MUNSTER CAPTAIN PETER O’Mahony admitted that his pack could do more to protect Conor Murray as Irish players prepared to turn their focus towards the Six Nations.
“Yeah we probably do,” O’Mahony nodded when asked if his number 9 required more shielding from his team-mates.
“Pack-wise, we probably have to look after him better. Not just a couple of weeks ago or last week, but in every game.”
O’Mahony was speaking after Munster sealed second seed and a home quarter-final in the Champions Cup with a win over Racing 92, and the subject was part of a snag list of problems he had with the Munster performance. Problems, which will ensure that the Munster squad, outside of the 13 men not called to Carton House, will have to maintain a focus on improving standards.
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“They got at him again tonight around the breakdown. We weren’t as accurate as we hoped and you always have to look after the 9.”
The captain added: ”breakdown was poor today, defensively we were poor, slipping off tackles, not enough width on our defence…
“Every game you take lessons from and you try and improve on them and then bank them.
At times I think you work on something for a week, that’s great and it’s ticked off for two weeks and you let it slip again. So the challenge is to learn from things and to put them in your bank and move on with them then.”
Despite the list of work-ons, the Corkman could lead his team into the dressing room knowing the job had been done. And, if not done perfectly, done well. Riding high among the cream of European rugby has ensured a physically taxing few months to match an emotion draining and fuelled season.
“It was nice to get back to the dressing room and know we had a home quarter final. Knowing that took a little bit of pressure off. It’s been a long nine, 10,12 weeks, a lot of big, big games for lots of reasons and you lose one or two and it’d be a different kettle of fish. It was nice to come in and just sit down and take a breath.”
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
Breath taken, O’Mahony now must go to Carton House and attempt to wrestle his starting Test jersey back. Competition is perhaps more fierce than ever in Ireland’s back row, but the 27-year-old is fit and hungry for the challenge.
“I feel good. I feel sore now, but in two or three days time you start feeling better and the change of tack in the camp, the different buzz… everyone loves the Six Nations, everyone would love a shot to get into the starting 15 or the matchday 23 and get a chance to perform in a Six Nations game.
“It’s always a great few weeks. It’s a great competition and every player in Ireland would love to be involved.”
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O'Mahony admits Murray needs better protection as he takes a breath before Six Nations
MUNSTER CAPTAIN PETER O’Mahony admitted that his pack could do more to protect Conor Murray as Irish players prepared to turn their focus towards the Six Nations.
The scrum-half was openly critical of Glasgow Warriors’ efforts to target him during the Champions Cup round 5 clash. And, with 17 Warriors in the Scotland squad, there will be renewal of the rivalry when Ireland open their Championship in Murrayfield on 4 February.
“Yeah we probably do,” O’Mahony nodded when asked if his number 9 required more shielding from his team-mates.
“Pack-wise, we probably have to look after him better. Not just a couple of weeks ago or last week, but in every game.”
O’Mahony was speaking after Munster sealed second seed and a home quarter-final in the Champions Cup with a win over Racing 92, and the subject was part of a snag list of problems he had with the Munster performance. Problems, which will ensure that the Munster squad, outside of the 13 men not called to Carton House, will have to maintain a focus on improving standards.
“They got at him again tonight around the breakdown. We weren’t as accurate as we hoped and you always have to look after the 9.”
The captain added: ”breakdown was poor today, defensively we were poor, slipping off tackles, not enough width on our defence…
“Every game you take lessons from and you try and improve on them and then bank them.
Despite the list of work-ons, the Corkman could lead his team into the dressing room knowing the job had been done. And, if not done perfectly, done well. Riding high among the cream of European rugby has ensured a physically taxing few months to match an emotion draining and fuelled season.
“It was nice to get back to the dressing room and know we had a home quarter final. Knowing that took a little bit of pressure off. It’s been a long nine, 10,12 weeks, a lot of big, big games for lots of reasons and you lose one or two and it’d be a different kettle of fish. It was nice to come in and just sit down and take a breath.”
Breath taken, O’Mahony now must go to Carton House and attempt to wrestle his starting Test jersey back. Competition is perhaps more fierce than ever in Ireland’s back row, but the 27-year-old is fit and hungry for the challenge.
“I feel good. I feel sore now, but in two or three days time you start feeling better and the change of tack in the camp, the different buzz… everyone loves the Six Nations, everyone would love a shot to get into the starting 15 or the matchday 23 and get a chance to perform in a Six Nations game.
“It’s always a great few weeks. It’s a great competition and every player in Ireland would love to be involved.”
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