Ireland hopeful Cronin thankful for Connacht platform

EVENTUALLY, his native Limerick will probably tug enough at Sean Cronin’s heart strings to draw him back to Munster, but for the next season at least he is committed to the cause of Connacht rugby.

At 23, Cronin is tipped for a long and successful career and has already taken the first steps towards fulfilling a dream thanks to Michael Bradley and the western province.

Cronin had made two appearances off the bench for Munster before Bradley came calling with an offer too good to refuse. “Michael Bradley was giving me the opportunity of playing first team rugby, giving me the chance to get much needed experience playing in the Magners League and (European) Challenge Cup,” he explained.

“Obviously, coming from where I was, from Limerick and Munster, I had to give it a bit of thought. I had been in the Munster Academy for a couple of years and there was a contract there (development) for me, but I had to weigh up my options and going to Connacht seemed a good one. I don’t have any regrets,” he added.

His progress since brought him to the attention of national bosses and resulted in a call-up to the Irish squad for the summer tour and then the autumn series. Game time off the bench in the win over Fiji was the career highlight.

“Just getting into the squad was an honour but it was brilliant to get on the pitch; it was a huge and very proud moment for me. Hopefully I can grab some more game time,” he said.

Though it may not command the same headlines as the Heineken Cup trio of Leinster, Munster and Ulster, Cronin insists that Connacht’s achievements should garner similar respect. “The structure is as good as you will find and this season has been particularly memorable. Getting through the pool (Amlin Cup) was brilliant, and getting through without losing a match was fantastic. I suppose we were hopeful of making the quarter finals but we had to face huge competition and the highlights were beating both Montpellier and Worcester, Top 14 and Guinness Premiership sides respectively, away from home; to end up as the only unbeaten team in Europe was something else. The upshot of that is that we have Bourgoin at home and that won’t be an easy task, but all of this has been a huge boost for Connacht rugby and it’s something more to look forward to in April.

“But we must push on from here and win some more games in the Magners; it’s disappointing that we have lacked consistency there and it’s something we’re looking to improve upon.”

If Cronin looks at improvement in the team context, he constantly strives for excellence at a personal level and as a hooker he sees lineout throwing as a key part of his game.

“There are lots of things to work on but throwing in is an integral and crucial part of the hooker’s responsibility. That is part of the basics and is certainly something that every hooker is judged upon. I have always worked hard on that and I feel it is coming along nicely, but you can never assume it’s going to be perfect and it’s always a work in progress.”