Gavin Coombes: 'There is a lot on the line but it starts this weekend'
BUSINESS END OF SEASON: Munster are hoping to us pain of last seasons loss to Glasgow to get over the line. Pic: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
There will be little requirement for extra motivation in the away dressing room at Scotstoun tonight as Munster seek both revenge for last season’s URC semi-final loss at home to Friday night hosts Glasgow Warriors and a positive reaction to defeat last time out by Edinburgh.
The 34-28 loss in Cork on February 28 was a desperate setback for Munster’s aspirations for a home quarter-final come the play-off quarter-finals at the end of May, leaving them six points adrift of the necessary top-four finish with six regular season rounds remaining and looking anxiously over the shoulders to a bunched field of rivals each fighting for a top-eight place that ensures knockout rugby and Champions Cup rugby for next season.
Speaking to the in Limerick earlier this week, returning No.8 Gavin Coombes, one of eight fresh faces in the Munster starting line-up from the side beaten at Virgin Media Park in round 12, describe the Thomond Park loss to Glasgow as one of his biggest disappointments in the red jersey. Yet he insisted it was the need for a reaction to the passive performance against Edinburgh which was the main driving force for Friday night’s visit to the defending champions, currently in second place, and beyond to the similarly tough fixtures beyond.
“There has to be a response,” Coombes said. “And I think an awareness on the players that we've got a lot of guys coming back from injuries and fellas back from Irish camp, so if you want to be involved in these big weeks coming up that you can't afford to drop off.
“You've got to put your best foot forward, so what was happening against Edinburgh is in the past and we can’t change it, but we can turn the page this weekend if we put our best foot forward and turn up with proper intent and physicality at the week.
“That's the primary motivation.”
With six URC games to go, and a derby trip to Castlebar in eight days to play Connacht up next, Coombes accepted there was little room for manoeuvre as far as Munster were concerned.
“You've just got to get on with it. Take it week by week. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like anyone will be able to catch Leinster this year, but you know all we can do is try and win every game and see where we end up.
“A home quarter-final would be special again, because we love playing in front of our friends and unfortunately, we haven't given them too many days at home in Europe and last year it was nice to get there in the URC but you've just got to take it week by week. I know that's a cliche, but it's definitely all we can do at the moment.”
Franco Smith’s Glasgow side will be bolstered by the return of nine of their Scotland internationals as they close in on a top-two finish for a home knockout draw in at least the quarters and semi-final. Yet Munster must do without five Ireland stars under IRFU player management rules and instead hand a debut to recent loan arrival from Connacht Andrew Smith, while naming four academy players among their replacements, including a potential debut for centre Gordon Wood. Interim boss Ian Costello also welcomes back Ireland loosehead prop Jeremy Loughman to the starting front row after a five-month absence due to hip and knee injuries but Coombes is wary of a Glasgow side who confidence has soared since reclaiming the league title last June for the first time in a decade.
“I think they pride themselves on physicality and winning those moments in tight but then they've also got backs that can play from anywhere so they have kind of an all-court game.”
Last season’s semi-final loss to Glasgow, Coombes added, was “probably one of the biggest of disappointments I've had, as a team, I think for me anyway, because we had a home final on the line and after the year before and we brought it back and we had 10,000 people in Thomond Park on a Monday, it would have been pretty special to have played a final in front of a home crowd.
“It's probably one I feel that got away from us but then I don't think you can bring that into this week, because it's an entirely new group of players and we're at a different stage to where we were last year, so I think I think it's a lot different to this weekend.
“There is a lot on the line but it starts this weekend, doesn't it? But I think that's where we are at our best, backs against the wall.”
: K Rowe; S Cancelliere, O Smith, S McDowall, K Steyn – captain; A Hastings, G Horne; J Bhatti, J Matthews, P Schickerling; J Oguntibeju, A Samuel; E Ferrie, S Vailanu, J Mann.
: G Stewart, N McBeth, S Talakai, JP du Preez, G Brown, M Fagerson, B Ashfar D Weir.
: B O’Connor; S O’Brien, T Farrell, A Nankivell, A Smith; T Butler, P Patterson; J Loughman, D Barron - captain, S Archer; F Wycherley, T Ahern; A Kendellen, J Hodnett, G Coombes.
: D Sheahan, J Wycherley, J Ryan, B Gleeson, R Quinn, E Coughlan, G Wood, R Scannell.
: Morne Ferreira (South Africa)
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
