IT’S EIGHT AND A half years since Munster hooker Mike Sherry made his senior debut and there have been many times during that spell when he felt like packing it in as one serious injury followed another.
But the 29-year-old persevered and having recently been rewarded with a one-year contract extension, he will finally make his 100th appearance for the province against Ulster on Saturday.
“I often thought about retiring and moving on to something else nice and just been happy doing something else, concentrating on that, but luckily I stuck with it.
“I had great support here and at home but there were times when I didn’t think I’d make 100 appearances but I also knew if I walked away I’d regret it.
“And I know that if I can get a run and get fit I can compete and that’s why I stuck with it and luckily I’m getting that opportunity this weekend.
“If I walked away two or three years ago I knew I would have regretted it so I stuck with it and I hope my body is going to hold up now,” said the Limerick native.
He made his league debut against Connacht in December 2009 and his European bow came against Toulon in January 2011.
Sherry, whose father Mick was capped twice by Ireland in the 1975 Five Nations, was drafted in as cover for the 2011 Rugby World Cup and while he was also included in the Irish squad for the tour to New Zealand a year later, his only cap came against the USA in 2013.
By then Sherry, who became one of Munster’s youngest captains when he led them out against Scarlets in 2013 when he was 24, began suffering the first of several injury blows.
“In 2013 I did my ACL and we decided to get my shoulder work done while I was out with that but unfortunately that turned into a bit of a nightmare and I ended up with three surgeries on the shoulder and being out for 21 months.
“Then I played the whole season the season that we don’t like to talk about. It wasn’t the most enjoyable year when we didn’t make it out of our pool and then I came in for pre-season in Rassie’s first year and was flying fit really.
“Then about five weeks into pre-season I felt a pop in my back and the next thing I was getting sciatic pain. I got an injection which got rid of that sciatic pain but my left leg just stopped working. All the power left my left leg so I had to get surgery on my back and it took me the bones of 10 or 11 months to start being able to jog.
“So around April or May last year I started getting a bit of feeling down my leg again and rocked up for day one of pre-season wondering whether or not I’d get through it. But I did, fortunately, I got through everything in pre-season and I’ve been fit all year.
“Opportunities have been limited and other lads have gotten in when I’d been injured and done well so it’s just about taking opportunities now that come my way towards the end of the year. And I still feel that if I can put my best foot forward I’ll have an opportunity to get into the 23 for the big games.”
It was a big boost to Sherry when Johann van Graan offered him a contract extension and all the Garryowen man is looking forward to now is a run of games to prove himself.
“I want to get through the season without picking up any more injuries and rock up for pre-season and get through all that again. I just need a run where I’m not injured and getting a few games. I still feel like I can compete. It’s been a long time since I played week in, week out at this level but I still have belief in myself and hopefully I can do that.”
But he expects a big challenge from an Ulster side who have to win to stay in the hunt for Pro14 honours, although he feels Munster have put their Champions Cup semi-final loss behind them and are in a good place going into Saturday’s game at Thomond Park.
“I think they want to get into the last three and give themselves a chance of getting to the playoffs. They have had a turbulent year and I’m sure they want to finish the season well. Tommy Bowe, Paul Marshall and Piutau are moving on so they have a lot of motivation and playing an Irish team is always a big game for us.
“Fellas want to put their hands up and get in for the quarter-final, semi-final and final if we get there. It’s definitely a big week for us. People might think there is some lingering from last week that we’d be down this week, but certainly not from our point of view,” added Sherry.
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Interesting combination of locks and backrows for Australia with 5 guys who’s primary position is lock in the 23 and then Naisarani who’s 6’5 at 8. I guess that means Australia are looking at New Zealands issues from 1 through 6 and deciding that’s the best way to take them on.
@Eddie Hekenui: I have a feeling Australia will target the nz lineout. Having Savea at 6 reduces their lineout options(he adds massively at the bd and in the loose obviously) and with Australia loading up in that area I can see them trying to disrupt the nz lineout and use their own lineout and maul in attack. Be a fascinating watch how that particular area goes.
@Eddie Hekenui: good
@Eddie Hekenui: good
@Eddie Hekenui: good to see Luke Jones back in the mix. He was phenomenal when he broke through for the rebels a few years back. Exciting hybrid lock to watch.
@Ian Verdon: Yeah I’ve just seen the NZ team. Read is a good lineout operator so they’ll still have 3 options but not as strong as usual where they’ve had 4 and Retalick as banker ball. I’m just surprised Australia went with Latu ahead of Faingaa who was pretty lethal off the back of the Brumbies maul this season. Rodda had a strong season attacking opposition ball so I can see him trying to go after NZ ball. Lots of teams will be watching with interest to see if they can dominate in the set piece and how that affects the game because there are far stronger tight 5′s out there than Australia.
@Jim Demps: Yeah he’s an exciting player at his best but he’s been very up and done this year. I’d love to see him hit form again.
@Eddie Hekenui: yeah sure didn’t faingaa get into double figures this season in the try scoring column? I think all of which were at the back of the maul. Read is a very dependable lineout operator indeed, I think the lineout is certainly an area opposition teams will target. The Nz scrum isn’t the weapon it has been in the past yet by no means poor but SA in particular would be relishing that front 5 battle.
@Eddie Hekenui: If you’re going after the NZ lineout faingaa is not your man to play to hit those darts. Very wishy washy as was clearly evident against the jaguares in the super semis
@Liam Flague: He’s not perfect but he’s better than Latu and probably the best of a questionable bunch going on this seasons form. Brumbies had a strong lineout and a very dangerous maul with Faingaa being an important part of that. The last two times I’ve seen Latu play for Australia he’s fallen apart in the lineout. Against Wales in November they lost 4 or 5 lineouts and the last time he played NZ he lost 6 or 7 in 35 minutes.
I really like 11-15. Better centre pairing.
@Andrew H: it will be a great test to see where he’s at going toe to toe with one of the most in form and even at only 24 one of the best 13’s in the game. Can see goodhue using his power and exceptional running lines to ruffle O’Connor’s feathers.
NZ will stick to their usual strategy of pinning Aus in their half forcing them to run out.
Then scoring after with counter attacks from turnovers, while keeping the scoreboard ticking with penalties because of good defense. There is little Aus have in their arsenal to counter them, they will go down fighting like they always do.