no official confirmation from the club but the players doing a tunnel with the leavers was shown:
Ryan
Scannell
Kleyn
Abrahams
Patterson
Butler
Smith
Gibbons
We didn’t see any academy players.
There’s been lots of reporting on McMillan’s comments on the press conference yesterday. I wouldn’t go so far as to paint it as dishonest but I don’t think it paints a full picture of the situation.
For a start, to understand his comments, I think there’s necessary context to be understood. That being that, after the Randle fiasco, a review process has been conducted. First, an internal review. Now, it’s been passed for an external review to the IRFU, as they’re the ones who appear to hold primary hiring and firing power for Flanagan, Costello and McMillan’s positions.
When McMillan says:
“Very early on, I communicated to the IRFU and our boards – and our players – that if I’m not the right person to lead this team forward, then people can make that decision, and I’ll accept it.“
and
“Other people might make a decision around whether I’m here next year or the year after. If that’s what people decide – if I’m not the best person to lead this team forward – that will be their decision.”
He’s basically stating that he’ll accept the results of the review. The focus is all on people making the decisions rather than McMillan making the decision. If the review finds him at fault, then he will take the dismissal that comes from that. From an organizational standpoint, I think Flanagan and Costello’s are far more likely to be in the firing line given respective responsibilities.
There is one line that goes beyond that:
“I encourage that (the review), because there are changes that I think need to be made to give me the confidence that I have the support to be able to do the job that’s needed.”
Exactly, what these changes are, as the result of the review, only McMillan can answer. But given context, one can assume he’s at least not happy with Costello and Flanagan, and probably in general, asking questions about Munster’s structure. But I think to present it, as a back-me or sack-me ultimatum, is reading far too much into it.
So, if you look at McMillan’s comments in context, it doesn’t look like he’s preparing to leave and any article that gives that impression isn’t providing the full context. In fact, it looks like he’s positioning himself to stay, provided the review doesn’t move him on, and wants the review to work in providing him support.
Maybe, I’m reading McMillan wrong, only he can answer what he meant. And, like many people, I don’t think he’s happy with Munster rugby at the moment. But it doesn’t look like he’s preparing to jump ship.
And I think it’s worth noting that the press in general have been trying to draw drama out of the situation since last week’s announcement. I thought the questions asked of Coombes, Kendellen and Lawlor were deeply unfair. And while it’s fair to ask similar questions to McMillan, the motive behind it is the same.
Putting aside any of the discussion around Randle, given there’s nothing changing there. Are there any candidates that would be available to jump-in and improve things? There are probably three names that will be mentioned: