Mature beyond his years, Munster's O'Shea receives vote of confidence amid 10 crisis

Clayton McMillan’s selection crisis at number 10 was exacerbated with the province revealing Charlie O’Shea’s fellow Ireland Under-20 playmaker Tom Wood will be sidelined until the new year

Munster's Charlie O'Shea. Pic: Dan Clohessy/Inpho

Munster academy fly-half Charlie O’Shea has been given a huge vote of confidence ahead of a potential senior URC debut against Glasgow Warriors in Limerick on Saturday.

Head coach Clayton McMillan’s selection crisis at number 10 was exacerbated on Tuesday with the province revealing O’Shea’s fellow Ireland Under-20 playmaker Tom Wood will be sidelined until the new year having been sent for surgery on an injured shoulder.

First-choice Ireland star Jack Crowley has also been ruled out until at least the Christmas period as he works his way through a rare lower leg vascular injury and former Waratah Will Harrison has been hit by a recurrence of a long-standing knee issue on his arrival from Japan’s Kinetsu Liners this summer.

That leaves McMillan hoping his only fit and available senior fly-half JJ Hanrahan successfully completes his return-to-play protocols following a head injury two weeks ago.

Hanrahan, who started for Munster in Crowley’s absence for four games at the tail end of last season, missed last Friday’s final pre-season loss to Leicester Tigers in Cork but Munster are confident he will come through those concussion protocols in order to start against the 2025 URC champions and last season’s regular season table toppers at Thomond Park.

Regardless, the province have re-signed academy graduate Tony Butler as short-term injury cover at fly half, three months after releasing the Ennis native after 28 senior appearances. 

Butler, 24, came off the bench at Virgin Media Park after rejoining squad training last week as O’Shea, 20, started against the Tigers and made an instant impression, scoring a try in the 32-24 defeat.

The former CBC captain and UCC fly-half joined the academy only this summer and started his pre-season as a late returnee alongside six other inductees following their involvement with Ireland at the U20 World Championship. 

Yet Munster’s new forwards coach Jimmy Duffy said O’Shea had already shown a maturity beyond his years and limited experience.

“Look, he's been brilliant,” Duffy said on Tuesday. “When he presented last week during the meeting you would say he has 200 caps in the way he spoke.

“If you're good enough, you're getting the opportunities and he's been he's been magnificent, as all the lads have been. I can't fault anyone.

“He hasn't played a competitive game yet, we obviously had our pre-season games, but he's a really impressive young man and ably assisted by the guys around him like JJ and Jack and Tom. They're all talking and sharing and then competing, which is a big thing. He's been impressing me and the other staff, daily. He's been brilliant.” 

Duffy could offer little clarity on a specific return-to-action date for Wood but said of the second-year academy playmaker: “When he was in training, he was playing and training really, really well. He’s a very, very talented young man, and a really exciting prospect for the future. So, it’s disappointing for him, but hopefully he gets back sooner rather than later.” 

McMillan had given Wood his senior debut off the bench against Glasgow at Scotstoun last January and named him at 10 in his second-half team against La Rochelle at Stade Marcel Deflandre on August 28.

In a statement issued by Munster earlier on Tuesday, the head coach said sending the fly-half for surgery was in the player’s best interests.

“Undergoing surgery now is the best option for Tom in both the short- and long-term,” McMillan said.

“He is a very promising young player with a bright future. While it’s disappointing for him to miss the coming months, I know he will use the time wisely and come back in even better condition to make a big contribution to Munster this season and in the years ahead.” 

While there were no fresh injuries arising from last Friday’s Virgin Media Park friendly against Leicester, there was mixed news on Munster’s options at hooker. 

Lee Barron has a short-term ankle injury, while Max Clein is also ruled out of the URC opener but incoming South African international hooker Marnus van der Merwe made a successful return to action in Cork after rehabilitating the calf injury he sustained with Scarlets last season and looks set for a senior debut on Saturday, having dovetailed with Diarmuid Barron against the Tigers.

McMillan must also plan without lock Edwin Edogbo, centre Tom Farrell and wing Calvin Nash this weekend but Munster reported back-rower Ruadhán Quinn is increasing his training load and is expected to return shortly.