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27th December 2023
01:39pm GMT
"I know there's a mindset that it's just business but it's not around Munster. It's highly frustrating and I know supporters, ex-players, an awful lot of us are really frustrated by it... there comes a point in a players decision where [you have a decision] about your career or money path-way over your reputation. For me, someone like RG Snyman won't be seen in the likes of Shaun Payne or Trevor Halstead when it comes to Munster greats, and how he is remembered. "I can't believe it was signed off," he added. "I would now question the structure of the funding model... Last week, I watched European Cup rugby and the outstanding second row, bar maybe Tadhg Beirne and Iain Henderson was [former Leinster player] young Jack Dunne for Exeter. He was outstanding, but he's playing in England and here we are allowing RG Snyman go up the road and taking up game minutes from Irish players. "For me, it is a contradiction from what we are saying we're trying to do. We are saying we're trying to develop a path-way [to Test rugby] for Irish players and, for me, I think this blocks it."Former Connacht and Leinster hooker Bernard Jackman showed empathy to O'Callaghan and the Munster supporters, admitting the Snyman move was 'a sore one'. Still, he added that the provinces should be allowed to sign star foreign players. "I think the IRFU should have let that slide, and allowed them to keep Snyman," he added. Host Daire O'Brien, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, threw out the phrase "financial doping", when it came to Leinster, to Jamie Heaslip. The former Ireland captain replied, "I wouldn't put it like that!"
"Look, I can understand the Munster fans' position, and them being frustrated by it. The market sets the price for players. International second rows like Snyman are in demand. Leinster have always, when they've won [in Europe], had a big iconic talisman like [Snyman] so it fits the bill for someone like that to come."Heaslip said he could understand O'Callaghan's argument about the path-ways being clogged up but added, "I wouldn't give out about the player." "The reason so many Leinster players are getting [IRFU central] contracts is because of their success... you have to earn the right to get that." https://twitter.com/RTEsport/status/1739730563420811433
Following his side's latest defeat, Rowntree said, "It’s an Achilles injury there [for Edogbo]. It doesn’t look good. Dave Kilcoyne, shoulder. Diarmuid Barron got a foot injury, Alex Nankivell as well. It’s quite a lengthy list there. "We are already thin on the deck. We are thin squad wise, availability wise. We will see what we can muster up on Thursday, see what the injury report presents itself because we have got another big game at the Sportsground. We drive on."Leinster left props Andrew Porter and Michael Ala'alatoa on until the 73rd minute and did not use reserve backs Ben Murphy or Liam Turner at all. They had Munster's number in most areas of the game, but gave up 10 turnovers to five allowed by the hosts. Some of those turnovers came inside the Munster 22, with Luke McGrath and Rónan Kelleher coming closest to scoring tries. On the plus side for Munster, Tom Ahern looked seriously impressive again, Simon Zebo showed some of that spark of old and Alex Nankivell looks to be an astute signing. Next up for the Irish provinces are New Years Day clashes - Connacht vs. Munster and Leinster vs. Ulster.
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