Munster 2017 -2018

[suisse]

Thomond Park is far too big for Munster. Sure, they can sell the Aviva for a big, one-off European game, but their fans aren't interested in the league unless Leinster are the opposition. They're not alone in that, every team is the same, but as is regularly pointed out here, every team isn't sitting on some high horse about how awesome their fans are.

[olaf the fat]

Thomond Park is far too big for Munster. Sure, they can sell the Aviva for a big, one-off European game, but their fans aren't interested in the league unless Leinster are the opposition. They're not alone in that, every team is the same, but as is regularly pointed out here, every team isn't sitting on some high horse about how awesome their fans are.

Part of that is down to it being in limerick, a rugby mad city but just not big enough or central enough in the province.

[Laighin Break]

What was with GT's weird article in yesterday's IT on why there'd be such a poor crowd and also why was there such a poor crowd? If tickets aren't shifting get free tickets to schools and fill the terraces, you never know a few freebies might get you some repeat business.

Off topic but I wonder about this sometimes. There was some small international soccer cup in Landsdowne Road on a Friday night a couple of years back, where the attendance was something ridiculous like 200-300 people. Why wouldn't they give a heap of free tickets to the schools, and go around Baggot Street and Ballsbridge etc where people are going for after work drinks anyway, and give them free tickets?!

[mildlyinterested]

Munster confirm Academy departures:

Promoted
Calvin Nash(Wing)
Liam O'Connor(LH Prop)
Fineen Wycherley(Lock)

Released
Joey Conway(LH Prop/Year 1)
Rob O'Donovan(TH Prop/Year 1)
Vincent O'Brien(Hooker/Year 2)
John Foley(Backrow/Year 2)
Conor Fitzgerald(Outhalf/Year 1)
Daniel Hurley(Wing/Year 1)
Jack Power(Fullback/Year 1)

Returning players:
Keynon Knox(TH Prop/Year 2)
Sean O'Connor(Lock/Year 3)
Gavin Coombes(Backrow/Year 3)
Jack O'Sullivan(Backrow/Year 2)
Craig Casey(Scrumhalf/Year 2)
Jack Stafford(Scrumhalf/Year 2)
Alan Tynan(Outhalf/Year 2)
Matt More(Centre/Year 2)
Alex McHenry(Centre/Year 2)
Liam Coombes(Wing/Year 2)
James McCarthy(Wing/Year 2)
Shane Daly(Fullback/Year 3)

[Oldschool]

There's page after page after page on Munsterfans where about 70% are laying the blame squarely on his shoulders. Picking one quote doesn't tell you anything. One person on there even said, "Keatley isn't even AIL level" and that he should be cut entirely.

There is quite a lot of debate on the topic with people on both sides and a bit of hyperbole is bound to creep in, in that situation.
Also it's not just the merits or demerits of one player that are being discussed.
I could write an essay on the way the moderators have turned Munsterfans into an echo chamber for certain views but i don't think
it applies in this case

A bit of hyperbole is fine, it's the exponential part of the curve that's the problem.

[blockhead]

Thomond Park is far too big for Munster. Sure, they can sell the Aviva for a big, one-off European game, but their fans aren't interested in the league unless Leinster are the opposition. They're not alone in that, every team is the same, but as is regularly pointed out here, every team isn't sitting on some high horse about how awesome their fans are.

Did they make a long term mistake by choosing TP as the base?
Cork has the much bigger population.
The current senior team has about 3/4 Cork players for each Limerick player.
To quell the unrest in Cork they maintain a 2nd Stadium. A 2nd FUpping stadium! For a team that can't pay their debts.

[sunshiner1]

Big clear out by Munster in the Academy. Apparently Conor Fitzgerald is heading West to Connacht. No idea about the others.

[Laighin Break]

Big clear out by Munster in the Academy. Apparently Conor Fitzgerald is heading West to Connacht. No idea about the others.

Probably so they can get a few more Saffers in.

[olaf the fat]

Big clear out by Munster in the Academy. Apparently Conor Fitzgerald is heading West to Connacht. No idea about the others.

Probably so they can get a few more Saffers in.

It just does not sit right that a province (any province) will drop its own kids to bring in kids from elsewhere.
Nothing wrong with bringing in developed players to bolster a squad, all provinces have benefited greatly from imported skills, attitude and experience - but the core of aspect of the 'hierarchy' of our structure in underage,schools, club, province to country should be about development to success.

Was it that the academy selection was a not good enough to develop, or the academy not good enough to develop the players.

[sunshiner1]

by Olaf the Fat

Was it that the academy selection was a not good enough to develop, or the academy not good enough to develop the players.]

A little of both I'd say

[leinsterforever]

Surprising enough they're releasing Vincent O'Brien. I thought he looked good for the Ireland U20s

[mildlyinterested]

Surprising enough they're releasing Vincent O'Brien. I thought he looked good for the Ireland U20s

has basically done nothing since.. bringing in two hookers to replace him, including one from Leinster.

[mildlyinterested]

only 1 player from Limerick in the Munster academy - Craig Casey.
2 players from South Africa, 1 from Wales.
5 from Cork, two from Tipp, 1 from Wexford.

[blockhead]

From the Limerick Leader

On the Ball: Ed Sheeran, Communions and sunshine hit Munster - Colm Kinsella
Colm Kinsella, Rugby Correspondent

MUNSTER played their final home fixture of the season on Saturday at Thomond Park where the official attendance was given at just 10,205.

Knock-out rugby on the May Bank Holiday weekend in bright sunshine.

So why was Thomond Park less than half full for the province’s final make-or-break home game of the season?

It’s worth casting an eye back 12 months.

Defeat in Europe sucks the life out of the rugby season for a good chunk of Munster’s support – no doubt about it.

The situation highlights Munster fans' love-affair with Europe – a face borne out when an estimated 6,000 Munster fans travelled to Bordeaux in the South West of France for the recent Champions Cup semi-final with Racing 92.

To be fair, sunny Bordeaux is a very attractive match destination at the end of April.

That brings us back to last Saturday and the turn-out for the visit of Edinburgh to Thomond Park.

So why was the ground less than half full? Discussions on social media over the weekend offered a number of possible explanations.

The fact the game was played on a Bank Holiday Saturday which coincided with the welcome arrival of the sun after one of the longest winters in recent memory was one reason.

Another was the fact the game coincided with the height of the First Holy Communion and Confirmation season, an expensive time of the year for families.

It must also be remembered that a decent portion of the workforce work on Saturday afternoons, Ed Sheeran was playing three concerts at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, which would also have hit attendance, the popular Kinsale 7’s tournament was also taking place, while the club GAA season is in full swing.

Lots of reasons there.

[offshorerules]

Or the bandwagon stopped rolling?

[olaf the fat]

The Brave and Faithful (except for ED Sheeran, Communions, confirmations, bank holiday Saturdays, sunny days, work on Saturday afternoons, Kinsale 7s, GAA season)


Scarlet for ya.

(we get it, as fellow rugby fans, life is busy - its just the shite we hear about how special Munster fans are and the way ye believe it)

[offshorerules]

The Brave and Faithful (except for ED Sheeran, Communions, confirmations, bank holiday Saturdays, sunny days, work on Saturday afternoons, Kinsale 7s, GAA season)


Scarlet for ya.

(we get it, as fellow rugby fans, life is busy - its just the shite we hear about how special Munster fans are and the way ye believe it)

[dropkick]

only 1 player from Limerick in the Munster academy - Craig Casey.
2 players from South Africa, 1 from Wales.
5 from Cork, two from Tipp, 1 from Wexford.

Either Munster have failed to identify and bring players through from Limerick or rugby isn't nearly as popular in Limerick as we've been led to believe. Could also be a mixture of both.

[timothydec77]

Thomond Park is far too big for Munster. Sure, they can sell the Aviva for a big, one-off European game, but their fans aren't interested in the league unless Leinster are the opposition. They're not alone in that, every team is the same, but as is regularly pointed out here, every team isn't sitting on some high horse about how awesome their fans are.

Did they make a long term mistake by choosing TP as the base?
Cork has the much bigger population.
The current senior team has about 3/4 Cork players for each Limerick player.
To quell the unrest in Cork they maintain a 2nd Stadium. A 2nd FUpping stadium! For a team that can't pay their debts.

The IRFU is hopeless to bring games to Cork. Why do u20 and Ireland ladies game have to be held in Dublin all the time.

[TerenureJim]

Thomond Park is far too big for Munster. Sure, they can sell the Aviva for a big, one-off European game, but their fans aren't interested in the league unless Leinster are the opposition. They're not alone in that, every team is the same, but as is regularly pointed out here, every team isn't sitting on some high horse about how awesome their fans are.

Did they make a long term mistake by choosing TP as the base?
Cork has the much bigger population.
The current senior team has about 3/4 Cork players for each Limerick player.
To quell the unrest in Cork they maintain a 2nd Stadium. A 2nd FUpping stadium! For a team that can't pay their debts.

The IRFU is hopeless to bring games to Cork. Why do u20 and Ireland ladies game have to be held in Dublin all the time.

They're actually not in Dublin all the time, ladies used to play in Ashburn and the 20's in Athlone a lot, it just so happens though that donnybrook is the perfect size, great pitch and conveniently located to maximise potential viewing public