Hart: My best yet to come for Munster

After a tough start to his Munster career, scrum-half James Hart believes the province’s supporters have yet to see the best he has to offer.

After six seasons in French rugby with Grenoble and then Racing 92, Hart, 27, found the transition back to Irish rugby a culture shock when he arrived in Limerick last summer, and that made for an extended bedding-in process.

Hart’s seven starts and another seven off the bench for Munster last season did not, he insisted ahead of this Friday’s pre-season friendly against London Irish in Cork, showcase him at his best.

But the former Clontarf half-back believes he has put his frustrations behind him and he has a point to prove this time around. Obviously it was a tough start and then coming around towards the back end of the season it got better and a lot more enjoyable. It was tough coming into a new club and you want to hit the ground running. Sometimes that’s not the case and sometimes you’ve got to accept that, and not get in a rut, just keep working hard, and that’s what I did.”

He continued: “There are things I did in France I don’t here. I kicked at goal for my whole career in France and I don’t do that here so that’s obviously a big point that I’ve never got to show and it’s always been a huge part of my game.

“At the same time, I’d like to think there’s a lot more in me. And I don’t think we’ve seen the best of me here yet.

“So I’m looking forward to trying to really show that over the next couple of months.”

With Conor Murray on a delayed pre-season programme following Ireland’s summer tour, Hart will battle it out with fellow scrum-halves Duncan Williams and Neil Cronin for starts in the main man’s absence, meaning every opportunity has to be seized.

“The earlier in the season you can do well, it puts a stamp on the start of the season and makes things easier,” Hart said.

At the same time it’s about not getting caught up and putting too much pressure on yourself but just going out and sticking to your process and try to enjoy the game, play within the team structure and give your best that you can do, then it looks after itself.