Gliding Ben O'Connor reminds Mike Prendergast of Christian Cullen

O’Connor was one of four Emerging Ireland stars who awaited the Munster travelling party in South Africa

HANGING AROUND: Ben O'Connor at Munster training in Cape Town. Pic: ©INPHO/Steve Haag Sports

Munster attack coach Mike Prendergast has praised the energy boost provided by the province’s Emerging Ireland tourists on arrival in Cape Town ahead of Saturday’s URC clash at the Stormers and likened one of them to an All Blacks great.

The Reds are looking to bounce back from a 26-12 defeat to arch rivals Leinster at Croke Park last Saturday as they embark on a two-game tour to South Africa, with the Sharks the second game in Durban in 10 days. 

Munster touched down on Tuesday and began training on Wednesday following their recovery from the long-haul flight with fit-again backs Shane Daly, fly-half Billy Burns, and centre Rory Scannell all ready to return to the selection mix to face the Stormers at Cape Town Stadium this Saturday.

Yet the welcoming committee that greeted them in the form of Emerging Ireland captain and back-rower Alex Kendellen, scrum-half Ethan Coughlan, academy full-back Ben O’Connor and academy lock Evan O’Connell was also well received, the quartet having remained in South Africa following last week’s conclusion of their successful three-game stand at altitude in Bloemfontein.

“They stayed back for travel reasons,” Prendergast explained, “they had a good tour themselves, collectively and individually, they all went quite well.

“They brought a nice energy when they arrived so all settled in well.” 

The attack coach was asked specifically about the impact O’Connor, 20, made for Emerging Ireland having starred in the first and final wins against the Pumas and Cheetahs and he drew comparison with Munster’s former New Zealand star Christian Cullen.

“He’s a really good talent that’s still learning the game, which is even more exciting,” Prendergast said. “He’s a very, very coachable player that just every day he wants to get better, and you can see it in his game.

“Even you look at the Under 20s Six Nations last year and the Emerging tour and some of the quality and some of the aspects of his game of which he’s developed, including his passing game.

“What I like is his running, he glides when he runs. I played with a player years ago, a very famous Christian Cullen and he used to glide along the ground. And Ben to me, reminds me of that kind of that running style, he glides and yeah, he's a very exciting player.

“There's so much to come from him, and being here with us, and obviously being on the on the development Tour, where he was getting, you know, top class coaching as well from a different voice as well, which is great. So, in terms of his environments, you know, but we're here for the two weeks. That's all brilliant for his growth as well. And an exciting player going forward.” 

Rory Scannell has been sidelined since a serious ankle injury he sustained on June 1 in the final regular-season league game against Ulster, while Burns was withdrawn with a shoulder problem on his Munster debut against Connacht in round one of this season four weeks ago and Daly damaged an elbow the following week at Zebre.

“Thankfully they look all fine, which is great,” Prendergast said on Wednesday. “Absolutely (a boost). Those three guys have good experience and it’s a timely boost for us.”