Penney the right man for Munster, says Kilcoyne

Under-pressure Munster head coach Rob Penney has received “100%” backing from one of the province’s rising stars with Ireland prop Dave Kilcoyne calling criticism of the New Zealander’s game plan “completely unfair”.

Munster head to London this weekend desperate to keep their season alive with a victory over English champions Harlequins at The Stoop in Sunday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final. They leave Ireland on the back of a wretched run of RaboDirect Pro12 form that has seen hopes of a sixth successive semi-final berth all but disappear following three defeats and a draw in the last five games. Last Friday’s 51-24 hammering by Glasgow in Scotstoun was Munster’s worst result in nine years.

Sections of the media and many supporters are pointing the finger of blame at first-year head coach Penney making a direct link between the poor form and costly errors that have pockmarked Munster’s campaign and his introduction of a more varied and expansive game plan.