JAMES COUGHLAN’S 100TH game for Munster was a memorable one as he captured the man-of-the-match award following his team’s 15-9 pool stage win over Saracens at Thomond Park.
The loose forward, who turns 32 today, was one of Munster’s stand-out players as they targeted a Sarries’ strength – the lineout – and defended as if their Heineken Cup lives depended on it.
Munster coach Rob Penney heaped praise on the Cork native who is only two games into his comeback following a seven week lay-off with a groin injury.
“Coming off the back of six or seven weeks off, and having played 70 minutes [against Glasgow] last week, and having to do it again out thee today,” said Penney. “I think he made one error and was just terrific for us.”
Coughlan was called into Ireland’s Six Nations squad as injury cover earlier in the year and played for a select Irish team against the Barbarians in June.
Irish captain Jamie Heaslip is the man in possession of the number 8 jersey but Coughlan would draw encouragement from the positive international impact made by Mike McCarthy, 31, last month.
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Penney commented, “There has been talk about him getting an Irish opportunity at some point, jeepers, he would wear the green jersey very, very well.
“I know there are some great loosies hanging around in Ireland at the moment but James, we know what his strengths are and he plays to them so well.”
Setting down a marker
Speaking after the match, Coughlan knocked on the wooden table in the press room when talking about his latest comeback and acknowledged the physical aspect of the Saracens tie. He said:
It’s an English side coming to Thomond Park in the Heineken Cup, there’s something special about that. We wanted to set down a physical marker early and I think we achieved that.
“Our accuracy went out the window as a result so that is something we will have to look at. We left a fair amount of points behind us.”
The performance of referee Pascal Gauzere, a late stand-in for Roman Poite, drew cries of derision from the home supporters but Coughlan and his teammates were focused on the job at hand.
He said, “It’s something you can’t control… if you start worrying about what he’s doing you forget about what the 15 fellas in white jerseys are doing.”
Coughlan does not believe the late concession of a penalty – one of the three, from seven, that Owen Farrell managed to locate the target for – should not cost Munster in the long run.
“I don’t think it’s is a concern,” he declared. “We have to win every game and, if we do, we’ll top the group. That was always going to be the case. [The points] are 4-1 now and if it’s 8-2 at the end of [next week's game] we’ll be happy.
“We shot ourselves in the foot losing away against Racing Metro. I don’t think anyone, apart from ourselves and the miracle match [when Munster beat Gloucester], has ever lost two and gone through.”
The only shame, as far as Coughlan was concerned, is that the next match will not take place at Thomond Park.
“The crowd were incredible. Absolutely mental. It’s an amazing place – it was hopping. Really, if we can, we should try get all our [home] games at 6pm.”
James Coughlan is good enough to play for Ireland - Rob Penney
JAMES COUGHLAN’S 100TH game for Munster was a memorable one as he captured the man-of-the-match award following his team’s 15-9 pool stage win over Saracens at Thomond Park.
The loose forward, who turns 32 today, was one of Munster’s stand-out players as they targeted a Sarries’ strength – the lineout – and defended as if their Heineken Cup lives depended on it.
Munster coach Rob Penney heaped praise on the Cork native who is only two games into his comeback following a seven week lay-off with a groin injury.
“Coming off the back of six or seven weeks off, and having played 70 minutes [against Glasgow] last week, and having to do it again out thee today,” said Penney. “I think he made one error and was just terrific for us.”
Coughlan was called into Ireland’s Six Nations squad as injury cover earlier in the year and played for a select Irish team against the Barbarians in June.
Irish captain Jamie Heaslip is the man in possession of the number 8 jersey but Coughlan would draw encouragement from the positive international impact made by Mike McCarthy, 31, last month.
Penney commented, “There has been talk about him getting an Irish opportunity at some point, jeepers, he would wear the green jersey very, very well.
“I know there are some great loosies hanging around in Ireland at the moment but James, we know what his strengths are and he plays to them so well.”
Setting down a marker
Speaking after the match, Coughlan knocked on the wooden table in the press room when talking about his latest comeback and acknowledged the physical aspect of the Saracens tie. He said:
“Our accuracy went out the window as a result so that is something we will have to look at. We left a fair amount of points behind us.”
The performance of referee Pascal Gauzere, a late stand-in for Roman Poite, drew cries of derision from the home supporters but Coughlan and his teammates were focused on the job at hand.
He said, “It’s something you can’t control… if you start worrying about what he’s doing you forget about what the 15 fellas in white jerseys are doing.”
Coughlan receives his man-of-the-match award from Heineken’s Pat Maher. (©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)
Coughlan does not believe the late concession of a penalty – one of the three, from seven, that Owen Farrell managed to locate the target for – should not cost Munster in the long run.
“I don’t think it’s is a concern,” he declared. “We have to win every game and, if we do, we’ll top the group. That was always going to be the case. [The points] are 4-1 now and if it’s 8-2 at the end of [next week's game] we’ll be happy.
“We shot ourselves in the foot losing away against Racing Metro. I don’t think anyone, apart from ourselves and the miracle match [when Munster beat Gloucester], has ever lost two and gone through.”
The only shame, as far as Coughlan was concerned, is that the next match will not take place at Thomond Park.
“The crowd were incredible. Absolutely mental. It’s an amazing place – it was hopping. Really, if we can, we should try get all our [home] games at 6pm.”
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Birthday Coach Comeback European Rugby Champions Cup Cork eight forward Injury Irish Rugby James Coughlan Jamie Heaslip kiwi Limerick man of the match Munster number 8 Rob Penney Rugby Saracens sarries Thomond Park