1
'Delusional': Ex-Munster great slams 'rudderless' Irish province
Ex-Ireland and Lions second row Donal Lenihan was a loyal servant to Munster during the amateur era – but his patience has snapped with the current set-up at the Irish province. Not since 2008 have they won the Heineken Cup, they are without a league title since 2011 and the fallout from last Saturday’s latest beating by Irish rivals Leinster has caused much upset heading into this weekend’s round off 16 European fixture away to Exeter.
ADVERTISEMENT
Tickets for big Munster matches in Limerick used to be like gold dust during their trophy-winning heyday but there were plenty of spaces available for last weekend’s Irish derby and it is shaping up to be similar when the Chiefs visit on April 16 for the second leg of their two-legged tie.
Adding to the sense of drift surrounding the province is the lack of concrete news regarding who will replace Johann van Graan as head coach next season. It was December when it was confirmed that the South African had snubbed a contract extension offer in favour of a switch to Bath in England, but there is no sign yet of a successor being appointed.
It’s a situation that has left Lenihan annoyed and he has taken those frustrations out in a hard-hitting Irish Examiner column headlined: “Munster remain deluded about their status in Europe”. No punches were pulled in the piece that followed:
“Despite starting with an entire second string front five, Leinster had sufficient quality sprinkled around the park to highlight, once again, how far behind Munster have fallen in this increasingly lopsided rivalry,” suggested Lenihan, reflecting on his team’s latest meek surrender to their Irish rivals.
“The number of empty seats scattered around Thomond Park sent another message to those running Munster Rugby, who appear oblivious to the frustrations of the public. Four months after the announcement that Johann van Graan is leaving, we are still in the dark as to who is going to replace him or what the management structure is even going to look like.
ADVERTISEMENT
“I’ve been advocating a director of rugby to plot the long term course of rugby within the province for some time now but nobody is listening. Meanwhile, Munster remain somewhat delusional as to their current status within the European game… Right now Munster appear somewhat rudderless.
“Why, for example, does Van Graan keep selecting Chris Cloete, who it was confirmed last week is also heading to Bath, over Alex Kendellen or John Hodnett? That duo not only represents the future but Kendellen has the credentials to be Munster’s long-term captain once he bags a bit more experience over the next few seasons.
“Munster are somewhat fortunate that the Exeter Chiefs side they meet over the next two weeks and who won the Heineken Champions Cup as recently as 2020, have had a poor season by their high standards. They are struggling to make the knockout phase of the Gallagher Premiership for the first time in years.
“Rather ominously, they produced their best performance of the season last Saturday with a comprehensive 42-22 over van Graan’s new charges Bath to move up to fourth place in the Premiership table. With that box ticked, the Chiefs will be waiting with bated breath for the arrival of Munster at a newly extended Sandy Park on Saturday. Munster had better be ready.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments