Back to full fitness, Shane Daly keen to kick on under new Munster coaching ticket

Shane Daly of Munster makes a break during the United Rugby Championship match between Scarlets and Munster. Pic: Gareth Everett/Sportsfile

Shane Daly had more than one reason to savour last weekend’s season-opening victory at Scarlets as he closed the book on a seven-month injury absence, and the Munster wing is intent on continuing his comeback on home soil at Thomond Park this Saturday.

Daly, 28, had been prepared for the long haul from almost the instant he felt his hamstring give out on him as he played in Ireland’s A international against England in Bristol last February. 

Yet knowing there was a new head coach in Clayton McMillan to impress made the Corkman desperate to return on the first day of pre-season three months ago. 

And his 80-minute run out in Wales last Saturday as Munster completed a 34-21 win in the first round of the new URC campaign was the perfect return after a feel-good summer under a new management regime.

“It was class now,” Daly said of his first game since February 23. “It was a long road and made longer by the fact that I got back for the start of pre-season, so it kind of added a couple of weeks there as well. But it went as well as it could have gone, thank God.

“It was very smooth, but obviously when you set out on something like that, it's always going to be long. I'm just trying to stay positive throughout the whole thing.

“I knew pretty much instantly that something was seriously wrong. I hadn't really experienced something like that before, so I knew that this was going to be different. It was going to take more time, and I gave it the time and did everything I could have to get back as quickly as I can. So that's all I could have done in that scenario.” 

That much was evident on Daly’s return to competitive action at Parc Y Scarlets last weekend.

“To get 80 minutes under the belt is big in your first game… just to bank that 80 minutes is really good and to feel really good again, even it's only midweek now I still feel kind of ready to go for another game.

“So, I think that bank of work is definitely starting to stand to me, thank God.” 

Daly even survived a post-match interview alongside captain Craig Casey with Premier Sports analyst and former team-mate Simon Zebo.

“It's hilarious doing interviews with him because he's such a messer and you can never take him seriously… it's funny, but he's a brilliant at it. He's great to listen to, a breath of fresh air, really.” 

Premier Sports pundit Simon Zebo speaks to Shane Daly and Craig Casey. Pic: Ben Brady/Inpho

Another welcome breath of fresh air for Daly has been new head coach Clayton McMillan and fellow New Zealanders Martyn Vercow, the incoming team manager, and head of athletic performance Brad Mayo.

“It's a massive change, but it's all positive. I think everything the lads have brought in has been great. Brad, through our pre-season, has done some really good stuff. Martin Vercow, Vercs, he's been unbelievable from a management perspective and making sure we're all over the stuff off the pitch and we don't have to worry about too much of that stuff.

“And then, obviously, Clayton, the leadership he gives and his knowledge is really impressive. He's someone that has brought a lot to the squad and he's really guiding us in the right direction and we're looking forward to the season ahead with him in charge.” 

Expanding on McMillan’s impact, Daly added: “I suppose just like a big emphasis on mindset and being in the right headspace as much as anything and I think he really values players that have a good mindset.

“I heard him speaking about the (Scarlets) game and his standout moment was that (try-saving) tackle from Jack O'Donoghue (on Josh McLeod) versus everything else, which I think is brilliant. It's not about the kind of flashy stuff.

“It's that moment where it really kind of was a massive moment in the game and it wasn't very technical or anything. It was just pure honesty of effort and a guy who really wanted to do his best for the team and I think those are the type of things I would value personally as a player.

“For the coach to be recognising that and putting emphasis on that type of stuff I think is really good.” It all bodes well for Munster supporters, who get their first chance to see the McMillan effect in a competitive fixture on home soil this Saturday.

“It's a fresh start and we're working as hard as we possibly can and there's a lot of change, but a great start to the season and we're really looking forward to where the ceiling is for this team.

“I think we can go a long way, so we're really, really looking forward to getting into a bit more of a run of games and seeing where we are then.”