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Two props signed short term as Munster turn to home and South Africa

Dian Bleuler (right) in action for South Africa U20s in 2019 versus Argentina's Juan Martin Gonzalez (Photo by Marcelo Endelli/World Rugby via Getty Images)

Struggling Munster have shored up their front row by signing two props – a former Junior Bok pick and a recent Ireland club international – on short-term deals ahead of the resumption of their season at home to the Lions in the URC on November 30.

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The Irish province, who got rid of head coach Graham Rowntree last month after just two wins in six league matches this season, are down a number of front row options due to injury and interim boss Ian Costello has now signed Dian Bleuler from the Sharks in South Africa and Conor Bartley from Limerick club Young Munster.

Bleuler packs down at loosehead while Bartley can play both sides of the scrum. A statement read: “Munster and the IRFU are pleased to confirm the signings of props Dian Bleuler and Conor Bartley on short-term contracts.

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“Loosehead prop Bleuler joins Munster from the Hollywoodbets Sharks. The 25-year-old, who has represented the South Africa U20s, started out his professional career with Western Province and the Stormers.

“In 2021, he joined the Sharks and has played for the Durban-based outfit in the Currie Cup, URC and Champions Cup in the past number of seasons – including the October 2023 URC clash against Munster at Thomond Park.

Team Form

Last 5 Games

2
Wins
2
2
Streak
3
19
Tries Scored
6
-13
Points Difference
-36
2/5
First Try
3/5
2/5
First Points
2/5
2/5
Race To 10 Points
2/5

“The 29-year-old Young Munster prop Bartley, who can play on both sides of the scrum, played his schools rugby with Castletroy College before a one-season spell with Garryowen.

“Over the past 10 years, he has been a cornerstone of the Young Munster front row, winning three consecutive Munster Senior Cup titles between 2021 and 2023. He also represented the Ireland Clubs side against Portugal A in March 2024.

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“As part of Munster’s recruitment and succession planning, AIL players are continually tracked and observed by Munster staff throughout the domestic season and Bartley’s performances resulted in this exciting opportunity.”

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J
JW 11 minutes ago
'It doesn’t make sense for New Zealand to deny itself access to world-class players'

There are a couple of inadequacies in this articles points as well.


First

Robertson, in what he has said publicly, is building his argument for change as a means to close the gap that is increasing between the All Blacks and South Africa.

Based on recent performances, the All Blacks are better than the Springboks.


Second

Both games saw the All Blacks lead coming into the last 30 minutes, only for the momentum to shift dramatically once the two sides emptied their respective benches.

The failings of the second half were game plan related, they happened regardless of whether the bench had yet (play got worse very early in the half, even in the first half) been used or not.


And third

Robertson’s view is that because the Boks don’t lose access to their experienced players when they head offshore, it gives them an advantage

Didn't Razor have the most experienced team all year?


Also

“Sam Cane and Ardie Savea with Wallace Siti, what a balance that is.

This is part of Razor's problem. That's a terrible balance. You instead want something like Sam Cane, Hoskins Sotutu, Wallace Sititi. Or Ardie Savea, Sititi, Scott Barrett. Dalton Papaili'i, Savea, Finau. That is balance, not two old struggling to keep up players and an absolute rookie.

It has changed. Not many go north, more go to Japan, so how do we get the balance right to ensure that players who have given loyalty, longevity and who are still playing well

Experience is a priceless commodity in international rugby and New Zealand has a system where it throws away players precisely when they are at their most valuable.

You mean how do we take advantage of this new environment, because nothing has effectively changed has it. It's simply Japan now instead of Europe. What's it going to be like in the future, how is the new American league going to change things?


Mo'unga is the only real valid reason for debating change, but what's far more important is the wide discussion happening that's taking the whole game into account. The current modem throws players away because they decided to go with a 5 team model rather than a 12 or 14 team model. Players have to be asked to leave at the point were we know they aren't going to be All Blacks, when they are playing their best rugby, reached their peak. In order to reset, and see if the next guy coming through can improve on the 'peak' of the last guy. Of course it's going to take years before they even reach the departing players standards, let alone see if they can pass them.


What if there can be a change that enables New Zealand to have a model were players like Jamison Gibson-Park, James Lowe, Bundee Aki, Chandler Cunningham-South, Ethan Roots, Warner Dearns are All Blacks that make their experienced and youth developemnt the envy of the World. That is the discussion that really needs to be had, not how easy it is to allow Mo'unga to play again. That's how the All Blacks end up winning 3 World Cups in a row.

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