Graham Rowntree must feel hard done by. A departure by ‘mutual agreement’ is rarely mutual and you don’t need a magnifying glass to read between the lines. Sacking the boss six games into a league campaign is something we have grown accustomed to in football but it’s a rarity in rugby, and I never envisaged it happening at a club like Munster.
Fans have reacted poorly, and understandably so. Supporting Munster has been a labour of love at times in the last decade and this was the man who finally ended an 11-year trophy drought. He is an affable and engaging guy who always made time for the public and his no-nonsense approach to the media, telling it like it is and not shying away from accountability, endeared him to many.
The general consensus among supporters was that he got what Munster was about and was a natural fit for the club and role. What happens behind closed doors can often differ from how things appear outwardly, however. I have heard more than a few rumours of interpersonal conflicts in camp in the last couple of seasons, including some major run-ins with senior players.
This is all speculation unless it’s corroborated publicly (which it won’t be) but I’ve heard it from too many well-placed sources to be totally off the mark. These are things that will be worked through or overlooked when the on-field stuff is going well. Ultimately, players and coaches are there to win, and that’s the most important thing.
But if it’s going sideways on the pitc.