MUNSTER ASSISTANT COACH Denis Leamy has confirmed that the province will not be signing Springboks hooker Malcolm Marx.
The southern province have been repeatedly linked with the World Cup winner in recent months, but Leamy says Munster won’t be bringing in Marx, who currently plays his club rugby in Japan.
“I’d like to work with Malcolm Marx, but there’s nothing in it,” said Leamy this afternoon.
“There’s nothing there for us. No, that’s not something that’s happening, to be as clear about that as I can.
“Look, obviously we look in different areas of the market but that’s not a conversation that’s ongoing.”
It remains to be seen if Munster bring in a new hooker next season, with Niall Scannell having been linked with a move to Johann van Graan’s Bath when his contract expires in the summer.
While Munster are in the midst of a busy period of the season, with Northampton visiting Thomond Park this weekend, there is lots of contract and recruitment work happening in the background as Graham Rowntree looks to put his stamp on the squad.
“With the contract stuff, it’s part of our business but we try to leave that to one side,” said Leamy.
“It’s all about performance and what’s in front of us, which is Northampton this weekend. There’s contract talks ongoing all the time and that’s dealt with by Wig [Rowntree] and he takes care of that an awful lot.
“Thankfully, from my point of view as an assistant coach along with Mike Prendergast and Andi Kyriacou, we don’t really have to focus on that. Wig will give us weekly updates or monthly updates on that sort of stuff. That business goes on but everyone focuses on one goal and that’s performance.”
Munster trained at Thomond Park today as they prepare for Saturday afternoon’s clash with the visiting English side and Leamy said there have been some tough selection calls to settle on.
“There’s some really interesting debates happening in the mornings when we discuss teams,” said the former Ireland international.
“It’s very interesting to see the different coaches with different ideas. Like, I want a chop-tackler, the forwards coaches want a lineout option… everyone’s fighting for their different type of player and it’s really interesting discussions.
“We have a lot of options, a lot of guys playing really well. The back row is very hotly contested, the centres, the back three, and it’s very exciting. We have a really difficult job to pick a team this week.
“We’re trying to put out the best team that represents us for this weekend. Because you pick teams differently depending on the opposition you’re playing. So picking a team for Northampton is a real challenge.”
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Cork look to be the weakest team going into the Munster Championship this year. I really fear for us. The ground better dry up fast if we’re to have any hope.
Think Tipp will win the AI this year. Only lost to Galway by a point last year and were no where near their best.
Fair play to Limerick for going 10 games unbeaten.
@Munsterman: serious talent on that limerick side. Promising future ahead for limerick hopefully. Always were my second team outside of where im from.
Great win but the best is still to come.
Very hard to predict Tipps championship 15 now. Serious squad
What pissed many of us off was limerick v tipp just after munster v toulon, if the game was played today instead of last night after the munster v toulon game the attendance would have been double, i would have gone to thurles my self today, but no they played the game in thurles on a saturday night, i can not make out weather it was stupid or done on purpose.
@ktsiwot: who’s us? They could have moved the Munster game to today too!!
@Joe Kennedy: The Munster match was watched by millions around the world, I suspect it had more of a pull.
@Munsterman: haha….millions?! There was billions watching the hurling I believe!
@Joe Kennedy: I am from limerick and would have gone to that game if on today, was at thomond for what has an incredible match and atmosphere.
Many I know were in the same situation as well as many I met last night watching the match from both Limerick and Tipp.
They fixed that match last monday, they lost attendance and money, many were discussing it last night and could not get over the stupidity of it.
The majority of people follow all sport and not stuck to a specific mindset.
@Joe Kennedy: yes joe it is a european cup the pop of uk, france and ireland is well over 100 million, it is not stretching it to say a million saw the game. Nearly every one I new saw that match more so than the hurling match which was also brilliant.
@ktsiwot: excuses excuses. I made both comfortably. Even had time to stop in borrisoleigh for a hot chicken roll
@Tadhg Keating: good man Tadhg. Fair play.
@ktsiwot: he said “millions around the world” though!! Three European countries = the World does it?! Doesn’t matter anyway….was just laughing at the exaggeration. I follow all sports myself too by the way. Everyone I knew had no interest in the rugby…..not sure what that’s got to do with anything though!! Finally, as Tadhg said…. you could have made both if you really wanted to anyway no?
@Joe Kennedy: this match was broadcasted all over Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. I’m not at all exaggerating when I said millions watched it.
@Munsterman: haha… ah come off it!! Throw up your source for your stats there! How do you know how many watched it in those countries?!
@ktsiwot: typical privileged rugby fanboy comment. They could just as easily moved the rugby match to Sunday or even Monday but of course no one can even suggest that. The games clash so it’s the GAA’s fault. End of story.
We will win no All Ireland with Barry fullback. He is a disaster, wrong side of his man all night, no idea how to defend and running around in circles. No one else given a chance at fullback apart from Hamill who we also know is too slow. Puckouts major issue aswell, embarrassing watching last night, not 1 Tipp player able to catch a ball, even standing on their own they stick the Hurley up to knock the ball down instead of catching it. Put your hand up for christ sake and catch the ball.
@Wedger: WHEN I PLAYED hurling no one had the nerve to put their hand up.IT WAS FAR TOO DANGEROUS..
@Michael Heery: me too. Many a finger bone popped out of place from getting a smack catching the ball. Miss that on a freezing sunday morning. Used to love getting bones clicked back into place. Seriously tough game! Tipp have some panel. Hard to look past them come business end of the season.