Penney Interview on Newstalk

[JoeyFantastic]

You do realise that just because player A, B and C came through at a time when Coach A was in charge, it doesn't necessarily mean Coach A was responsible for it.

I am not saying he doesn't deserve credit for it, or it had nothing to do with him, just that it is quite simplistic to take the view that because something happened during a coaches tenure he had a significant say in it. People underestimate the random in life.

Except he did reorganise the Academy.

[DONC]

Bit of a stretch to say he's a product of the Academy/A team but sure why not.

Compare the youth Kidney left McGahan (Hurley/Dave Ryan, Fogs, Tim Ryan, Donncha Ryan/Melbourne, O'Connor, Holland, TOD, Williams/TOL, Manning, Denis Hurley) to the one McGahan left Penney. It's incredible how much our Academy improved in his tenure. The young team Kidney left behind wasn't stacked with poor players but neither was it very good, albeit it had some good players. The one McGahan built is stacked with talent.

Add in that he brought in guys like Keatley and Jones too and you have to say he left us in good shape, in addition to winning two leagues etc. It's a shame a decent guy is run down to the extent he is. He did a lot of good for Munster. I think he had to go, and I'm glad we got Penney, but I'll be grateful for the players he helped bring through.

Yea I would say thats very fair comment. Overall I dont think McG was a bad coach as such, just not a head coach. His problems were compounded by having at times very poor assistant coaches as well - if they were his calls or not I dont know.

I also am glad he has left the head coach position, would not have minded if he went back to his old job but you wouldnt expect that. My main worry is still the thought process that wanted to hand him two more years.

Still water under the bridge best of luck to him. But more luck to RP who back on thread was very good on the Newstalk interview and seems to be looking for plan A & B & C & D.......

[JoeyFantastic]

He was Head coach but also tasked with improving the Academy setup. He had a massive amount to do with what Munster now have. Signing Stander was very much he and Shaun Payne.

Indeed, I agree McGahan had to go, I'm glad he was part of Australia's draw with New Zealand and I'm glad we have Penney but we should be able to look back and say that he left a lot of good things as his legacy.

[Thomond78]

Look there's only one way to sort this out.

JoeyF and Point to fight to the death, armed with feather dusters, in the middle of TP, half time, Friday.

[blackwarrior]

Bump. I'm just catching up with the Rob Penney interview now. Looking forward to it ....

[blackwarrior]

Bump. I'm just catching up with the Rob Penney interview now. Looking forward to it ....

Excellent. That man is direct. He has a plan, he believes in it, he will sell it to his players and staff, and he doesn't take fools gladly.

I will support and follow this man! Bring on the Zebre match tomorrow ....because I want to see as much as possible of how he is working to build a new Munster team in a style that he believes is right. And from what I've heard from him, he has a plan and, to hell with the sceptics, he is sticking to it.

[The Last Stand]

Indeed, I agree McGahan had to go, I'm glad he was part of Australia's draw with New Zealand and I'm glad we have Penney but we should be able to look back and say that he left a lot of good things as his legacy.

He managed a transition fairly well. We might have got one more HEC but that was that. But, look what we have now in terms of talent and promise for a new coach. Allez les rouges. A new journey begins...albeit we are all a bit older.

[Talking Sense]

Really enjoyed the interview, I think Penney is a fascinating rugby man and I love his passion and the depth of his thinking on the game, very impressive.

[Major TNT]

Up on Soundcloud, check out Thornley and Wood's reaction on the player tomorrow too

http://soundcloud.com/off-the-ball/r...y-passionately

Cheers for that, I caught the start of it at the time but had to leave it.
The more I hear from Penney the more I like him, he has serious conviction

[Dumptruck]

Cheers for that, I caught the start of it at the time but had to leave it.
The more I hear from Penney the more I like him, he has serious conviction

A Conviction.. how did he get through the country.

[taz]

A Conviction.. how did he get through the country.

I heard you were involved.

[Mickc10]

Do I see a change in the Munster ethos where it has now become the norm to trust the coach even when things aren't going according to plan rather then second guessing every decision? Hmm...

[isola ciarrai]

Except he did reorganise the Academy.

The IRFU directed the reorganisation (actually, just the organisation) of the Munster Academy. Nothing personal against anyone but the new head was headhunted for the job. Fact. Being invited and urged to apply is the same fundamentally as being headhunted. The IRFU were concerned about the low Munster representation on Irish age grade panels of all types.
But credit to McGahan who could see the potential of the Academy. He took a keen interest in it and it was my contention that McG would have been a fine rugby man viz player development etc, just not a head coach.

[dropkick]

McGahan worked hard to help Munster develop. He deserves credit for squad he left behind. Theres a young, talented squad of players there more teams would be envious of. McGahans big flaw was on the playing field where he turned Munster into a predictable team. In hindsight it looks like he got the job when he was too inexperienced.

[Dumptruck]

[QUOTE=isola ciarrai;1128963]The IRFU directed the reorganisation (actually, just the organisation) of the Munster Academy. Nothing personal against anyone but the new head was headhunted for the job. Fact. Being invited and urged to apply is the same fundamentally as being headhunted. The IRFU were concerned about the low Munster representation on Irish age grade panels of all types.
But credit to McGahan who could see the potential of the Academy. He took a keen interest in it and it was my contention that McG would have been a fine rugby man viz player development etc, just not a head coach.[/QUOTE Actually the Irfu did not, McGahan, GFitz,John Hartery, Martin O,Sullivan and some others did.

[busby]

Except he did reorganise the Academy.

Perhaps so, but his primary role was as head coach of the Munster senior side and thats where he fell flat on his arse.

Clear from that interview that very few people in the Munster set up will be questioning this philosophy. The man has a natural aura of authority and knowledge that demands respect. He knows what he's doing, how to do it and why he's doing it.

[barleys chinos]

[QUOTE=busby;1129297]Perhaps so, but his primary role was as head coach of the Munster senior side and thats where he fell flat on his arse.
Ya 2 magners and 2 H/C semi finals is a really bad record.
And 2 H/C as an assistant coach.

[busby]

[QUOTE=barleys chinos;1129311]

Perhaps so, but his primary role was as head coach of the Munster senior side and thats where he fell flat on his arse.
Ya 2 magners and 2 H/C semi finals is a really bad record.
And 2 H/C as an assistant coach.

If you're unable to see the complete and utter capitulation of the Munster side from 2008 to 2010/11 then your not worth arguing with.

[barleys chinos]

[QUOTE=busby;1129447]

If you're unable to see the complete and utter capitulation of the Munster side from 2008 to 2010/11 then your not worth arguing with.

Thanks, nice reply you really put me in my place.

[Paddy Whac]

Penney was interviewed on RedFM this evening, anyone catch it or can it be picked up online later?

[JoeyFantastic]

Perhaps so, but his primary role was as head coach of the Munster senior side and thats where he fell flat on his arse.

Clear from that interview that very few people in the Munster set up will be questioning this philosophy. The man has a natural aura of authority and knowledge that demands respect. He knows what he's doing, how to do it and why he's doing it.

He won two leagues in four years, retired old players and developed a young team and improved the structure for bringing youth through, that's a lot of success. He had to move on but the amount of criticism he gets is ott.

[Dumptruck]

He won two leagues in four years, retired old players and developed a young team and improved the structure for bringing youth through, that's a lot of success. He had to move on but the amount of criticism he gets is ott.

You can,t say that though, simply put, didn,t win the hec cup, ergo according to many here, he was a failure.

[JoeyFantastic]

You can,t say that though, simply put, didn,t win the hec cup, ergo according to many here, he was a failure.

Ah, it's all about the journey, the joy is not the same without the pain, if all the year were playing holidays to sport would be as tedious as to work etc. I share some of the criticisms but overall we should take the positives as they are and wish himself and Penney luck. He's a decent guy and a bunch of internet no-marks having cuts of him says more about them than about him, imo.

[Dumptruck]

Ah, it's all about the journey, the joy is not the same without the pain, if all the year were playing holidays to sport would be as tedious as to work etc. I share some of the criticisms but overall we should take the positives as they are and wish himself and Penney luck. He's a decent guy and a bunch of internet no-marks having cuts of him says more about them than about him, imo.

Agree
100%

[RichardP]

Not sure I agree with this constant kicking of McGahan (and this 'McGahanball' ********).

It's worth remembering a lot of this soon-to-be core group of young players wouldn't have come through without his placing emphasis on the academy. The likes of POM cut their teeth two seasons ago, Murray and others came through under his watch.

Yeah look mate, as T McG would say himself, the emphasis on Academy was NOT his brainchild, it was his assignment. It is often referred to by those wishing to support him, or indeed to attack DK, but it wasn't his idea in the first place. Others in the organization recognized a need for serious emphasis there and he got the job of making it happen. His efforts in developing individuals are worthy of acknowledgement, certainly; equally I would say the Academy is at a much higher standard because of those efforts. Its moot whether someone else could have or would have done better but he still failed to accomplish what was expected and required with the Senior squad. They regressed significantly in many facets of play, tactics and attitude being the most apparent. This is not having a go at you Leaky, but I think McGahan defenders don't recognize or acknowledge the negative affects his tenure caused to the Munster squad and to the Munster' brand'?

[RichardP]

Did anyone else get the sense that he was getting a defensive and coming out with the odd sh*te point like the above DOC one? Just a thought.

No. Just you....

[etcpostmaster]

Mcgahan lead Munster to 2 Celticmagro direct titles when we just simply weren't good enough for Europe. That's not too bad. Up untill the Leinster semi final 2009 I personally thought Munster were invincible. I really felt that Munster had peaked and were playing their best rugby. A lot of people did, let's not forget how the fans and experts rated Munster at this point. Having obliterated Perpignan at home ( top 14 champions at the time) pundits like will greenwood, and... Some other guys, had Munster down as clear favorites to win. That loss to Leinster, to me, damaged Munster rugby in a big way. It was the first time Munster had been been beaten like that in a knock out game in europe. We got bitch slapped, and for the first time the team just simply lost. There wasn't a brave fight back.. We just got spanked. This game affected Munster more than any other game in the clubs history.

[brightspark]

Mcgahan lead Munster to 2 Celticmagro direct titles when we just simply weren't good enough for Europe. That's not too bad. Up untill the Leinster semi final 2009 I personally thought Munster were invincible. I really felt that Munster had peaked and were playing their best rugby. A lot of people did, let's not forget how the fans and experts rated Munster at this point. Having obliterated Perpignan at home ( top 14 champions at the time) pundits like will greenwood, and... Some other guys, had Munster down as clear favorites to win. That loss to Leinster, to me, damaged Munster rugby in a big way. It was the first time Munster had been been beaten like that in a knock out game in europe. We got bitch slapped, and for the first time the team just simply lost. There wasn't a brave fight back.. We just got spanked. This game affected Munster more than any other game in the clubs history.

You do know you write like tony ward , don't you?

[The Last Stand]

Did we not beat Perpignon in the 2009/2010 season? That was after the Leinster defeat. That season both Leinster and Munster lost semi's away to French teams.

[blackwarrior]

That loss to Leinster, to me, damaged Munster rugby in a big way. It was the first time Munster had been been beaten like that in a knock out game in europe. We got bitch slapped, and for the first time the team just simply lost. There wasn't a brave fight back.. We just got spanked. This game affected Munster more than any other game in the clubs history.

I agree with that. Well put. The thing is, we were probably going to get found out by somebody. I agree that we looked invincible up to the Ospreys QF that year, which was then followed by all those Lions selections. Then Leinter took out a massive pin and burst our collective bubble that day in Croker.

Anyway - enough of 2009! Penney is the man now.

Is he the first Munster coach in history who sounds interesting in interviews?