HE MAY HAVE been a late starter in provincial rugby but James Coughlan certainly made an impact in Munster red.
The 33-year-old back row played 139 times for his home province after finally break through to the squad in 2006. He was 32 when Declan Kidney called him up to captain Ireland Wolfhounds against England. He was included in two senior Ireland squads, under Kidney and new Ireland boss Joe Schmidt, but a long-awaited Test debut never materialised.
Schmidt named a 30-man team to tour Argentina on 19 May and included No.8′s Jamie Heaslip and the versatile Jordi Murphy. Robin Copeland, Munster’s new signing from Cardiff, was included in the Emerging Ireland squad a week later. The announcement was followed, 24 hours on, by news of Coughlan’s summer move to Pau, in France’s Pro D2. Former Munster teammate David Wallace believes the timing was not a coincidence.
He told TheScore.ie: “If James thought that he even had an outside chance with Ireland, I believe, he would have stuck around. The senior and emerging squads were announced and he knew the writing was on the wall. It is odd that one of Munster’s most consistent players never got a look-in with the Test side.”
Wallace and Coughlan played together for six seasons and both came from a Sevens rugby background. He believes the shorter form of the game improved Coughlan’s attacking game and stood to him as an explosive ball carrier. It was only a matter of time, he adds, before the Cork native made his Munster bow.
“He was immense for Dolphin in the All-Ireland League. Whenever he played, Dolphin generally won. The retirement of Axel [Anthony Foley in 2008] meant there was a real opening at 8 and James grabbed his chance when it came along.” Coughlan, explains his former packmate, was the epitome of the committed squad player during his initial three seasons but was given greater responsibility in 2009/10 and never looked back.
Wallace added, “He was an unsung player, which is an oxymoron in itself. He won that [Unsung Hero] honour at the IRUPA awards but he really could have been up for it each year he played. His Munster teammates, and his supporters knew his worth.”
Pau missed out on promotion to the Top 14 but Wallace believes they may well get over the line next season with Coughlan driving them on. “Fair play to him for making the move and taking on a new challenge,” he said. “This may be his final pro contract and if anybody deserves a financial reward it would be James.”
Think he was just unlucky with being stuck behind heaslip who is probably the most durable player in world rugby , he just doesn’t seem to get injured…
That’s cos Heaslip is as far away as possible from a ruck – usually in the wing!!
That is possibly the most uninformed comment I’ve read on thejournal, and that takes some doing. Do yourself a favour and search for one of Murray Kinsella’s articles that analyses how much work he gets through in a match. Or, if your reading skills aren’t up to much, just check out his average tackle stats.
Jamie the ruck inspector.
No one wants to hear your rantings Elrat aka Flash Gordon. So PO Walter.
Once again Elrat throws abuse at a Leinster player when the topic is about wishing a Munster great farewell.
Jamie heaslip has never picked one Irish squad so the fact that JC was left out of them has nothing to do with him.
You might want to throw some abuse at EOS, Declan kidney and JS if you have a problem with his lack of Irish selection.
You might have a point about heaslip been a ruck inspector, you get a very good view of the ruck when you make the tackle that caused the ruck.
Just once praise one of your own without lashing abuse at someone else.
Sad to see him go. But I wish him all the best in France. Very very under rated. Deserved plenty of caps. Never to be capped was a disgrace.
People of Pau, meet your new Cult Hero.
James Coughlan is a top player. He’ll be missed at Munster for his absolute consistency and dedication. Great player and man. He’ll go down well over there!
Good luck to him!
A real legend and big hearted player best 8 in Ireland for the last few seasons big loss for the reds