Rotation will make Munster's season go round, says Jimmy Duffy

There have been 35 players deployed across the first four games of the season, with Saturday’s URC derby at reigning champions Leinster giving an opportunity for a first outing of the season for loosehead prop Mark Donnelly, named among the replacements.

Only the versatile back Sean O’Brien has been used for 80 minutes in all four of those matches to date, used at inside centre in the opening defeat at home to Glasgow, at outside centre in the win over the Bulls and then on the left wing for the draw at Ulster and last Saturday’s European home victory over Racing 92. On Saturday at Aviva Stadium, O’Brien will line out back in midfield in the number 13 jersey.

Many others, particularly in the front row, loose forwards and half-backs, have moved between bench and starting roles so far while for the rest it is a case of ticking over and remaining on standby for chances.

“We just keep pushing to make sure everybody's up to speed,” assistant coach Jimmy Duffy said this week. “It's a long season with a lot of games.

“You'll have 30-something games this season. It's really important everybody's ready to go.” 

Ahead of the Racing tie, defence coach Denis Leamy declared the days of first XVs were long gone, and forwards coach Duffy concurred.

“Very much so. The game is so attritional. Like, Racing will have players that are international upon international.

“For the first couple of weeks, you've got Glasgow, Bulls, Ulster, Racing, Leinster, Sharks. You're playing six of the top sides in the competition, not to mention the rest we haven't played yet.

“It would be foolish to think that we can rock through the season with a starting crew, because then you run yourself into real trouble.

“I think probably how you rotate and how you look after people is crucial. We’ve people able-bodied in a multitude of positions, it's really important, where we don't have experience, we build that experience, and that's something we're very conscious of.” 

Injuries have forced Munster’s hand, undoubtedly, and when there are multiple absences in the same position, as is the case at fly-half with Jack Crowley, new signing Will Harrison and academy star Tom Wood all sidelined, it has handed first-year academy inductee Charlie O’Shea the chance to shine in tandem with veteran JJ Hanrahan.

So too at loosehead prop with international dup Michael Milne and Jeremy Loughman both sidelined this weekend, opportunity knocks for Josh Wycherley, promoted from bench last week to starter, and the aforementioned Donnelly.

“Mikey was going really, really well,” Duffy said of Milne. “Jeremy's come back in after returning from the international duty. So you’re getting minutes into those guys, and some of the lads had a lot of minutes in pre-season.

“We've shared the workload pretty well. It's just important in the duration of the season, running up to June if you're fortunate, that everybody's up to speed because you can have a couple of knocks in one position pretty quickly.

“We've had that at 10. Charlie's come in there, JJ's there. You have a lot of guys in. It's really important to keep people tipping on.” 

Galwegian Duffy replaced Alex Codling during the summer and has had an immediate impact with a much improved set-piece. Last weekend against Racing was another big stride forward, finding a way to negate a powerhouse pack intent on mauling at every opportunity. Duffy was satisfied with the problem solving at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

“I think probably the big thing in the group we spoke about was the lads were very calm, irrespective of the challenges. Like, you're always under pressure in an area in a game and you see where teams are trying to beat you or trying to go after.

“I thought they dealt with it really, really well. A very mature half-time chat by the lads and a clear plan in the second half. They went out and they acted on it.

“That was a pleasing performance in that regard, but your eyes turn very quickly to this weekend again. You've got to be on the money because you've got the current champions coming to play against you. That's massive.”