Penney not happy with performance at Rochelle

[MrsMcGahan]

Munster young guns get a French lesson

La Rochelle 31 Munster 7
By Barry Coughlan
Saturday, August 11, 2012
A tough day at the office for Munster’s youngsters, who fell heavily to French second division outfit Stade Rochelais at the Stade Marcel Deflandre in searing heat last night.
Having shadow boxed for 20 minutes, the heavyweight home side found the power and level of reserves necessary to cruise to a comprehensive victory as Munster struggled with the temperature and the getting to know you process that was inevitable with such a new-look and inexperienced side.

Read all about it:

[Dowlinz]

I suppose there's some consolation that barring Howlett (and maybe Downey?) it was an entirely second string side, with all the injuries and retirements last season it was inevitable we weren't going to have the strength in depth we'd like. It'll be more important than ever before that we keep our first teamers fit this season because we don't have the quality pool we're used to in backup. We're overdue a bit of luck so fingers crossed.

Still good to see the hairdryer treatment, pre-season or not that number of unforced errors is unacceptable.

[joconnell]

Yep - I was totally freaked out three games in with Schmidt - it looked like Leinster had forgotten all of the good parts they'd learned under Cheika but it came good pretty quick after. Great to sort out all these issues in games where the result doesn't matter.

[Cowboy]

Yep - I was totally freaked out three games in with Schmidt - it looked like Leinster had forgotten all of the good parts they'd learned under Cheika but it came good pretty quick after. Great to sort out all these issues in games where the result doesn't matter.

Good post J! f we'd gone out and flung it around with gay abandon and won 42-45 we might have learned less. This might mean we're looking at a complete overhaul of the team in style and direction, no bad thing.

[deltared]

The man is a winner and he is in control. Time & belief is all that is needed.

[Mcork]

When does T14 start? The pro D2 usually gets underway a week or 2 before that. Presumably la rochelle were match fit at this stage while our guys are just coming out of their conditioning regime. Also agree that style of play that Penney wants will lead to errors until or if the players become comfortable with it. Certainly no reason for panic.

[Old Dog]

When does T14 start? The pro D2 usually gets underway a week or 2 before that.

On Friday - Toulouse V Castres - local derby. Don't miss it!

Pro 2 starts a week later.

[Cianostays]

Patience will be required if Penney is to prove a succesfull coach at Munster and, judging from the posts on here, patience is what he'll get. I just hope that fans and pundits will remember this when the league starts. With Edinburgh, Ulster, Ospreys and Leinster away as 4 of the first 6 league games, it's not beyond the realms of possibility that Munster may only get losing bp's from these fixtures.

There were people who questioned Schmidt's coaching abilities after we'd lost 3 of our first 4 league games in 2010. As a number of people have said patience is the key. I just hope people remember that if the league doesn't start too well.

[Mcork]

I can't speak for everybody but for me the pattern of play and effort will be what I'll be looking for in the opening fixtures. If the results are good, great but it won't be decisive. You'd expect a lot of enthusiam but also combinations and style of play will require getting used to. I think he'll get time esp as people will remember the start Schmidt made and how that turned out once the players got a handle on what they were being asked to do. Particularly with the style of play which requires a lot of accuracy in execution. If there is not serious signs of improvement by the time the HEC starts, the i'd start to worry. But not until then.

[Paddytheman]

On Friday - Toulouse V Castres - local derby. Don't miss it!

Pro 2 starts a week later.

There'd be no love lost there all right. The Castres fans that we were chatting to were disgusted that their match was moved to Tolouse.

[NiallGK]

There'd be no love lost there all right. The Castres fans that we were chatting to were disgusted that their match was moved to Tolouse.

In addition, the Toulouse supporters in attendance were cheering us on and those nearby expressed wild delight when ROG dropped the winner. No love lost indeed.

[The Last Stand]

I can't speak for everybody but for me the pattern of play and effort will be what I'll be looking for in the opening fixtures. If the results are good, great but it won't be decisive. You'd expect a lot of enthusiam but also combinations and style of play will require getting used to. I think he'll get time esp as people will remember the start Schmidt made and how that turned out once the players got a handle on what they were being asked to do. Particularly with the style of play which requires a lot of accuracy in execution. If there is not serious signs of improvement by the time the HEC starts, the i'd start to worry. But not until then.

I think we will need to see it against Leinster in early October. Up to then it will be about developing a style of play and everyone buying into it.

[isola ciarrai]

I think we will need to see it against Leinster in early October. Up to then it will be about developing a style of play and everyone buying into it.

Indeed 'Feva in the Aviva' (copyright A. Cretin) will be really significant this year, one week before Round 1 of HEC. Guess RP is using these friendlies to sort out the 'best of the rest' while internationals are not available for any reason. Throw POC (I hope) and co into that mix and we are credible.

[Evil Omer]

I suppose there's some consolation that barring Howlett (and maybe Downey?) it was an entirely second string side, with all the injuries and retirements last season it was inevitable we weren't going to have the strength in depth we'd like. It'll be more important than ever before that we keep our first teamers fit this season because we don't have the quality pool we're used to in backup. We're overdue a bit of luck so fingers crossed.

Still good to see the hairdryer treatment, pre-season or not that number of unforced errors is unacceptable.

If we pick the first team before the season starts and then just automatically treat anyone in this game as 2nd string all we will achieve is push the development of a new squad even further back. We have to take these kind of games to develop and learn. Think of the spankings we took in the HEC for years and then the same players made it to Semis and Finals galore. Like I say, we need to experience these games for the next wave to learn.

[SlamChamps09]

I think we will need to see it against Leinster in early October. Up to then it will be about developing a style of play and everyone buying into it.

Not sure you will see it at the Aviva, that could be the first game where Penney has his first team play a full 80, you can't perfect a new system without the first xv playing games. Penney will have to take Munster to Racing with only a game and a half under the first xv's belts. At least Chieka had put in a decent base prior to Schmidts arrival, Penney has a much bigger job.

[joconnell]

Also - the changes schmidt made were less drastic, leinster were already a running and passing side, he just implemented a better standard of it. Munster are changing from a grinding tactical team hopefully into a running team. There's a few players (Including poc) who are going to have to majorly upskill their handling to get into it. Also you've got the likes of Jamie Hagan for us last season that didn't feature all that much as his fitness wasn't up to the pace of the game - you might get that with the likes of Horan and Botha.

You'll be fine in the pools of the HEC and regardless of the psychological value of a win over leinster, it won't get you any more league points than any other game.

Interesting times ahead!

[The Last Stand]

Also - the changes schmidt made were less drastic, leinster were already a running and passing side, he just implemented a better standard of it. Munster are changing from a grinding tactical team hopefully into a running team. There's a few players (Including poc) who are going to have to majorly upskill their handling to get into it. Also you've got the likes of Jamie Hagan for us last season that didn't feature all that much as his fitness wasn't up to the pace of the game - you might get that with the likes of Horan and Botha.

You'll be fine in the pools of the HEC and regardless of the psychological value of a win over leinster, it won't get you any more league points than any other game.

Interesting times ahead!

It may not necessarily be a win, but a performance to build on. That is what I want to see.

[Sketchy]

Also - the changes schmidt made were less drastic, leinster were already a running and passing side, he just implemented a better standard of it. Munster are changing from a grinding tactical team hopefully into a running team. There's a few players (Including poc) who are going to have to majorly upskill their handling to get into it. Also you've got the likes of Jamie Hagan for us last season that didn't feature all that much as his fitness wasn't up to the pace of the game - you might get that with the likes of Horan and Botha.

You'll be fine in the pools of the HEC and regardless of the psychological value of a win over leinster, it won't get you any more league points than any other game.

Interesting times ahead!

Great post.

[McCloud]

Also - the changes schmidt made were less drastic, leinster were already a running and passing side, he just implemented a better standard of it. Munster are changing from a grinding tactical team hopefully into a running team. There's a few players (Including poc) who are going to have to majorly upskill their handling to get into it. Also you've got the likes of Jamie Hagan for us last season that didn't feature all that much as his fitness wasn't up to the pace of the game - you might get that with the likes of Horan and Botha.

You'll be fine in the pools of the HEC and regardless of the psychological value of a win over leinster, it won't get you any more league points than any other game.

Interesting times ahead!

I'd be disappointed if Penney tried to turn Munster into Leinster. Me I'm quite happy seeing Munster as a grinding tactical team. Proven success in that area after all. Each to their own. I'm content to wait and see what Penney brings to Munster.

[joconnell]

Sure thing - with the current crop of players it seems like a waste of their talents though. The new strength and conditioning team are going to play a huge part in this too - Munster were underpowered over the past few seasons compared to 2009 so that's another big area to improve on.

[Thomond78]

On Friday - Toulouse V Castres - local derby. Don't miss it!

Pro 2 starts a week later.

Christ. That's fratricidal local warfare, not a derby. About the only thing those two agree on is hating Albi.

Can't wait to see it.

[A7X07]

I don't think it matters what style he turns Munster into once it's one that suits our players and makes us top European competitors.

[SlamChamps09]

I'd be disappointed if Penney tried to turn Munster into Leinster. Me I'm quite happy seeing Munster as a grinding tactical team. Proven success in that area after all. Each to their own. I'm content to wait and see what Penney brings to Munster.

A grinding tactical team is no longer good enough to beat the best. The players have changed and the game has moved on. When Munster cannot bully a team up front they have nothing more to offer. The best teams like Toulouse, Clermont, Leinster have the grinding game when they need it, but have the skill in the backs and forwards. Can't understand why anyone would not want their team to play like Leinster, tough up front, forwards that keep the ball alive and backs that can pass and create good tries.

[sewa]

Oh look a munster thread becomes a leinster thread, thankfully with so many OTT players even the IRFU's massive chequebook to sign the like of Thorne wont save them this time

[joconnell]

Meh, you've got plenty of grunty carriers in Downey, Stander, Du Preez, Ryan and Tod and lots of skill at the back with earls, hanrahan, dougie, zebo and jones. I'd be very surprised if Penney didn't take advantage of the talent to hand.

[MrsMcGahan]

Howlett provides Penney with hope

By Barry Coughlan

Monday, August 13, 2012
New Munster coach Rob Penney was stretched to find positives from a highly disappointing opening game of three pre-season friendlies in La Rochelle on Friday night but had one in the form of veteran Doug Howlett.
The jury is out on whether some of Munster’s young guns have done enough to impress the new coaching team and Penney warned they might have to move fast to make up lost ground as French second division side Stade Rochelais hit the new kids for six tries.

Some players showed they are not up to it:

[Colliniho]

They only conceded 4 tries. God I love the examiner. Makes it very hard to put much weight on the rest of what Barry is saying.

[McCloud]

Howlett provides Penney with hope

By Barry Coughlan

Monday, August 13, 2012
New Munster coach Rob Penney was stretched to find positives from a highly disappointing opening game of three pre-season friendlies in La Rochelle on Friday night but had one in the form of veteran Doug Howlett.
The jury is out on whether some of Munster’s young guns have done enough to impress the new coaching team and Penney warned they might have to move fast to make up lost ground as French second division side Stade Rochelais hit the new kids for six tries.

Some players showed they are not up to it:

Penney seems to be a straight talker.

"We have learned a lot about some people and that is always important. That’s the first time we have see a few of these boys play. Some of them put their hands up and some of them didn’t. Some of them will and we have just got to try and sort out the ones that are capable of doing so."

[John Cooper Clarke]

Information from the game is scarce enough and granted it was the first game of preseason with a scratch selection, but reports suggest the scrum struggled, we didn't have any real forward dominance, couldn't break down the opposition defence, and made loads of errors. We also conceeded tries and numerous line breaks.

Plenty of work for Mr. Penney & Co. to do.

[Colliniho]

The next 2 games in Musser will be a much better barometer of where we are I feel. The trip to France seems to have been as much about the training camp and the bonding session as the game.