Rory Scannell happy with game-time as Cardiff loom

Munster’s Rory Scannell demonstrated when scoring a stunning try against Dragons that you don’t have to be an 18 stone man mountain to make your mark as a modern rugby centre.

The 22-year-old Dolphin star combined deft footwork and clever lines of running to open the Welsh defence before touching down.

Since breaking into the provincial team earlier this season, Scannell has shown off his footballing prowess at both out-half and centre.

“There are some lads who have a weight advantage on me”, he acknowledges as he looks forward to Friday’s Guinness Pro 12 clash with the Cardiff Blues.

“Cardiff are no different. Rey Lee-Lo is quite a big strong ball carrier with great feet.

“But we have lads like that as well, the likes of Frankie (Saili). We will look to take it to them in midfield and look to use a bit more of our pace. I’ve gotten a lot of game time there in the past few weeks”, he says.

“It is about getting a run of games, getting comfortable, getting a bit of confidence and I have managed to rack up some good game time.

It may well come to pass that Munster will have to beat Cardiff in front of their own fans if they are to make the Pro 12 top four and even clinch their place in the Champions Cup next season.

“We are four points off Ulster now so we really need to use this game in hand to get a win over there and stay in touch with the teams above us because we have to play three of the four of them yet”, Scannell reasons.