Ian Costello provides Munster with inside track on Wasps’ threats

Costello, who left Wasps during the summer to return to Munster, has been preparing the players for the Champions Cup opener against his former club

Ian Costello keeps an eye on Jacob Umaga (left) during his time as Wasps defence coach. Costello spent three seasons at the club before returning to Munster as head of academy in the summer. Costello has been in charge of the Limerick-based Munster players during this week’s Covid disruptions. Picture: Alex Pantling

Munster need not look far for an insight to the size of the task they face against Wasps this weekend — Ian Costello spent three seasons helping to define what makes Sunday’s Heineken Champions Cup opponents tick.

Much of the focus of the Reds’ preparedness for the trip to Coventry has understandably been on the personnel they will be able to call on for the opening pool game after the upheaval caused by their aborted trip to South Africa, the subsequent Covid-19 outbreak in the travelling party splintering the playing squad into three groups.