Archer maintains a driving ambition

Stephen Archer recently signed a three-year renewal of his Munster contract.

Around the same time, he was called up to the national camp at Carton House. His career was going just the way he would have wanted.

Powerfully built for a tight head prop at 6 ft 2 and weighing in at two pounds under 19st, the genial Cork man had good reason to believe big things were just around the corner.

The presence of South African World Cup winner BJ Botha obviously makes his task at Munster all the more difficult.

Nevertheless, Archer actually insists that Botha’s advice has been crucial to his development as a tight head prop ready to challenge for action at the highest level.

“BJ has been a great help,” Archer insists. “He is a top class prop and you can see that with the success he has had with South Africa. There are not that many fellas around Munster with World Cup-winning medals. BJ is a big help and is a good fella as well. We always have good chats about scrummaging.”

As if to make the point, minutes after his media duties concluded, Archer and Botha were sitting down in the Sports Bar at UL for what was a healthy if sizeable-looking lunch.

Archer has had to spend much of his recent playing time on the bench which doesn’t help to enhance his prospects of a breakthrough with Ireland. Understandably, the 27-year-old was a little frustrated at having to look on for the entire first European Cup game against Clermont and only come into the return towards the closing stages.

“You are obviously mad eager to get on and prove a point and try and help the lads out on the pitch,” he said. “You are trying to watch the match intently and pick up on what the lads are doing while also trying to keep an eye on the clock. It seems to be a very fast clock in the second half because it ticks away a lot quicker than the first half, I always seem to think. No, you are not given a hint as to when your time might come. I don’t know if they have conversations among themselves but they don’t tell us anyway. It is just a case of hoping really and fingers crossed to get on as early as possible.

“In Clermont, I came on for a couple of scrums. It is a good experience to play top sides like Clermont. Being exposed to teams like that is why you play the game. I was up against the best props and it helps learning against teams like that.

“I wouldn’t say it was satisfying getting the bonus point. I came on just after they scored their last try and at least we got something out of it in the end.”

Archer described the signing of the new three-year deal with Munster as quick and painless. “Getting it done early allows me to concentrate on the work done on the pitch. We have good competition in training. We come up against each other all the time... Dave Kilcoyne, Jamesie Cronin, John Ryan. Jerry Flannery (forwards coach) is doing a good job with us. I wouldn’t say he is one of the lads, but when I came into the Academy he was a member of the senior squad. Not that you respect someone more because they are a player but it is nice to see one of the fellas that you used to support is now giving you tips. It has worked out well.”

Munster face a Glasgow Warriors side who could go top of the Pro12 for Christmas. Glasgow are just a point behind Pro12 leaders Munster.

Glasgow’s South African back row Josh Strauss said: “All the games we’re playing at the moment seem must win. They are but this match against Munster is vitally important as they’re league leaders. We also want to build momentum towards our remaining two European pool games early next year.”