Babbling 'brook

While it is very true that quite a few players performed well below their normal high standards during this championship campaign, in fact some have performed below an acceptable standard for internationl rugby at all the big problem is that the major nations i.e. the ones we need to beat to progres...

Why is the default position of some posters on this site always replace Earls when there is a problem in the backline. Since his underage days with Thomond RFC everyone down here knew Kieth isnt a centre but he is an excellent wing and a decent fullback for cover if needed. He delivers in attack and...

Good going for a former Shannon underage player

It was one of the rare occasions that I didn't get to Thomond Park for the match but was at my niece's wedding and watched it on tv with a grand bunch of lads from Navan . There was no quarter asked or given in the good natured slagging before , during or after the match as it should be

small bit too young for that gig

I haven't heard anyone in the company I keep suggesting anything like a parade or comparing it to the 78 All Blacks game (still have my program from that game ) .It was a one match in a long season, a very important match , but if we don't use the momentum from the match over the next few weeks it w...

I totally agree that Munster need to spread the net around local talent and after a number of years concentrating on the schools so much that they ignored talent from non schools areas of the province, gladly there seems to be some changes in the branch attitude to the clubs at age grade and hopeful...

As I have stated before there is a big problem in Munster as the whole system of identifying potential players for the future is skewed heavily towards the schools ignoring large areas where the schools do not hold sway. There have been some notable exceptions who have come through from the club sys...

I am a huge fan of Sean O'Brien but would have to agree that he is not a nailed down starter these days, in fact with the depth of back row talent available I don't think any player could be considered nailed down in the current crop. While the arm break is a fairly simple injury compared to a lot o...

One of the big questions will have to be can Joe Schmidt take a chance on Sean O'Brien being healthy and match fit for the World Cup. Personally I think he may HAVE TO go with Leavy and VdF to cover 7 given the attritional nature of the world cup

I would say in all positions there are players who may be better in some aspects of the game than the player currently but the coach is probably looking from a slightly different perspective and while I wouldn't always be Joe Schmidt's greatest fan I have to admit he has got the vast majority of the...

By the way unlike some posters I have no intention of making personal attacks against individual players

I have to agree that while it is preferable to have home grown Irish players representing the national team, sometimes imports will be selected when needed. These brought in players come in two categories project player who qualify by being resident and playing in the country for a defined period an...

CJ Stander's style of play fits Joe Schmidt's system so if it comes to a 50 /50 selection choice he will most likely get picked. Simon Zebo is a better player than some who got selected ahead of him but he couldn't / wouldn't play Joe's system. We all have our opinions and our favourites but at the ...

An unfortunate consequence of the game going fully professional is that players will move to other clubs if they see it as a way to progress their careers just like any other job, they can still have great pride in the club / team they play for but their minds have to be on what they can earn in a r...

With the current guidelines on the tackle especially in the head/ neck area referees will nearly always err on the side of caution and issue a red card instead of yellow if there is any doubt. They know that with all the talk about player welfare if they seem to be too lenient they may be downgraded...

As a proud but realstic Munster man I have to say I am not too happy about all the imports at the moment but while certain elements within Munster rugby hold sway the emphasis will remain on picking players primarily from the schools system for the academy ignoring the wealth of potential talent in ...

Back in the far distant past when I was coaching underage I was often asked by young players @ what is illegal@ and the answer was always the same whatever the referee says. In other words do what you need to do until you are told it is illegal and no one in charge has told Peter O'Mahoney that he i...

As long as Ben Whitehouse is nowhere near Sandy Park we have some chance, both sides played some great rugby on Saturday but as usual the match is about Mr Whitehouse or so he seems to think

I was at the game last evening and would have thought a bit over the 13000 would have been about right