This is a cracking team.
Munster had already secured the signatures of Mike Haley and Tadhg Beirne, for next season, and promoted a couple of academy players. Their recent transfer activities makes them an altogether different beast for 2018/19.
South African flanker Arno Botha was signed from London Irish but head coach Johann van Graan was not done yet.
Hearing that Joey Carbery may be amenable to a move away from Leinster, at the behest of Joe Schmidt, Munster raised their hand and showed their interest.
Carbery met van Graan after helping Leinster to clinch the double by winning the Guinness PRO14 title, last weekend, and the deal was set in motion. Ulster miss out. Leinster lose out. Munster gain a brilliant young player with the potential of becoming a world-class outhalf.
In the space of a couple of weeks, Munster have added quality and their wider squad has been given some much-needed depth.
Adding in their four major signings for next season, this is how Munster could line out in the coming months.
New-look Munster XV
That looks pretty formidable with an exciting backline and Conor Murray being joined by Carbery in the half-back pairing.
In reserve, that leaves the likes of Jaco Taute, Chris Cloete, Jack O’Donoghue, Stephen Archer, James Cronin, Niall Scannell, Billy Holland, James Hart, Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan, Ian Keatley, Alex Wootton, Sammy Arnold, Darren Sweetnam and more. Garryowen outhalf Neil Cronin was added to the senior squad, as was former Leinster prop Jeremy Loughman.
Things are looking up for in the southern province and the summer can’t pass soon enough.
