McMillan chomping to fire up 'big rig' Edogbo

Clayton McMillan named Edwin Edogbo on the Munster bench in his first game since sustaining a concussion in the derby victory over Leinster in mid-October.

Edwin Edogbo: The potential is there for everybody to see, says McMillan. Picture: Ben Brady/Inpho

Clayton McMillan is looking forward to unleashing “big lump” Edwin Edogbo when Munster welcome URC leaders the Stormers to Thomond Park on Saturday.

Both the head coach and Edogbo’s fellow young forward Brian Gleeson have spoken of the 6ft 5ins, 19st forward’s potential in recent days, with McMillan naming the 22-year-old on the bench in his first game since sustaining a concussion in the derby victory over Leinster in mid-October. That was the Cobh lock’s first start and second appearance since returning from a ruptured Achilles that had sidelined him since December 2023 but the belief in the heights he could reach remain sky high.

“He's an intelligent young man,” McMillan said on Thursday. “Big lump of a lad, and he has an outstanding skillset.

“I think good teams have a profile where they've got a good balance of power athletes, speed, skill and hard workers. And when you chuck somebody like Ed into the mix, he certainly helps with that dynamic athlete profile.

“He's outstanding, I think, in close quarters where he can use his athleticism to dent defensive lines and make other people's job easier.

“He's still a young man. He's still got a lot to learn, but the potential is there for everybody to see.” 

McMillan said injuries were to be expected in big young athletes with “a hell of a lot of carcass they've got to traipse around the rugby field” before adding: “Let's hope that this weekend off the bench is another opportunity to get that big rig fired up or oiled up and ready to go.” 

Both Edogbo and back-rower Gleeson, 21, have caught the attention of Ireland boss Andy Farrell, only to miss out on a week’s training in Chicago four weeks ago due to injury. Speaking at Wednesday’s Champions Cup launch, Gleeson said of Edogbo: “In the nicest way possible, Eddie is a freak of nature. He’s huge, he’s fast, he’s mobile, he’s got great skills. He’s got everything you need to be a proper world class rugby player. Anyone looking at him sees that.”