LEINSTER’S WIN OVER Bath at the RDS back in January 2016 is now seen as something of a turning point for the province.
Leo Cullen knew his side were already out of Europe at the pool stage and, despite hesitancy and doubts from some people around him, he opted to pick a relatively youthful team to take on the English visitors.
With his more experienced players having failed to get Leinster into the quarter-finals, Cullen was of the mind that backing a batch of hungry, athletic, and ambitious youngsters was hardly all that risky.
Garry Ringrose, Luke McGrath, Tadhg Furlong, Peter Dooley, James Tracy, and Ross Molony were all handed their European debuts and collectively excelled in a 25-11 victory, lifting the mood around the province, who were heading for much better days.
Munster have a similar opportunity to turn the page on Sunday as the Ospreys visit Thomond Park for their final Pool 4 fixture. Johann van Graan’s side are not mathematically out of the Champions Cup quarter-final race yet and may need a bonus-point win to ensure they take advantage of a highly unlikely set of results elsewhere, but making a few changes to their starting XV probably wouldn’t affect that prospect.
The Ospreys are in poor form and Munster should be able to put them away on home soil even if they give a handful of young players an opportunity. Similarly to how Cullen viewed it, there is so much to be gained from having a degree of faith in youth.
Van Graan stated his pleasure at handing scrum-half Craig Casey and outside back Shane Daly their European debuts yesterday in Paris as Racing 92 ran out 39-22 winners but that talented pair barely had time to jog onto the pitch before the final whistle went.
How about backing their ability in the starting team? Munster don’t need to rip up the entire script in the wake of defeat to Racing – indeed, many of their senior players had good games in Paris – but this is an opportunity for van Graan to shift the development of several young men up a few gears.
Number eight Jack O’Sullivan is a major prospect who has shown his quality in four Pro14 appearances so far this season, having previously shone at Ireland U20 level before suffering a serious knee injury.
A cousin of Rory and Niall Scannell’s, O’Sullivan would relish an opportunity in Europe. He’s 21 so he’s not exactly a kid – let him show what he can offer.
Daly, who can play at fullback or in midfield, is already 23-years-old. He spent a lengthy period with the Ireland Sevens squad, admittedly, but he needs exposure urgently and his performances in nine Pro14 starts in the current campaign have been strong.
Casey is 20 and very much seen as the future for Munster at scrum-half, with the Shannon man set to move onto a full senior contract next season. Let him taste the excitement of a European outing at Thomond Park as his development continues. A fiery and demanding leader, Casey is more than capable of directing Munster this weekend.
Out-half Ben Healy was his Ireland U20 team-mate last season but has endured a frustrating time recently. Even with injuries to Munster’s senior out-halves, the academy man hasn’t had chances on the pitch, with van Graan having often opted for a 6/2 bench split.
Van Graan has spoken about Healy learning by shadowing the matchday squad but there is no better way to improve than by actually playing. Healy will surely be part of the 23 this weekend.
Munster have long spoken about their excitement around lock Fineen Wycherley’s prospects of establishing himself as a frontline player for the province. At 22, he would benefit from his first European start this weekend.
There are other prospects in the Munster ranks including Gavin Coombes, Keynan Knox, and Diarmuid Barron – who are all in the province’s Champions Cup squad too.
Munster, like every club, will have detailed plans for when and how these young men are exposed to higher levels of rugby, the idea being not to rush anything. But rugby is also about playing and there is potential in the latest crop of Munster youth – let’s see them given a chance to begin properly fulfilling it.
Obviously, the presence of senior players around the younger guns this weekend would be essential and picking a completely changed team full of academy and development players would be foolish, but van Graan and Munster could kick-start something with a couple of forward-thinking selections this weekend.
If Munster were to finish their Champions Cup campaign with a convincing home win featuring several promising homegrown players, the province’s supporters would also leave Thomond Park in a much happier state of mind.
Do what Leinster did vs Bath a few seasons back, this could be a start of a new era of Munster Rugby
JVG stating his pleasure at handing European debuts to Casey and Daly speaks volumes of how he views the younger prospects. They both got 60 seconds each and can’t recall if either even touched the ball.
Finally someone talking sense, there are too many undroppables on this team that are living off reputation. Casey and O Sullivan are definitely capable of ousting 2 of those undroppables. Leinster have created a ferocious competition for places whereby when they have everyone back fit i dont know how they will keep everyone happy. That is what top sides in any sport do, no one should be too comfortable in their position. Too many of these in Munster. O Mahony, Stander and Murray need to be reminded of this. It will benefit them aswell.
He wont do he has nt the balls.
He will go with same team next week with the same game plan.
Very difficult for a coach under pressure like Van Graan is at the moment. He’ll want a big statement to be made in response to a string of poor results. That said ospreys are so bad at the moment that a younger Munster team should still be well able to do the job.
It’s a must win game since we can qualify and should be the strongest selection. The Pro 14 is for developing young players.
@Rochelle: yup! Even the slightest of chances then he has no choice but to start the strongest team possible.
@Rochelle: so qualify for the knockout, what then? Stop thinking short term and Munster might have a chance of turning things around to where they should be
Finally some common sense. Just a shame JVG doesn’t sing off the same hymn sheet. Either the guys are not ready or he doesn’t trust them but something is rotten. If we don’t blood them we have learned nothing.
To be honest im sick of seeing some of the regulars there that arn’t playing well. But i wouldnt agree that Stander should be dropped. He’s been one if the consistent guys in the team, he’s the only proper ball carrier as well & for a guy whos not that big, hes been brilliant. You can’t ask for much more from him. Scannell, Holland, POM, Murray, Hanrahan, Haley seriously need to pull up their socks. Casey, Knox, O’Sullivan, Daly, Healy, Whycherly, Coombes, should all be given more starts. It’ll help push the standard in the squad. R Scannell is a good player but he’s just not physically big enough for centre imo Dan Goggin is the perfect mold. He’s a good footballer, a lot more aggressive and physically dominates other centres. Also where is Hodnett, Wren & J.Whycherly?
@Harry O’Callaghan: Hodnett spent a good bit of 2019 out injured so probably not ready Champions Cup. Don’t know about Wren but at 16.5 stone J Wycherley is just not big enough yet to face experienced big tight heads.
The younger lads time will come but realistically this is a season too soon for most.
@TL55: Then I feel they need to get rid of some players and free up some room to sign some new players. O’Shea, Parker, O’Connor, Arnold, Whooten, Bleyendaal are average even for the pro14 bar maybe Bleyendaal but he’s been injured for way too long now. Archer, John Ryan & Loughman are steady but not excellent. Loughman has shown glimpses of talent though. Snyman & De Allende wont be enough. They need another Prop & a Vakatawa/Raka/Lowe type of player. Its a difficult situation, because the academy will improve but it’ll take at least 2 or 3 more years. Carberry, Tadgh Beirne, Marshall, Cronin, Bleyendaal are huge losses though.
Blood the youngsters as you have nothing to lose.
Win with them and the Munster supporters will get off your back and be off in la la land believing that the new crop will be the saviour of the province. If it’s a defeat then everyone will be saying it was expected and at least the young guys got some valued experience .
It’s a win/win for the coach to get some heat off his back
@Mark Smith: la la land yippee here I come. Will I need a jacket or is the weather nice?
I don’t get this. If Sarecens lose then Munster can qualify
@Bill: need about 3/4 other shock results aswell as that
@Bill: not as simple as that Bill – there’s a series of other games that need results to fall Munsters way but yes, hope lives
@Bill: saracens wont lose at home ,be full strenght and racing are already through, munster needs to knuckle down now and go all out for pro14
@Cortiss: no they don’t, they need 2 results from 3 games. Toulouse are heavy favorites, while Sale and Lyon are +4 and +5 on the handicap so certainly wouldn’t be a shock. Racing are battling Toulouse for 2nd seeds and a home SF so will have a go. Munster have a reasonable chance of qualifying.
@Teadore Hungwell: so you expect Racing to give up on top 2 seed and a home SF. Probably lose out on home QF if they go with your logic.
@John Buckley: you are correct John. And McCall has said this week that it be a mixed team ie not full metal jacket.
Racing will want to avoid a French club which they won’t do if they lose and also have a cushy tie at home to Castre the following week. They will turn up for a result.
Saracens still favourites probably but it won’t be by much.
@Teadore Hungwell: If racing are serious this year they will understand the importance of a home quarter final.
JVG stating his pleasure at handing Case