'He's probably lost 15 kgs': key takeaways and insights from Munster's camp in La Rochelle

New members of the management team, new signings, a leaner Edogbo and ROG optimism. There was plenty beyond the 47-26 result to take from Munster's trip to France's Atlantic coast 

LEAM MACHINE: Munster's Sean Edogbo has lost up to 15 kgs in the off season to deliver a new physical profile. Pic: Nick Elliott, Inpho

AN EDWIN EDOGBO MAKEOVER

There is excitement within the Munster camp that Edwin Edogbo is set to return to action a much leaner, and hopefully more durable lock after a long, hot summer on the watt bikes at the High Performance Centre. The Ireland-capped second row underwent shoulder surgery in the off-season with his head coach McMillan suggesting the former Cobh Pirate has lost considerable weight during rehab.

“Edwin's done a phenomenal job,” McMillan said. “To see Edwin now, I reckon he's probably lost 15 kilos. I couldn't tell you that for certain but he's changed his body shape quite significantly. He's worked hard over the off season. He's tracking back well.” 

With Jean Kleyn having departed Munster for Gloucester during the summer, the province has not seen fit to replace the South African World Cup winner with an overseas signing, placing their trust in the crop of younger locks already within the squad. Highfield’s former Ireland Under-20 international Conor Kennelly made his first senior appearance alongside Fineen Wycherley in the first half at La Rochelle, with Evan O’Connell partnering Conor Ryan in the second period. With Tom Ahern “tracking well” following a concussion and Edogbo reaching peak fitness, there looks to be plenty of competition to fill Kleyn’s boots.

NO NEW INJURY CONCERNS

Clayon McMillan was equally happy to have escaped Stade Marcel-Deflandre without any significant injuries to add to a list which meant the squad travelled to the French Atlantic coast without several key players. Wing Shay McCarthy was removed before half-time with a knock, incoming tighthead prop Kieran Brookes reported sore ribs and centre Alex Nankevill was withdrawn before kick-off as a precaution after signalling a tight calf.

Thursday’s squad update brought news that fly-half Jack Crowley had been assessed by specialists for a lower limb vascular injury and had been stood down until the new year while fly-half/full-back Will Harrison, the Australian playmaker signed from Japan’s Kinetsu Liners had aggravated a knee injury in pre-season and was being managed by the medical department.

Another new signing, South Africa hooker Marnus van der Merwe arrived from Scarlets with a calf injury but is targeting that internal 15 v 15 match for his comeback while back-rower Ruadhán Quinn has undergone surgery on an ankle injury this month and is expected back for the early rounds of the season. The same applies to Edwin Edogbo, Tom Farrell (both shoulder) and Calvin Nash (hamstring).

FRESH COACHING BLOOD

Friday night’s game was also an opportunity for McMillan’s new assistants Jared Payne and Jimmy Duffy to showcase their impacts on Munster’s attack and forwards respectively.

Former Ulster and Ireland centre Payne is sharing the attack portfolio with Mossy Lawler as Munster move on from the departure of Mike Prendergast to Bath. Payne’s focus is on launch plays across the first couple of phases with Lawler looking after counter-attacks and multi-phase and both aspects drew praise from their head coach when they were put into play against La Rochelle.

So too the Munster maul under Duffy’s direction, with the lineout drive leading to three scores, one for first-half hooker Lee Barron and a second-half penalty try followed by a neat play off the back from stand-in scrum-half, debutant wing Hubert Gilvarry, Sean O’Brien and scorer Brian Gleeson.

“I thought our maul functioned really well and actually defended pretty well. So that was encouraging,” McMillan said.

POSITIVITY IN DEFEAT

After five weeks of pre-season, this opening warm-up game for the new season perhaps came a little too soon for Munster but a training camp on Île de Ré and an outing against a heavyweight Top 14 club was an opportunity not to be missed and despite the rustiness, the province will return to Ireland all the better for their time in France.

There will now be a short pause in training for the squad but an intra-squad 15-a-side match in two weeks is the next focus for Munster ahead of a final tune-up against Leicester Tigers on September 18 at Virgin Media Park. The URC kick-off against Glasgow Warriors at Thomond Park comes eight days later on the 26th and while Clayton McMillan was largely satisfied with the levels his squad had shown at this midway point in their preparations, there is clearly still plenty more work to be done before competitive rugby gets underway.

O’GARA’S LA ROCHELLE PRIMED AND READY?

Ronan O’Gara was scratching his head after the less experienced of the two teams he fielded outscored his more likely starters against Toulouse on Sunday week by six tries to one. Yet having beaten Bordeaux Begles in their warm-up friendly the previous week the La Rochelle head coach appears to have a strong hand going into the new Top 14 season.

Having opened the doors of his club’s training centre to his old province on their arrival in France, Munster appeared to return the favour in that first half as the home side ran up a 40-12 interval lead, only for the visitors to 'win' the second half by two tries to one.

The only concern is a midfield injury crisis with O’Gara losing five centres in pre-season. Jonathan Danty, David Kriel, Semi Lagivala and George Moala were already missing the early stages of the campaign and Friday’s game saw Jules Favre stretchered off with a head injury after a nasty collision.