Ready to get drop on Treviso
His ability to strike when least expected was first seen when he sent a 50-yard effort between the posts in a 24-16 win over Sale Sharks at Edgeley Park last year (he also scored a try in that victory).
A month later, he landed a beauty in a superb all-round display on that never-to-be forgotten night when the All Blacks had to sneak a last-minute try by Joe Rokocoko to eke out an 18-16 win.
In the Heineken Cup quarter-final against the Ospreys, he dispatched two more drop kicks as the star-laden Welsh side were humiliated 43-9 and then last Saturday against Northampton Saints, the 28-year-old Aussie took a great pass from Doug Howlett and bisected the sticks with a majestic drop kick.
All illustrated Warwick’s quick thinking and capacity to turn a half chance into three invaluable points.
“I was lucky enough that it went over on Saturday as I had hit a few in the warm-up and they weren’t so good,” he laughed.
“It is something that comes into my head and I go with it. I have been lucky that more have gone over than have missed.”
He revealed: “I have been working on it since I got my first against Sale last season. When there is a poor kick, it is a chance to punish the opposition. If I have a bit of time I will have a crack. At the end of the day, if it goes dead we will get the ball back or contest it off a 22. There is no real loss from it. Doug could have happily taken the line out at Northampton but I was calling for a pass and he gave me a beauty.”
Australians are often accused of being brash but there is no sign of that in Paul Warwick. He is friendly, articulate and cooperative, and according to all connected with Munster, is a popular figure within the camp.
His Munster career took a backward step last summer when it appeared he had signed for London Irish. Munster were only offering a one-year extension to his contract and with a wife, Mallow-born Carol (Hickey), and a daughter, Leah, to support, he needed a bit more than that. Furthermore, they are expecting their second child early next year.
“Staying with Munster is initially what I wanted,” he says. “It was just a one-year contract offer. Without the security, I didn’t feel comfortable for my family and things like that. As it panned out, I got exactly what I wanted. I got to stay with Munster and I didn’t have to move my family around. That is ideal. Obviously no one wants to leave a club like this, it is a great place to play rugby. I have to pinch myself when I look around and see the fellows I am playing with and that I am keeping out. Now that I am in there, I am doing my best to stay in the side. That’s all I can ask of myself.”
A foot injury sidelined Warwick for much of September which meant he was having his first full outing since the pre-season friendlies at Franklin’s Gardens. However he was given a vote of confidence by coach Tony McGahan and was determined not to let him down.
“I got through the game fine and was delighted from that point of view,” he said. “But the loss was hard to take. We put ourselves in a position where we could have won. Even more disappointingly was the ease with which we let them get 14 points ahead. That will be a big focus for us ahead of Treviso on Saturday.”
He agreed: “Conceding 61 points in two matches is not ideal. Some guys have been short of game time but I don’t think we are in the business of making excuses. There is a lot of personal pride and things like that. Fellows were a bit off the mark again but it was an improvement on Leinster. We are confident we are heading in the right direction.
“That result in Treviso (when they defeated French champions Perpignan) showed there are no easy games. They are coming over here with ambition. We are taking nothing for granted. Every time we go out to play, we have big targets on our backs. Teams are not rolling over, they are really giving it to us. I don’t know that much about Treviso except that they have a lot of internationals.
“They have an Australian guy in Luke McLean at full-back and a South African number 10 Marius Goosen as well who we expect to play. They are a well-balanced side and certainly pose a different threat to Northampton.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
