Munster are still in the market for a head coach with Ian Costelloe still in interim charge along with Mike Prendergast, Denis Leamy and Mossie Lawlor with the latter trio all signing contract extensions in the weeks following Graham Rowntree’s departure.

Munster will look to the break after the next two rounds in the Champions Cup against Saracens in Limerick and then another trip to face Northampton Saints in Franklins Gardens. Munster have one win and one loss in Europe and will look put the defeat against Leinster to one side. No better than the visit of two of England’s best club sides currently to focus the mind of players, coaches and supporters.

The last few months have felt like Munster have just drifted along picking up the odd win and being happy with their lot. Injury again has had a part to play with a full team of 15 players still out injured. Some of them will be on the comeback trail while we wait to see when men like Roman Salanoa will be cleared to return to action.

Clarity is needed for the Munster supporters, they have been down this route far too often in the last 8 years. Munster are back looking for stability after a solid period under Graham Rowntree that saw them win the URC in 2023.

Ian Flanagan who is the Munster CEO does need to provide real clarity around the coaching situation asap. Not the odd quote after a Q&A session that will be quickly forgotten. Yes a few wins in the URC will get Munster back climbing up the table and back into the top half.

Given how the first half of the year went for Munster it is crucial they find consistency in the second half of the campaign. They will know they will get certain players back from injury but others need to step up.

In the short term, Saracens and Northampton will be the main focus on the field but for those behind the scenes, it is time to put the shoulder to the wheel and help bring in the head coach they feel will help steady things.

 I realise it may not be as easy as I make it out to be for various reasons but one statement and not sound bites would solve all the questions as well as help end the speculation surrounding the job. Those in the IRFU alongside those at branch level have plenty of plates in the air at the moment but Munster in particular have been here far too often in recent years.

The season hasn’t gone to waste and certainly isn’t over as I say, two big games in the Champions Cup against familiar opponents will get the juices flowing over the next 2 weeks. Munster will again need to circle the wagons and steel themselves for two tough battles with two sides who have been free scoring domestically.

Northampton went to South Africa and beat the Bulls and that victory put them in pole position to secure last 16 qualification this weekend after beating Castres comfortably in week 1.

Saracens will fancy their chances this weekend of coming to Limerick and picking up maximum points and that is the type of situation where Munster would previously have licked their lips and fired every shot they possibly could to gain victory. No better time then than now to remind everyone in Europe that they haven’t gone away…. I have a feeling that Saturday evening, 5.30pm kick off in Thomond Park could be very much like the old days. A cocky English side coming to Limerick looking for a win and here’s hoping the reaction they get on the pitch as well as in the Stands mirrors those old days….

My Ireland Squad for the 2025 6 Nations

Forwards – Andrew Porter, Eric O Sullivan, Cian Healy – LH

Tadgh Furlong, Thomas Clarkson, Oli Jager – TH

Ronan Kelleher, Dave Heffernan, Tom Stewart – Hooker

James Ryan, Tadgh Beirne, Cormac Izuchukwu, Joe Mc Carthy – SR

Josh Van Der Flier, Tom Ahern, Nick Timoney, Caelan Doris, Dave Mc Cann, John Hodnett, Cian Prendergast, Jack Conan BR/No8

Backs –

Jamison Gibson Park, Ben Murphy, Caelan Blade – SH

Jack Crowley, Sam Prendergast, Ciaran Frawley – No 10

Garry Ringrose, Tom Farrell, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki – Centre

Calvin Nash, Mack Hansan, Shane Daly, Hugo Keenan, Jacob Stockdale, Jamie Osbourne, Jordan Larmour. Wing/Back Three…

Here is the squad I would select for the 6 Nations. I know certain players could be ruled out through suspension and or injury could intervene in the next few weeks. Simon Easterby is in charge for the season with Andy Farrell away on British and Irish Lions duty.

This evening the quest to see who will win the 24/25 Champions Cup begins as Bath welcome La Rochelle to The Rec in Bath with an 8pm kick off. Ireland’s 3 sides in the Champions Cup won’t start out until tomorrow at 5.30pm with Munster taking on Stade Francais.

Ulster and Leinster are away in round 1 with both sides playing on Sunday, Ulster go to Toulouse and Leinster play Bristol. Connacht are in Challenge Cup action facing Zebre in Galway. I have seen it written that yet again it’s been a low key build up to European action and most people may not realise that  European rugby’s flagship club competitions are about to start.

The stake holders have downgraded a once great tournament to a near foot note, the competition has been revised and restructured on more than one occasion and has lost two rounds in the Pool phase with a last 16 round in its place.

A once great tournament, is most defiantly a shadow of its former self. I know players will scoff at the very thought of this particular opinion but all of rugby has changed beyond recognition over the past 15 years in particular. Yes there are varied reasons for this and I won’t bog people down with the ins and outs as I will be here all day if I do so.

Sufficient to say, it is not the same as when I was kid into my mid-twenties. The powers that be have made sure of that and of course money and TV will always dictate things and to that end, Premier Sport will have full coverage of this year’s fare.

This company has been under various names over the years and have brought some new blood into the fold for the new campaign with the likes of Matt Banahan ex England winger one of the new names we will see over the next few months.

Let’s hope the product on field is what we are speaking of at the end of the opening weekend and not the product off field of coverage issues etc.

For Ireland’s Champions Cup participants namely Leinster, Ulster and Munster it will be important for them to start with wins on week 1, Munster drew on the opening weekend last year and will feel they will need to do much better this time around.

Ulster play defending champions Toulouse who are fully armed and raring to go in front of their home crowd. Leinster face Bristol in what could be the tie of round 1 given the recent form of both sides.

Connacht will want to kick start there Challenge Cup campaign with a win over Zebre and that could set them up for a real crack at the title this year.

The 30^th season of European rugby is about to kick start so sit back and enjoy it….

After the close shave against Argentina last week, Ireland play Fiji in their third game of the 2024 Autumn series with Australia left to play on Saturday week in a game that will mark the IRFU’s 150^th anniversary.

The game this week will offer Andy Farrell a chance to bring in some of the members of the Irish squad that haven’t seen game time against New Zealand or Argentina. Fiji followed up there win over Wales with a game vs Spain last weekend.

That game like Ireland offered Fiji coach Mick Byrne the chance to look at certain players within the Fiji set up that may not have faced either Scotland or Wales. Fiji will come to Dublin full of confidence and knowing that Ireland haven’t been there very best this autumn they will sniff a big opportunity of a win in Dublin.

From an Irish perspective, it is time to put in a full 80 minute showing which has not happened as yet over the first two games. Ill-discipline and poor set piece have hampered Irish efforts this November. Andy Farrell knows he only has two games left before he leaves to take up his position as British and Irish Lions head coach and he will leave the Irish job in the hands of Simon Easterby along with Paul O Connell and John Fogarty along with the other coaches within the management team.

There will be changes this week, but a complete overhaul of the 23 won’t happen and you can be sure the spine of the team for Saturday will be experienced.

Men like Doris, Henshaw and others will most likely keep their places. Guys like Nick Timoney and Dave Heffernan may be drafted in from the outside of the immediate 23 to get places on the bench. Only time will tell of course…

I will put on my selector hat and select my 23 to face Fiji on Saturday with a 3.10pm kick off time.

15 Jamie Osbourne

14 Jacob Stockdale

13 Bundee Aki

12 Robbie Henshaw

11 Calvin Nash

10 Sam Prendergast

9 Craig Casey

8 Caelan Doris

7 Nick Timoney

6 Cormac Izuchukwu

5 James Ryan

4 Joe Mc Carthy

3 Tom Clarkson

2 Dave Heffernan

1 Tom O Toole

–

16 Ronan Kelliher

17 Cian Healy

18 Tadgh Furlong

19 Tadgh Beirne

20 Josh Van Der Flier

21 Conor Murray

22 Ciaran Frawley

23 Garry Ringrose

There is my 23 to face Fiji and it would give Farrell but particularly Simon Easterby a look at certain options with an eye on the 2025 6 Nations and beyond….

After a 10 point loss to New Zealand in Dublin on Friday evening, Ireland re assembled in camp yesterday to prepare for the visit of Argentina this Friday evening with another 8.10pm kick off. Ireland will know that discipline will need to drastically improve over the next few weeks along with improvement at set piece and line out time. Although the Six Nations was won last March along with a win down in South Africa over the summer. The issues at the set piece and line out have continued and again as was seen over the weekend you need a solid set piece and line out to keep at pace with most teams.

Andy Farrell and Paul O Connell have work to do alongside the players to solve the problems that have occurred in the last few months. You cannot give away penalties in a game but you can cut our repeated penalties and that is a thing this group will have to work hard to rectify in the next few weeks.

The players will know that they will be under pressure to turn things around this week but in the long term the search for term successors to Tadgh Furlong, Cian Healy in particular will need to go into over drive.

The HIA for Tom O Toole on Friday was cruel on him as I think he might have made an impression at scrum time as Ireland were in dire need of change of fortune in the aspect of the game. Oli Jager is injured at the moment and it will be interesting to see will Ireland look for reinforcements for the game on Friday at tight head, Tom O Toole will most likely miss out so there are openings for others to step up to the plate.

I know he has switched over the loose head but can still cover the tight head side on occasion if need be and this weekend, Ireland will be hoping for a change in fortune this week. We may just have to wait and see where Andy Farrell may go with selections later in the week.

Will Tadgh Furlong be deemed fit to step in to the 23 or will someone like Jack Aungier or even Sam Wilson of Ulster be called in to the squad. Aungier for his part played well for Emerging Ireland on the 3 game tour in South Africa and this is the very situation that tour was designed for…

Ireland may also look to make alterations on the bench and freshen things up, players like Ryan Baird, Cormac Izuchukwu may be brought into the 23 and others like Robbie Henshaw may get onto the bench. As I say time will tell and while wholesale change isn’t required maybe a few changes may still be warranted as Ireland need a reaction this week.

I will now select the 23 I would like to see face Argentina.

15 Hugo Keenan

14 Jamie Osbourne

13 Garry Ringrose

12 Bundee Aki

11 James Lowe

10 Jack Crowley

9 Jamison Gibson Park

8 Caelan Doris

7 Josh Van Der Flier

6 Cormac Izuchuwu

5 Tadgh Beirne

4 Joe Mc Carthy

3 Finlay Bealham

2 Ronan Kelliher

1 Andrew Porter

–

16 Gus Mc Carthy

17 Jack Boyle

18 Jack Aungier

19 Ryan Baird

20 Iain Henderson

21 Craig Casey

22 Ciaran Frawley

23 Robbie Henshaw

It was announced yesterday to much surprise in many quarters that after 5 years with Munster head coach Graham Rowntree would leave his post. He joined in 2019 under Johan Van Graan as forwards coach and then succeeded him when the latter was let go and joined up with Bath.

Graham Rowntree brought in Mike Prendergast along with Denis Leamy and Andi Kyriacou as his defence, attack and forwards coach. This coaching group took time to bed in but then saw that bedding in period rewarded with a URC title win in May 2023.

In year 2 of the project Munster again started slowly but managed to put a winning run together at the tail end of last season to finish the league campaign top of the pile and secure a home quarter final that led to a home semi-final which saw Glasgow Warriors win in Limerick and go on then to defeat the Stormers in the Final last May.

Europe hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for Munster in recent seasons under Rowntree but after ending the wait for a trophy in May 2023 after 12 years without a trophy meant there was credit in the bank with supporters at least.

Injuries and recruitment issues have also plagued Munster over a long period of time, not often over his two full seasons did Rowntree have a full deck to play with and even though those injury issues did clear as the season’s end came into full view in both years which led to the URC win and last year the semi-finals.

This season brought fresh hope but 2 wins in the first 6 games puts Munster in 12^th place as the URC takes a short break to make way for the November Internationals and will resume on November 29^th with Munster back in action on Saturday November 30^th in Thomond Park playing the Emirates Lions.

Munster have put Ian Costello in interim charge for the glamour fixture with an All Black XV although some of the sheen has been taken from that game with the events of the past day or so.

The Munster professional games board along with the IRFU will need to shoulder some of the perceived blame that will be ultimately be banded about over the next few days.  Munster along with the IRFU have said they have commenced the process to recruit the next head coach of Munster.

Munster’s issues go far deeper than just financial, some of the decisions with regard to recruitment need to be addressed like the decision to let John Ryan leave along with James Cronin with John Ryan joining Wasps before they ceased to exist and then John Ryan dug Munster out of a hole by signing a short term deal before the arrival of Oli Jager who signed a 3 year deal.

James Cronin was allowed to look for a new club and has gone on the be involved on many match days with Leicester Tigers and recently signed a fresh deal with Leicester. They are two examples of poor decisions that Munster will back on and the fact that John Ryan re-joined Munster after a spell in New Zealand with the Chiefs to back up Stephen Archer tells you that Munster have no faith in there young props to step up to the plate when called upon.

The choice between keeping RG Snyman or Jean Kleyn is on the IRFU where Leinster were on a position to bring in 3 international quality players at tight head, they signed Rabah Slimani, Jordie Barrett is joining in December until the end of the 2024/2025 season on a 6 month deal and RG Snyman signed a deal believed to be a year long contract.

The IRFU  have told the provinces they will not be able to recruit props from outside of Ireland but Leinster were able to bring in Slimani and I realise he will fill an NIQ position in the Leinster squad, non Irish qualified to those of you unfamiliar with the way the IRFU operates at the moment.

Munster have been able to bring in players in the centre particularly with Malkai Fekitoa and Antoine Frish joining up with both players playing a big part in the URC title win in 2023 along with RG Snyman and Ben Healy.

Munster have lost those 4 players as they have gone to pastures new and Joey Carbery moved to Bordeaux while Simon Zebo has retired. Yes injuries have had a major impact on Munster over the past few seasons but the Munster professional game board along with the IRFU will need to sit down and work out a plan going forward.

To Graham Rowntree and his coaches, Thank you for being the men to bring glory back to Munster in 2023 and bridge a 12 year gap without a trophy, which saw Munster get to the summit of the URC and win away in South Africa in the Final vs The Stormers 19-14.

Time now for a real genuine root and branch reset of the Munster organisation. Time and patience will be needed as to find the new coach will take time.

I hope that Ian Costello will take the reins until the end of the current campaign and even though this may not be possible due to his other working commitments within the Munster set up, he is well placed to take the bull by the horns and try and put in the early building blocks for the next Munster head coach whoever he may be….

To Graham Rowntree, I thank you for your time as Munster head coach and thank you for that day in May 23 which saw Munster get to the summit of the URC and win away in South Africa in the Final vs The Stormers 19-14.

15 Hugo Keenan

14 Jacob Stockdale

13 Garry Ringrose

12 Bundee Aki

11 James Lowe

10 Jack Crowley

9 Jamison Gibson Park

8 Caelan Doris

7 Josh Van Der Flier

6 Cormac Izuchukwu

5 Tadgh Beirne

4 Iain Henderson

3 Tadgh Furlong

2 Ronan Kelleher

1 Andrew Porter

–

16 Gus Mc Carthy

17 Tom O Toole

18 Finlay Bealham

19 Joe Mc Carthy

20 Ryan Baird

21 Conor Murray

22 Ciaran Frawley

23 Mack Hansan

Here is the XV I would select to face New Zealand on Friday November 8^th at 8.10pm. I realise injuries or suspensions may alter this XV but on current form and with the selected players at my disposal this is in my humble opinion is the best placed 23 to take New Zealand with Argentina, Fiji and Australia to follow before November ends…

Munster open there 2024 season with a game against Connacht on Saturday evening with a 5.30pm kick off in Thomond Park. Munster will look to go one better than last year in the URC after finishing in first spot on the final league table, they were defeated by eventual winners Glasgow in the semi-finals who will open there own campaign away to Ulster.

Munster have lost players like Simon Zebo, Joey Carbery and RG Snyman, Zebo has retired with Carbery moving to Bordeaux and RG Snyman has moved to Leinster for 1 season at least. Munster have recruited well on paper with Diarmuid Kilgallon, Billy Burns and Thakkir Abrahams have been brought in with Jean Klyen looking like he will be fit for week 1 of the new season.

Munster will have to deal with the Emerging Ireland tour of South Africa like 2 years ago along with the other provinces and that will provide a challenge in the early weeks of the season. Some will ask is that tour devaluing the URC as some promising young talent will be away from league action for a number of weeks. The IRFU has communicated already with the provinces as to who may be away with Emerging Ireland.

This tour as beneficial as it may seem doesn’t make sense, why didn’t an Ireland A side go to South Africa in July alongside the senior side and then they would be no pull on resources like there will be at a time when the URC is only getting up and running.

 I know we will be told that it will give young players meaningful game time but unlike 2022, rugby has regathered itself and although it still its issues, I think this tour is unnecessary at this point and will have an impact on the early weeks of the URC campaign.

Back to Munster, they will look to improve on two losses in pre-season away to Bath and at home to Gloucester in Cork two weeks ago. Plenty of players saw game time in those games and supporters got a glimpse of the players that will play for the opening 4 rounds of the URC as the Irish internationals will be eased back into action.

Munster benefitted from that a few years back and then when the internationals got back, they were up and firing. Graham Rowntree will hope for a similar reaction to begin the 24/25 season. Mike Prendergast will hope to bring on the Munster attack this year and advance it on. Denis Leamy will want to do likewise in defence.

Munster can’t stand still this year, in Europe also they will want to improve on last year’s showing with Saracens and Stade Francais coming to Limerick as well as trips to Castres and Northampton Saints.

A new captain will be confirmed with a number of players in the running like Tadgh Beirne and Diarmuid Barron. A small bit of housekeeping needs to be sorted before Saturday’s kick off vs Connacht.

Munster will have expectations and targets for the new season, let’s hope guys like Tom Ahern, Jean Kleyn, Edwin Edogbo can go through the year injury free because they make a difference to the overall Munster squad when fully fit…

I’ll select the XV I’d like to see injury permitting of course face Connacht.

15 Mike Haley

14 Shane Daly

13 Tom Farrell

12 Sean O Brien

11 Thakkir Abrahams

10 Billy Burns

9 Ethan Coughlan

8 Jack O Donghue

7 John Hodnett

6 Sean Edogbo

5 Jean Kleyn

4 Tom Ahern

3 John Ryan

2 Diarmuid Barron

1 Mark Donnelly

–

16 Danny Sheahan

17 Ronan Fox

18 Stephen Archer

19 Alex Kendellan

20 Gavin Coombes

21 Jack Oliver

22 Tony Butler

23 Diarmuid Kilgallon

Ireland lost out 38-24 to New Zealand in yesterday’s 3^rd/4^th place play off having led 12-7 at the break and scoring two break away tries after soaking up large amounts of New Zealand pressure throughout the opening half.

Unfortunately for Ireland New Zealand had a man sin binned early in the 2^nd half and that seemed to drive them to up the gears and in the middle of the 2^nd half they just went into another gear and that burst eventually saw Ireland’s resistance break and even though Ireland did score two late well deserved tries they were well beaten.

Probably the amount of injuries picked up had an adverse effect on the squad for the semi-final last Sunday and the play off yesterday. Ireland stuck to the game plan and have played an open style which they are suited to playing.

Up front has been an achilles heel for this squad. Even after the big win on day 1 against Italy, the Italians caused issues in the scrum that were seen in evidence over the following 3 weeks. Yes two of those front rows will be back next year barring injury as they were also with the Ireland under 19s this year and it was a steep learning curve for them but it will stand to them I have no doubt.

Players like Jack Murphy, Brian Gleeson, Evan O Connell even though the latter was ruled out of the last two games through an ankle injury look destined for long senior careers even at this early juncture. Several others like Hugh Gavin, William De Klerk and Ben O Connor will be with their respective provinces next season. Hugh Gavin will be in the Connacht senior set up once has had his break and will join up for pre season.

Yes the result yesterday will sting in the short term but it will also be character building interesting to note how many of this year’s under 20 squad will be in a senior green shirt in the next few years like James Ryan, Jacob Stockdale from the class of 2016.

Ireland were overpowered in the past two games and even though they played an open brand of rugby that saw them score plenty of tries, the notes and bolts of forward play has let them down and they have been physically beaten up by the England pack and yesterday by New Zealand now in saying that and in particular against New Zealand, they can count themselves unlucky on occasion at scrum time.

But overall, it will be a tough review for the Irish forwards when they get to review the tournament as a whole. Many questions have been asked in recent times about our supposed lack of quality front row players coming through to challenge the established order. From next season Irish provinces will be not allowed to go into the market for Non Irish qualified front row players.

Are we back in 2012 again, It would appear so, what has happened over the past 12 years. Where is the evidence of all the hard work and due diligence to bring through good quality front rows and make sure the bad days of the like of 2012 are long forgotten.

The IRFU did appoint John Fogarty as national scrum coach but he quickly went up the ranks to Leinster scrum coach and is now looking after the Irish senior men’s forwards as scrum coach. There are a few good young props in the system at this moment though and they will need to see game time at provincial level, guys like Ronan Fox and George Hadden in Munster with Joe Mc Carthy’s younger brother Paddy in the Leinster set up along with Tom Clarkson. You have Sammy Wilson up in Ulster with Jordan Duggan in Connacht.

I am sure I have missed many players but let’s hope the work at IRFU level has begun to try and address the apparent lack of quality props at the top end of the game. Rabah Slimani has come into Leinster on a 1 year deal and that was most likely worked on pre this most recent IRFU dictate from David Humphreys.

It will be fascinating to see if a province needs to bring in an emergency player will they be allowed to look to NIQ players or will Mr Humphreys do what his predecessor did and that was move certain players around the country from one province to another…..

Ireland will play in the third/ fourth place play off tomorrow afternoon after they lost to England and New Zealand lost to France for the 2^nd time in this year’s renewal in the semi-finals.

 Ireland lost out 31-20 and after not having a final group fixture owing to poor weather on the final day of pool play saw Ireland v Australia chalked off and both sides awarded two points and that was enough to see Ireland through to face England in a second successive semi-final at this age group.

New Zealand were beaten by France in the pool phase and they also defeated them in the semi-finals last week. Ireland have made a number of changes to the XV which sees Hugh Gavin and Finn Treacy team up in midfield. Jack Murphy stays at 10, Steve Smyth is in at hooker.

 Ireland will need to perform well up front to stand any hope of beating New Zealand and New Zealand for their part will want to end another campaign in winning fashion. Jonno Gibbes who coached with Joe Schmidt at Leinster leads the Under 20s and as I mention they will want to end the campaign in a positive way given the two losses to France in particular.

Ireland lost to England and unfortunately could not score in the 2^nd half of the semi-final to help them see a way past a very physical England side led by Leicester Tiger Fin Carnduff. He saw game time at senior level with Leicester last season. He alongside Henry Pollock make up 2 thirds of a strong young back row in the mould of Hill, Back and Dallagio.

Ireland have a few men who saw senior action last season with Brian Gleeson, Ben O Connor getting game time with Munster in the URC in the early rounds. It is a chance for this young group to get a win over a strong nation at Under 20 level, they lost to them back in the 2016 JWC final in Manchester. It would be a great finish to the year if they could get the bronze medal.

The way this group has performed this year in commendable and a good finish would be fantastic. Some of these young men go onto full contracts with their respective provinces, others go into academies and more will go back to club rugby for next season.

Willie Faloon and his coaching team have done a good job keeping this team playing the open style seen under Noel Mc Namara and Richie Murphy over the past number of years. Time now to go after another big win at this JWC and end the campaign on a high note…

Some of this group will earn full international honours, more will play at provincial level and some will don there club colours at AIL level for years to come.

Grasp the nettle tomorrow and pick up a win over New Zealand which is still so saunth after even after a number of wins since the Irish women beat them at the 2014 Women’s World Cup in France.