O’Donnell: We owed it to fans

Munster try scorer Tommy O’Donnell reported to Ireland camp last night with spirits partially restored after helping to put Sale Sharks to the sword at Thomond Park.

Eliminated from the Champions Cup following the previous weekend’s defeat at Saracens, Test flanker O’Donnell found solace in his province’s rediscovered killer instinct after running eight second-half tries in a nine-try demolition of the English Premiership side.

“It’s good to see the ruthlessness there, once we saw blood in the water we went for it. Backs kept hitting tackles, it was incredible. It was good to be a forward in there as well.

“The faults of last week were we didn’t have the ball, and once we had the ball we kept giving it back to Saracens as well.

“So, the focus this week was just on keeping hold of the ball and we went out in the first five minutes… We’ve known all season how destructive we can be with ball in hand.

“We just have to restrict other teams having the ball, give us as much ball as we can and be as ruthless, as clinical as possible.

Openside flanker O’Donnell said last week had felt “strange” as Munster prepared for a dead European rubber but added: “We owed it to the fans who travelled over (to London) last week, the fans who followed us all year to get back to winning ways.

“With lads going away to Irish camp, we’ve got to park (European disappointment) and we can’t let it run away with itself.

“We’ve to put ourselves in the best position possible, to get ourselves a good group in the Champions Cup by winning the Pro12. That’s what we’ve to go for.”

O’Donnell will also have some personal objectives as he vies for a Six Nations starting place in Joe Schmidt’s Ireland team to face Italy in Rome on February 7.

“I want to play, I’m going to do whatever I can to play. Whatever way selection goes, I’m going to go for it full-heartedly and give my best I can do.

“(My form’s) been much better than last year, I’m happy with how I’m going. Complete performance today, so I’m just looking forward to the Six Nations and see how it goes.

“There’s no places given, I just have to keep showing the graft and defensive ability that they want from a No.7 and then show the attacking intent as well.”