Rowntree urges troops not to get overawed by ‘huge’ Croker occasion
Munster head Coach Graham Rowntree during squad training on Tuesday. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady
Graham Rowntree took a back seat when the Munster squad gathered to discuss what Croke Park meant to them ahead of Saturday’s URC derby clash with Leinster but the head coach urged his players not to get overawed by the occasion.
The former England and Lions prop knows enough about the history of GAA headquarters to understand the place it holds in the minds of his coaching and playing staff, most of whom grew up playing football or hurling before the oval ball took a hold on them.
That was only reinforced after listening to recollections of their pilgrimages there in support of Cork, Limerick and Tipperary and from defence coach Denis Leamy recounting his experience there as a player with both Munster and Ireland between 2007 and 2010. The southern province will return this Saturday for the first time since their Heineken Cup semi-final defeat to their arch rivals 15 years ago.
Only league points are at stake this time around, and so early in the new season at that, but while encouraging his players to embrace the occasion of playing at Croke Park in front of 75,000-plus supporters as Leinster spend a season away from the RDS, Rowntree also reminded them that not getting overwhelmed by the experience was key to derby success on Saturday.
“I keep my head down in these moments sometimes, for obvious reasons,” Rowntree said of Tuesday’s team meeting.
“It’s got a rich history, I knew what it was about and we spoke about it. Denis spoke very well, Denis has played there and the lads know the history of the place and the respect it demands and it’s one of those occasions where if you’re playing there you’ve made it.
“I always found that with the Haka. I always get asked, what’s it like facing the Haka. It’s brilliant, because it means you’ve made it, you’re playing against the best. So when you get to play at a stadium like this you’ve got to take it in and not get overawed by it.
“You’ve still got to do your job. And these days the players have a lot of jobs to perform within a game. But we spoke about it and we’ll visit it on Friday. We won’t train there probably but we’ll have a good look around.”
With ticket sales edging towards Croke Park’s 82,300-capacity and only terrace tickets still available to purchase, Rowntree agreed that for Munster’s non-internationals this was likely to be the biggest crowd they will ever play in front of.
“Definitely. The biggest club game. I can’t think of a bigger one that’s not a play-off. At Twickenham? Only for a semi or a final. Quins would play a big game there over Christmas but never that crowd. I just can’t think of a bigger club game.
“No, they won't have played in that. The last record crowd was us beating the Stormers for the final (56,334, in Cape Town in 2023). That was the last record URC club game but that was a final.
“For a regular round game it's a record, but we spoke about that. But it's the old boring adage, what can you control on the day? Think about your job and not get overawed by everything. Leaders are important then. The amount of players you have around you who have been under fire in the heat of battle, that matters.”
Rowntree agreed that because Croke Park meant as much to Munster players playing there as it does to Leinster’s, that the scale of the occasion could make the Dublin northside venue a more level playing field.
“I think so. It's a big occasion for everyone, isn't it? A huge occasion.
“I know we'll be up for it. Myself and the coaches are more about just keeping a lid on things, keeping everybody on the job. That's why I think it's important going there Friday, getting accustomed to the place, particularly for kickers, because it's a bowl, isn't it? It's pretty wide. Páirc Uí Chaoimh style.
“We'll get accustomed to it. Big game. The lads will feel that, we've just got to keep a lid on it, get them thinking about the right things.”
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