View Full Version : Best Munster Rugby Player Ever
Redshirter
03-10-2006, 01:15 PM
Who has been Munster's best Rugby player ever ..For me it has to be Ronan O'Gara until 2000 we had no sucess in the Heineken Cup when O'Gara arrived on the sene in 2000 Munster have been a team to be reckoned with in the Heineken Cup
anmadrarua
03-10-2006, 01:47 PM
thats right. rugby started in 1999. prior to that there was no moss, no donal lenihan, no colm patterson, no tommy kiernan and definetly no ken o'connell.
dotty
03-10-2006, 01:50 PM
thats right. rugby started in 1999. prior to that there was no moss, no donal lenihan, no colm patterson, no tommy kiernan and definetly no ken o'connell.
err yeaaah...;)
jungle
03-10-2006, 02:15 PM
The players from the modern era are fitter and bigger than earlier times. The best player would come from the modern team.
Of the modern crowd, I'd go with Paul O'Connell.
From earlier teams, in addition to those already mentioned, you could add Tony Ward.
Proinsias
03-10-2006, 02:26 PM
thats right. rugby started in 1999. prior to that there was no moss, no donal lenihan, no colm patterson, no tommy kiernan and definetly no ken o'connell.
Mick Galway would stake a claim alright. Couldn't possibly go for Ken O'Connell.
Tommy Keirnan was a better manager than player, although a great player without doubt.
I think POC is too new and too recent to be called the greatest ever, FFS, he's only been playing with them for about 4 years.
Couldn't go for Foley either, he's been the one constant over Munster's rise, but to call him their best ever?
Keith Wood is my vote, with Tony Ward and Galway in runners up, but then of course, both Wood and Ward were playing away from Munster for long periods, and in Ward's case, not even from Munster.
Tube a Pringles
03-10-2006, 02:26 PM
Terry Kingston.
anmadrarua
03-10-2006, 02:33 PM
Mick Galway would stake a claim alright. Couldn't possibly go for Ken O'Connell.
Tommy Keirnan was a better manager than player, although a great player without doubt.
I think POC is too new and too recent to be called the greatest ever, FFS, he's only been playing with them for about 4 years.
Couldn't go for Foley either, he's been the one constant over Munster's rise, but to call him their best ever?
Keith Wood is my vote, with Tony Ward and Galway in runners up, but then of course, both Wood and Ward were playing away from Munster for long periods, and in Ward's case, not even from Munster.
ach jaysus man you'd have to go for ken. any man to kick buck shelford in the arse needs to be put on top of any list.
Up The Rebels
03-10-2006, 02:40 PM
How many Munster players have played for the British and Irish Lions in a full Test .. Tom Kiernan . Colm Tucker . Tony Ward . Keith Wood . Paul O'Connell . any more ???
jungle
03-10-2006, 02:45 PM
Keith Wood is my vote, with Tony Ward and Galway in runners up, but then of course, both Wood and Ward were playing away from Munster for long periods, and in Ward's case, not even from Munster.
Keith Wood is a great player who played for Munster, but with only one season, you couldn't call him Munster's greatest ever.
On that basis you could argue for Christian Cullen...
Sound
03-10-2006, 02:46 PM
Ward.
Thread ends.
HappyMonday83
03-10-2006, 02:47 PM
o'connell will be, without a doubt. Not yet, but soon.
Paddy Wagon
03-10-2006, 02:59 PM
Who has been Munster's best Rugby player ever ..For me it has to be Ronan O'Gara until 2000 we had no sucess in the Heineken Cup when O'Gara arrived on the sene in 2000 Munster have been a team to be reckoned with in the Heineken Cup
Shup Fool.....
exiledcorkman
03-10-2006, 03:03 PM
moss keane was in a lions squad to south africa but I don't think he played in any of the tests...
If Wood had played more games for Munster it would be hard to look past him, O'Connell if he keeps progressing the way he is will probably take that title in years to come especially if he cam lead them to another Heineken cup..
Proinsias
03-10-2006, 04:15 PM
Keith Wood is a great player who played for Munster, but with only one season, you couldn't call him Munster's greatest ever.
On that basis you could argue for Christian Cullen...
He played for Munster before he moved abroad, but you're right, his best years were in England.
If I recall correctly, Munster were the first team to play him in hooker as opposed to centre.
I suppose you could be right with Cullen, but the 99-2000 season that he was at Munster was arguably Wood's club career peak.
Looking at the achievements, POC already has played a Lions series, won two Triple Crowns, a Heineken Cup and a Celtic League and captained Munster.
Which is more than most other Irish players since '85. Impressive considering he's only 26 and could easily still be around for another two world cups and another two lions tours...
HappyMonday83
03-10-2006, 04:17 PM
He played for Munster before he moved abroad, but you're right, his best years were in England.
If I recall correctly, Munster were the first team to play him in hooker as opposed to centre.
I suppose you could be right with Cullen, but the 99-2000 season that he was at Munster was arguably Wood's club career peak.
Looking at the achievements, POC already has played a Lions series, won two Triple Crowns, a Heineken Cup and a Celtic League and captained Munster.
Which is more than most other Irish players since '85. Impressive considering he's only 26 and could easily still be around for another two world cups and another two lions tours...
Dont jinx him ya tit. ;)
Sound
03-10-2006, 04:28 PM
Seriously lads- Tony Ward.
If Paul O'Connell turns out to be a quarter of the player Tony Ward was, he'll be doing very well for himself, very well indeed.
Lamps
03-10-2006, 04:45 PM
Tony Ward, the thinking man's Martin Johnson
If ROG possessed one tenth of the vision that Wardy possessed he'd be well on his way to being an International Class player
Lamps
03-10-2006, 05:11 PM
If ROG possessed one tenth of the vision that Wardy possessed he'd be well on his way to being an International Class player
true, Wardy's big toe had more vision than Rog, complete with quiff, parking violation and shoulder pads, could ever muster
Sound
03-10-2006, 05:12 PM
Tony Ward, the thinking man's Martin Johnson
Eh?
Proinsias
03-10-2006, 05:12 PM
If Paul O'Connell turns out to be a quarter of the player Tony Ward was, he'll be doing very well for himself, very well indeed.
Ward was an excellent player without doubt. The thing is, he didn't dominate his position on the international stage. Campbell was probably the all round better player. Sure his running wasn't as good, but his kicking and defence were much better.
Not only that, but Campbell was the first choice for Ireland. It's the same as the Humphries V O'Gara debate...
And O'Connell already has more caps than Ward got. I'm in no way saying that Ward wasn't necessarily a better player, only there can be a bit of rose tiniting about the auld days. Especially when it comes to rugby.
Rebelred
03-10-2006, 05:15 PM
If ROG possessed one tenth of the vision that Wardy possessed he'd be well on his way to being an International Class player
Sure he's lucky he has any vision at all...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1400000/images/_1403954_ogara300_pa .jpg
Wardy had to go to work Monday morning instead of poncing around in ice baths, if Wardy had the facilities that the pros had nowadays you'd be saying to yourself Paul who?
Proinsias
03-10-2006, 05:23 PM
Wardy had to go to work Monday morning instead of poncing around in ice baths, if Wardy had the facilities that the pros had nowadays you'd be saying to yourself Paul who?
Maybe, but the fact is, he was an amateur, O'Connell is a professional. I would put money on it that O'Gara is faster than Ward was. That's the difference, the extra hours every day.
I mean, if I was getting paid every day to play rugby, I'd be a far better player too...
Lamps
03-10-2006, 05:23 PM
Wardy had to go to work Monday morning instead of poncing around in ice baths, if Wardy had the facilities that the pros had nowadays you'd be saying to yourself Paul who?
Wardy could have been an intermediate county footballer, he was THAT good.
I should know
jungle
03-10-2006, 06:05 PM
Not to forget that Ward has an FAI Cup winner's medal and played in the UEFA cup.
Proinsias
03-10-2006, 06:07 PM
Well if that's the criteria, Mick Galway won an All Ireland with Kerry...
If I recall correctly, both Peter Clohessy and Keith wood were intercounty hurlers too.
raZor
03-10-2006, 06:47 PM
Anthony Foley has to be up there. If the question was the best player to play for Munster then it would be Keith Wood but he's not Munster best ever player then that's harder to pick but Paul O'Connell is well on his way.
It's very hard to compare present day with bygone days in fairness and Ken O' Connell wasnt even the best player in Sundays Well!!
emurf
03-10-2006, 07:17 PM
The thing about Munster has always been that their success has always been based on team performances and not on individual stars. Out Halves like ROG and Ward will always stick out because of their point scoring. Woods had a glittering career but left Munster for better money. For me if I had to pick one player to have in my team it would be a choice between Foley and Moss Keane. And I think Foley would just edge it for his commitment and persistance.
cit_gym_rat
04-10-2006, 12:25 AM
Im not quite sure who i would class as the best player of all time for munster but most influential has to be between a few,
moss keane, mike galway, jim williams and anthony foley.
But while im on this i may as well add my two cents on something, a lot of munsters success over the last few years could not have happened without the bull, i know he has come into critisim at times but the ammount of work he does that goes unnoticed is unbeleavable, his line out lifting is top class, without it would the line out function so well? His scrummaging is up there with the best when his back isnt at him, look at sale last year. His rucking and defensive work is a driving force for munster.
Well if that's the criteria, Mick Galway won an All Ireland with Kerry...
If I recall correctly, both Peter Clohessy and Keith wood were intercounty hurlers too.
Wood played under 16 for Clare FFS
MonTheHoops
04-10-2006, 09:09 AM
Munster Rugby Player. A triple oxymoron.
Redshirter
04-10-2006, 10:53 AM
I have to stand up and put my hand up and admit that when i posted this tread i forgot all about Christian Cullen he was as the saying goes simply the best
Sound
04-10-2006, 11:03 AM
I have to stand up and put my hand up and admit that when i posted this tread i forgot all about Christian Cullen he was as the saying goes simply the best
Good grief!
I have to stand up and put my hand up and admit that when i posted this tread i forgot all about Christian Cullen he was as the saying goes simply the best
he's not half the man Wardy was, if Wardy had the chance of being a full time professional we'd speaking of him today in Global terms, instead Cully spends he's days drinking lattes in the Bodega, hanging out with gayers, pretending he's injured
Bantry Blue
04-10-2006, 11:22 AM
There has been many players mentioned on the subject i am very supprised nobody have mentioned Mick Mullins or Jason Holland
Proinsias
04-10-2006, 11:23 AM
I have to stand up and put my hand up and admit that when i posted this tread i forgot all about Christian Cullen he was as the saying goes simply the best
He's probably the greatest player to play for Munster, but at his time at Munster, he's been a decent full back, little more.
In his heyday, Cullen was the best full back in the world. Munster had a brilliant season with Keith Wood, but as has been said here, most of his best years have been with Harlequins. So to call him (or Cullen) Munster's greatest player probably isn't right.
He's probably the greatest player to play for Munster, but at his time at Munster, he's been a decent full back, little more.
In his heyday, Cullen was the best full back in the world. Munster had a brilliant season with Keith Wood, but as has been said here, most of his best years have been with Harlequins. So to call him (or Cullen) Munster's greatest player probably isn't right.
trying to turn it into a battle of semantics as usual when you are getting badly beaten
Proinsias
04-10-2006, 01:04 PM
trying to turn it into a battle of semantics as usual when you are getting badly beaten
Not really.
Lets not forget that Ward also played for Leinster, so his entire career wasn't at Munster either.
I gave my No.1 to Keith Wood, mostly on the 99'-200 season being in the middle of his peak, hence he was a great player while at Munster too.
I feel Galway was dropped too many times from the Ireland squad to get the No.1 spot. He was a legend, but had periods where he just wasn't good enough and there were other players ahead of him. As did Ward.
Wood didn't have that. Besides from briefly fighting for his position against Terry Kingston at the very start of his career, he was the first choice hooker and regarded as one of the best in the world for just about his entire international career.
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