WITH Munster suffering a heavy defeat to Saracens at the weekend, thoughts turn to what can be done to return the side to their former glories. With one trophy in seven seasons, Munster fans are becoming more and more uncomfortable with the realization that the glory days may be over. Here is a piece which appeared in our paper on the 19/5/2012. It may be two and a half years later, but some points still remain true.
WITH Munster losing to the Ospreys last weekend, 42-10, the curtain came down on a season which has been filled with so much promise, yet failed to deliver. It would be easy for this hack to stick the knife in an already wounded animal. However, instead. I have decided to jot down 15 areas where Munster could to learn from.
If you disagree, I would love to hear from you. Here we go.
1. Dual Training Centres
This is an issue going on now for over six years. It was mentioned after Munster won in 2006. Jim Williams raised the issue again when he left and then, just this week, Tony Mc Gahan muted that training in Cork and Limerick does not help the Munster cause. I know Munster are at an advance stage of picking one venue from three possible spots, but this needs to be done now and not in another four years time.
2. Game Plan
Modern rugby has moved on and Munster need to do so too. The days of trucking it up all day with the forwards are over. I honestly think that Tony Mc Gahan was trying to do this, but it looks as if his old guard were unwilling to change. That and the progression of his younger stars was slower than that of the other provinces. E.g. James Coughlan v Sean O’Brien.
3. Skill set
The lack of depth, pace and sheer knowledge of how to play in the backs was evident this year more than ever in Munster rugby. The skills sets of the players, particularly the young guns are improving, but the old guard really need to wake up to the fact that you must be able to pass off both hands to play professional rugby these days.
4. Youth
Youth policy might just be Tony Mc Gahan’s legacy at Munster rugby, but was it enough? They may have won a B and I cup and they may have brought players through, but did Munster’s second string top the Rabo league like Leinster’s lion cubs? No. Youth was held back this season. See Paddy Jackson starting at 10 for Ulster, versus Mafi, O’Leary and Fogarty still being allowed to play, even though they were leaving. What does that say to the younger players?
5. AIL
Following on from above, the All Ireland league has been treated as a poor relation in recent years. Munster’s Heineken Cup wins came from players who have played AIL. A lot has been made of giving young props some game time, but you must also give them a chance to play with Munster too.
6. IQP
It’s not often Munster can be accused of not being cute enough. The Irish Qualified player rule has seen Leinster bring in Richard Strauss. Munster brought in Peter Borlase. Who? Exactly. Then when the project slots were filled, Munster took Botha, only to find that Afoa was available. I won’t even go into the Tokula debacle.
7. Schools System
Long the bug bear of this aging hack, but the Schools system in Munster is draining the game of it’s quality players. Either Munster need to wake up to this or the IRFU need to take control. With the emphasis on winning 6-3, the level of players coming out of Munster schools is way behind that of Connacht and Leinster. If you don’t believe me, see the last two inter pro’s under 20’s and also the under 21 quarter final scores from this season and last.
8. Scholarships
Sometime back in 2006 I wrote a piece about Munster making spaces available in their clubs and colleges for Irish qualified players from abroad. The ‘Exiled’ population is only going to grow and if Munster can get ahead of the curve, they could have Munster men’s future grand kids, in South Africa, New Zealand and Argentina, lined up to wear the red from a young age.
9. Sevens Rugby
If the IRFU are going to continue to ignore sevens rugby at senior level, then Munster should step up. What a perfect way for young professional players to learn about the World, playing rugby at a fast pace. It’s a no brain-er really from a branding point of view also. It’s good to see them in Glasgow this weekend.
10. Parent Club
With Munster’s squad growing almost every year in size, maybe the club should look at being a parent club to a small European or Southern Hemisphere side. Munster could then loan their academy players out, so they could play rugby in another country and make them better players when they returned.
11. Marketing
Munster remind me of Liverpool FC at present. All tradition and no forward thinking. The lack of a crowd at the recent Ulster game shows that Munster need to think outside of the box. That night, the Saturday night of Riverfest, Munster should have had players out on the streets handing out reduced price or even free tickets to the game. The stadium should always be full. Demand and supply is the key.
12. Media Relations
This could be a book in itself, but Munster need to realise that the local media in particular play a vital role in the selling of tickets. One thing is for sure, 99% of the local media readers and listeners are Munster fans, so why not play fair with them in terms of exposure to players. These local outlets, unlike others, are only interested in what happens on the field.
13. Growth
With all of the above comes the chance to grow. There is no Waterford man on the Limerick team this season. At one point this season, there was no Limerick man in the starting line up. Is that right? Is that Munster rugby? The jobs being done by the RDO’s needs to be supported more in all counties.
14. Realism
The one thing that Munster need now more than ever is a dose of reality. Where do they stand in European and even Irish rugby? On Saturday, Leinster are going to have three Heineken Cups or Ulster are going to have two, like Munster. That is where Munster are. Second to Leinster.
15. Honesty
I hear that new Munster coach Rob Penney is a straight talker. That is what Munster need. We do not need more mid week waffle about players. All fans want is the truth. Fans are not thick.
