Munster fans hail 'ferocious' Rowntree signing
After the departure of coaches Jerry Flannery and Felix Jones last month, Munster fans have been desperate for a replacement worthy to lead the club and its proud history. With the announcement that former England forwards coach Graham Rowntree will join the club next season, this is a signing that has pleased many fans.
Rowntree will move on from his role with Georgia Rugby, arriving at Thomond Park after the World Cup.
Munster fans have flooded to Twitter to show their excitement at this signing, and the prospect of having a coach of Rowntree’s pedigree.
A fierce scrummaging prop during his playing days, Rowntree was not only a Grand Slam winner with England, three-cap British and Irish Lion, and Heineken Cup winner with Leicester, but has guided the Lions to a series win in Australia and draw with New Zealand as forwards coach.
He is one of the most respected scrum and forward coaches in the northern hemisphere, and should be a suitable replacement for former player Flannery.
This is what the fans have said:
Now that is a signing and a half!!!
— Will Bateman (@plasticpaddy1) June 4, 2019
Serious statement.good to get our business done early before world cup
— Dermot (@bigdermo) June 4, 2019
Finally a decent signing, hallelujah!!
— Fred Sharkey (@FredSharkey) June 4, 2019
Wiggy back in full time work. From one job where they love their forwards; to another. Seem to remember the odd Tigers/ Munster game during his playing days too https://t.co/hTSv3QMwuX
— Andrew McKenna (@talkMacca) June 4, 2019
https://twitter.com/fergal_collins/status/1135859819091550208?s=20
Fantastic news, absolutely great grab for the club. #SUAF https://t.co/4MHGi1GPzm
— Geoff K.? (@ZonalGK) June 4, 2019
Delighted. Exactly the type of experienced guy we're looking for, seems a guy who'll buy into the culture with Munster. Very happy with this. Hopefully we'll soon have the other 2 coaches in soon and that they'll be as good appointments as this one. https://t.co/6C9OaKGTEQ
— Thomas Moroney (@tmoroney4697) June 4, 2019
Some statement of intent https://t.co/LssqguDBZH
— Adam Moursy (@adammoursy) June 4, 2019
Unbelievable signing. https://t.co/JOzthJ8XiA
— Seán Hanley (@Seanhanley94Me) June 4, 2019
Throughout European rugby history, Munster have always been renowned as having one of the most wily and brutal packs, boasting the likes of Paul O’Connell, Alan Quinlan and John Hayes, to name a few over the years.
In fact, if there is one club that has traditionally had a pack to match Munster’s, it would be Leicester’s.
Rowntree was part of the Leicester team that dominated European rugby in the early 2000s, alongside the likes of Martin Johnson and Neil Back.
Munster fans will hope that Rowntree can restore some of the men in red’s glory days, which have slipped away from them in recent years. Despite making the Pro14 and Champions Cup semi-finals this season, they came up short yet again. They have seen their rivals Leinster steal the limelight in recent years, but Rowntree could be the man to help the two time European champions rise to the top of Irish rugby again.
Watch now: Rugby Explorer – Italy
Comments on RugbyPass
I guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
43 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
2 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
43 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
43 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
2 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
6 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
6 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to comments