'His name is mentioned every day': Munster marks late Anthony Foley's eighth anniversary

Foley’s memory was explored a little deeper on Wednesday as Munster underwent their first training session before Saturday’s return to Cape Town.

Anthony Foley was remembered by all whose careers have been influenced, directly or indirectly, by him. File picture: INPHO/Morgan Treacy

There was added poignancy to Munster’s invocation of the late Anthony Foley in Cape Town on Wednesday as the squad marked the eighth anniversary of their head coach’s passing.

Yet as former team-mate and current attack coach Mike Prendergast noted, there is not a day goes by when the squad is together that the name “Axel” is not aired by the collective.

“In all our huddles, yeah,” Prendergast said. “His name is mentioned literally every day that we’re together, whether it’s training or after games, whenever the boys are in a huddle, Axel’s name is always there and always will be.”

Yet Foley’s memory was explored a little deeper on Wednesday as Munster, refreshed after their long-haul flight to South Africa, underwent their first training session before Saturday’s return to Cape Town Stadium since their 2023 Grand Final win and a renewal of rivalries with the Stormers.

Eleven of the current travelling party had been part of the Munster set-up in 2016, some then academy players, many in Paris, preparing to face Racing 92 when the news broke of Foley’s sudden death at the team hotel on the morning of their Champions Cup pool match.

Eight years on, the former head coach and Heineken Cup-winning captain was remembered by all whose careers have been influenced, directly or indirectly, by him.

“We were speaking about it on the bus there about Axel and the great memories but the thing about Axel, we always talk about him, always speak about him,” Prendergast added.

“Today’s his anniversary but just in terms of what he was as a friend, what he was as a player and as a coach. He’s a person we speak about all the time. A brilliant guy and we remember him obviously more today, for the day that’s in it, his anniversary, but his name is always there. He’s always spoken about.”

There have also been pressing matters to address as Munster settle back into the familiar surroundings of a team hotel and training facilities that have served Graham Rowntree’s squad well in previous, successful South African visits.

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Munster beat the Stormers and drew with the Sharks in the final rounds of the 2022-23 campaign, qualifying for the play-offs as a result and then winning that decider against the Cape Town franchise weeks later.

Last season, as defending champions, the foundations for their back-to-back victories at altitude over the Bulls and Lions were laid in camp at the same locale, those wins helping Munster to the top of the final standings.

Now Munster arrive in need of a bounceback following a 26-12 Croke Park loss to Leinster for which they clinically punished for an off-colour opening quarter which saw Leo Cullen’s side race into a 21-0 lead inside 15 minutes while Rowntree’s men squandered their own opportunities through poorly executed attacking lineouts and some glaring inaccuracies with ball in hand.

“There’s a frustration more than anything,” Prendergast said of the mood.

“We did an awful lot well, albeit not the start of the game. It’s something we spoke about, we cannot give teams that start but I think if you look at 60 minutes after that there was some really good stuff on both sides of the ball.

“So a reaction is probably from a frustration, if I’m honest, and I go back to the opportunities we created a couple of metres from the line. So for me, the reaction can be about just being a bit more having that killer instinct and also just that calmness and trusting people at times that are outside you. For me, that’s where we came up short, at the start, those 20 minutes.”

IN OUR THOUGHTS: Munster Attack Coach Mike Prendergast says they are always thinking of the late Anthony Foley. Picture: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Travelling with the main squad were fit-again backs Shane Daly, fly-half Billy Burns, and centre Rory Scannell all of whom the assistant coach said were ready to return to the selection mix for this Saturday.

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. “Absolutely (a boost). Those three guys have good experience and it’s a timely boost for us.”