Why Clayton McMillan is so positive in defeat
UNPHASED: Munster head coach Clayton McMillan. Pic: Tom O’Hanlon/Inpho
The exits of both senior coach Mike Prendergast and forwards assistant Alex Codling to Bath and Toulon respectively have given the head coach an opportunity to reconfigure his backroom.
McMillan appointed fellow Kiwi and former Ulster and Ireland centre Jared Payne from Scarlets and divided the attack portfolio between the newcomer and Mossy Lawler, previously skills coach and Prendergast’s assistant. Payne concentrates on strike plays and the first three phases in possession while Lawler dictates multiphase play and kicking strategy.
Codling, whose focus was on lineout, with Sean Cronin looking after the scrum, has been replaced by Jimmy Duffy, who left Ulster to move his family back to Galway.
Now a happy commuter down the M18, Duffy’s input across both set-pieces and the Munster maul is already paying dividends while his experience developing young forward talent is an additional bonus.
Munster have made some canny front-row signings with South Africa-capped hooker Marnus van der Merwe and tighthead duo Kieran Brookes from Perpignan and Jack Aungier from Connacht.
With Oli Jager and Roman Salanoa forced into early retirement and veteran John Ryan calling an end to his sterling career, Munster needed experience at tighthead to support their emerging props and in Brookes they have tapped into a much travelled former England international who on Saturday’s evidence still looks on top of his game.
In tandem with starting loosehead Michael Milne and hooker Diarmuid Barron, Munster dominated the Glasgow pack in the first half, with van der Merwe coming on earlier than expected following a Barron head injury. With the powerful Springbok on, Munster also added a maul try, scored by Milne before half-time, although the props’ withdrawals on 50 minutes signalled a change in momentum at the scrum.
Payne and Lawler’s division of labour has brought added clarity to Munster’s attack and it was noticeable that the backline played with a no-nonsense approach and avoided over-elaboration in possession.
They also produced a slick move from right to left off a Munster lineout, finished by wing Ben O’Connor for the opening try. While the five points came with a Glasgow player in the sin bin, it was a strike play that will have pleased both McMillan and Payne.
Ben O’Donovan’s first senior start at number nine underlined just why Munster brought the Irish-qualified New Zealander into their academy from Canterbury last February.
Some assured appearances as back-up to Craig Casey at the end of last season showcased O’Donovan’s liking for a snipe as well as a robust physicality and it earned him a rapid promotion to the senior ranks for this season.
Starting against Glasgow, the 21-year-old asked plenty of questions of the visitors and his voracious appetite for work ultimately saw him run out of steam on the hour mark but O’Donovan looks ready for further exposure at half-back.
For all the pre-season angst over a lengthy injury list, McMillan can look forward to welcoming some much needed reinforcements in the coming weeks.
Tighthead Jack Aungier, a summer signing from Connacht has recovered from a back problem to be available for this Saturday’s home clash with the Bulls, as are wing Shane Daly and lock/flanker Tom Ahern from injuries which kept them out of the season opener with Glasgow.
This weekend will come too soon for lock Edwin Edogbo but McMillan could welcome back a couple of his Ireland summer tourists following their IRFU-enforced welfare breaks.
Also on the comeback trail beyond this Saturday are Ireland backs Tom Farrell (shoulder) and Calvin Nash (hamstring) while Munster are also waiting on Australian fly-half Will Harrison to overcome his recurring knee injury.
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