O’Donovan lauds young locks

MUNSTER’S latest second row prodigies Ian Nagle and Dave Foley are poised for a breakthrough, but they’re still hampered by the presence of an international “group of four” that will force them to wait their turn in the queue, according to respected analyst and rugby coach Niall O’Donovan.

Former Irish forwards coach O’Donovan, now manager of Munster’s A team, takes delight at the progress of the duo, amongst a number of other youngsters in the provincial squad, but believes the breaks won’t come easily, given the type of competition presently existing between skipper Paul O’Connell, Donnacha Ryan, Donncha O’Callaghan and Mick O’Driscoll.

O’Donovan conceded it was difficult for this particular duo: “A lot of these players have huge potential, no doubt about it, but at times they need to get up to the bigger stage and do it; it’s hard for them at the moment because one week they can be playing AIL (All Ireland League) and then (nothing).

“They’re not necessarily getting that many games and then it’s difficult when they are asked to go out and play in the British and Irish Cup or RaboDirect Pro12.

“I suppose what they need at this stage of their career is a lot of runs at the top level and then you’ll really see what they are made of.

“You have four international second row forwards in front of them, which is not easy when you’re a kid trying to break through and you see the standard of the four in front of them. I suppose they need games at a higher level on a weekly basis because then they would be ready to slot in if they got the call.

“Physically they are in a very good place but they’re unlucky they have come into an era where there are four international second rows in front of them; if these guys came on the scene 12 years ago they would probably be playing Heineken Cup from 21 or 22 years of age, because they have that kind of potential.

“Now, they just have to hang in there but have to keep on producing it in games like this (for Munster A against Ayr in the B and I Cup) on a regular basis.”

Although Munster’s regular second rowers proved through a top drawer performance in west Wales on Saturday that the waiting period will go on, Nagle and Foley should be encouraged by pre-match comments from O’Connell.

In relation to Nagle, the skipper said: “He is an outstanding player, physically now he is in incredible nick.

“I think that ‘Nags’ now is probably physically in the right place to push on and to make the most of his career, I think that when the coaching staff deem him to be good enough he will get picked and he will be excellent for Munster then.

“The same goes for Dave Foley, another young guy who has made remarkable progress.”