Coughlan hails ‘incredible’ input of Penney and Mannix

As Rob Penney declined to speak to the media on the subject and with CEO Garrett Fitzgerald set to address a press conference in UL tomorrow, it was left to acting captain James Coughlan to provide the players’ viewpoint on the coach’s end-of-season departure after Saturday night’s facile 54-13 victory over Cardiff.

“Naturally, we were all surprised and disappointed to hear that Rob and Simon (Mannix, back coach) were leaving”, he admitted.

“Their contribution to Munster has been incredible. They have changed the way we play. We are top of the league and looking forward to a home quarter-final in the Heineken Cup against Toulouse and it was a big call for Rob. He has to do what’s right for him and we all respect that.”