Gavin Coombes finds comfort with Munster after suffering Ireland World Cup blow
COOL COOMBES: Gavin Coombes in training. Pic Credit: Morgan Treacy, Inpho.
It took the disappointment of watching the World Cup from his sofa to make Gavin Coombes realise not what he was missing out on but rather to appreciate what was always there and playing for Munster is something he will always cherish.
Coombes, 26, will walk out at Toulon’s Stade Felix Mayol today reconciled with having suffered the cruellest cut last summer when he was released from the Ireland training squad without having added to the two caps he earned in the summer of 2021.
It was that rather than his failure to make the tournament squad that was most difficult to digest with Coombes telling this week he found solace in returning to the Munster fold and seeking the counsel of the province’s senior sports psychologist Cathal Sheridan.
Now back at No.8 after a brief residency at lock, Coombes cannot wait for the Champions Cup pool clash, watched for the first time on French soil by parents Eric and Regina.
But first to Sheridan.
“I’ve found him very helpful this year, just individually, to get over what happened in the summer,” Coombes said.
“To come back here, he was a huge help to reset my goals and talk about where I wanted to go and also look back on the disappointment and what I felt like and what I can do to try and avoid that again.
“He was huge for me. I’ve met with him now a couple of times during the season and he’s helped me with balancing the emotional side of the game, not letting the downs take me too low or getting too carried away when we’re winning games or if I play well.
“I think he’s been very beneficial for me and even around the group he’s a positive character to have. That’s always good to have in an environment like this.”
As for being one of five players cut between the first and second pre-tournament Tests against Italy and England last August, Coombes is philosophical.
“Yeah, it’s the nature of the beast I suppose. I probably knew going into the summer there was a chance of me going, a chance of you not. I never thought I was nailed on going (to the World Cup).
“For me the disappointment came in not getting a chance in one of the warm-up games to show what I could do on the pitch but that was up to the coaches and I have a lot of respect for those coaches.
"They went to the World Cup and only for the bounce of a ball things could have gone a lot differently.
“Coming back here, I always find, is easy because I have the support of Wig (head coach Graham Rowntree) and Cathal Sheridan and all the coaches. It’s an easy place to come back to.
“Growing up in West Cork, my dream was to play for Munster and it’s a huge honour even to be able to play for Munster so sometimes you have to see what you have in front of you rather than what you missed out on.
“It did take a while to get over but luckily we had a long pre-season and I had a chance to reassess and reintegrate here and I think I’ve played every game so far this season so luckily I’ve been able to stay in the team and hopefully going forward I can have more of an impact.”
Doing just that in Toulon today would be another step along the road and Coombes is relishing the opportunity of playing in a new French stadium.
"Clermont, Castres, Toulouse... La Defense Arena, I travelled for that game against Racing and that was a pretty cool stadium as well, but this is going to be special. It's like a football atmosphere, it's mad and going over to France, it's pretty cool to play in, special.
"It's a huge privilege to play in that and it's even better when you hear the Fields of Athenry or Stand Up And Fight in the middle of that. That's what gives me goosebumps.
"They’re the moments, when you put on that red jersey, that's what you do it for. We're hugely honoured and privileged in this club that we have the supporters we have.”
The addition of Ma and Pa Coombes is also welcomed by the former Bandon Grammar and Skibbereen forward, though he added: Luckily I can't hear them now!"
"My Mum was quite loud and my Dad would be as well, telling me not to kick the ball, that's what my dad used to do.
"I always slag my Mum that she's extremely biased. I can't do any wrong in her eyes so that's a good thing to have too. So cheering not moaning... moaning about everything else but it's good to have that as well.
"They're huge rugby fans. My dad played with Skibbereen and the two of them have been a huge part of the club for 40 years and huge Munster fans for that time as well.
"I think it's ingrained in me, being a Munster fan and the love of rugby."
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