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We are right in the middle of contract season so in the first of two articles I'm going to look at Munster's squad ahead of next season, focusing on the current squad, those likely to leave, who could be signed and what the depth chart looks like in each position.
Loosehead Prop
Overall this is a position of weakness for Munster. They don't have the size needed in the front row to compete at the top level and the depth isn't there to sustain injuries.
Jeremy Loughman - he's the one in the national squad and fits the Munster gameplan. His scrummaging has improved over the last few years and he is comfortable with the on ball game Munster play. He can hold his own in the scrum, especially with size around him and adds positively around the park. Contracted to 2026, he's Munster first choice loosehead.
Josh Wycherley - he came through from the under 20's with such a good reputation and body of work. He was a good scrummager and ball carrier at that level but it hasn't necessarily translated to senior level. He had that fantastic outing in Clermont but that was against a depleted Clermont pack and he has looked to plateau in his progress since. I feel that he was a big prop for the underage levels and that there wasn't the scope to add bulk to his frame entering senior levels. He has excellent hands and workrate but his size may count against him. He's contracted till 2025 so hopefully we can see him get an injury free run and kick on.
Dave Kilcoyne - he's part of the national squad but his position in the Munster depth chart is very much in question. He's been a great servant to Munster Rugby over the years but Munster's game plan has moved on from the core of his skillset. He was vital to previous management teams because of his ball carrying but tucking the ball under the arm and seeking contact isn't what Prendergast and Rowntree want. His contract is up at the end of the season and I would be surprised to see it renewed for more than one year, if it all.
Others - There are three looseheads in the academy. Mark Donnelly has gotten game time but hasn't been able to break into enough senior squads yet. Kieran Ryan got his chance at did ok against Benetton this season but the main hope seems to be around George Hadden. Hadden came from the Leinster system where he didn't quite fit the metrics and there was a log jam ahead of him. He's a very strong scrummager and someone I can see Munster investing time into to try and develop him into a long term option.
Conclusion - Loughman to continue as first choice, Wycherley will be given time to develop further and Munster will work an bringing through at least one, maybe two of the academy. I can see Munster looking to the market to add depth but with the national squad having problems in the depth chart beyond Porter it may be hard to get NIQ dispensation so they may have to look at IQ options. Someone like Michael Milne at Leinster would make sense to target. Who they can bring in may decide if Kilcoyne gets one more year or not.
Hooker
Another position of weakness for Munster, again where size and quality is an issue.
Diarmuid Barron - Clearly the top man now. Plays above his size and a solid lineout thrower. His impact in the loose and suitability to Munsters game plan is perfect. Needs to have another hooker to offset and share the gametime to get the most from him. Munster need him to be pushing for international squads but still has a way to go for that.
Niall Scannell - He's Munster's Ronseal - does exactly what it says on the tin. Its been a while since he's been in international squads and the game has moved on since but he still has a vital role to play for Munster. He's the set piece hooker - he's got good darts, is a very solid scrummager and has the size Munster need but he lacks impact in open play. Munster can carry that with the right people around him because he helps give them the platform to play. May not be first choice but still important in the depth chart.
Scott Buckley - He's 23, so still young for a hooker. He's undersized for the position and will likely need to bulk up further. He has good work rate but he needs to get his set piece sorted and add size if he's going to be a long term option for Munster. He's off contract at the end of the season.
Eoghan Clarke - Came back to Munster after the Jersey Reds folded. He's done well when called upon and will be hoping that he can show enough to get a long term contract.
Others - Chris Moore is a young hooker who is excellent around the park but has failed to nail down the set piece. The fact he has been so underused when Munster have an injury crisis at hooker tells his own story. Would be surprised if he's still around next year. In the academy/underage there are two main prospects in Max Clein and Danny Sheahan, both of whom will take time to develop.
Conclusion - I expect Munster to make a move for an NIQ hooker ahead of next season. They need size, set piece solidity and impact around the park. A move for one of the Bulls hookers, Johan Grobbelaar or Jan Hendrick Wessels would make sense. Wessels has the size Munster are looking for but Grobbelaar plays bigger than his stats suggest and his set piece is excellent. An NIQ, Barron and Scannell at the top end of the depth chart leaves Buckley, Clarke and Moore fighting for possibly one spot.
Tighthead Prop
Munster are now in a good position at tighthead after bringing back John Ryan and signing Oli Jager on a long term deal.
Oli Jager - For me he's the number one guy. He offers size and set piece solidity. Even in the short time he's been with Munster we've seen the impact he's had on the scrum. He brings experience from the Crusaders and I expect he'll be involved at national level fairly soon as well.
Roman Salanoa - A guy with huge potential but a worrying injury record. His scrummaging was developing, his maul work was excellent and he suits Munster's on ball attacking system. He can be in the top two of the depth chart as long as his body allows it.
John Ryan - Wasps followed by a brief stint in New Zealand and he's back home with Munster. Has always been a quality scrummager without getting the recognition for it. The trip to New Zealand showed he do more than set piece but time is not on his side age wise as he'll be 36 at the start of next season.
Stephen Archer - you don't get over 200 caps if you are a bad player and while Archer played a big role in Munster's URC success at the end of last season, I think old father time has finally caught up with him. He's just about to turn 36 and is off contract at the end of the season.
Keynan Knox - Similar to Chris Moore at hooker, Knox hasn't played much at a time Munster needed props so the writing may well be on the wall. He came over as an academy prospect but I think at this point you have to accept that it may make sense for both parties to start afresh.
Others - Darragh McSweeney and Ronan Foxe are both in the academy and have the size Munster need. Its going to to take time for them to develop but Munster seem high on McSweeney in particular and if he can stay injury free I'd expect to see him given game time next season.
Conclusion - I see Jager and Salanoa at the top end, Ryan offering covering with further exposure of McSweeney and Foxe as the season goes on. I expect Archer to retire and and Knox to move on.
Second Row
Its genuinely an area of strength for Munster but the current run of injuries would make you question that.
Tadhg Beirne - Beirne is an Irish international, Lions tourist and big impact player. He's also in ther conversation for both Ireland and Munster captain. Top of the depth chart in terms the loosehead lock position and a lineout caller.
RG Snyman - An unbelievable human specimen. He is a loosehead lock in a tight head locks body with amazing handling skills and ability to impact a game.....when available. Leaving for Leinster at the end of the season, and I still believe Munster made the right choice not renewing his contract (see Jean Kleyn).
Fineen Wycherley - He's a bit like Billy Holland in that he doesn't have the speed to be a top end 6/backrow and he doesn't have the size to be top end lock but he still performs a vital role within the squad. He suits Munsters style, is a leader and can run the lineout. Needs to watch over his shoulder with some of the academy guys coming through.
Jean Kleyn - a URC and World Cup winner but still so underrated outside of Munster. He adds so much to the pack in terms of his work in the tight and rucking. His mobility especially in defence is also massive. When he got capped by the Boks, Munster had a decision to make between renewing his contract or RG's. Kleyn has shown his durability and worth to the team so for me when it came down to the choice it was an easy one. RG wanted to stay with Munster and eventually found a way to stay in Ireland for another season through Leinster but Kleyn has been and will continue to be more valuable to Munster.
Edwin Edogbo - A freak of an athlete and someone who is probably further along in his development due to the chances the injury crisis presented before he got injured himself. He has just turned 21 and has the raw power to rag doll most opponents. He has good mobility, excellent set piece, provides a jackal threat and with 3 tries in 7 appearances this season shows he has an eye for the try line. If he can stay injury free he will be the cornerstone of the Munster pack for the next decade.
Others - Evan O'Connell is coming through the academy and looks to be a serious player. He'll be part of the Ireland under 20's again this year and needs time to physically develop for senior rugby. Can be the loosehead lock/lineout option for Munster in the coming seasons.
Conclusion - the depth is there at lock but Munster's lack of size in the front row has meant they needed to over compensate in the second row with power options. RG Snyman is leaving and I think Munster could do with replacing him. Munster can rotate in some of the back row options to cover such as Coombes or Ahern but I'd like to see Munster add someone like Cameron Boon at Saracens who is Irish qualified. He might be worth adding to the depth chart as a lineout option on a relatively cheap budget while Munster use Snyman's replacement elsewhere. For the depth chart I see Beirne as undroppable with Edogbo and Kleyn rotating as the tighhead lock options. Dillane would add further depth (see backrow).
Backrow
An area of real strength for Munster with a lot of exciting talent coming through from the academy.
Blindside/Hybrid Lock
Tom Ahern - has made this position his own since the start of the season. He offers an additional lineout option when Munster go heavy in the second row, is still able to do a lot of the heavy work in midfield but the real standout is when he plays on the edge/out wide. He has the pace and power to be a real gamechanger in that position.
Peter O'Mahony - one of the true Munster "legends". Munster club captain for a decade, Lions test captain and one of the real leaders in Irish rugby. Coming towards the end of his career and still very important in both red and green but his contract situation is up in the air at present. He's on a central contract so contract talks are with the IRFU not Munster. Giving up the Munster captaincy isn't the greatest sign that he will be staying on. There is the possibility that Ireland move on from POM and look to use Baird/Ahern types at 6 going forward. If the IRFU decide to go that direction and not renew his contract it puts Munster in a very difficult position as to whether they should spend a decent chunk of budget retaining a player in his mid 30's, in a position where they have decent cover and prospects coming through and where the likes of Tom Ahern may be first choice anyway. I wouldn't be surprised if POM retired or took a year or two in France if the IRFU fail to agree a deal.
Openside
John Hodnett - Another who seems to be hugely underrated outside of Munster. An unbelievable engine, great hands, powerful and seems to be everywhere on the pitch. Has claimed the 7 jersey as his own and rightfully so. Already tied down to a long term contract.
Alex Kendellen - He's 22 and already has over 50 caps for Munster including 13 Champions Cup appearances. Although he has covered 8, I think 7 is where Munster may see him longer term. Good hands and deceptively powerful.
Ruadhan Quinn - He's only just turned 20 but has the size and power to mix it with seasoned pros. Has looked impressive at times in the wider channels when's he got the chance in the senior team. Needs time to develop and will be interesting to see if he plays more at 7 or 8.
Number 8
Gavin Coombes - an absolute powerhouse number 8 who's role has changed slightly this season. Not only has he been asked to cover second row at scrum time but he is also doing much more ruck work which has limited his carrying. His defensive stats haven't dipped but with his breakdown work increased he hasn't been as visible with ball in hand. Still top of the depth chart at 8.
Brian Gleeson - He's almost a Gavin Coombes clone in terms of size and play. Highly rated in Munster and a star at under 20's level for Ireland. Still only 20 and been exposed to Champions Cup already.
Jack O'Donoghue - a very important player in the depth chart in that he's solid player at all levels but because he's not in the international frame he's available to Munster all season long. Adds experience and leadership within what is essentially a very young group of back rows. Contracted till the end of next season so hopefully he is able to recover fully from his serious injury.
Others - Cian Hurley, Jack Daly and Jack O'Sullivan have had limited chances due to injury and all three are off contract and the end of the season. Daniel Okeke started the Covid affected Champions Cup game against Wasps but hasn't kicked on. I wouldn't expect all four to be in Munster at the start of next season.
Conclusion - Munster have a core of really talented backrows with only POM and JOD over 30 so with most of the talent already within the system I don't expect to see many changes. There are also a number of quality players such as Luke Murphy and Sean Edogbo who may come into the academy. I do expect to see some changes with some of Hurley, Daly, JOS and Okeke let go but the number on that may be decided about what options are available. I can see at least one signing to be made even if POM stays and I think someone like Ultan Dillane who is off contract at La Rochelle would be ideal. He can play second row and the hyrbid lock role. La Rochelle play an on ball style so he should be used to the style Munster want to play.
I see Ahern, Hodnett and Coombes as the first choice backrow. Kendellen's versatility means he and JOD fight for bench spots. Gleeson and Quinn are the future and how they develop will impact how quickly they can break through.