Munster Progress

Nearly two years ago as Munster exited the Champions Cup at the pool stages, I wrote an article for the Irish Examiner about the metrics that could be used to measure Munster's progress as they continue to transition and as they prepare to launch into European campaign I thought it might be worthwhile revisiting the article and looking at where Munster now stand.

(Please take the time to read the article in the link below before continuing on)

Metric 1 - Eight or more players who are regular internationals

At the time Munster had four international regulars in Peter O'Mahony, CJ Stander, Conor Murray and Keith Earls. After the Autumn Internationals just gone, Beirne, O'Mahony, Murray, Carbery, Earls, De Allende, Snyman and possibly Conway would be considered regulars for their international matchday 23.

While on the surface that may seem like progress I would stress that Murray, Earls, De Allende and Snyman are all out of contract in the summer and it wouldn't surprise me if at least three, and possibly all four, of them weren't playing in Thomond next season.

I listed players in the article who needed to step up from fringe or squad players to regular starters - Dave Kilcoyne, John Ryan, Niall Scannell, Jean Kleyn, Tadgh Beirne, Joey Carbery, Chris Farrell, and Andrew Conway. Injuries and form have impacted greatly so of the eight players named its really only Beirne and maybe a case to made for Conway due to his selection vs Japan and the All Blacks.

Kilcoyne not getting a single minute this November was a real shock me and Scannell, Ryan and Kleyn being jettisoned from the wider national squads shows that the gap is really in the tight five.

As we look ahead I don't there's any doubt that Munster are now further away from reaching this metric than they were two years ago.

Metric 2 - Six or more dynamic heavy carriers

Rugby is not a contact sport, it’s a collision sport and that's still as true today as it was then. Two years ago I noted just three dynamic carriers in Kilcoyne, Stander and Farrell and I think this is one area where Munster have improved, despite CJ's retirement.

Kilcoyne, Jenkins, Snyman, Gavin Coombes, De Allende and Farrell are all dynamic heavy carriers capable of punching holes in set defenses. Added to that you have players like Salanoa, Ahern, Knox, Barron, JOS, JOD, Liam Coombes etc who through a mixture of size, speed and footwork make themselves effective carriers although maybe not in the same league as those originally mentioned.

Munster's biggest problem is trying to get and keep enough of these players fit to make an impact in the big games.

Metric 3 - A forward pack that offers multiple threats

Even though Munster have added quality to their pack and the young prospects are starting to come through the game itself and the standards required to win silverware have also progressed. The Ireland front row in the Autumn Internationals showed what the bench mark is and the addition of the South African teams to the URC means that winning silverware has now got harder.

The stark reality is that Munster's front row, starters and replacements are not at the standard for winning silverware at the moment. Munster have international representation at second row, back row, scrum half, out half, centre and back three, but not one minute for a front row player and for a team trying to play a forward oriented set piece game that's a significant stumbling block.

At present Munster still haven't sorted out their style and the recently announced impending departure of Stephen Larkham isn't going to help that. The jury remains out on van Graan because as I had said the time to judge him was the end of last season and a two week period with disappointing losses to Leinster and Toulouse followed by failing to reach the Rainbow Cup final painted their own picture.

I still think some level of continuity is needed though and I wouldn't be adverse to van Graan staying on in a DOR role with a new head coach brought in with complete control for tactics and playing style. There will be significant change again in the summer both in playing and coaching staff and managing that change while providing some level of continuity that doesn't require an entire project reset is going to be key.