Penney wary of French as Munster sights trained on Metro
The French outfit have lost back-to-back to games in the Top 14 but three weeks ago came within two points of defeating French giants, Clermont, away from home.
Penney believes such form makes their weekend opponents a more dangerous outfit.
“It’s a tough pool with a difficult start. I’m not looking at the topsy-turvy start that Racing Metro have made to their Top 14 campaign — they will be more dangerous because of their unpredictability.
“When the big games come along their big name players start firing, and they’ve got a lot of them, ” Penney told ercrugby.com.
It’s mostly good news on the injury front for the Munster coach following an abrasive clash with Leinster at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
Lock Donncha O’Callaghan is likely to be fit despite being taken off with a hamstring complaint, while prop Marcus Horan is also expected to be in contention. A decision will be made on back row Niall Ronan’s fitness later in the week.
Hooker Mike Sherry left the stadium on Saturday on crutches as a precaution after he twisted an ankle, while Luke O’Dea came through a club game on the wing for Shannon unscathed. Johne Murphy has returned to full fitness and Felix Jones will be back in action ahead of schedule in the coming weeks to boost Munster’s options in the back three.
Meanwhile Penney described his role at the Munster helm as “living the dream” just three months into his new job.
The former Canterbury and New Zealand U20 coach is relishing his first taste of Heineken Cup rugby in Paris on Saturday afternoon, describing the competition as “the best club rugby tournament in the world game”.
“We play Racing Metro at Stade de France and then Edinburgh at a sold-out Thomond Park — wow!”
“Being able to coach in the Heineken Cup was one of the major attractions of coming to Munster. It is the best club rugby tournament in the world game. It allows you to pit yourself against some of the best coaches around and the wealth and depth of talent available to the clubs is incredible.
“There is so much passion associated with the competition and I can’t wait to get going.”
Along with the passion comes huge expectation from the Munster faithful, who have seen their side win the title twice and reach two other finals during an ever-increasing love-affair with the tournament.
“Pressure is something you can either embrace and use to your benefit, or get negative and twisted about and let it kill you,” said Penney. “Success needs to be measured on more than just the scoreboard and we have an exciting young group of athletes coming through the ranks.
“The main job has been trying to put old heads onto those young shoulders in the early part of the season.”
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