Barron learning the captaincy ropes from O'Mahony
LEADING FROM FRONT: Diarmuid Barron going over to score a try for Munster against Glasgow at Musgrave Park
It remains to be seen whether Diarmuid Barron’s captaincy extends into a Champions Cup pool campaign this weekend but the Munster hooker knows already what it will take to get the job on a permanent basis.
Peter O’Mahony’s decision to call time on the captaincy a fortnight ago after 10 years in the role leaves some big boots to fill and head coach Graham Rowntree has made it clear he will not be rushed into appointing the veteran flanker’s permanent replacement.
Rowntree made the 25-year-old Barron his first temporary stand-in of the post-O’Mahony era and the Cashel man has not taken the honour lightly, though his early removal from last Friday’s URC home win over Glasgow may yet force an end to his current tenure when the side to face Bayonne at Thomond Park on Saturday is revealed tomorrow.
Barron, though, is grateful for the opportunity to lead, as he did recently against both Leinster and Glasgow and he made sure to take soundings from O’Mahony.
“I just chatted to him briefly over the past few weeks and the main thing I took from those conversations and the main thing I took from myself really was that I have to perform myself more than anything. Not worry about things, not worry about what I’m going to say or not worry too much about chatting to referees, just try to perform as best as I can and lead through actions.
“I’m a guy who likes to think that I lead through how I train and the standards I hold myself to so I hope that has come through anyway. I can’t be the judge of that but it’s been great. It’s been a great honour.
“I’ve been a Munster fan as long as I can remember so it was a huge moment for me and my family.”
Also significant was this week’s announcement that Barron had put pen to paper on a two-year contract extension that will keep him at his home province until at least the summer of 2026. Yet it is the captaincy that engaged him most when he spoke to the Irish Examiner at Munster’s High Performance Centre in Limerick on Tuesday.
“It’s about how you hold yourself around the place, the standards you drive,” Barron said. “Being a decent person is, I think, the main thing really, and lads knowing they can rely on you. Things aren’t going to go perfectly all the time, people won’t always agree with you, but if you’re performing I don’t think anyone can be too put out with you. People will row in behind you if you are performing and leading the way in that regard.
“It’s an action-based thing. I don’t think you can bluff your way. People will find you out pretty quickly, especially in our dressing room, if you’re not actually doing what you say you’re going to do.”
Barron said there was no shortage of leaders within the URC champions’ squad, citing Jack O’Donoghue, Tadhg Beirne, Craig Casey and Jack Crowley as offering their support and advice.
“Having all that experience around is great and it means you’re not on your own, you’re never on your own even when it comes to decisions.”
Nor will O’Mahony’s influence within that leadership group wane now the 34-year-old Test centurion has stepped back from the captaincy.
“Pete’s there and he said it himself, he wants to be there to help whoever it is next or whoever is there week to week in the interim and he’s definitely done that and there’s no better man to learn off.
“The way he’s captained Munster has been exemplary and we all look up to the way he leads. He always did it in his own way, you know, he’s different to a lot of people in every kind of way, a very special leader and a world-class player, so we’re very lucky to have him.”
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