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Munster team
The loss to Leinster still hurts but the team announced to face Benetton on Saturday certainly helps to take the mind off it.
Given that Munster are missing so many internationals there is some serious strength in depth coming through now. Its not quite there yet in terms of development and gametime but its getting close.
I'm especially excited about the two starting props. These guys have real X factor and the potential to be international props. Josh Wycherley has shown in Clermont that he is more than capable of standing toe to toe with quality props and be able to win his battle. I hope in this game we see that and hopefully more of him with ball in hand as he featured for the Ireland under 20s.
Roman Salanoa needs to do the opposite. He is a mountain of a man and he's not short of speed or impact with ball in hand either. What we need to see from him is more in the tight, can he lock out a scrum or deal with a loosehead coming in and under him.
The other thing that stands out for me in the Munster 23 is the bench. There are some serious ballers waiting to get onto the pitch. O'Byrne, Loughman, Ahern, TOD, JJ and De Allende will want to get their hands on the ball and run.
Currently the spread is Munster +12 points and I reckon that bench might just tip in favour of the over. Gavin Coombes can feel rightly disappointed in missing out on the Six Nations squad and given his scoring record already this season I think 6s for first try scorer may not be too bad an option.
Munster Rumours
Not a lot of contract news coming out of Limerick at the moment but some media are starting to link the Munster players with moves away from Thomond Park. Both JJ Hanrahan and CJ Stander linked with moves to France.
JJ is linked with a move to Lyon (courtesy of @jhnfrombrittany )
and CJ was linked with a move to Bordeaux (courtesy of The42 podcast)
but Bordeaux seem to have the sights set on another No8 according to @Jamesonrugby
Hopefully a lot of the silly season rumours will come to end shortly as Munster and the IRFU announce some deals in the coming weeks.
Contract News
Connacht
Connacht announced that Andy Friend had signed a new two year extension this week. A brilliant bit of business and hopefully something that will convince the Connacht star players that staying in Galway is the right thing to do.
Friend has been instrumental in reshaping things since Kieran Keane's early departure and he is building a nice bit of momentum in Galway. Every Connacht coach knows they aren't playing on level playing field compared to the other provinces but his prior working relationship with David Nucifora and his leadership and intellect are slowly making Connacht a force again - just ask Leinster. I'd highly recommend a listen to Andy chatting to @thelooseh to understand his values and philosophy.
Ulster
Ulster have been the most impressive of all the Irish provinces in terms of signings and re-signings. Having been closely linked with Edinburgh's Bill Mata, they surprised the fans and Irish rugby media with the announcement of the impending arrival of Leone Nakarawa. And although he's listed as a backrow he won't be a like for like replacement for the departing Marcel Coetzee.
Coetzee is the heavy carrier, bulldozing into well set defensive lines. Nakarawa needs a little more space and I think thats where the development of David McCann will be vital for them. Not only is this potentially a good news story for Ulster but maybe also for the other provinces as despite the Covid financial cuts there was still money made available to replace Coetzee with such a big name.
Ronan O'Gara in his weekly column in the Irish Examiner captured the Nakarawa signing best when he said
"The intrigue will be how Ulster see him and use him. If they expect the chilled Fijian to be hitting rucks, cleaning out, from minute one to eighty, they may be disappointed. If they let him play, boy can he play"
Link to full column below.
Ulster Rugby have been busy resigning nearly every one in Belfast this week it seems. Tom Stewart, Mike Lowry, Sam Carter, Angus Curtis, Marcus Rea, Craig Gilroy, Ian Madigan and Rob Herring have all been announced this week. Jonny Petrie and Dan McFarland are putting the rest of the provinces to shame in terms of announcing these contracts so early and for the fans it certainly goes some way to softening the blow of Coetzee leaving.
Benetton
When both Kieran Crowley and Ian Keatley left Benetton a few weeks ago we knew there was change coming but Benetton have really stepped up to the mark and this week announced that Marco Bortolami will step up from forwards coach to head coach on a three year deal with Paul Gustard joining from Harlequins as defensive coach and Andrea Massi as attack coach.
Gustard who is such a highly rated coach made it clear why he was leaving Quins
"wanted to be part of a group where there was a clear vision, a deep level of trust and a dynamic environment driven towards high goals."
Ireland Squad
Andy Farrell announced his Ireland squad this week but it didn't seem to go down too well with most fans and pundits. Farrell has brought some new faces into the squad but the overall selection leaves more questions than answers in terms of selection policy and style of play.
Farrell has only picked five props including Tadhg Furlong who hasn't played in nearly 12 months now. Given the need for covid bubbles and the additional requirements and time to add players to that bubble surely adding another prop would have been a sensible decision.
Craig Casey's call up looks like he may be given the chance to showcase his talent and nail down the role of bench scrum half who can change the tempo in the last 15 or 20 minutes.
However Bernard Jackman did raise the very valid point around the impact the selection of some "second choice" players from both Leinster and Munster may have around the contract situation. He pointed out that if the national coach continues to pick players who aren't first choice in their own province then how does David Nucifora convince players to move between provinces to get first team gametime.
Tadhg Beirne
Beirne's man of the match performance against Leinster last weekend was no surprise to anyone who has watched Munster play this season. He has been so impressive in the second row, making the hard yards with ball in hand and still proving that the rugby on the pitch is merely borrowed by the other 29 players and he will yoinking it back whenever he wants.
The @Masterofnone podcast covered Beirne's potential role for Ireland and if he was undersized for the second row.
Graham Rowntree at the Munster press conference ahead of the Benetton game today backed their view that "has everything required to be a lock for Ireland" and "His athleticism is ridiculous but he can also pack a scrum,".
I do think that there is a need for bulk in the second row for set piece and mauls but perhaps Farrell could find a spot for Beirne at blindside in a rearranged back row. I kind of like the balance a backrow of 6 Beirne, 7 Leavy and 8 Coombes has a bit of everything I think Ireland need to compete against teams like England, France and South Africa.
But then again I wouldn't like to disagree with Graham Rowntree........