Munster Nucifora's Pet Province?

First topic message reminder :

I think it was another reporter in the same paper said that Nucifora may be taking Munster on as a sort of personal project, getting Erasmus (his man) in and getting them on the right path again, it can be taken with a pinch of salt but reading more

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/munster-rugby/ruaidhri-oconnor-ben-smith-capture-would-catapult-munster-back-to-the-top-table-35307339.html

"Talk of Ben Smith joining Munster...... the province may have sought outside help to bring Smith in. IRFU performance director Nucifora has spoken of his willingness to get private investors involved."

"Erasmus is working hard to increase his options next season, with Irish-qualified trio Chris Farrell, JJ Hanrahan and James Hart on the way, while Munster are likely to be allowed retain one of Jaco Taute or Francis Saili."

"Rhys Marshall, a project player from New Zealand, has already joined and uncapped South African prop Oliver Kebble has been linked with a move."

Munster couldn't afford their stadium repayments last year and are now in talks with Smith?

How much of this is true?

How much is down to Munster, and how much Nucifora?

How can Munster get Hart to be behind Murray, and have Pienaar leave Ulster? (why is Nucifora not making this an Ulster move to replace Pienaar)
Allowed an NIQ center forever and add a NIQ fullback, yet they have not produced any centers and have to relay on former Ulster ones Farrell, and Arnold?

If any of this is true fair play to Munster, but if its true and Nucifora is involved I wouldn't be as happy.
How can Nucifora push through all this for Munster who have limited finances, yet can't assit in moving some backrows to Ulster?

Als jij moet op de N20 rijden dan is het iets.

Geen sport voor watjes wrote:Als jij moet op de N20 rijden dan is het iets.

Haa haa

TBP

Een makkie

Cracking game, absolutely brilliant from Munster. Just blew Racing's forwards away and cruised to a TBP victory. Racing 7 - 32 Munster.

Hon Munster, another great win in an unbelievable run of form. Say what you want about Racing, they are unbeaten at home in their league. Nucifora's plan is working

Well done to the men in red!

http://www.the42.ie/tom-farrell-to-connacht-3177324-Jan2017/
http://www.the42.ie/connacht-confirm-three-new-additions-including-munster-prop-mccabe-3179208-Jan2017/

I think its something like 22 injured players, and Conancht have bought in 3 IQ players as reinforcements

"Pat Lam has brought in 23-year-old out-half Steve Crosbie — who can also play in midfield — following the conclusion of his three-month development deal with Munster"
"Peter McCabe will also head to Connacht from Munster on a loan deal"
and Tom Farrell from Bedford Blues,

Its great that the IRFU directive will see these IQ players get gametime, but it must annoy Connacht fans that Steve Crosbie was deemed not good enough by Munster that they needed and were allowed a NIQ medical joker,
When Connacht ask for one the very same player was good enough for them?

Why did the IRFU force Connacht to to go for players from Munsters academy and Tom Farrell, as injury cover, and not make Munster play these very same players as injury cover when they asked for a medical Joker?

Kingshu wrote:http://www.the42.ie/tom-farrell-to-connacht-3177324-Jan2017/
http://www.the42.ie/connacht-confirm-three-new-additions-including-munster-prop-mccabe-3179208-Jan2017/

I think its something like 22 injured players, and Conancht have bought in 3 IQ players as reinforcements

"Pat Lam has brought in 23-year-old out-half Steve Crosbie — who can also play in midfield — following the conclusion of his three-month development deal with Munster"
"Peter McCabe will also head to Connacht from Munster on a loan deal"
and Tom Farrell from Bedford Blues,

Its great that the IRFU directive will see these IQ players get gametime, but it must annoy Connacht fans that Steve Crosbie   was deemed not good enough by Munster that they needed and were allowed a NIQ medical joker,
When Connacht ask for one the very same player was good enough for them?

Why did the IRFU force Connacht to to go for players from Munsters academy and Tom Farrell, as injury cover, and not make Munster play these very same players as injury cover when they asked for a medical Joker?

Very good point. I'll be interested to see some of the retorts

Kingshu wrote:http://www.the42.ie/tom-farrell-to-connacht-3177324-Jan2017/
http://www.the42.ie/connacht-confirm-three-new-additions-including-munster-prop-mccabe-3179208-Jan2017/

I think its something like 22 injured players, and Conancht have bought in 3 IQ players as reinforcements

"Pat Lam has brought in 23-year-old out-half Steve Crosbie — who can also play in midfield — following the conclusion of his three-month development deal with Munster"
"Peter McCabe will also head to Connacht from Munster on a loan deal"
and Tom Farrell from Bedford Blues,

Its great that the IRFU directive will see these IQ players get gametime, but it must annoy Connacht fans that Steve Crosbie   was deemed not good enough by Munster that they needed and were allowed a NIQ medical joker,
When Connacht ask for one the very same player was good enough for them?

Why did the IRFU force Connacht to to go for players from Munsters academy and Tom Farrell, as injury cover, and not make Munster play these very same players as injury cover when they asked for a medical Joker?

I'd imagine that Connacht are delighted to get any type of reinforcements and are probably delighted with Munster for facilitating this.

As Crosbie's short term deal was up with Munster (where he played Munster A on 2 occasions), how do you not know that Connact lured him away as he is out of contract to Munster? You can't blame the lad for taking it either if it leads to Champs Cup experience on his CV rather than B&I Cup.

Toma: Munster got rid of TOL and replaced him with Sheridan who broke his ankle within a week of rejoining Munster. Murray spends a lot of time in Ireland camp so they were suddenly short.
Du Toit: Archer and Andress had long term injuries leaving only John Ryan as a tighthead. Ryan also spending time in Ireland camp.
Taute: Arnold and Saili picked up long term injuries at the start of the season. That left only the inexperienced Rory Scannell, Dan Goggin and Cian Bohane.
Marshall: Sherry has a serious back injury and Casey has been injured all season as well. That left the inexperienced Niall Scannell and squad player O'Byrne. Munster have been unlucky with hooker injuries. Varely had to retire early as did Flannery and Sean Cronin is playing from Leinster.
Chisholm: He is living in Australia as we speak. Only listed because of something to do with insurance.

Bleyendaal, Kleyn are the other NIQs.

Next season according to rumours,
Out Toma, In Hart
Out Saili, In Farrell
Out Taute, In Hanrahan
Out Du Toit,
Bleyendaal turns IQ
Foley, Johnston, TOL, Keatley, Bohane, Copeland - All Out.

Leaving Kleyn and Marshall as NIQs. Stander and Bleyendaal being the foreign IQ players. Doesn't that look good from an IRFU point of view?

If we just look at Centre

As you say, Arnold and Saili picked up long term injuries at the start of the season. That left only the inexperienced Rory Scannell, Dan Goggin and Cian Bohane.

So Munster were allowed the medical Joker Taute


For Connacht for the Ospreys game,
Injured / Unavailable that can play center Shane O’Leary, Craig Ronaldson, Stacey Ili, Bundee Aki, Eoin Griffin, Cormac Brennan, Cian Kelleher, Josh Rowland, Darragh Leader and Peter Robb got concussionin that game
That leaves Connacht with only Rory Parata at Centre

You would agree that this is much worse that Munsters centre crisis, where they were allowed to sign a Medical NIQ

You'd think that Connacht would be allowed the same, if not more, but thats not the case.

Connacht have had to Steve Crosbie (who was in Munster academy during their centre issues) and the IRFU deemed not good enough and allowed a NIQ player in, and Tom Farrell who would also have been available to Munster at the time.

If you looked at the two issues you would have to say that Munster with 2 injuries and better academy should have been the ones forced to dig into their academy and use Steve Crosbie and maybe bring Farrell over, instead of getting a NIQ medial joker (and keeping him untill seasons end)

You would have though with Connacht only having one fit centre would have been the ones allowed the NIQ player to seasons end, instead of going fro someone who was maybe displaced from Munster as they got the NIQ player and bringing an IQ player over.

I don't blame Munster for this, its the way the IRFU and/or Nucifora have gone about it that seams strange.

Steve Crosby came in as an out half (as injury cover to Bill Johnson & retirement of Johnny Holland), not a centre.

Without him, Munster would have had available out half at 10 for B&I Cup (and in some instances, have played without one), not to mention Tyler only coming back from a very long injury layoff. Even though Bill Johnson is still injured, Munster didn't retain Crosbie.

Taute was cover for Saili who was a long term injury and is only now feeling his way back.

Sam Arnold is injured again as far as I know.

A lot of those loans are for 3 months stretches so that is usually how long they will stay, required or not.

I'm not going to argue over positions or smaller details. It really comes down to, do you believe the IRFU and/or Nucifora's treatment of the provinces has been consistant?

Munster lose centres
Sali injuried for four months (from end of last season)
Arnold (returned 24th Nov)

Connacht Lose
Bundee Aki (two months)
Eoin Griffin (four months)
Craig Ronaldson (one month)
Stacey Ili (six weeks)
Peter Robb (one/two weeks)

which leaves Rory Parata as the only recognised centre

Which one do you think in the fairness of things should have been granted a NIQ Medical joker, and which one told to get NIQ players in?

I don't think both provinces were treated equally, which is the issue.

Nothing against Munster they made a request for a NIQ medical joker, same as Connacht, but the IRFU granted one but not the other, and the one that didn't get it was in arguably the greater need for it.

Kingshu wrote:I'm not going to argue over positions or smaller details. It really comes down to, do you believe the IRFU and/or Nucifora's treatment of the provinces has been consistant?

Munster lose centres
Sali injuried for four months (from end of last season)
Arnold (returned 24th Nov)

Connacht Lose
Bundee Aki (two months)
Eoin Griffin (four months)
Craig Ronaldson (one month)
Stacey Ili (six weeks)
Peter Robb (one/two weeks)

which leaves Rory Parata as the only recognised centre

Which one do you think in the fairness of things should have been granted a NIQ Medical joker, and which one told to get NIQ players in?

Was your answer the same as what actually happened?

In fairness I dont think it was that simple with the Connacht situation, Lam had his son in learning the plays and calls in anticipation of them losing players. I think the IRFUs question would be, if you saw this potentially happening why not bring a club player in to learn the calls instead of your son who will be in the shop window playing for us

Kingshu wrote:I'm not going to argue over positions or smaller details. It really comes down to, do you believe the IRFU and/or Nucifora's treatment of the provinces has been consistant?

Munster lose centres
Sali injuried for four months (from end of last season)
Arnold (returned 24th Nov)

Connacht Lose
Bundee Aki (two months)
Eoin Griffin (four months)
Craig Ronaldson (one month)
Stacey Ili (six weeks)
Peter Robb (one/two weeks)

which leaves Rory Parata as the only recognised centre

Which one do you think in the fairness of things should have been granted a NIQ Medical joker, and which one told to get NIQ players in?

I don't think both provinces were treated equally, which is the issue.

Nothing against Munster they made a request for a NIQ medical joker, same as Connacht, but the IRFU granted one but not the other, and the one that didn't get it was in arguably the greater need for it.

And Munster is now helping out Connacht by loaning them players. Crossing all fingers and toes, Munster has had a reasonably good season so far with regard to losing people to injury.

Rory Scannell has started 11 of a possible 15 games so far this season. His brother Niall has started 13 (and the other 2 possible games on the bench). Tyler is being minded (presumably because of his past injury record), Sweetnam has started 14 out of 15 (and injured for last European Cup game), so all the new young players are getting plenty of gametime and it was important to have at least one experienced player in the backs.

Really looking forward to the Racing match today. Am a little concerned after their performance last week against Leicester and hope that home ground support will see Munster over the line.

Massive atmosphere in Thomond, this is going to be big

Racing look up for this. eek...

Nasty push in the back on Murray, they feican hurt. Should have been a penalty.

Mitrea is really frustrating me at the scrum. Munster would have scored had he not shouted for them to "use it".

Another strange decision, in my view.

Shocking decision. Absolutely a try, went forward off Dulain and fell on by Murray. At the very least a Munster 5mtr scrum.

CJ Stander is just phenomenal.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:CJ Stander is just phenomenal.

Best in the world right now in my mind.

eirebilly wrote:Shocking decision. Absolutely a try, went forward off Dulain and fell on by Murray. At the very least a Munster 5mtr scrum.

I'm sure that disgraceful piece of cynical play frustrated you as well!

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

eirebilly wrote:Shocking decision. Absolutely a try, went forward off Dulain and fell on by Murray. At the very least a Munster 5mtr scrum.

I'm sure that disgraceful piece of cynical play frustrated you as well!

Slightly

Racing are being clever here. Running down the clock at the scrum.

They keep saying keep it in the scrum and that CJ is making mistakes by taking the ball out. I think he is doing the right thing as he knows Mitrea is useless at scrum time.

POM ye monster

Peter flipping O'Mahony. Genuinely shocking that he may not make the starting Irish 23 in the Six Nations. Is there a better 6/8 combination around than POM and Stander?

ZEEEEEBBBBBOOOOOOOO

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Peter flipping O'Mahony. Genuinely shocking that he may not make the starting Irish 23 in the Six Nations. Is there a better 6/8 combination around than POM and Stander?

Not right now, POM is back on his way to being the best.

So many good combinations for Ireland this year:

a) Stander, SOB, Heaslip
b) Stander, vdF, Heaslip
c) SOB, vdF, Heaslip
d) POM, SOB, Heaslip
e) POM, SOB, Stander
f) POM, vdF, Stander

That is with just 5 players and ignoring the likes of Conan, Leavy, SOBv2 and JOD coming through. My goodness, we are absolutely stacked in the back row. I can't remember the depth and quality being this good.

They are analysing the Munster try here - that is a joke, honestly. They are completely right - knocked on by the Racing player and clearly touched down by Murray. Mitrea has had a few shockers recently.

Bang on what I said earlier Rory, was either a try or a Munster 5mtr scrum.

Good to see ye watching the Munster lads, massive respect there brother

That was short! You could see green between the ball and the line! Mitrea. 

Conway has been very very impressive

Massive thanks to Racing as a team and their fans.

Hard game and really showed Munsters quality.

Racing fans : Proper fans :thumbsup

Who gets home SFs is beyond me, but is it true that seeds 3 and 4 - munster and leinster - get away SF if they win their QFs. If so not getting tbp might come back and haunt Munster. Anybody it there clarify situation?

Well, thank god we've a home QF at least.

As regards the seedings - the seeding is : 1. Clermont, 2. Munster, 3 Saracens, 4 Leinster

Munster has +2 pts on Saracens (its worked out firstly on pts difference, then tries scored).

No. 1 & No. 2 are seeded to get home country semis (neutral venue) if they win QFs.

Hope I have that right now.

Clermont might get Toulon, depending on results tomorrow (which would be great).

As for Munster being Nucifora's pet project - he is getting a very decent payback. Apart from the cash with 5 x sell-out Thomond Parks, Andrew Conway had a fantastic game today.

Sin é wrote:

No. 1 & No. 2 are seeded to get home country semis (neutral venue) if they win QFs.

Hope I have that right now.

Clermont might get Toulon, depending on results tomorrow (which would be great).

Clermont defo have Toulon. But 1st and 2nd only get home semi if 3rd and 4th win.

5th and 6th are guaranteed home semi and 3rd and 4th are guaranteed to have away semi.

Was watching the interviews after the match yesterday and the one with ROG was very interesting. It may have been my drunken ears or wishful thinking but I am sure ROG was intimating at an impending return to Munster as a coach...

That was Thomas Du Toit's last game and he is now heading back to the Sharks in SA.
https://twitter.com/Munsterrugby/status/822895885269008386

Fair play to the man prof.

Have to say that CJ again had great game last night. POM is nearly back to his best as well, the man is simply brilliant. Best 6/8 combination in club rugby I think.

JJ, Hart and Farrell confirmed! Great to see JJ coming back

profitius wrote:JJ, Hart and Farrell confirmed! Great to see JJ coming back

The extensions are even better:

"Munster Rugby and the IRFU can confirm that Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, Rory Scannell, Tyler Bleyendaal, Duncan Williams and Darren Sweetnam have all signed contract extensions, while Chris Farrell, JJ Hanrahan and James Hart will join the province next season.The incoming Irish trio of Chris Farrell, JJ Hanrahan and James Hart have signed two-year contracts with the province. Farrell and Harte will make the move from their respective Top 14 sides, Grenoble and Racing 92, while Hanrahan will return after two seasons with Premiership outfit Northampton Saints.

There was talk about Killer going to France, but his new contract is until 2020 which is just brilliant. The rest are June 2019.

profitius wrote:JJ, Hart and Farrell confirmed! Great to see JJ coming back

Ulster get Cooney, Munster get Hart no favouritism involved there

Just when JJ was starting to look useful for Saints...