Munster to hit back against the Blues, says Payne
The squad reassembled in Cork yesterday for the first time since their semi-final loss to Biarritz in San Sebastian and Payne is confident the side can put their disappointment to one side as they battle to claim some silverware this season.
Munster, the Magners League champions, must take at least a point from Sunday’s game in Wales if they are to make the knockout phase of the competition.
He said: “The mood was very gloomy after the loss and the fact that we didn’t play well added to the disappointment.
“But Wednesday was a case of refocusing and trying to be professional from the management and players point of view. It was therapeutic for the guys to get back on the training pitch and not to dwell too long on what transpired on Sunday. There is still everything to play for. It’s a play-off situation which we quite enjoy. We’re not in it yet and obviously there are a couple of permutations but we need to ensure that we perform against Cardiff.
“The lads are definitely not wishing that their season was as good as over. We’re up for this competition – we couldn’t stand a double disappointment.”
He added: We need to be competing in the Magners League. The gap between the Magners and the Heineken has definitely been closing and especially with the play-off system in place this year, there is a lot of added excitement. We’re not going to be writing off the rest of the season.”
The injured Mick O’Driscoll apart, the 26-strong squad announced yesterday for the Cardiff game contains every other player that started against Biarritz.
However Paul O’Connell, Doug Howlett and Ian Dowling are again out of the reckoning. None of the trio trained yesterday because of groin, hamstring and knee injuries respectively but Payne hasn’t given up hope of their availability again this season.
“Paul’s injury has not reacted in any way but we haven’t written off the rest of the season. The likelihood is becoming fainter as the weeks drag on but for his sake and all our sakes, it’s not all over.”
The inclusion of Billy Holland, Scott Deasy and Tom Gleeson won’t be greeted with any great delight at Cork Constitution as it rules them out of Saturday’s AIB All-Ireland League final against St Mary’s College in Athlone.
Meanwhile the Bedford Blues website yesterday reported Ireland U19 winger Corey Hircock has been offered a contract by Munster. A native of Milton Keynes, Hircock impressed with the Irish 19s this season. His performances for Bedford brought him to Munster attention.
MUNSTER SQUAD (Forwards): M. Horan, T. Buckley, J. Brugnaut, D. Ryan, J. Hayes, D. Varley, J. Flannery, D. Fogarty, B. Holland, D. O’Callaghan, A. Quinlan, D. Wallace, N. Williams, J. Coughlan, N. Ronan. (Backs): T. O’Leary, R. O’Gara, P. Warwick, L. Mafi, J. de Villiers, D. Barnes, D. Hurley, K. Earls, S. Deasy, T. Gleeson.
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