MUNSTER SECOND ROW Billy Holland says the small benefits of centralised training are already being felt.
In the past, the southern province have famously split their training bases between Limerick and Cork, with players making the two-hour journey in one direction or the other on the days when the squad came together as a whole.
“Some people use the Cork-Limerick split as an excuse,” says Holland, shouldering a part of captain Peter O’Mahony’s media duties at today’s Pro12 launch in the Aviva Stadium.
“But it can’t be an excuse because over the years Munster have won two European Cups with that setup.”
That said, the Corkman is already feeling the plus side of the move.
“We’re moving into our one centre in the next few weeks, but we’ve all been training in Limerick for the first time ever which has been really good. Because, not only do you get more face-time with the coaches, (but also) things like: Dave Foley had myself and a few of the Cork lads over for a barbecue.
I’ve played with Dave Foley for years and it’s the first time I’ve ever been in his house!
“Things like that are really important for squad morale and getting to know lads better.
“Just as the game has progressed and become more professional, it’s more important for us to spend more time together like every other club.”
It’s a move that takes an effort from all sides though, and Holland points out that it’s not always a matter of just pointing a player to their new place of work and letting them get on with it.
“There’s huge commitment: 12 lads have moved from Cork to Limerick with their families. Old fellas, young fellas… Tomas O’Leary has moved his wife and child up.
“There’s a few lads who are remaining in Cork, but spend a few nights a week in Limerick. They’ve kids, families and wives with jobs in Cork. It’s been a really positive step for Munster Rugby.”
Johan ‘Rassie’ Erasmus is another big reason to be positive about Munster ahead of the new term. And while the South African influence will put a fresh spin on the attack and defensive structures, Holland and the pack will be building on familiar foundations.
“So between that (centralised training) and Rassie and Jacques (Nienaber) coming on board and Felix (Jones) coming back in, there’s been a really good buzz around the place which has been really exciting.
“We’re looking forward to getting stuck into the games. We played Zebre the other night in horrendous conditions, it wasn’t the most enjoyable of pre-season games but we’re all looking forward to getting stuck in to the season.”
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There’s great vibes coming from the whole new munster set up..hopefully it will reflect on the field and bring them back to where they belong
Just when the Mallow road is finished and buttevant is finally properly open as well! Didn’t think they as much training in cork as they did in limerick to be hon. But at the end of the day it is supposed to be a provincial side
Precisely. Just because they are training solely in Limerick does not mean that other counties are being ignored. Munster are still playing somewhat regularly in the Irish Independent park, which Munster continue to improve upon. Players are also picked from all over the province, with Jack O’Donoghue quickly rising through the ranks.
Of course, there is always reasons not to do things. Some critics of the move have claimed that swathes of cork players from cork will be lost forever more to Munster as UCC and UL don’t have the same courses and some can’t therefore go to UL, and some find the move to Limerick difficult to make. But I feel that the critics of the move have overestimated these effects. Yes, I’ve heard that John Poland and Paul Kiernan apparently turned down academy contracts as they couldn’t manage the move, but that’s not that much and they certainly don’t seem to be lost, with Poland featuring in preseason. Added to that, the squad cohesion that this move seems to be a boon, plus the fact that we can focus our resources on getting proper facilities for our players instead of splitting up what we have.
So overall, while I get what some people seem to be criticising about the move, I don’t feel that it will disenfranchise anyone but will instead bring what we have closer together.
Everything should be centered on Limerick, that things were split with Cork for no good reason for so long is a mess.
The centralized training has to be positive , it makes you wonder how they won anything never mind 2 HC’s while working split camps. Guys coming in from elsewhere must have been gobsmacked to see this stuff.
People seem to make a lot about the Cork Limerick divide and personally I think it’s a bit of a red herring. Munster were at the top for years with the split. However, if this brings better team cohesion and better results then I very much welcome that.
Not a red herrinhg at all.
It’s a professional set up and it should have a professional centralised training base.
Anything less is a joke.