Camp McMillan: How Munster coach put new coaching jigsaw in place

Munster head coach Clayton McMillan arrives. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

CLAYTON McMillan has outlined why he is so excited about working with his new Munster coaching ticket after hiring Jimmy Duffy and Jared Payne ahead of next season.

The appointments complete McMillan’s coaching line-up for 2026-27 with Duffy replacing the Toulon-bound Alex Codling as forwards coach and Payne assuming responsibility for the attacking brief held by senior coach Mike Prendergast, set to leave for Bath.

Former Ulster, Ireland and British & Irish Lions centre Payne has been handed the attack and backs portfolio having left Scarlets after three years in Wales following stints with Ulster and Clermont Auvergne. 

His hiring comes in the wake of McMillan’s failed attempt to sign his former Chiefs attack coach Roger Randle.

Yet McMillan spoke of his satisfaction at Payne’s enlistment to the Munster cause when it was put to him he may be relieved to have finally
recruited an attack coach.

“Relieved is definitely not the word. Excited? Absolutely,” he said. “Jared was one of the guys that was always in contention from our perspective for the job. I won’t go into the details around the other stuff. But highly rated so I would have probably been aware of his coaching ability because I coached with Jono Gibbes and he would have spoken highly of Jared’s ability as a coach during our time at the Chiefs.

“And I really like his journey. I think even by his own admission in New Zealand, he would see himself, I think, a little bit as a bit of a battler. You know, like he’s kind of had to work hard to get everything that he’s got but he’s achieved at the highest levels in both his playing and his coaching career.

“And what I really liked about him is that he’s operated both sides of the ball. So he has been an attack coach, he’s more recently been a defence coach and I think there’s some real advantages around having that recency because as a defence coach you have an acute awareness around how good attack coaches break you down.

New Munster coach Jared Payne. Pic: Billy Stickland/Inpho

“Hence the reason why he’s going tobe taking charge of the strikes. And just a good bloke. I think again, much like Jimmy, a good reputation for driving high standards and accountability but really wrapping an arm around people and making them get better.”

New Zealander McMillan explained exactly how his fellow Bay of Plenty native would share attack responsibilities with Mossy Lawler, whose existing role as skills and assistant attack coach to the departing Prendergast has been enhanced with a new two-year contract.

“It’s what him and Mossy can collectively bring. I think it’s probably worthwhile explaining the two-person role. That’s what I’m accustomed to. I think a lot of teams around the world actually have two people overseeing their attack, it’s just how they split up that is probably the point of difference.

“For us, Jared comes in and he looks after the first three phases of attack. So whether that’s exits, lineout, scrum attack, tap penalties, restarts, he effectively has the first three phases, the first lick at the opposition.

“And then if you haven’t scored then you’re in phase, aren’t you? You’re either looking to play multi-phase or you’re looking for space to kick to. And that’s Mossy’s job. Mossy will look after our phase attack, our kick strategy and counter-attack.

“So there’s a big portfolio there for both of them. But splitting the role up means that there’s a responsibility to bring a high level of detail to a big portfolio but a smaller one than if you’re doing everything. Because I just think if one person does it, your natural biases go towards the area that you enjoy coaching the most and you potentially create blind spots for yourself.

“Mossy, I’ve already spoken of repeatedly around his ability and this is a significant increase in his portfolio and I know that he’s champing at the bit and he’s got his own way and ideas around doing that and it will be different. It’ll be different to what you’ve seen. Jared’s just going to be another set of eyes and some different ideas too.”

Payne’s strike attack role further resonates due to his close association as a midfield defensive leader with former Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt, who first capped the Ulster centre in 2014 and made him a regular starter until he was forced to retire through injury four years later at age 32. 

Schmidt’s strike plays have become renowned and asked if there was any throughline in that regard from master to pupil, McMillan added: “If he’s as good as that we’re probably in pretty good shape, aren’t we?

“As a coach or as a player you draw on all of your previous experiences to help shape what you bring to the table and Jared’s had the benefit of being coached by Joe. I think he even transitioned pretty quickly from playing to coaching and even gone on a tour with Joe. So he’s got that experience but I also like that he’s been well-travelled.

“He’s come from New Zealand, he’s been to France, he’s been to Wales, he’s been up north (Ulster) and now he finds himself here and the same can be said for Jimmy. He’s well-travelled too and I think that helps.”

Duffy joins as forwards coach with a reputation for developing young talent honed during spells with his native Connacht, Western Force and Ireland under-age teams, where Munster dressing room conversations first alerted McMillan to the Galwegian’s skill set.

“He obviously made his announcement halfway through the year that he was going to be leaving Ulster and it was around the time when Codders had made a decision to move on.

“It was funny because I heard a few players in and around the building talking about Jimmy so that sort of pricked my ears up. They’ve had exposure to him in different national teams, spoke really highly of him. They didn’t know that I was hearing these conversations but I just parked it and put it in the memory bank.

“I was also just really impressed to see an identity around the Ulster pack, collectiveness around how they were playing and just elements of their game that I thought we could improve on.

“And so, yeah, facilitated a couple of late-night covert meetings at Camp McMillan. I reckon it probably took me 15 minutes to work out that he was probably the guy that we wanted here. Just quiet but very considered and has a real sense of purpose around why he’s in the coaching game.

“That really, really resonated with me and so I’m really happy to bring him on board.”