Versatile Hurley rises to challenge for Munster

When James Downey and Casey Laulala, Munster’s first-choice centre partnership last season, were finding it increasingly difficult to break down defences, coach Rob Penney acceded to the player’s wishes and experimented with Denis Hurley, normally a wing or full-back, in the number 12 jersey.

At 6ft 3ins and 15st 10lbs, and the proud possessor two Heineken Cup medals, the versatile Hurley has several of the necessary attributes to fill what to many appears to be a gaping hole in the Munster midfield.

He duly revealed a considerable degree of potential for the role and now that Downey and Laulala have moved on, and New Zealander Tyler Bleyendall won’t be available until the new year, the experiment will be called upon again when table-toppers Ospreys visit Thomond Park on Saturday evening (6.30pm) for a vital Guinness Pro 12 encounter.

Versatility in any sporting arena can be a mixed blessing although Hurley is unfazed by the proposition while still unsure as to his favourite position.

“I suppose it’s a different kind of chance for me,” the 30-year-old acknowledges. “I asked management last year about getting the opportunity and some of the current management were more keen to see me getting more game time in the centre to see how it went. The few games I’ve played, I did reasonably well, and I was learning from it. There’s scope for me again this season to progress in that area.

“It’s not as if I have forgotten the skills I’ve picked up in the back three. It’s another string to my bow and it just adds another dimension to what I can do. I’m a big guy so it’s the first time that I have been really put in to the position that’s there’s a lot more contact. I like that so it is a good opportunity for me. The more action I get the better. I love getting on the ball. Rugby is an aggressive game.”

Hurley has worked with new backs coach Brian Walsh at Cork Constitution and describes the change from last year as: “a play-what-you see kind of game”. “It’s more direct, more attacking and picking off individual defenders, trying to get soft shoulders to get hands free for offloads. That the part of the game I enjoy. It makes players react to whatever happens and that brings out more of the rugby brains — that’s a good part of what Brian (Walsh) has brought.”

The next few weeks will tell a great deal about not just Denis Hurley as a centre about the prospects for the entire Munster squad as well. “It’s the same every year, we have the usual tough run of games. It’s a time when results really do matter and that’s where you want to be, playing in these big games and hoping they will have a knock-on effect down the road, so we’re just keen to get cracking on with them.”