The Munster Rugby Thread 24/25

[nelly sham]

I think that's exactly what he said at the time, he was well settled and would happily have stayed with Munster.

Is it me or do we not seem to get much out of Kleyn? Is he still not fully fit?

I think there's a few factors at play there, firstly he's never a stand out player but you miss him when he's not there especially around mauls and line-out. Also the standard around him has improved so he's not looked like the sole forward doing something.

He's undoubtedly getting older and has picked up a few attrition injuries but they're still a better off team with him there.

Young O'Connell is progressing steadily and quietly too.

 

[How bad boy]

I think that's exactly what he said at the time, he was well settled and would happily have stayed with Munster.

Is it me or do we not seem to get much out of Kleyn? Is he still not fully fit?

He's played 5 matches so far this season with an average of 60 mins per game, so I'd say that's decent value for money so far. Probably less than expected due to McMillan trying out other players like Edogbo, O'Connell, Gleeson and giving Wycherley more game time.

Do still think Munster's first choice second row is Beirne/Kleyn, with Ahern, Hodnett and Coombes as back row, but there's a bunch of players that are now starting to really compete, Wycherley, JOD is back in a bit of form, Gleeson, Quinn, Kendellan...

Without Kleyn, there isn't yet the depth to really compete with the top teams or over a long season

 

[Barry K O Bama]

He's played 5 matches so far this season with an average of 60 mins per game, so I'd say that's decent value for money so far. Probably less than expected due to McMillan trying out other players like Edogbo, O'Connell, Gleeson and giving Wycherley more game time.

Do still think Munster's first choice second row is Beirne/Kleyn, with Ahern, Hodnett and Coombes as back row, but there's a bunch of players that are now starting to really compete, Wycherley, JOD is back in a bit of form, Gleeson, Quinn, Kendellan...

Without Kleyn, there isn't yet the depth to really compete with the top teams or over a long season

I think that for this season, the Munster Team virtually picks itself.

I think it's Milne, Lee Barron, Jager, Kleyn, Beirne, Ahern, Hodnett, Coombes, Casey, Crowley, Abrahams, Nankivell, Farrell, Nash, Haley
Subs :- Loughman, Scannell, Ryan, Edogbo, JOD, JJ, Coughlan, Daly.

Starting hooker is close call between the Barrons and Scannell - injuries will be a factor.
I could see Daly starting at 15.

I think Kilgallen has a high ceiling and may be a starter b4 end of season.
Unless JJ improves a lot, Butler could be back up 10.
A bolter like O Riordan on the bench wouldn't surprise me. Foxe is another. Maybe Kelly also.

With the injuries we always have, I doubt we'll ever see the 23 I've listed above.

Gleeson is improving rapidly but the injury is a big setback. I can't see him passing Gav, this season.

 

[MerchantOfEnnis]

Here's another trivia question that I don't know the answer to, but some of ye might.

Last Irish international to have played for both Connacht and Munster?

If only Tom Farrell had a Leinster cap too and I think we'd be looking at a first time ever, surely?

 

[How bad boy]

Here's another trivia question that I don't know the answer to, but some of ye might.

Last Irish international to have played for both Connacht and Munster?

If only Tom Farrell had a Leinster cap too and I think we'd be looking at a first time ever, surely?

There's more than you'd think, Ian Keatley, James Downey, Eoin Reddan and James Cronin have played for Connacht, Munster and Leinster, plus have been internationals.

 

[Barry K O Bama]

Barry McGann has passed away. RIP

A very talented Cork OH also a very good soccer player.

Once turned down a trial with Man Utd

 

[Lee Bushwacker]

Barry McGann has passed away. RIP

A very talented Cork OH also a very good soccer player.

Once turned down a trial with Man Utd

Rest In Peace.

 

[nelly sham]

Here's another trivia question that I don't know the answer to, but some of ye might.

Last Irish international to have played for both Connacht and Munster?

If only Tom Farrell had a Leinster cap too and I think we'd be looking at a first time ever, surely?

Ian Keatley.

 

[nelly sham]

Bit of chat that there's concerns with Jager's continuous head knocks, probably leads into the NIQ tight head being sanctioned by The Humph.

On a related note Salanoa has been training with the Irish squad for scrumaging work along with his own S&C programme.
He looked in great shape in his AIL cameos so he's obviously stepped up a level.

 

[How bad boy]

Bit of chat that there's concerns with Jager's continuous head knocks, probably leads into the NIQ tight head being sanctioned by The Humph.

On a related note Salanoa has been training with the Irish squad for scrumaging work along with his own S&C programme.
He looked in great shape in his AIL cameos so he's obviously stepped up a level.

Jager has had a few bad ones alright. Got the auld AI to have a look at his history:

Incidents Since Joining Munster:
Since his move to the Irish province, Jager has had at least three confirmed instances of head injuries:

• November 2025: Jager was listed as following return-to-play protocols after a Head Injury Assessment (HIA) during a match against Argentina XV[1].
• May 2025: He was unavailable for Munster's URC clash against Benetton due to a head injury[2][3].
• January 1, 2024: In a match against Connacht, Jager suffered a concussion from what was described as a "strange looking tackle" and was stretchered from the field[4]. Following this, he entered the graduated return-to-play protocols[5].

Additionally, in February 2025, during an Ireland A fixture, Jager was forced to leave the match due to injury. While several other players in that game sustained head injuries, it is not explicitly confirmed if Jager's was also a concussion[6].

Most Serious Incident with the Crusaders:

The most severe publicly documented concussion of Jager's career occurred in August 2020 while he was playing for the Crusaders in Super Rugby Aotearoa. In a match against the Highlanders, Jager was knocked unconscious by a reckless, off-the-ball tackle and had to be carried from the field[7]. The incident, which resulted in a yellow card for the opposing player, was significant enough that his coach, Scott Robertson, commented on its severity, noting that Jager was "knocked out"[7].

It is also worth noting that towards the end of the 2022 season with Canterbury, Jager sustained a neck injury that ultimately required surgery[8][9]. While not a concussion, a significant neck injury can be a related concern for front-row forwards.

3-4 in a year justifies a longer break from play.

Salanoa has to basically show the potential now or I suspect he's out.


In happier news, according to Munster, they've already sold 30k tickets for PuC for the Gloucester match. Which is great.