Hard work paying off for Munster stalwart James Cronin

When James Cronin returned from Argentina in the summer of 2014 he spoke about the “dream come true” of his senior Irish debut and the honour of being the first Ballincollig RFC player to reach such heights.

He featured for no more than six minutes that day in Tucumán but the hope then was that it would be “just a start”. The goal was to kick on, gather more caps and avoid the second season syndrome he had heard all about.

His rise to that point had been rapid. That first Test came less than two years after Munster awarded him a development contract but progress with club and country has been less serene since and just a dozen minutes off the bench against Italy a year ago have been added to his international stock.

“From the get-go, when I got selected for the Argentinian tour, (the ambition) has always been to play for Ireland. It hasn’t gone the way I wanted it to. Injury, form and other things haven’t allowed me.”

With Cian Healy absent through injury, Cronin’s prospects look good this weekend where he is likely to deputise for Jack McGrath from the bench and family and friends are primed back in Cork for the trip to Dublin in the event of his selection.

He has earned his shot.

It was on national duty at the Stadio Olimpico 12 months ago where he suffered the knee injury that undid the rest of his campaign and stalled his momentum while his form with Munster this season has cruised along at a high altitude despite the collective ups and downs.

Cronin was part of a callow front row that performed capably against Dan Coles and his grizzled Leicester crew in the Champions Cup though another setback, an ankle injury suffered against Leinster in December, held the potential to threaten immediate ambitions. But Joe Schmidt had seen enough before that and on his return against Treviso after a month out to include him in the group email list when naming his squad and there was no grumbling when Cronin was dispatched off to Italy last weekend where Munster faced Zebre.

“It doesn’t bother me. I love playing for my province. I knew I needed game time and Joe rang me on Wednesday to say he was sending me back. I had no issues because I believe they had a horrible enough fitness session at the Aviva on Friday. I was happy enough to play 60 (minutes) at the club.”

For a spell last month, it seemed as if Munster would be his club no longer. Reports doing the rounds had him all but signing on the dotted line for London Irish but he has since been among a plethora of players including Conor Murray, Keith Earls, Mike Sherry, and Billy Holland to recommit to the province. “I was in talks (with other clubs). Munster then got back on to me the day they found out I was in talks and put a good offer on the table, I was happy then so I took it.

“If there’s big offers out there then you’re going to have a look, it’s natural. But I was happy enough to sign for Munster for three years.”