Penney impressed by Munster’s young guns

New coach Rob Penney has only been in Ireland a few days, but he likes what he has seen from the youngsters who will form the nucleus of Munster’s renewed challenge to reach the summit of European rugby in the next couple of years.

Penney has yet to sit down with some of the key senior figures of the provincial side who return for pre-season activity tomorrow but he and backs coach Simon Mannix have been impressed with the less experienced players in the squad.

As Penney prepares to introduce a yet-to-be-revealed new style of play for Munster, he has had a chance to initially assess the level of quality he will be working with over at least the next two years.

Obviously, his assessment of the skills levels will be ongoing, but his initial assessment was, overall, very positive: “Having had a really close look over the last few days since I arrived on Monday, I can’t speak highly enough about the players’ endeavour, their attitude to work and their commitment to what’s required. It’s been exceptional. Both Simon and I are in awe of the effort, energy and excitement the young blokes are bringing.

“Once you have that component, if you have the hard work ethic and a desire to do well, you are well down the path to creating some [really] talented individuals, if they have got some talent, which [I believe] they have.

“Now it is up to us to expand their knowledge and understanding of what they are doing, when they are doing it, and what they are trying to achieve out on the track.

“Their greater knowledge of technical and, more so, tactical awareness is the key. We have got the work ethic and we can see that; we have got a group prepared to work hard for each other. There is a bit of banter, a bit of spirit which we can sense; now it is up to us to enhance their education.”

Penney believes the Munster product will prevail, saying: “I think the organisation is in good shape to deal with the [upcoming] challenges.

“There is enough experience amongst it to create a sense of security for the younger blokes. It is just about now putting older heads on younger men’s shoulders as quickly as we can through discussions and education to ensure we have got total alignment across the group as to how we want to play and what we are trying to achieve.”