‘Bull’ backs young brigade
Despite Sunday’s painful Heineken Cup semi-final loss at home to Ulster, the former Munster andIreland prop believes there are plenty of reasons for fans to be positive, name-checking Conor Murray, Simon Zebo and Mike Sherry as potential big-game players.
But Hayes, who played his last game for Munster in December,insisted the young players need to be allowed time to develop.
“It’s not all doom and gloom. I think Munster are in a good place, to be honest,” Hayes said.
“There are a lot of young fellas in there, lads that are the future for Munster. Mike Sherry started on Sunday. He has been injured a lot this year but at this stage last year he was coming through as well but just got injured and that held him back. He’s a good talent.
“Then you have Simon Zebo on the wing, and we all saw him score that hat-trick against Northhampton. He is another with big potential.
“Conor Murray has taken giant steps forward and is now an Irishinternational so there are plenty of positives there.
“But it will take them time. Asdisappointing as Sunday was, it’s days like that which will stand to them. It’s all about experience. You have to put them out there and see what they will do. I think some of those young fellas did well on Sunday. So it’s just a matter of time.”
Confident that Munster will be back in a Heineken Cup semi-final next year, Hayes feels patience is key in Munster’s development.
“It is a transitional period, there is no doubt about that. A few fellas have moved on over the last few years, Jerry Flannery retired a few weeks ago due to injury, I retired, Alan Quinlan retired. But thathappens in every team. It can’t go on forever. We had a great period where a lot of us played together for a lot of years and enjoyed great success.
“But it’s just happening that a lot of fellas are coming to the end of it at the same time. But I don’t have any fear for Munster’s future. There are some great youngsters coming through the system.”
Pinpointing the poor start that allowed Ulster race 19-0 clear as the main reason for Munster’s defeat, Hayes saluted Ulster’s effort as they now build towards a Heineken Cup semi-final against Edinburgh at the Aviva Stadium.
“Ulster have a great chance now. The winner on this side of the draw had the extra boost of knowing they would have home advantage in the Aviva in a few weeks. Ulster are on a big high now, to come down to Thomond and take a giant step forward will give them hugeconfidence. This was a big win for them. It could be a big moment for this Ulster team. Not many teams come to Munster in the Heineken Cup and do to Munster what Ulster did in that first half.”
Hayes is also hedging his bets on the possibility of an Ulster v Leinster Heineken Cup final:
“I don’t know about that. It’spossible but there is nothing decided yet, a lot can happen. Clermont looked good on Sunday.
“Leinster have to go away and that’s never easy in this competition, especially at this stage. Leinster looked good. They hit the ground running, hit Cardiff early, scoredtries and the game was over. But Clermont are still well in it toobecause it takes a good team to come over to Saracens and win. It sets it all up for two cracking semi-finals.”
* John Hayes was speaking at the Sporting Legends benefit night for the Paul Curran Cancer Trust that was held in the Ballyroe Heights Hotel, Tralee. More details on http://paulcurrantrust.wordpress.com/
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