Eager O’Connell ready to roll
The always eagerly-anticipated inter-provincial clash kicks off at the Aviva Stadium on Friday night, quickly followed by the first two rounds of European competition, at home to last year’s runners-up Northampton Saints on November 11 and away to French high-fliers Castres a week later. So there is little time for Munster’s Ireland internationals to dwell on the disappointment of a quarter-final exit to Wales in Wellington just four weekends ago. Provincial captain O’Connell, who returned to RaboDirect Pro12 action last Friday against Aironi, said yesterday he was relishing the chance to hit the ground running in a red jersey having missed the start of last season with a long-term groin problem.
“I’m enjoying it more than ever. I didn’t get a pre-season, really, last year but got a great pre-season this year with Ireland,” O’Connell said in Dublin at the Irish launch of this season’s Heineken Cup.
“I spent a lot of time in Carton House and when you’re in camp like that, and you’re walking 50 metres to the pitch and 50 metres to the gym, you can get so much more work done. I really enjoyed that aspect of it. I enjoyed getting a good run of games under my belt as well. There’s been a great buzz since we came back. Obviously we were disappointed with the World Cup. I think there was a massive opportunity we left behind us out there but the Ireland lads that got back with Munster at the weekend were really enthusiastic to get back and looking forward to playing. There’s a really good buzz.”
Facing old foes Leinster at the Aviva was, O’Connell agreed, a great litmus test for the newly reintegrated Munster squad.
“It’s going to be a really tough game for us. It will let us know where we are. We’re going to be tested in every way. The scrum is going to be tested as is our lineout, fitness, physicality.
“They play a good pressure game and there’s going to be a massive crowd there and a big, heaving atmosphere. So for us it’s going to be a great test and it will really let us know where we are and what we have to work on going into the two big weeks against Northampton and Castres.”
Munster head coach Tony McGahan, also in Dublin yesterday to look ahead to a pool campaign that also features Welsh region Scarlets, said playing Leinster represented more than just an ideal warm-up game for European action.
“Playing Leinster at any stage is tremendous,” McGahan, said. “One, it’s a local derby. Two, you’re playing the best side in Europe, so you’re going to get a thorough examination of where you’re at. We’re playing them away from home, in a full house, and in a venue where they’ve had wonderful success.
“So anytime is a great opportunity and this weekend is too. Sure, it’s the lead-in to ERC (rounds) 1 and 2 but it’s a stand-alone game this weekend, Our last three or four games have been very close.”
Scrum-half Tomás O’Leary remains the chief doubt for Munster after suffering a concussion during a replacement’s appearance against Aironi and under the current protocols will be assessed throughout the week as to his availability.
“He was tested yesterday and will be tested again at the back end of the week and so we certainly won’t be taking any risks with him,” McGahan added. “We’re fortunate in that we have four quality nines who can start and also play off the bench and give us a different dimension.”
Meanwhile Heineken Cup newcomers Connacht are relishing a dream home debut in the competition against four-time champions Toulouse at the Sportsground on November 19. Eric Elwood’s team play Ulster this weekend before kicking off their pool campaign in London against Harlequins a week on Friday. It is the visit of the French giants a week after that, however, that has supporters in the west buzzing and Elwood likened the tie in Galway to an old-fashioned FA Cup tie.
“For us, they’re the Manchester United of the ERC and (Toulouse coach) Guy Noves is the Alex Ferguson,” Elwood said. “The boys we’ll be playing against are some of the best players in Europe and so that’s the challenge. It’s like the old FA Cup when you got Crawley Town against Man U. No one expects you to beat Toulouse but that’s the challenge and sport can be unpredictable.
“We’ll relish that challenge. I’m more concerned about playing Ulster this weekend. That will look after itself. There’s no doubt everybody will raise the bar. It will be a full house and the atmosphere will be terrific. It’s where we want to be and let’s hope we can put on a good show for Connacht rugby.”
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