Munster - Life after ROG

In the final of his season previews, our rugby correspondent Daniel Pitcher takes a look inside the Munster camp.

I have been watching rugby since I was four years of age and during that time I have seen greats like Eric Elwood, Keith Wood, Mick Galway, Peter Clohessy and many more come and go. I’m well aware that rugby takes its toll on the body, but in a bizarre way, a career I never thought I’d see end was that of Ronan O’Gara.

Starting his career with Munster in 1997, ROG would soon go on to be one of the greatest number 10’s Ireland has ever seen, even one of the greatest in European Rugby.

Last season, the Cork Con man hung up his boots for province and country, although in disgraceful fashion he was dumped out of the Irish squad by then Ireland coach Declan Kidney, what a way to say thank you for your service!

As we all know by now, Ronan is now in Paris with Racing Metro as Jonathan Sexton’s kicking coach. As if losing him wasn’t bad enough, the province lost their captain Doug Howlett who retired from the game himself, a decision forced by injury.

JJ Hanrahan. Pic: Sportsfile.

Even though the Pro 12 season was one to forget, Munster came ever so close to reaching the Heineken Cup final in Dublin, losing out to Clermont away in the semi-finals after a wrong referee’s forward pass decision. It all came after Rob Penny’s men overcame all the odds to beat Harlequins, a match where people weren’t giving the province a chance.

It was a first season in charge for Rob Penny after replacing Tony McGahan. The season just gone would have given him plenty of food for thought as Munster aim to rekindle arguably a position they once had as the greatest province in the country. It will however take a lot of work.

I already mentioned that Munster were left without a captain when Doug Howlett departed Thomond Park, so there was a question mark as to who would take that role.

Paul O’Connell would have been more than qualified but Penney put his faith in Peter O’Mahony who successfully captained the Irish squad on the summer tour of the US and Canada. I can only presume it’s a long-term plan, O’Mahony is still very young at 24.

The big question posed after ROG left was if Ian Keatley could step up to the plate and be the first-choice 10. That said, the head coach has pointed towards JJ Hanrahan, who appears to be biting at the bit and very eager to prove his worth.

Fans in Thomond Park/Musgrave Park may prefer to have a home-grown player in the driving seat, but all it might take for JJ is a couple of really class place kicks and touch finders to change people’s minds.

Ronan O'Mahony. Pic: Sportsfile.

I think one of the young upcoming players to watch this season will be Ronan O’Mahony. Ronan scored a hat-trick of tries in Munster’s pre-season game against London Irish last week, and as a sub-academy player O'Mahony made his Munster debut as a replacement against the Sale Sharks in the pre-season game in Musgrave Park in August '09.

He made the move up to the academy at the start of the 10/11 season and after completing his three years secured a development contract for season 2013/14, joining his older brother Barry in the senior set-up.

Ronan made his PRO12 debut scoring a try against Newport Gwent Dragons in April 2013 and was one of three academy players nominated for the Academy Player of the Year in May 2013.

So first up for the men in red is a home clash against Edinburgh at Cork’s Musgrave Park tomorrow before spending two weeks travelling to Italy for games against Zebre and Treviso.

They then wrap up September by hosting the Dragons at Thomond.