Tom Ahern buoyed by Ireland call but everybody back to square one at Munster

Munster's Tom Ahern walks down the Thomond Park tunnel after the win over Cardiff. Pic:  Ben Brady, Inpho

There was a double-edged feeling for Tom Ahern as he reported back to Munster for pre-season.

One the one hand, there was a spring in the step as the lock/flanker returned to the province as a freshly minted Ireland international having earned his first Test caps against Georgia and Portugal in the summer. On the other was the realisation that he and the rest of the Munster squad had to start again from scratch in terms of having to impress a new head coach.

That Ahern and his six fellow Ireland tourists from Munster were given a delayed start to pre-season only upped the ante as they played catch-up with the bulk of the squad already getting to grips with the new regime under Clayton McMillan and the tough and much discussed back-to-basics training schedule laid out by incoming head of athletic performance Brad Mayo.

The West Waterford forward fleshed out both sides of that coin this week as preparations continued for this Friday night’s URC round three meeting with Edinburgh at Virgin Media Park.

“It does give you a massive confidence booster coming back in,” Ahern said of his new-found status as an Ireland player, before adding: “but we're all on square one coming back in.

“I think it's on everybody, including myself as an individual, to drive my own standards and everybody driving their own standards helps the collective in general. I think, obviously, it did give me a confidence booster, but as soon as I came back, I knew I was back to square one and driving on.

“Obviously, starting a bit later to all the lads, seeing the slog that they were going through, knowing what was to come.

“I think the first couple of weeks the lads were all absolutely flying it, so I think it was on all of us coming back, we've got to catch up and get back up to speed as soon as possible.

“It was different, but enjoyable time off and as soon as we got back, it was ready to hit the ground running, so trying to catch up with the rest of the lads.” 

It was all a price worth paying for the experience Ahern, 25, underwent on tour with Ireland in July. He finally gained that first Test cap after a series of squad involvements and near misses due to injury by coming off the bench in Tbilisi as the Georgians were beaten 34-5 and then played a full 80 minutes in the second row in Lisbon as Paul O’Connell’s side routed the Portuguese 106-7.

“Oh, it was brilliant. It’s something that I've wanted a long time and finally get a chance and opportunity to put on that jersey was something very special for myself and for my family.

“Just all the hard work that I've put in over the years and all the setbacks to finally get an opportunity to do that was very rewarding.” 

Having parents Anthony and Jessie watch him in Georgia and then a bigger gang on the Portugal leg, a brother, aunt, uncle, cousins and girlfriend and her mother - made it all the more satisfying for Ahern.

“It probably didn't initially hit me because obviously there were two games. It was probably when I got back home or even actually out there catching up with my parents, seeing how happy they were and then when I got back to my home, in Ardmore, just walking around and the amount of congratulations messages I was getting from people in the village meant a lot to me.

“When I was able to chill out for a couple of weeks, I was able to properly digest it and it was a very special moment for me and a very special moment for my family because they sacrificed a lot for me growing up and so it was a good moment for myself and my parents.” 

Pre-season, then, was a reality check but Ahern is enjoying life under New Zealander McMillan.

“I think it's been brilliant,” he said. “Look, Clayton, it's obviously great, almost refreshing hearing a new voice, new ideas coming in. I think it's been brilliant for everybody.

“Obviously, had a really tough pre-season, something different. A load of different activities that we haven't done in previous years, and I think it's stood to all of us. It's been a great buzz around the place, and it's really created a brilliant environment for everybody.

“Like I said, it's kind of a square one for everybody. He hasn't seen any of us play prior to the season, so it's probably everybody individually stepping up and putting their best foot forward.

“We've got a really competitive squad at the moment, so it's driving standards winning the group, everybody pushing for places.” 

With an appearance as a replacement in the opening-round win at Scarlets followed by a start and the full 80 last Saturday in the win over Cardiff at Thomond Park, Ahern’s season is up and running but he is determined not to get too far ahead of himself regarding further international call-ups, with returning Ireland head coach Andy Farrell next Wednesday set to name his Autumn Nations Series squad for November with a return earmarked for a number of British & Irish Lions tourists.

“I got a good taste and it's given me something to drive towards but look, I'm fully focused on trying to nail down a position here at Munster, driving my performances for Munster and look, if something like that comes off the back of that, I'll be delighted but my full focus is playing well for Munster.”