FOR ALL THE injury troubles Munster have endured over the course of the season, a handful of key players provided an important backbone as the province rode out some mid-season struggles to finish the URC regular season on a high – taking 44 points from a possible 45 across a nine-game winning run that saw them finish top of the URC table.
Winger Shane Daly has been at the heart of that effort, starting all of Munster’s 18 regular season URC games, playing 1,415 minutes of a possible 1,440.
He was similarly influential to last year’s URC success – his 1,800 minutes on the pitch the most by any Munster player last season.
The Corkman’s consistency and durability has seen him quietly become one of the province’s most important players under Graham Rowntree.
A product of Highfield RFC, PBC and Cork Constitution, Daly spent three years in the Munster Academy before earning a senior contract in 2019.
He was no stranger to the first team under Johann van Graan but Daly has hit another level since Rowntree took over as head coach in 2022, with the former Leicester and England prop showing faith in him right from the start of his tenure.
Before Rowntree’s promotion to the top job, Daly had never bettered 13 starts in one season (2019/20). He started 22 games in Rowntree’s first year in charge and is already on 21 this season – with three more potentially to come as Munster aim to defend their URC title.
The 27-year-old has credited attack coach Mike Prendergast and skills coach Mossy Lawler with helping him improve his overall game, with Daly and fellow winger Calvin Nash both thriving in Munster’s attacking system.
Having started this season playing most his rugby at fullback, since the St. Stephen’s Day defeat to Leinster all 13 of Daly’s starts have come on the wing – his relocation coinciding with Simon Zebo putting together an impressive run of form at 15.
The Zebo-Daly-Nash back three has been working nicely for all involved. Daly is on a career-best run of seven tries this season, with most of his tries coming through bursts on pace on the edges.
A quality attacker, the former Sevens player brings pace and skill to the backline. Daly is third on the URC charts for both most clean breaks (22) and most metres made (950) this season.
But the Munster coaching staff have been just as pleased with his workrate and defensive efforts – with the home support getting a big lift out of his driving hit on scrum-half John Cooney during Saturday’s defeat of Ulster.
“Shane’s Mr Reliable, isn’t he?” says defence coach Denis Leamy.
“He’s a fantastic rugby player. Very, very smart. I consider him a really good defender.
“He’s been doing some excellent things on the edges for us over the last 18 months. His ability to judge the backfield, to field the play and obviously defend in the front line as well and his ability to stay calm, not show too many early pictures and almost tell lies in what he’s doing (stands out).
Shane is a top class player in fairness to him. He’s one of the smartest players I’ve had the pleasure of working with.”
Another strong run of performances in the URC playoffs would surely keep him in the Ireland conversation before Andy Farrell names his squad to tour South Africa this summer.
With Leinster fullback Hugo Keenan away on Sevens duty and Connacht winger Mack Hansen yet to return from the shoulder injury which has kept him sidelined since January, Farrell might be casting his net a little wider when it comes to selecting his back three options.
Daly was capped twice by Farrell (in 2020 and 2021) and was part of the Emerging Ireland tour to South Africa in 2022 before playing for Ireland A against a New Zealand XV that November.
He’s found it hard to work his way back into Farrell’s plans since, but after another strong season with Munster the Ireland coaches might feel Daly is worth another look at international level.
I say this without jest, but it must be difficult to be humble when you’re only a short time from having your statue placed in Lansdowne Rd.
Yes you were a team player Brian. And you always made us feel like we were on that team too. A gent. Enjoy your retirement.
He Sounds a bit needy to me ..
I want / i want .
Wouldn’t it actually be cool if Ireland won the Championship in Paris at the very stadium where he made his name? It really is one of those stories, that the book of Brian opened in Paris, so shall it close in Paris.
What a player! :’)
Love this script
He might not be sentimental but I am.
I hope every man, woman and child gives him a send off to remember on Saturday.
He deserves it.
I think I’m going to avoid all rugby media between now and the end of the 6N. All these “Bye Bye Bod” stories are making me sad… :(
It’ll be a bit sad before and after the match on Saturday but there will be zero sentiment during the game, especially from the legend himself. I’m sure he’ll give everything to the cause as he has done throughout his brilliant career. Right up there with the greats in rugby worldwide. Good luck in the future BOD
Got my tickets for Saturday bitter,sweet seeing his last game there, he has given me best sporting memories of my life. Hope we win and send him to Paris with a chance of the championship. Thanks BOD
A true Irish Legend. And he’s not even from Cork!! ;) Thanks for the memories Brian.
The greatest irish sports star of all time.
He was not such a team player when he stopped in the georgia world cup game to roar at stringer for a bad pass.
Still a great player though.
nobody saying the man is perfect ted. that was out of frustration, the team went in talking of winning the world cup and played rubbish the whole competition
In his whole time with Ireland that’s the best you can do ted?
Sad ted sad.
Don’t worry you won’t have to watch him much longer, two more games for Ireland and a few for Leinster that’s all.
I’ll tell you one thing ted he’ll pick up another medal at least before then so if I was you I’d find a desert island somewhere and get stranded until June because this will torment you. L
I wonder which part of Ireland ted hails from?petty little man
I couldn’t possibly guess even!
As i said bod is a great player. One of the best irish players of all time.
However he was guilty one of the least teamplayer (?) acts I have seen from any Irish player in an Irish jersey.
I just found it ironic that he used that description.
It was seven years ago. And over the course of the fifteen years he has saved ireland many times.
Ted do you think he should’ve clapped stringer on the back told him don’t worry about it it’s only a game.but try not to do it again old chap?
Possibly he could have tried to chase down the georgian before he scored he try.
He could even have been a team player and accepted that everyone makes mistakes and that his experienced team mate would have been far more pissed off with the mistake.
Bod has always given his all for Ireland. And I would defend him on his talent, his dedication, his daft ability to put his body on the line and just about every other aspect of his career.
But for me, his teamwork will always be tainted for roaring at and blaming a teammate while an opponent ran in a try.
Ted let it go buddy it was a long time ago
No idea whether he was a team player or not, kind of difficult to tell as a spectator. He went through a string of piss poor performances during the tubby Glenda years, was never ever pulled up by his teammates for the many flicks & kicks to nowhere (Schmidt only touched on that recently) but first onto his teammates if opposite occurs. someone with his gravitas & authority within the game can damage any team ethic, especially when off-form in his own right. Still the greatest of this generation, but clearly acutely aware of it too…
Pretty much exactly what he should’ve done
Without a doubt our greatest sportsman ever. Thanks for all the memories and best of luck for the future! (He might read this).
In the 13th minute #onemoreyear again!
Time to move on.
You will be remembered as a genius, tough shit!!!!
Looking forward to him excelling in his last 2 matches, hope he runs in a hat trick in Paris :)
A sporting legend and a gent….great combination! Enjoy your retirement it’s well deserved.
National Treasure
Terrible movie
And YOU WILL be
And thats all he was, no one man is bigger than the team
A national hero and treasure, there are not enough plaudits for you sir