The Munster Rugby Thread 24/25

[jeepers]

Also Ala'atola extends for 1 year.

JFC

OK I suppose as depth, but wouldn't want him more than third choice.

 

[How bad boy]

Brookes confirmed and announced.
2 years. Supposedly a good head to have around the place, hopefully he has an interest in coaching too!


Also Ala'atola extends for 1 year.

Well if they're losing Bartley, Ryan and Jager, then unfortunately yeah, need some more bodies around. He'd better be cheap.

 

[How bad boy]

JFC

OK I suppose as depth, but wouldn't want him more than third choice.

Or training practice...

 

[Jukka]

Ala'atola played double the minutes he was intended to last year because of injuries to others. He showed he could actually stay fit, and broke his bollox off in workrate. The grief he copped was unfair.

The days when Oli was about and he only had to go for 30 minutes he showed up much stronger. Don’t have a problem at all with him being kept around for depth with two new THs in who are much more likely to be available.

 

[nelly sham]

Ala'atola played double the minutes he was intended to last year because of injuries to others. He showed he could actually stay fit, and broke his bollox off in workrate. The grief he copped was unfair.

The days when Oli was about and he only had to go for 30 minutes he showed up much stronger. Don’t have a problem at all with him being kept around for depth with two new THs in who are much more likely to be available.

Ah we'd all work our bollox off if he got to wear the jersey. That's the bare minimum.
He was a penalty machine at scrums and he barely surpassed his penalty count in metres carried for the season.

Supposed to be a nice lad but there needs to be a marked improvement all round next season.

 

[Cormac]

Ala'atola played double the minutes he was intended to last year because of injuries to others. He showed he could actually stay fit, and broke his bollox off in workrate. The grief he copped was unfair.

The days when Oli was about and he only had to go for 30 minutes he showed up much stronger. Don’t have a problem at all with him being kept around for depth with two new THs in who are much more likely to be available.

Couldn't agree more, I thought Ala'atola acquitted himself very well last season and got us out of more than a hole or two. I don't really understand the flak he is copping tbh.
Brookes will be good too for a couple of years but I really hope there is serious work going on behind the scenes to try and find a long term solution at TH.
If we are still trying to plug the gap with 35 and 36 year olds on 1 and 2 year deals after the next RWC then some serious questions will need to be asked.

 

[jeepers]

Flanagan has started the 'review' into the Randle debacle. Coincidentally, the Irish rugby team, Humphreys, and the rugby media are in Australia.

 

[nelly sham]

Flanagan has started the 'review' into the Randle debacle. Coincidentally, the Irish rugby team, Humphreys, and the rugby media are in Australia.

I look forward to his fact finding mission to Joburg!

 

[How bad boy]

Ala'atola played double the minutes he was intended to last year because of injuries to others. He showed he could actually stay fit, and broke his bollox off in workrate. The grief he copped was unfair.

The days when Oli was about and he only had to go for 30 minutes he showed up much stronger. Don’t have a problem at all with him being kept around for depth with two new THs in who are much more likely to be available.

Munster's scrum was an absolute shitshow last season. He wasn't solely responsible, think it's fair that the Munster scrum and coaching staff as a whole cop flack for it. Milne seems to have escaped quite as much scrutiny, but between the two of them, they conceded vast number of penalties, to the point where against the likes of the Sharks, Bulls, Ulster and Connacht (IIRC), it would have been better to deliberately give away free kicks for an early engage.


Maybe you're right on playing time, but if you have a look at his playing minutes, he played 1,065 minutes last season over 21 matches, but only 950 over 18 matches was for Munster.he played more than 60 minutes only 6 times.
That's a good amount but it's not excessive at his age, he's only 34

 

[How bad boy]

Munster's Champions Cup Fixture Details Confirmed - Munster Rugby

Munster Rugby - Munster's Champions Cup Fixture Details Confirmed

www.munsterrugby.ie

Round 1​

Saturday 17th October 2026

Munster v Racing 92, 8pm, Venue TBC*

Round 2​

Saturday 12th December 2026

Bristol Bears v Munster, 8pm, Ashton Gate

Round 3​

Sunday 10th January 2027

Union Bordeaux Begles v Munster, 4.15pm, Stade Chaban Delmas

Round 4​

Saturday 16th January 2027

Munster v Gloucester Rugby, 5.30pm, Thomond Park

*Munster Rugby can confirm that it is currently engaging with Cork GAA to seek formal approval, through its usual approval processes, to host our Round 1 pool fixture with Racing 92 at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.


Unless Munster's start to the season is significantly better than one would expect with the opposition faced, if that Racing match is lost, I can see a lot of noise around McMillan being the right coach for Munster by November.

It's a pretty good draw, thankfully UBB away.