1. Larkham hasn't been here long enough to really call anything yet but his first few months, working with the youngsters while the internationals were away at the world cup was really encouraging - we were playing some really intelligent attacking rugby and scoring some lovely tries. Then the out of form internationals came back and we've hardly seen a minute from our promising youngsters since, all while our performances have got progressively worse week on week.
At the end of the day though, our front 5 is weak as piss and it doesn't matter who your attack coach is - you're not going to trouble the Saracens, Racings, Leinsters or Clermonts of this world without any grunt in the tight. Dave Kilcoyne is the only player who can play 1-5 who you'd call a European Cup level player, let alone an international. We also don't have a 7 worth the jersey or a 10 who can cope with playing behind a retreating pack. As if all this wasn't enough, key players like O'Mahony, Murray and Earls are playing like drains.
2. Rob Penney is a class act but he needs to be given the time and patience to implement the core skills and structures from the bottom up, even if there is a short term dip while the groundwork is laid. Munster didn't give him that time and space - we got all uppity about what the "Munster Way" was (ignoring the fact we no longer had the once in a generation abundance of top class forwards upon which the "Munster Way" of the 2000's was built) and kicked him out before we could reap the rewards of what he was doing.
Generally speaking, Australian rugby players have good basic skills so I'd expect to see him thrive there. I've met him and he's a seriously decent bloke as well.