Ready to serve: Munster happy for rookie out-half Butler to take the reins
Munster’s Tony Butler kicks a conversion during the URC victory over Connacht. Picture: ©INPHO/James Crombie
Billy Burns may well pass fit to face Zebre Parma in Italy on Saturday but Munster are more than happy with rookie fly-half Tony Butler’s upward trajectory as they look to continue a winning start to the URC season.
As chaotic and error-strewn as the contest was in a 35-33 opening-day derby victory over Connacht at Thomond Park last Saturday, the Munster management placed a lot of store in their players’ ability to stay composed and keep rebounding from setbacks in a thrilling encounter that saw the lead change hands seven times.
If there was an epitome of that composure it was Butler, the first-year senior making his ninth appearance in red and a first since graduating from the Munster academy at the end of last season.
The 22-year-old from Ennis came off the bench with 26 minutes to go following a serious-looking injury to the more experienced new signing Billy Burns, who himself had enjoyed an assured debut following his summer move from Ulster. With his side trailing 24-21 late in the third quarter, Butler took the reins and guided the home side to victory with a performance featuring two pressure conversions, the second one from the left touchline.
That could have served as a great audition for promotion to the number 10 jersey should Burns not recover in time to make the flight to Italy on Friday. It certainly impressed head coach Graham Rowntree, who spoke of his pride in Butler immediately following the bonus-point win, while in looking back on the whole game from the distance of 72 hours, Munster assistant coach Andi Kyriacou added his praise.
“For the neutral it was quite a spectacle and look, fortunately for us we showed a lot of character and calmness to come back, to go 12-0 down and regroup and get ourselves back in the game,” Kyriacou said. “I thought we showed great maturity in the way we did that.
“And then with the game in the balance at the end, Tony Butler coming on and knocking over two real clutch kicks was a testament to the hard work he’s put into his skills and the stones he’s got as well, to go and do that. It was brilliant, and happy to come out with the win, obviously.”
Munster are prepared to go to Zebre Parma this weekend with Butler as their starting 10 and the uncapped second-year academy fly-half Dylan Hicks on the bench. Burns, 30, still has a chance of selection, though, and despite a gloomy post-match assessment of his shoulder injury from Rowntree, Kyriacou on Tuesday delivered a more upbeat outlook for the former Gloucester and Ulster playmaker.
“He’s not ruled out yet. We’re just going to wait and see how things show up later in the week. We don’t select until Thursday anyway. He’s not out of the equation yet so there’s promise, hopefully.”
Nor are there plans presently to ask the IRFU for special dispensation to select Ireland starter Jack Crowley at number 10 ahead of schedule for the URC round two contest.
“No. That’s done on a weekly basis and if Graham thinks we need to pull the trigger on something like that I’m sure he’ll go and have a conversation with Andy about it, and the IRFU.
“But we have to be comfortable selecting the players we’ve got available and at the moment it might be Tony and Dylan. We don’t know yet. And if it is that then it’s… we have this next cab off the rank policy.
“They train with us and we have a fully integrated model, they’re well up to speed with the gameplan and what we’re trying to do and it’s up to us as staff and the players to make them feel assured and confident in going out and performing.”
Munster are set to be without seven squad members in the Emerging Ireland squad set to tour South Africa and in addition to the seven senior tourists, including Crowley, who faced the Springboks this summer, they will also have to do without veteran front-rower Dave Kilcoyne.
The 35-year-old’s hopes of a first game since December 26 will have to wait a little longer, however. The Ireland loosehead had shoulder surgery following an injury against Leinster, just his third appearance of last season following his return from the World Cup and though he returned to training this week, Kyriacou said: “Not this week, I don’t think. I think it’s another week yet before we can consider him.
“He’s very important. He’s got a lot of experience, he’s a big character within the group as well so him being fit and available for selection really brings not just his impact on the field but his character around the group.
“He grows in confidence. Now you can see him, whereas he has been on that recovery and rehab plan and not been as connected, it’s great to have him back on there. He’s worked incredibly hard through his rehab and his injuries and hopefully he knocks over these next couple of weeks as well and puts himself in contention.”
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