Vive la Revolution

[MrsMcGahan]

Penney expects players to learn quickly

By Simon Lewis

Wednesday, August 15, 2012
You quickly get the impression from listening to Rob Penney that his new charges at Munster had better learn from their mistakes and be quick about it.
The New Zealander has not been holding the reins for a month yet but his assessment yesterday of the province’s young guns in the opening pre-season friendly defeat at La Rochelle on Friday night will leave them under no illusions that the former Canterbury boss has not travelled from one end of the world to the other just to be a babysitter.

no cry babies:

[Valencia]

Play what they see! About time too

[brightspark]

I was worried that posters on this site wouldn't have patience with the new regime .
I'm now a bit worried that penny won't have the patience necessary for the job. The signs are that he's laying down the law to all and sundry which is good to hear, but his mutterings to he press are another matter.
what if the players don't improve as he expects ? He can't eat rid of them without wiping out the whole season.
any chance he could be trying too much too soon.
btw I do feel that there is a lot of deadwood in the squad who aren't good enough for Rabo rugby never mind HEC. I can see a big clear out at the end of the season which might put us back a bit especially with new plays etc.

I hope the players have the ability and skillset to show penny (and us) that they can adapt.

[budhabob]

He really does come out with all the right things. Roll on 2 weeks time.

[deltared]

"As I said, some the decision-making and some of the skill accuracy is where the fundamental issues lie and that’s just about guys making good decisions and getting used to seeing a different picture in front of them and having the flexibility and the confidence and ultimately the self-belief to carry out the decisions based on what they’re seeing instead of being, I suppose, rote-taught in some way."

Ouch!! Not exactly a ringing endorsement of the last coaching regime! Intelligence shines through, but it's going to be a long term project to change and move on from what went before.

[Cowboy]

"There were some real positives. I thought our lineout was first class. And in the [things to] work on area, a big focus on our contact work, particularly our inside-channel defence, on our height through all the contact areas, our scrummage and I suppose on some of the traditional values of Munster, of just being a bit tough sometimes. We were a bit fragile."


If this man coaches as well as he can analyse a game and talk to the press we have got ourselves a legacy builder. He's identified whats wrong in a matter of weeks and then he's told the media he knows about it, there's no dancing around issues, no cliches or codology. He tells it as he sees it.

[<BM>]

"As I said, some the decision-making and some of the skill accuracy is where the fundamental issues lie and that’s just about guys making good decisions and getting used to seeing a different picture in front of them and having the flexibility and the confidence and ultimately the self-belief to carry out the decisions based on what they’re seeing instead of being, I suppose, rote-taught in some way."

Ouch!! Not exactly a ringing endorsement of the last coaching regime! Intelligence shines through, but it's going to be a long term project to change and move on from what went before.

I was just about to paste the same quote. He talks a good talk, if he delivers anything close to what he's promising, then we're going to need to get that bandwagon out of long term storage pretty soon.

[Ragusa]

I was worried that posters on this site wouldn't have patience with the new regime .
I'm now a bit worried that penny won't have the patience necessary for the job. The signs are that he's laying down the law to all and sundry which is good to hear, but his mutterings to he press are another matter.
what if the players don't improve as he expects ? He can't eat rid of them without wiping out the whole season.
any chance he could be trying too much too soon.
btw I do feel that there is a lot of deadwood in the squad who aren't good enough for Rabo rugby never mind HEC. I can see a big clear out at the end of the season which might put us back a bit especially with new plays etc.

I hope the players have the ability and skillset to show penny (and us) that they can adapt.

The Deadwood has to go as soon as possible. Early season if neessary to be replaced by competent Players. We all know who is not up to the mark and have been winging it for some seasons. Unless Rob is stupid he will be rid of them shortly. Whats the point of keeping an up and coming player out of the team because some player was one time a great in the team. It will actually improve the season and team if action is taken early as good/hardworking players will see that they are rewarded.

Lets see what happens after Bristol game !!!

[B.A.]

Lads, this clearing out deadwood thing sounds great but in reality is bollox. When you have an unplanned injury crisis, you need the Billy Hollands, Scott Deasys etc to fall back on. Superstars are not going to hang around waiting for gametime behind the the first choice 22 so you have to have squad players to fall back on. Ideally, IMHO Penney needs to to get these lads up to a decent Rabo level who can put in a good shift when called upon. This idea of having 4 or 5 Willem Alberts sitting around waiting for an injury crisis to get a game is not the reality.

[Viigand]

I'm liking what I'm hearing so far from Penney. Sounds like he wants to play a style of rugby I like.

[ormond lad]

Lads, this clearing out deadwood thing sounds great but in reality is bollox. When you have an unplanned injury crisis, you need the Billy Hollands, Scott Deasys etc to fall back on. Superstars are not going to hang around waiting for gametime behind the the first choice 22 so you have to have squad players to fall back on. Ideally, IMHO Penney needs to to get these lads up to a decent Rabo level who can put in a good shift when called upon. This idea of having 4 or 5 Willem Alberts sitting around waiting for an injury crisis to get a game is not the reality.

Being slightly unfair on Billy Holland and Scott Deasy but while you do need them there is a time and place for them and there is a slight problem if they are being played regularly enough when it might be better to give JJ Hanrahan, Ian Nagle etc gametime esp when these options like JJ, Nagle are younger and more likely to be 1st team players down the line.
I dont think anyone has said anything like that we have "4 or 5 William Alberts" but at the same time we need to give more gametime to the players much more likely to be POCs than BHs(with no offence meant towards Billy Holland)
IMO we have too many players in the squad at the moment who are either decent Rabo level but not HEC level or unfulfilled potential and to fix that we need to play the unfulfilled potential to see if that potential can be reached

[Sketchy]

Being slightly unfair on Billy Holland and Scott Deasy but while you do need them there is a time and place for them and there is a slight problem if they are being played regularly enough when it might be better to give JJ Hanrahan, Ian Nagle etc gametime esp when these options like JJ, Nagle are younger and more likely to be 1st team players down the line.
I dont think anyone has said anything like that we have "4 or 5 William Alberts" but at the same time we need to give more gametime to the players much more likely to be POCs than BHs(with no offence meant towards Billy Holland)
IMO we have too many players in the squad at the moment who are either decent Rabo level but not HEC level or unfulfilled potential and to fix that we need to play the unfulfilled potential to see if that potential can be reached

Ya, rotating 47 players would be an almost impossible task. Some lads might be better served plying their trade in the AIL/BI Cup, and should we get injuries be somewhat match fit for a call up to the Rabo. Having said that Deasy and Holland are two lads that we will need quite regularly in the Rabo I would say. Fingers crossed Holland can play a Micko role of sorts and bring some experience to weaker teams when the International boys are away. Deasy finished the season quite well last year. I wonder will Penney be the man to motivate him to become the player he has been threatening to become.

[overthehillprop]

Lads, this clearing out deadwood thing sounds great but in reality is bollox. When you have an unplanned injury crisis, you need the Billy Hollands, Scott Deasys etc to fall back on. Superstars are not going to hang around waiting for gametime behind the the first choice 22 so you have to have squad players to fall back on. Ideally, IMHO Penney needs to to get these lads up to a decent Rabo level who can put in a good shift when called upon. This idea of having 4 or 5 Willem Alberts sitting around waiting for an injury crisis to get a game is not the reality.

totally agree about clearing deadwood. Only a few seasons ago Donnacha Ryan would have been put in the same category.

[Sketchy]

totally agree about clearing deadwood. Only a few seasons ago Donnacha Ryan would have been put in the same category.

How else does Penney give 47 players gametime in the Rabo and still remain competitive, while giving his best 15 match practice together for the Heineken?

I hope to see plenty of rotation but there will be certain players that fall between the cracks.

[Cowboy]

How else does Penney give 47 players gametime in the Rabo and still remain competitive, while giving his best 15 match practice together for the Heineken?

I hope to see plenty of rotation but there will be certain players that fall between the cracks.

FWIW I think Munster is comprised of 3 overlapping and interlocking teams HEC/RABO/B&I, thats 3x15 players at the minimum. Plenty of space and time for Penney to oversee and appraise all 47, plenty of gametime available too given our record when it comes to injury toll.

[Sketchy]

FWIW I think Munster is comprised of 3 overlapping and interlocking teams HEC/RABO/B&I, thats 3x15 players at the minimum. Plenty of space and time for Penney to oversee and appraise all 47, plenty of gametime available too given our record when it comes to injury toll.

Yup. That is true. I was banging on more about the Senior team though. But thank god for the B&I Cup though in that respect.

[Colliniho]

Even with the Rabo, Heineken and B&I Cups he will struggle to give all 47 a lot of game time. I'd imagine the majority of the squad will be under observation for a while, but he may decide pretty early that 10-15% of them aren't up to it and they may be jettisoned back to the AIL quickly

[the_dazz]

Even with the Rabo, Heineken and B&I Cups he will struggle to give all 47 a lot of game time. I'd imagine the majority of the squad will be under observation for a while, but he may decide pretty early that 10-15% of them aren't up to it and they may be jettisoned back to the AIL quickly

Its all well and good saying that but unfortunately the AIL isnt a viable option for many due to the contracted players rules. At any given time there is likely to be 5 or 6 guys on the injured list and with the internationals being rested a lot the task to rotate the remaining fit/available players between HEC/R12/B&I isnt all that difficult.

[Point]

"As I said, some the decision-making and some of the skill accuracy is where the fundamental issues lie and that’s just about guys making good decisions and getting used to seeing a different picture in front of them and having the flexibility and the confidence and ultimately the self-belief to carry out the decisions based on what they’re seeing instead of being, I suppose, rote-taught in some way."

Ouch!! Not exactly a ringing endorsement of the last coaching regime! Intelligence shines through, but it's going to be a long term project to change and move on from what went before.

At least he sees through the many faults of the last coaching regime, that's a good start. The de-programming of the players from that old crap might take a bit longer though, by the sounds of it.

[moritz]

McGahan - was very structured , maul here, lineout there , then do this , graph graph grah
A massive fan of this is POC

Penny - Play what you see in front of you

[Hugh Jardon]

He really does come out with all the right things. Roll on 2 weeks time.

i'd wait 6 months more like

[99_oK?]

..... Superstars are not going to hang around waiting for gametime behind the the first choice 22 - is Bo**iX...! .....

Please think of what you just said.

We don't have many superstars, and certainly don't have 'em in the wings waiting for the right weather in which to play. BTW, we did have a number of prima donnas hanging around. Well I for one don't want any more girls (yep, we've had a few....) associated with this squad, so if they're not prepared to put their shoulder to the wheel and up their game, I'll be delighted if RP shows 'em the door. That was the way Munster used to be and from what I've heard we may be going back to core values with this man. If so, welcome in Rob Penney...!

And if he is true to our old core values, I'll have far more pep in my step going into the terraces too.

[joeriddick]

I like the attitude Penney seems to have. How this will go down long term with the players and the lads upstairs will be an interesting test of this "pride and honesty" lark. In my experience a lot of organisations say they want a guy like Penney but then balk when he does what he said he would do in the interview.

That being said, from a fans point of view he's exactly what's needed. I always got the impression (rightly or wrongly) that McGahan was a little too cosy with the senior squad. One thing seems to be sure, Penney isn't going to take any bullsh!t and that's a joy to see.

[lilletmo?]

I like the attitude Penney seems to have. How this will go down long term with the players and the lads upstairs will be an interesting test of this "pride and honesty" lark. In my experience a lot of organisations say they want a guy like Penney but then balk when he does what he said he would do in the interview.

That being said, from a fans point of view he's exactly what's needed. I always got the impression (rightly or wrongly) that McGahan was a little too cosy with the senior squad. One thing seems to be sure, Penney isn't going to take any bullsh!t and that's a joy to see.

Think back to what quinnhsaid rs ulster looking at penny and felt too strong character. Glad we got him. Haven't looked forward to a season so much. Have decided to head Paris in this atmosphere of anticipation. Will gladly settle for a season of no repeat of the osprey game which I was at.....expect to get beat this season but if go down playing rugby it will hurt but I will get over it. Not sure of I will ever get over that night at liberty stadium. Taz u over it

[Ragusa]

totally agree about clearing deadwood. Only a few seasons ago Donnacha Ryan would have been put in the same category.

Donnacha was unfairly being kept out of the team by deadwood for at least 18 months !!! D Ryan was never deadwood.

[MrsMcGahan]

DR was never deadwood. Look who he had ahead of him - Leamy, Wally and Quinnie in the BR and POC + DOC in the 2nd. The criticism against him was not trying hard enough to break in to the 2nd row.

[outside inside]

" On our height through all the contact areas " music to the ears lots of rucking practice in store . Hope he phoned up Jim Telfer to get his rucking stick .