MUNSTER HEAD COACH Johann van Graan insists it was Joey Carbery’s decision to move to the southern province, and he had no part to play in convincing the 22-year-old to leave Leinster.
Carbery, currently in Ireland camp at Carton House, started pre-season training with his new Munster team-mates earlier this month after signing a two-year deal with the province.
The announcement that Carbery would be leaving his native Leinster at the end of last season concluded one of the longest-running transfer sagas in Irish rugby history, with the Athy native stressing his move to Limerick was based purely on rugby reasons.
In putting his international future first, Carbery arrives at Munster seeking more game-time in the number 10 jersey, and van Graan has been impressed by his attitude in the early weeks.
“I think whenever people want to move to different spots in the world and possibly in Ireland, they want to buy into a vision and into something bigger than yourself,” the Munster head coach said.
“It’s something that he thought he could be part of and hopefully he plays a big role in that. I left it to the individual. Leinster is a quality, quality team. They won both competitions last year and he made the decision to come to Munster, I’m very glad about the decision but it was totally his decision.”
He added: “I’ve really enjoyed him, he’s a down-to-earth type of guy, quality individual. I value the person first before the player. He slotted in pretty quickly, he’s one of five out-halves that we’ve got and you know he has to perform on-field to earn his spot.
“He seems to have a very good head on him, he can kick with both feet, I was really impressed by that and just his general understanding of the game. He’s got the attributes that you want in a out-half — calm, composed, a very good understanding of the game.”
Carbery is unlikely to feature for Munster until the fourth or fifth rounds of the Pro14 season as part of the re-integration process of Ireland internationals after the summer tour, with van Graan working with a reduced group ahead of Friday’s friendly against London Irish.
With several players still rehabbing injuries, the southern province will have a squad of no more than 30 players for their first hit-out of the season in Cork, but all eyes are on 1 September when the serious business begins.
After falling short in two semi-finals last year, Munster get their 2018/19 campaign underway against the Cheetahs at Thomond Park, and after a long pre-season period at their high performance base in UL, van Graan says excitement is building.
“One of the key things for us is to improve our away form this year, we were very good at home but not necessarily good away from home,” the South African continued.
“It’s one of the things that we want to improve on. The Cheetahs are a quality team, we’re going to start with them fresh. They’ve started in the Currie Cup already against the Blue Bulls. So they’ll be ready once they come here in three weeks to Thomond Park. You know my feeling, we just take it one at a time.
“Every team is still very excited, nobody has played a game yet, everybody’s got their plans. For us it’s about excellence and to continue that every single day. Every team can have a good week, we’re looking to have 32-43 very good weeks to hopefully put us in a position to play in the playoffs at the end of the season.
“That’s all you can focus on now and the season will take care of itself.”
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A travesty if Herring not on the bench after what he has done do consistently for so long which is to close out games and score a fair share of match winning tries too.
@Haddock: For sure Herring will be very disappointed if not picked on the bench, but I think it’s a bit dramatic to call it a travesty. If all hookers are good to go, then herring is certainly 3rd choice. Just unlucky to be behind 2 top class hookers!
@Haddock: I wonder does he understand afrikaans, he could be very useful?
@Mark Murphy: well let’s see. If all three match fit and battle hardened perhaps, but to go with one undercooked as back up ? Not sure we need to take that risk just yet
@brian o’leary: good shout. He might even be starting then
@Haddock: if that’s a reference to Sheehan, Dan doesn’t do undercooked, he’s one of those players like Sexton, that can come back at 100%
@SPQH: if that’s true, then he starts. End of. RK better scrummager when we need it later with Kilcoyne.
@SPQH: bullshit from a leinstrr fanboy.
Porter sheehan furlong ryan beirne o mahony jvf dorris park sexton lowe ringeose aki hansen kennan
@Sèan: Kelleher might start, Sheehan bench. Also Murray might start with Gibson-Park on bench.
@Ray Ridge: just saw pigs flying i agree with you for once
@Sèan: This is a very worrying development!!
@Sèan: what about leaving one of our big turnover kings, Beirne or POM on the bench, until their big replacements come on and we need a fresh dog in at the breakdown. Also with Sexton likely coming off at that point would be nice to have POM coming on. He did great off the bench in 2022. But I could see the benefit of having the 2 on from the start too. I’m glad I don’t pick the team.
@Sèan: Murray starts we loose
@Ray Ridge: that is my preference too but not sure it will happen
@Noel Roe: most likely the team i said will be picked im allways right
@Sèan: lol
Ireland to win by 5 points
All the posts re hooker rightly point out than Dan is our #1 in that slot. However, from a bench perspective, you have to look at combinations. Barring an injury, the scheduled substitution of the front row is almost a combination decision. Although Faz will try to get as many minutes out of the props – Porter in particular- we’re talking a 15-20min appearance for the full bench front row. Herring might be a better scrum option with Kilcoyne and Bealham for that stage of the game, if it was a wrestle. Sheehan excels in the high speed link plays – the question is whether the time for that is earlier in a fast start, or later against a tiring defence using Ireland’s greater conditioning. Faz will have worked this out and also factor this into his 19&20. He will get it right.
H
@hugh o faolain: very true
@hugh o faolain: I disagree, I think G
@Tony Metcalfe: that’s a preposterous take
@hugh o faolain: thats easy for you to say
Strong line up
Three more sleeps should be a cracker let’s hope all our expectations are right….
No recognised cover at the back of the scrum?
@brian o’leary: Baird.
@brian o’leary: Beirne has played at 8, POM last week at 8. Not a problem in terms of coverage and if necessary JVDF at 8, who has also played there.
@Con Cussed: agree. And Aki can play 6 if needed. He did it last weekend
After reading many articles about it, I cannot understand that why SA decided to use 7-1 bench system. Etzebeth’s injury is not very good? Colisi is not in perfect situation, so he can play within 60 min? Snyman has potential injury?
Anyway their 6,7,8 is very strong, maybe Doris will be OK,but JVDF will be ? in rainy condition. If Beirne is 6, he will win over Siya. How AF and POCponder about it.
I want to see that there is Hedreson for 4 (fit to low temparature), Ryan for 5, Beirne at 6, O’mahony at 7, Doris at 8.
And I’m worried Lowe’s light or careless play. His kick has been not effective as before.
@ciaran oconnor: Google translate letting U down there Ivan, sorry Ciarán