Even in defeat to Northampton, Mossy Lawler sees 'massive positives' for Munster
REASONS FOR OPTIMISM: Munster’s Diarmuid Kilgallen on his way to scoring a try against Northampton in the Champions Cup. Picture: ©INPHO/Billy Stickland
Munster skills coach Mossy Lawler said that their Champions Cup showdown with Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle has the potential to be a fantastic occasion.
But he said the key thing for them now was to get their URC campaign back on track, starting this weekend when they travel to play the basement side Dragons at Rodney Parade.
The URC will continue with sporadic games during the Six Nations and while it’s vital that Munster collect points if they are to move from 11th in the table to get into the knockout stages, the countdown is on to the round of 16 Champions Cup game against La Rochelle at Stade Marcel Deflandre in April.
“It's massive for everybody. I suppose there's great tradition there with Rog, in relation to what he has achieved here, but there are two unbelievably massive clubs who have huge pedigree in Europe.
“Both of us have won it, the last couple of years in relation to La Rochelle. Massive fanatical fan base on both sides, great place to go and visit. So, when we do get to April and that game does come up, it's going to be massively exciting,” said Lawler, who knows all about big European days from his eight years playing with his native province.
Lawler knows they were not far off nailing home advantage and he views last weekend’s 34-32 loss to Northampton Saints as a missed opportunity they must learn from.
“There were massive positives to come out of the weekend. I mean, when we just look at attack alone, 60% of our ball was under three seconds, we had nine linebreaks compared to their five, four of our tries came from our phased attacks, so from that point of view there is a lot to like.
"Obviously, the big point is that we had 15 turnovers to their ten, so a lot of those were within our control and that is something we have worked hard on this week and we need to make sure we get those things right this week.
“It was never going to be easy against Northampton. We look back at it as a missed opportunity. It’s about making sure we right those wrongs in the future. There’s a massive game in April to look forward to but our concentration is purely on the Dragons.”
Lawler, who previously coached UL Bohs and his former school Ardscoil Rís before spending eight years with Connacht where he worked from player development to attack and skills coach with the senior side, knows the value of bringing through your own talent.
He’s delighted that academy graduates Evan O’Connell and Ruadhán Quinn have this week signed their first senior contracts, while Alex Kendellen has also penned a two-year contract extension after coming through the system with Munster.
“Three really impressive individuals. Kendo, he’s only 23 yet he’s one of our senior pros already. That says a lot about him as an individual and as one of our leaders for the future.
“Ruadhán and Evan follow the same ilk. Two hungry kids who are mad keen to develop in the game, their diligence, their day-to-day work, their constant want to improve is probably why they are being rewarded with their contract and layer that on top of how good rugby players they are and it’s just rewards,” added Lawler.
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