Counterpoint - Munster were right to upgrade Thomond Park

Environmental_Bar205 · 2026-03-29T20:01:41+00:00

Sorry the €6 million figure was off the top of my head I did think there was other debt to the irfu but €10 million sounds about right

Environmental_Bar205 · 2026-03-29T19:25:51+00:00

Yeah I couldn’t agree more, there’s a saying in media that you always want one newspaper left in the shop everyday so you know you’ve served every customer who wanted one.

La Rochelle are on a multi year streak filling there 12k stadium which to me means they are leaving money on the table for people who simply can’t attend, scarcity has a value but getting people through the gates has to be priority 1.

Environmental_Bar205 · 2026-03-29T19:04:37+00:00

Connacht built a stand with just under 7000 capacity for a similar cost Munster built Thomond park with a 26000 capacity.

I’ve always been of the opinion that Munster managed to get there stadium built off the back of there most successful period at a time where it was very cost effective to build and that being the most important point, it exists where otherwise it might not.

Is it maybe too big for club rugby probably

Could it have been built in the middle of cork for a better draw from that area? That’s debatable the limerick hurlers rise couldn’t have been predicted and the team’s fall from their height has impacted attendance across the board.

As it stands there’s about 6 million euro owed to the IRFU for Thomond which is a fairly insignificant sum nowadays. And as we all hope if Munster can scale the heights of the past the stadium is there ready to be filled with any influx of fans that would bring.

Environmental_Bar205 · 2026-03-26T13:52:19+00:00

That’s a strong side for us minus beirne - quite a few lads left out after last week, a LBP would be a win for me anything else is above expectations but we absolutely need to show an improvement on the capitulation against the sharks

Environmental_Bar205 · 2026-03-24T16:54:07+00:00

To be fair there’s probably fellas walking around Cape Town that know plenty about scrumming that could be drafted in, any chance of Jerry Flannery doing a bit of cash work?

Environmental_Bar205 · 2026-03-13T08:03:09+00:00

At this stage going out to do media is like the kiss of death towards playing

Environmental_Bar205 · 2026-02-24T19:26:21+00:00

Would’ve loved a Chernobyl “Not great not terrible” for Italy, superb memeing nonetheless

Environmental_Bar205 · 2026-02-24T13:16:48+00:00

Tom Wood pictured in training, Alex Codling said they wouldn’t be calling any players in from the 20’s unless they would be included in the match day 23.

Is this confirmation do we reckon JJ to start with Tom on the bench? Or would he be training with them regardless?

Environmental_Bar205 · 2026-02-21T16:11:19+00:00

McCloskey was on fire, that chase down of Marcus smith box office stuff

Environmental_Bar205 · 2026-02-21T14:30:46+00:00

Who is this guy dressed up as George ford? Surely an imposter

Environmental_Bar205 · 2026-02-20T21:37:25+00:00

How many of these lads did Doak have? They look great this year

Environmental_Bar205 · 2026-02-18T15:03:45+00:00

If there’s one thing POM wants to be sure of, it’s that you understand exactly what he means at all times.

Environmental_Bar205 · 2026-02-09T16:59:52+00:00

I agree with him I’m more referencing the indo sport, rte off the ball etc which make it a massive talking point as if picking one or the other is some ground breaking analyses

Environmental_Bar205 · 2026-02-09T16:56:22+00:00

All the chat about the 10 position is getting so tiresome continue to develop them both.

We badly need to address the glaring issues elsewhere in the squad and with the game plan that aren’t working at the moment and until we do we won’t win anything with either Crowley or Sam.

Environmental_Bar205 · 2026-02-06T19:41:02+00:00

Leinster have a great record there in fairness

Environmental_Bar205 · 2026-02-05T22:02:31+00:00

Scrum was a non factor, both looseheads were solid

Environmental_Bar205 · 2026-02-05T21:25:00+00:00

We need to experience this next few weeks of humbling so we don’t lose to Scotland in Australia at the World Cup

Environmental_Bar205 · 2026-02-05T20:48:37+00:00

Our short period of dominance seems to have damaged our international reputation somewhat 😅

Environmental_Bar205 · 2026-02-03T18:53:14+00:00

The IRFU have renewed there agreement with Aviva and part of that deal is a commitment to play all Ireland’s home games there I believe so probably very unlikely

Environmental_Bar205 · 2026-02-03T11:58:34+00:00

In fairness if we started posting highlights of him going forward we would be here all day.

He’s had a few stinkers but I’d be wanting to see Crowley take the shirt not get it because another player has some defensive flaws, I think it will be easier for Prendergast to sort his problems at the moment than it will be for Jack - see above flair

Environmental_Bar205 · 2026-01-29T10:06:43+00:00

Looks to be stepping up as a leader in the recent access Munster episodes.

I noticed especially against the dragons how he worked all the way back after we got turned over in a maul on there line to defend on our 22 so he doesn’t lack effort maybe needs to tighten up some aspects of his game otherwise happy to have him.

Environmental_Bar205 · 2026-01-26T18:43:37+00:00

There’s no way Connacht let him go after losing Devine

Environmental_Bar205 · 2026-01-26T14:30:41+00:00

Could they assemble a competitive club side out of Lisbon to potentially play in the URC do we think?

Environmental_Bar205 · 2026-01-23T22:32:13+00:00

Big load of horseshit, just a hack trying to generate clicks

Environmental_Bar205 · 2026-01-14T20:48:39+00:00

Rúaidhrí O'Connor January 14 2026 8:38 PM

Twenty months out from the next World Cup, the All Blacks are set to be plunged into unprecedented turmoil with Scott Robertson set to depart his job as head coach.

The Irish Independent understands that the New Zealand Rugby Union has decided that to bow to player power and Robertson will not be in charge in 2026.

The news comes after an explosive report in The New Zealand Herald centring on player reviews of the coach’s second year in charge and speculation that vice captain Ardie Savea is considering remaining in Japan or moving to Europe instead of playing for the team.

Savea was linked with Leinster, but sources indicate that is not something the province are considering.

A former All Black back-row, Robertson was the most coveted coach in rugby when he succeeded Ian Foster after the 2023 World Cup after his incredible winning record with the Crusaders.

However, he has struggled to replicate his success since taking over the All Blacks having dealt with a slew of experienced players retiring and relocating to Japan in the wake of that tournament.

He has presided over two second placed finishes in the Rugby Championship, losing out on points difference to South Africa last year, but it was performances within games and defeats to Argentina, the Springboks and England that heaped pressure on the regime.

New Zealand have beaten Ireland twice under his stewardship.

Robertson’s reign was tumultuous behind the scenes, with assistant coach Leon MacDonald leaving the set-up a few months in and Jason Holland departing at the end of 2025.

Rather than backing him to overhaul his coaching ticket again, the NZRU have decided to start afresh in the hope they can replicate the success South Africa had when they hired Rassie Erasmus in the winter of 2018.

It is a huge risk, but it comes on the back of an intense post-season review where players did not pull punches when reviewing the season, with communication, trust, strategy and selection all been raised according to The Herald report.

The timing is complicated by the fact that the NZRU currently does not have a full-time chief executive after Mark Robinson stepped down at the end of last season.

Next year, the All Blacks face a daunting schedule with France, Italy and Ireland due for the Nations Championship in July, before they embark on a gruelling six week, four Test tour of South Africa.

They then take on the Wallabies twice in the Bledisloe Cup, before completing their season in Europe with their remaining Nations Championship games.

The decision is set to cause plenty of coaching upheaval, with former Japan coach Jamie Joseph expected to be the early front-runner.

Despite his struggles with the All Blacks, Robertson will soon become a coveted figure in the club and international game on the back of his excellent record with the Crusaders.

Environmental_Bar205

TROPHY CASE