Munster coach Mossy Lawler: No pressure on Evan O'Connell to follow uncle Paul's footsteps

LIKE UNCLE LIKE NEPHEW?: Evan O'Connell during training with Munster. Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie.

Munster skills coach Mossy Lawler said that if promising young lock Evan O’Connell is under any pressure to prove himself because he’s Paul O’Connell’s nephew, he’s taking it in his stride.

Evan O’Connell this week signed his first senior contract after coming through the academy in Munster after stints with Castletroy College and at U-20 level for Ireland where he skippered the side.

Comparisons are inevitable given that he plays in the same position that his uncle excelled in for Munster, Ireland and the Lions.

But Lawler said that the younger O’Connell has been taking it all in his stride. Lawler, who spent eight years playing for Munster before going into coaching, has first hand experience of a younger generation coming through as his nephew Craig Casey followed the same path that Evan O’Connell is on at the moment.

“If it adds more pressure to him, I think he takes everything in his stride,” said Lawler, who spent eight years with Connacht where he worked from player development to attack and skills coach with the senior side.

“Evan is an unbelievably intelligent kid and a brilliant rugby player. He comes from absolutely brilliant stock, as we all know, and it has rubbed off between Paul and his dad.

“There's huge pedigree there in relation to rugby, but also intelligence as a rugby player in relation to his lineout of calling, and he's working hard on that.

“So, I wouldn't say pressure but, certainly one that he thrives in.”

O’Connell, who will be 21 in May, is playing for Young Munster this season after moving from UL Bohs. He is moving up to a two-year senior contract and has made four first team appearances this season in addition to featuring for Emerging Ireland.

Another academy graduate, backrower Ruadhán Quinn, has signed a development contract for next season and will progress to a full senior squad a year later. The 21-year-old is a product of Ballina-Killaloe RFC and Crescent College Comprehensive and plays his club rugby with Young Munster RFC, having also lined out for Old Crescent in the AIL.

Lawler said the emergence of these young players, along with the likes of Alex Kendellen who signed a contract extension this week, augurs well for the future of the province.

“They are all Munster boys too and looking forward to what Ruadhán brings in the future,” added Lawler.

“When you look at what we have at the moment with Evan in that back spine and then you layer in those young back rows of Kendo, Brian Gleeson, and Ruadhán Quinn, and many more to come and it’s pretty exciting for the future.”