Hanrahan to start??

[Tipplad]

It is Do or Die and ROG is out. I know Keatley is playing well this year but I think it is safe to say our attacking structure and game management did disimprove when he stepped into 10. However, I was very happy with his first 30 minutes at 15. He can link up well, big boot and is a strong defender. So is it the time for JJ to step up to the mark?? Jackson is more and less a nailed down starter for ulster so why can't we do the same with our fellow young gun. He oozes confidence and is in flying form at the moment.

[the_dazz]

I'd like to see him play, while there is generally a conservative approach to how Munster integrate young guys we have seen some of them become regulars once given the opportunity. Take POM, Zebo, Murray and to a lesser extent DOC2.0, the first 3 were capped within 12 months of being given their chance and grasping it with both hands. Id like to see Penney take the chance on JJ with this one and start Keatley at 15, if it aint working, dont panic, Hurley on to 15 and Keatley to 10.

[Mack the Knife]

Play him. If he's good enough he's old enough !

[Sketchy]

This match is far too important to risk. Not saying that he is not up for it but we HAVE to get a win against Edinburgh or our HEC season is as good as done. Loads of matches coming up to give JJ a run in. Some handy Rabo fixtures in Thomond in the next two months. If he plays well enough in them then so be it.

[Bromance]

Leave Keats start 10, he deserves it, is always tough moving from one position to another. I'd like to see Keats start 10 and see how he goes with JJ getting last 15-20 and Keats to 15 for the two 1st reciever options when in midfield. Would be a great learning experience for JJ if was to get last 15mins, see how to close out games and get the feel for the HC. Can't see him starting

[MrsMcGahan]

Hmmm....
After a week of hysterical wailing cos ROG was at ten instead of Keatley only to find that a weakish effort by him in a shakey team means he is useless and 13 year old JJ is the man to do the job.
Surprising that..........

[jeepers]

It is Do or Die and ROG is out. I know Keatley is playing well this year but I think it is safe to say our attacking structure and game management did disimprove when he stepped into 10. However, I was very happy with his first 30 minutes at 15. He can link up well, big boot and is a strong defender. So is it the time for JJ to step up to the mark?? Jackson is more and less a nailed down starter for ulster so why can't we do the same with our fellow young gun. He oozes confidence and is in flying form at the moment.

I don't think there would be any problem starting JJ if Ruan Pienaar was 9 and Paddy Wallace was 12 instead of Murray & Downey. Don't forget that JJ is 6 or 7 months younger than Jackson and Jackson wasn't in a good place 6 months ago.

I'd like to see JJ starting at 12 for a few games alongside ROG.

[the_dazz]

Hmmm....
After a week of hysterical wailing cos ROG was at ten instead of Keatley only to find that a weakish effort by him in a shakey team means he is useless and 13 year old JJ is the man to do the job.
Surprising that..........

No one said he's useless.

[Adam1986]

Have to go with Tiplad and Mack the knife. He is an absolutely excellent talent and is completely wasted in the B&I cup side he's above that level and there are other players who need the game time with the B&I team who are not ready for the big time, he is. Whoever Penney decides we'll all back but we also have to remember ROG is aging, Keatley as I said before on other threads will be solid for us but lacks that extra bit of 'something' that JJ has oozed for the bones of a year. Time to see if we can put that 'something' to use. If he were born south of the equator he'd probably be S15 already. Lets not fall pray to our silly Irish conservatism and let a good talent sit on the sidelines. A bit of faith goes a long way, just look at P. Jackson and Henderson up north.

[John Cooper Clarke]

JJ has played a total of 10 mins of Rabo level rugby I think. A HEC start is not his next step up (although he could well be on the bench for Sunday).

[rua13]

This place has gone to the dogs...

[99_oK?]

Leave Keats start 10, he deserves it, is always tough moving from one position to another. I'd like to see Keats start 10 and see how he goes with JJ getting last 15-20 and Keats to 15 for the two 1st reciever options when in midfield. Would be a great learning experience for JJ if was to get last 15mins, see how to close out games and get the feel for the HC. Can't see him starting

Correct that Keatley has earned the start, but do I detect a hint of 'we've won it' in the rest of your post?

Gunners aren't a rollover and they will be up for this game too. Remember how close it was over there and they won't fear coming to us either. Win the game first, if BP is on go for it but we have to ensure the win. A good honest effort from 1 to XV will be required and as for closing out the game - I want to see IK doing that (assuming the team puts him in that position).

All this talk of JJ 'closing out, etc' is disrespectful and dangerous. We're on a losing streak - we need to reverse that and get our season back on track. No more talk of BPs or even qualification at this stage. Just play the game in fornt of us, play to win, if the BP is on go for it.

No more wild talk - pleez......!

[RED 49]

jj will be on the bench for edinburgh and i would expect him to get some game time ,hopefully to see game out,edinburgh will be hoping for backlash and we need to be careful. JJ hopefully will start following week v zebre in rabo at home.

[Angus Axe]

Interesting to see how players go from hero to zero in 10 minutes. Keatley will be at 10 on Sunday, and any other decision would be crazy. JJ will have his time and I'm sure Penny is the man to do that. Not this weekend though

[Kevy-Wevz]

JJ has played a total of 10 mins of Rabo level rugby I think. A HEC start is not his next step up (although he could well be on the bench for Sunday).

This X 10 Billion.

ROG isn't playing great and Keatley doesn't set the world alight in one match so it's time to throw JJ in the deep end at an all or nothing HEC match against an good Edinburgh side who will be looking to prove a serious point after last week.(All with 10 mins of Rabo experience behind him when we had a massive lead)

Some people really need to remove the head from the anal region

[Mack the Knife]

This place has gone to the dogs...

No it hasn't. I was at Curraheen Park the other night and did not meet any poster from this forum

[JoeyFantastic]

We're playing Zebre the week after next, if there's any game to give hanrahan serious time in it's that.

Edinburgh are last years semi-finalists, they aren't a pub team out for a laugh. Keatley has to start.

[Kevy-Wevz]

We're playing Zebre the week after next, if there's any game to give hanrahan serious time in it's that.

Edinburgh are last years semi-finalists, they aren't a pub team out for a laugh. Keatley has to start.

ROG will undoubtedly be called up to intl duty for the AI's and I wouldn't be surprised if he started one or two(regardless of form) so I think that's when we'll see JJ get some time off the bench.

We'll probably see him on the bench on Sunday anyway but I doubt we'll see him unless we're way ahead or way behind with 10 mins to go

[munstershane]

I guess JJ is on the bench on Sunday seeing as Deasy is not in the squad?

Once the game starts anything can happen. It is possible that he will get called into action at some stage.

[John123]

What a ridiculous ****ing thread...

[MrsMcGahan]

jj will be on the bench for edinburgh and i would expect him to get some game time ,hopefully to see game out,edinburgh will be hoping for backlash and we need to be careful. JJ hopefully will start following week v zebre in rabo at home.

We'll see their backlash and (hopefully) raise them the mother and father of all backlashes.

[MrsMcGahan]

We're playing Zebre the week after next, if there's any game to give hanrahan serious time in it's that.

Edinburgh are last years semi-finalists, they aren't a pub team out for a laugh. Keatley has to start.

We're in the market for that slot.

[ed7890]

JJ should start, and if he doesn't win us the game then we need to cut our losses on him and move onto somebody even younger.

[rua13]

Darren sweetnam should start at full back while we're at it

[Cowboy]

This place has gone to the dogs...

Mental isnt it, more chopping, dropping and changing of players goes on here than in Toulon.

He's too old drop him, he's useless in the rain we need alternatives, he's a kid he'll sort everything out.

Instant gratification* comes to mind bigtime.

Give fellas a chance, and an even break. Keatley has the grand total of 1 start in the HEC, and an additional 2 subs from last year, its new to him. Same with JJ, offer him an opportunity to find his feet in a game that might suit him, not a knockout of the HEC on a Sunday morning.

Patience is needed.



















*The disparaging term instant gratification is often used to label the satisfactions gained by more impulsive behaviors: choosing now over tomorrow. The skill of giving preference to long term goals over more immediate ones is known as deferred gratification or patience, and it is usually considered a virtue, producing rewards in the long-term.

[MrsMcGahan]

Too obvious. I'd go for Harry McNulty.

[déiseman]

I guess JJ is on the bench on Sunday seeing as Deasy is not in the squad?

Once the game starts anything can happen. It is possible that he will get called into action at some stage.

If Deasy isn't in the HC squad then JJ was always going to be the 3rd choice 10..... so why in ainm Dé did he start at 12 against Plymouth!?!? Thought it was odd anyway but in light of that it seems fairly short sighted not to give him more experience at 10. Don't forget he played 12 throughout the U20 6 nations and the B&I cup last year, he's obviously well able to play 10 but he still needs game time there in case, as you say, he has to be thrown in at HC level.

[Mack the Knife]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9qL3Ghf7w8

This kid has only played 5 senior games for Toulouse. If your good enough your old enough !

[MunsterMagic007]

JJ should start, and if he doesn't win us the game then we need to cut our losses on him and move onto somebody even younger.

This kinda tripe and rash thinking is unbelievable, JJ hasnt even started a game yet in the Rabo and you potentially want to start him in one of the teams most pivotal games of the season. We should all be getting behind keatley who has been great since the beginning of the season and has been treated unfairly imo esp in the last 3 games if form is anything to go by. He was put in a difficult position last saturday moving to replace rog at a time when our dominance in the forwards after the first 20/30 minutes had disipated!

[munstershane]

munstermagic007 chances are he's going to be on the bench as the only out half cover in the squad since ROG is injured.

If Keatley got injured 5 mins into the match it'd be **** or get off the pot time for JJ. If he's good enough for the bench maybe he's good enough to start.

However I agree that Keatley should start.