope". That wonderful argument basically lets you invent any narrative you like.

[ronk]

www.balls.ie/amp/rugby/donancha-ryan-361969

A lot of things were said with quotes. Zebo also talked about looking out for his family.

Munster had 2 players who were making most Irish 23s but weren’t on central contracts. Neither renewed. This isn’t an outlier. It fits with their overall strategy.

Even the 2 guys who toured Oz and are joining them are discounted. Carbery was under contract and will get a central, Beirne was offered more by Scarlets (not some French deal).