Lawlor repays Gaffney’s faith by starring in winger role

MOSSIE LAWLOR mightn’t want it heard, much less printed for posterity, but one of his youthful highlights involved sitting on Mick Galwey’s knee.

An Irish Under-21, Lawlor has been fast-tracked by Munster coach Alan Gaffney into senior competitive rugby with his province.

Four Celtic League appearances and four tries is a very good start.

But ask him to highlight one of the special memories of his life, and Lawlor comes up with a surprise.

"Actually, it's me as a very young kid sitting on Mick Galwey's knee!"

Sitting in the restaurant at the Tennis Village in Cork yesterday, Lawlor looked around as he made the comment.

"I hope Mick doesn't hear me saying that."

In his formative years, his life revolved around Shannon RFC, for which Galwey was a regular fixture.

He singled out Galwey as one person who had influenced his career.

"In the last few years, as a centre, I also looked at the way Rob Henderson and Mike Mullins were able to inspire the teams they were involved with.

"I would also say that Killian Keane was particularly helpful to me when I first linked up with the Munster squad last season."

Coach Alan Gaffney has heaped praise on Lawlor for the way he had adapted to a new role on the wing.

"He was given an opportunity and has seized that.

"As a winger, there are still probably a few edges to be sorted out but he has done very well."

Lawlor is happy too. "Obviously, I would prefer to play in the centre because that's where I played virtually all of my rugby.

"In the Munster context, however, I am happy to play anywhere."

Professional rugby players are required to adhere to a disciplined lifestyle not normally forced upon 21-year-olds.

"You don't want to wake up on Sunday morning with a sick head, but I do allow myself the occasional late-night trip to the chipper just the occasional one!"

Lawlor will be in Gaffney's starting side for Saturday's trip to Neath, one of the rookie survivors as the coach and squad builds up to the opening game of the Heineken Cup.

Munster have John Kelly, Rob Henderson, Ronan O'Gara, Peter Stringer, Frank Sheahan, John Hayes, Anthony Foley and Alan Quinlan back from international duty, while Jim Williams returns after injury to captain the side.

Gaffney will bring a team of nine substitutes and will decide on the final seven on the morning of the game.

Munster are guaranteed a quarter-final place, despite the loss to Ulster last week.

While they should saunter through their final game against Caerphilly, Gaffney wants to make sure of a home draw with victory over Neath.

"There are, I am told, a few issues outstanding from Munster's defeat by Neath in the last pool game of the

European Cup last year.

"Some of the boys were a bit hurt about that and they would like to make amends."

The coach expressed regret over the exclusion of Colm McMahon. Young Denis Leamy has made the cut and further back-row cover will be provided by Eddie Halvey.

"It's a pity we can't use more players because Colm has done everything we asked of him.

"He came on for 20 minutes in two games and made a huge impact.

"He gives everything in training and I regret leaving him out of the squad."

That is, in a sense, good news for Munster, who have fought their way through the pool stages of this tournament with commendable ease.

Leinster, at home to Newport, must win. Matt Williams is in the happy position of being able to name one of his strongest teams of the season, and the only inconclusive selection is in the reserves.

David Quinlan and Adam Magro, and Matthew Leek and Kieran Lewis fight it out for two bench positions.

Meanwhile, London Irish and Blue Bulls coach Heyneke Meyer have denied a deal is being discussed to bring the South African to England as part of the Zurich Premiership club's management team.

South African newspapers claim the link between Meyer and London Irish is through the involvement of John McFarland, the Bulls' technical advisor. McFarland, a former Springbok technical advisor, played for Irish and Saracens before moving to South Africa.

A London Irish spokesman said: "It's complete garbage.

"Heyneke hasn't been over for talks and we haven't made any enquiries about his services. We have a strong coaching team in Brendan Venter, Conor O'Shea, Dirk Williams, Gary Gold and Springbok wing Pieter Rossouw, who has done some coaching with the backs."

MUNSTER: J. Staunton, J. Kelly, M. Mullins, R. Henderson, M. Lawlor, R. O'Gara, P. Stringer, M. Horan, F. Sheahan, J. Hayes, D. O'Callaghan, M. O'Driscoll, J. Williams (captain), A. Foley, A. Quinlan. Replacements (from): S. Kerr, D. Blaney, M. Galwey, E. Halvey, D. Leamy, M. Prendergast, D. Malone, J. Holland, D. Crotty.

LEINSTER: G. Dempsey, D. Hickie, B. O'Driscoll, S. Horgan, G. D'Arcy, C. Warner, B. O'Meara, R. Corrigan (captain), S. Byrne, P. Wallace, L. Cullen, M. O'Kelly, E. Miller, V. Costello, K. Gleeson. Replacements: E. Byrne, P. Smyth, A. Kearney, D. Dillon, B. O'Riordan, D. Quinlan/A. Magro, M. Leek/K. Lewis.