JOHANN VAN GRAAN intends on drafting in several players for tomorrow’s clash with Ulster and one of those hoping to make the most of the chance is promising back three prospect Stephen Fitzgerald.
His favourite position is fullback but the Limerick speedster is also an accomplished winger and would happily play in any slot that van Graan thinks he is good enough for.
“I’ll happily play on the wing if he selects me, I don’t mind but I’ve always played fullback and I feel that’s where I play my best rugby but if Johann selected me to play prop I’d have no problem playing there,” he said.
“Obviously the strength in depth we have in the back three is huge. In my position you have Zeebs and Andrew (Conway) and then JJ (Hanrahan), he has been playing there.
“Opportunities have been a bit limited playing there but obviously when I do get the chance I need to take it with both hands and make the most of it.
“After the disappointment of last week all the squad want to do is to bounce back and there’s no better way to do it than with an inter-pro, especially against Ulster,” said the former Ireland U20 international, who made his senior Munster competitive debut away to Ospreys in September 2015.
He crowned that debut with a try but injuries have taken a toll and he didn’t feature last season. If involved, Saturday’s Pro14 clash against Ulster at Thomond Park will be his fifth appearance of the season and he’s keen to make the most of it.
“I’ve been knocking on the door but I seem to be getting a few opportunities now and I know with Zeebs leaving and I know Mike (Haley) is coming in but all I can do is just keep playing as well as I can and then every time Johann gives you the chance I take it.
“I do want to be the starting full back for Munster and I have no problem saying that. That is my goal and ambition for the next few years and hopefully that happens.”
The former Limerick minor hurler, who recently signed a one-year extension to his development contract, has plenty of role models in Munster but none more so than Keith Earls.
“I remember when I was growing up in Limerick he was the big thing coming through. I remember watching him in the Senior Cup final playing for Munchins and he won that match himself he was that good.
“He’s a great help. It might be the small things out on the pitch, the way I’m closing or the way I’m coming on to the ball or stepping and stuff like that, the small things that he’s been incredible helping me with.
“And any time somebody like him wants to give me advice I’d take it with open arms.
“Over the past two years he’s changed what he’s done himself but I think he’s one of the best players in the world and I’m not just saying it because he’s from Munster I love watching him play. Every time he gets the ball he looks like he can make something happen and that’s what I want,” added Fitzgerald.
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Jamie Cudmore up against O’Connell yet again. This one could get spicy.
Culmore isn’t fit to lace O Connells boots.
Cudmore is a thug and O’Connell is a legend of the game. No competition.
I agree Cudmore is a thug. But jesus he put in a shift today. Credit where credit is due and all that…
Cudmore and Lee smashed OConnell &Co backwards all night long.
Cmon the red army.
Best dressing room ever!!
I hope Munster don’t lose.they done enough whinging on here when they won against ulster the other week.imagine the cribs and crystal from them if they lose
Christmas can come early tonight…..Come on Munster!
Jesus Christ munster are brutal
A loss would end Munsters interest? That’s a tad presumptuous, a loss would be a major setback but they’d still have every chance to go through!
Come on Munster!!
Which Clermont will show up??should be a great contest..
Munsters game plan.
Do nothing for ages.
Get into the Clermont half
Drop the ball
Some first half performance from clermont, one of the best I’ve seen from an away side at thomond park.
Well done Clermont. Massive defense. Better team all round. Munster just not at the races today.
Munster tackling isn’t great.
Amazing from Clermont. Convincing winners. Completely deserved that. Their fans were amazing too. #16th man.
Munster need to pull out socks up rapidly. Keep it simple… simple.
Barnes… the rules apply to both teams hy the way
So many knock-on’s at crucial moments, most of them from Cronin.
Not good enough at this level.
Does wayne barnes be watching something entirely different to the rest of us?
thetruth, we’re not blaming the referee this time. He was 80% correct all evening. Munster just did not play the way we hoped they would.
#BringinJOE in for this team talk
Munster half backs are awful today.
They were behind a failing breakdown, so Murray was under enormous pressure all the time, so I wouldn’t blame him too much, but Keatley was pretty poor all round I thought.
Munster are just handing this game to Claremont
Clermont may have the points so far, but watching Munster, I can’t see them losing this. Come on the boys in red.
Wrong Peter.
All smart after the fact, eh, captain hindsight?
Munster made basic errors. Our kicking game was very poor. We butchered three separate mauls by dropping the ball and set piece was hit and miss. Injury meant there weren’t quality bench players to call upon and just beaten at our own game by a superior side.
keatley’s kicks tonight…??!
Media’s darling Conor
Murray’s kicks were even worse. Gerry Thornley won’t be able to do his usual love in if he’s reporting this game.
Clermont were up for this match tonight. Hugely intense & Munster couldn’t deal with it especially up front where Munster planned to dominate.
Some match as intense as a full test match.