'I’ve given the lads a selection headache' - Jack O'Donoghue hungry for more after making Munster return

HUNGRY: Jack O'Donoghue after the United Rugby Championship match between Munster and Vodacom. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile.

When Jack O’Donoghue finally got the call to make his Munster return, the back-rower had very little time to digest the news.

Yet after two months on the sidelines, he wasted little time taking his opportunity and there is still plenty of pent-up energy waiting to be unleased over in Cardiff on Friday night.

An ankle injury against Scarlets in mid-February cost O’Donoghue six weeks of the season but the 31-year-old had to wait patiently for another four weeks before he could pull on a red jersey again and represent his province.

It should have been an return to action off the bench after he was named among the replacements for last Saturday’s URC clash with the Bulls at Thomond Park, but a tight hamstring felt by Peter O’Mahony during the warm-up saw O’Donoghue promoted to the starting line-up and the Waterford native was delighted to get through the whole match without any adverse effects, other than the 16-13 home defeat.

“I hadn’t played in a while and going 80 minutes, it was a really physical game and I felt every bit of that on Sunday,” O’Donoghue told the Irish Examiner.

“That gave me a lot of confidence personally, I ended up in the deep end, didn’t even have time to think about it, it was just sink or swim and once you get that first bit of contact under your belt, you're in the game and flying it.

“I’d grabbed my bib and was planning on sitting on the bench and all of a sudden I'm told I’m starting. That was literally it but I’ve been chomping at the bit to get out there.

“I was really disappointed not to be involved in the La Rochelle and Bordeaux games so I was itching for an opportunity. I was incredibly hungry, I pushed myself really hard to get back fit and in contention for those European Cup games but the lads were going really well, the team was going really well so I knew I’d have to bide my time and wait for an opportunity.

“Unfortunately for Pete and lucky for me that came on Saturday and I was able to put in a performance that I’m proud of and will give the lads a selection headache this week.

"I was happy to get 80 minutes under my belt, that fills me with confidence going into the next game that I’m getting back to match fitness.”

There will be decisions to be made by the Munster decision-makers ahead of Thursday’s team announcement for the trip to the Arms Park, when two rivals for play-off spots put their seasons on the line.

O’Mahony is expected to be back in the mix, as are another back-rower Gavin Coombes, wing Calvin Nash and scrum-half Craig Casey, who was another late withdrawal last Saturday due to illness.

Munster need all hands on deck following the Bulls defeat and O’Donoghue was not shying away from the importance of the remaining three games of the regular season with his team lying seventh and needing a top-eight finish to make the play-offs as well as qualify for the Champions Cup in 2025-26.

“It’s massive in terms of the league table, getting a bit of confidence back for us. Coming off a two-game losing streak isn't easy, and Cardiff are going well, they had a great day out in the Principality and they’re home and they’re buzzing.

“Saw comments from their coaches during the week about the opportunity to get into the play-off spots and they’re going to be coming all guns blazing, and we're going into their back garden to try and cause an upset.

“Every game you'd treat it like a cup final, you’re either qualified or you’re completely out of it. A win is almost like an eight- or 10-point swing, depending on who wins, and that's massive in terms of that middle table. Leinster, the Bulls and Glasgow are already qualified but there’s five more spots there that are up for grabs and every point counts.

“Every point matters now and it's about just getting four points this weekend and if you get an extra point that's great, but it it's very much about getting a win this weekend, taking some time off the next week to regroup and then we go at it again.

“It’s a two-game block and then another two-game block so easy to prepare yourself for mentally, you know, give it two weeks of hell, then get some time down and then you’ll be able to go again. So leave it all out there on Friday night.”