Stringer adapts to second fiddle role

IT HASN’T been easy, but Peter Stringer is learning to live with the fact he is not first choice scrum-half for either Munster or Ireland. And the competitive Stringer admits it hurt badly when he was leap-frogged by Tomás O’Leary after years in the driving seat.

But while his competitive edge has not been blunted, Ireland’s most capped scrum-half has a new perspective and now sees any game time as an opportunity. “In the last number of months, I have focused on any chance at all, the 10, 20 or 30 minutes I might get. It’s still special for me to run onto the pitch and I’m thankful to get the chance.”

Stringer played more than just a cameo role in last year’s Grand Slam triumph, starting against Scotland when he won the man-of-the-match award after creating a crucial try for Jamie Heaslip, and finishing in Wales by providing the last-minute pass that allowed Ronan O’Gara the opportunity to drop the winning goal.

“Nice memories,” he admitted. “It was good to have played a role in that historic occasion. In a sense, getting the run against Scotland was like winning my first cap all over again and it certainly helped me accept what had happened a bit better.”

In relation to the try, he does look back with pride. “Yeah, it was nice to have done something that people look upon as special. I didn’t look on it as a massive moment at the time, I just went out and played the game and took that opportunity,” he said.

Of more recent vintage was his involvement late in the game in the sensational Heineken Cup victory over Perpignan, a win he described this week as “nice, very nice”. One other thing that hurts Stringer is being beaten, and Perpignan, at Stade Aime Giral, he felt, were owed one.

He is well aware there can be no room for complacency against Northampton tomorrow but promises there won’t be any backward steps. “It’s another huge challenge; they’re coming off the back of a huge number of wins, they are confident and they will see it as an opportunity to add another scalp to the recent list. But we will be well prepared for them, we’re around too long to take anything for granted,” he insisted.

Stringer may have been pushed down the pecking order, but is determined to keep plugging away; persistency has always been one of his greatest attributes and he promises more to come.

Although his latest Munster contract runs out at the end of this season, it seems incomprehensible that it won’t be renewed. Even though he has just turned 32, age should not be a barrier to allow this naturally-fit athlete continue through for at least a couple of more seasons.

That’s the way he looks at it, he hasn’t the slightest intention of giving up on a glittering career and sees no reason why he shouldn’t go on. With his desire to earn even more international caps, it would be fair to assume he will stay or go where he would be wanted.

“I want to continue playing for as long as I can, as long as I’m enjoying it and enjoying where I’m playing the game. It’s hard to put an overall time frame on it because it’s a physical game and guys get injured. Happily, I’m fit and healthy and I can’t see any reason to stop doing something I’m very happy doing.”