Penney impressed by young guns

Munster’s youngsters continue to impress Rob Penney as the evolution of the two-time Heineken Cup champions continues.

Penney expressed delight as some of the new brigade shone in the province’s late bonus point victory over hapless Edinburgh at Thomond Park on Sunday.

Man of the Match Conor Murray, rookie prop Dave Kilcoyne and back-rower Sean Dougall caught his eye while Paddy Butler impressed off the bench.

Penney has been hugely impressed by Dougall’s progress since his move from Rotherham in the close season: “He’s terrific isn’t he? When you consider he is a kid who was playing in a lower division in England 12 months ago and now to be starting seven for a club like this is a bit of a dream come true for the young fellow. He’s a terrific prospect, but he’s nowhere near where he can be in 18 months or two years time when he has had the conditioning and experience of a more senior pro; then he will be another level better.”

Kilcoyne continued to make progress on Sunday, his ability to hold his own in the scrum tested when Edinburgh coach Michael Bradley confronted him with two vastly more experienced tight heads, Scottish international Geoff Cross and recent South African signing Willem Nel.

Cross was replaced at half-time with Kilcoyne firmly ahead on points, but the 23 year old Kilcoyne remained equally in the comfort zone against Nel, who can claim a famous “mauling” of South African loose head Tendai “The Beast” Mtawarira when playing for The Free State Cheetahs in the 2009 Currie Cup semi final.

Included in Nel’s CV is the big role he played in the Cheetah’s clash against the Lions the same year when his side narrowly lost 26-24 and his participation in the Barbarians victory over New Zealand – as the only capped player in the side — at Twickenham the same year.

If that doesn’t put Kilcoyne’s progress into perspective, Penney is keen to elaborate on his view of the player’s progress: “He’s performing really consistently now having been given the opportunity to establish himself, and he’s put a great mark in the sand for the level of performance that’s expected from those filling the number one jersey at Munster.”