Two weeks ago, at half-time in Munster’s clash away to Exeter in the Parker Pen Challenge Shield (or whatever they call European rugby’s afterthought competition now), it felt like we had reached a tipping point.
A woeful Munster performance, typified by embarrassing turnstile defence, had Clayton McMillan’s side trailing 31-0 and the second-half ‘fightback’ against a Chiefs side that had clearly clocked out did not change a thing.
This was a fresh hell, not long after the team’s 45-0 humiliation by the Sharks in Durban, and further brutal evidence of what a shambles this organisation had become – an insult to their legacy as the driving force for the explosion in rugby’s popularity in Ireland in the 2000s.
Tough day out: Jack Crowley and Alex Kendellen dejected after the loss away to Exeter
Two weeks ago, on the back of that Exeter humbling, we called for a change in personnel running the organisation, a proper plan to address woefully inadequate pathways and internal structures, more transparency overall and a concerted attempt to address the Limerick-Cork rift that is ripping the province apart.
The conclusion was that this was now a full-blown crisis demanding decisive action and heads to roll. It could not be glossed over and explained away – as so much has over the past decade and a half.
It was clear that Munster rugby had hit an all-time low. This was absolute rock bottom.
Then they signed Roger Randle.
Going down…
History: Clayton McMillan (left) and Roger Randle (centre) during their time with the Chiefs
We did not think it was possible for those running Munster rugby to sink further in our estimation but, by golly, they managed it with recruitment of Randle as attack coach.
Without getting into the weeds of what is alleged to have taken place nearly 30 years ago, Randle is a Kiwi former coaching colleague of McMillan’s, who in 1997 was accused of raping a 31-year-old woman in Durban while he was a player with the Hurricanes.
The case did not proceed because the woman dropped the charges but the reported details surrounding the alleged incident, widely circulated last week, make for deeply unsavoury reading.
And, while Randle has always maintained his innocence, whatever way you look at it, this recruitment decision comes with a whole lot of baggage.
Who the hell thought this was a good idea?
Highly respected: Former Munster and Ireland second row Mick O’Driscoll
Well, based on what has come out over the last week, head coach McMillan, general manager Ian Costello and CEO Ian Flanagan were strongly in favour of this move.
Munster have since doubled down, releasing a statement saying that ‘due diligence’ was taken before the decision to hire Randle, with McMillan then going on the record describing Randle as an ‘outstanding human being’.
Whatever way you approach this, it is hard to find any mitigating evidence exonerating Munster from this moronic decision on top of a litany of horrendous calls over the past few years.
After Exeter, Munster were in dire need of some positivity – instead they got Randlegate.
And it was so avoidable. There is any amount of talented attack coaches out there to come in and replace Mike Prendergast.
Stepping away: ex-Munster stalwart second row Billy Holland in action against Edinburgh
Randle could well be imbued with the spirit of Carwyn James or Alex Ferguson, but with that level of baggage attached this was always a dud move.
As the fallout has shown.
The fact that three such respected figures as former Munster players Mick O’Driscoll, Billy Holland and Killian Keane have stepped down from the Professional Games Board because of this decision is a terrible look for the province.
And this not long after Flanagan went on Zoom looking for voluntary redundancies from Munster staff.
There is something deeply flawed at the core of this organisation and a delusional refusal to accept reality. Strategically, they are a disaster and yet they continue to act as though they are setting the standard.
Go onto the Munster website and you will find details of their leadership programme in partnership with Teneo Performance because they ‘know a thing or two about ambition, excellence and success’. Seriously?
Operating out of the province’s UL base, this Munster-Teneo alliance offers an Emerging Leaders programme at €5,000 per person and a Senior Leaders programme at €6,000 per person. Good luck selling those now.
Iconic figures: Killian Keane (front right) with fellow former Munster teamates (l-r) Paul O’Connell, the late Anthony Foley, Keith Wood and Alan Quinlan on the occasion of former Munster coach Declan Kidney (centre) receiving an honorary doctrate from UL in 2009
This latest debacle demands action and the IRFU adopting a ‘nothing to do with us’ stance in terms of Randle’s appointment does not reflect well on them, either – everything in Irish rugby at a professional level should be withing the remit of the IRFU as ultimate employers. We are at the point where the IRFU needs to step in and steer this rapidly sinking ship.
Randlegate is the latest in a long line of own goals by the province and senior figures behind the consistent, chronic mismanagement of Munster rugby have to be held accountable.
Two weeks ago, we argued that McMillan deserved a fair crack at this gig but that landscape has changed and the signs are that he has already lost public support – which does not bode well for his future at the province.
Munster need a root-and-branch revamp revolving around people who know the territory, can see the many issues and have the ability and knowledge to address them.
And, we will repeat the question we asked two weeks ago, with an added dollop of urgency – where is Declan Kidney? He is the best, and perhaps the only person, with IRFU help, capable of sorting out this unholy mess.
