ANTHONY FOLEY SMILED and gave a slight shake of the head yesterday evening when we asked him about the performances of some of Munster’s fringe players during their 28-13 win over Leinster.
We re-phrased the question and Foley indicated that “[a] lot of lads showed up well.”
The former number eight doesn’t wholly agree with the idea of any of his squad members being on the fringes. All are equal in the Munster group, believes Foley.
That said, being deprived of Conor Murray, Paul O’Connell, Peter O’Mahony and Simon Zebo for this inter-provincial clash meant opportunities for men who are somewhat less renowned than that quartet.
In their stead, the likes of Ronan O’Mahony, Billy Holland, Duncan Williams, Paddy Butler and Dave O’Callaghan stepped into prominent roles, driving an excellent Munster performance against a disappointing Leinster.
“These so called fringe players,” said Foley, “they turned up. It’s a big occasion, a sell-out, and it brings out the best in everyone. They bought into the occasion.”
Making his fifth start of the season on the left wing, 25-year-old O’Mahony impressed with a lively individual display, tackling aggressively, chasing kicks with intent and making metres with every touch of the ball.
“Last season, Ronan played really well at the start of the season and then was struggling to get game time,” explained Foley.
“This season, he’s more in the team than out of the team at times, and he’s asking a lot of questions of us as coaches, in terms of giving us plenty of reasons to pick him.”
At scrum-half, Williams box kicked well and added a threat around the fringes, while Holland racked up a heavy workload at lock. In the back row, in-game injuries to Robin Copeland and Tommy O’Donnell allowed Butler and then O’Callaghan to stand out.
Butler’s second-half break between Michael Bent and Tadhg Furlong was a highlight, even if his clever diagonal chip didn’t come off. O’Callaghan went one better and ducked under an attempted Kane Douglas tackle to score Munster’s third try.
“Dave is a super rugby player,” said a pleased Foley. “I first came across Dave when I was coaching the U20s, I had him for two years with the U20s. He can play in the second row and across the back row.
“He’s very athletic. Unfortunately last season he ruptured his patellar tendon and it’s taken him time to get back from that. But as you can see, his physique and his ability to accelerate is something that not many teams have.
“I think over the next period of time, we’d like to see him grow. You don’t want to pigeonhole him [into one position], but a guy who can do what he can do is priceless to us at the moment.”
It remains to be seen whether those players can deliver again in their next first-team opportunity, although a handful of injury issues may mean those chances arrive on New Year’s Day away to Connacht.
“We picked up a few bangs again tonight,” indicated Foley post-match. “Robin Copeland obviously hurt his shoulder, Felix Jones got a bang in the shoulder as well. Tommy O’Donnell has a blood injury on his lip and Johne Murphy probably re-broke his nose again from last week.”
The province will provide a more detailed injury update on Monday, but Foley will rest easier knowing that his squad has shown encouraging depth.
It wasn’t tongue in cheek though. Crook has has several discussions on his shows about this. Fair play to Ferguson for slapping that down the way he did
It was a question and he answered it perfectly. My god… the drama.
@IrishOwl: the same question he has answered a few times already.with crook been the “chief football correspondent” thought he would know the answer coming better than most.he was 100% been smart and trying make light of it now. Gobsh**t for talksh**t.
@Paully kells: think your a bitter man paulie. always angry. maybe open a beer and relax a bit.
We have had our fair share of English born players playing for Ireland, not to mention the hatred towards two current English internationals who were born and grew up in England. We had a CEO that wanted to be the 33rd team in a world cup. Don’t think we’re in any position to criticize these questions.
@Louise Murphy: he’s not bitter at all Lou, I enjoy Paullys comments here and on this occasion he is right. Mute him if it annoys you.
@Louise Murphy: not atal..but I’d say the young lad is getting rather sick of the same question over and over..he’s made it clear…take care
Why do the Sky sports commentators pronounce the foreign player’s names properly eg Henry or Pires , bit they don’t pay the irish player’s the same respect eg Moran, Kernaghan, Hourihane (though they do pronounce this name properly now since he took them up on it live on television)?
@Louis Jacob: Probably for the same reason Hollywood can’t do the Irish accent.
@Louis Jacob: bit they dont?
The Brits have such a polite way of being ignorant.
I suspect a lot of German fans would like to see Harry Kane line out for them. But the English wouldn’t take it too well if he was constantly pestered about it. Tin ear stuff really..
Crook-cheif football correspondent for talk sh**t he hasn’t much between the ears,and he knows damn well he was been disrespectful, well done to Evan with he’s reply put him into place.
The audacity of that question !!
Ignorant on so many levels. Ferguson is ineligible for England now. He doesn’t feel English at all. He is Irish and proud, born and bred here with an Irish father. Yes his mother is English but very disrespectful to be still asking him now.
Talk Sport is trash!
And Rice can’t remember singing come out you black and tans now
I’m all mixed up regarding the rules, does anyone actually know what they are?
You don’t hear them asking any of the English players why they are committed to England……..
A lit bit of English mischief to get some harmless revenge for the abuse Rice and Grealish got when they switched over.
@John Pembroke: deserved all the abuse they got, pair of shitehawks