'His energy is probably unmatched': Jared Payne hails Craig Casey's impact on Munster group

Head coach Clayton McMillan is set to name his team to face the Bulls this Thursday afternoon.

REPORTING FOR DUTY: Munster's Craig Casey. Pic: Nick Elliott/Inpho

Jared Payne has praised the energy Craig Casey brings to Munster as the Ireland scrum-half prepares to make his seasonal debut against the Bulls in this Saturday’s URC clash at Thomond Park.

Casey, one of only three Munster players to tour with Ireland to Australia and New Zealand during the summer, has been made available under IRFU player welfare protocols alongside loosehead prop Jeremy Loughman to return to provincial colours this weekend as Clayton McMillan’s side aim to rebound from their opening-round 26-20 loss at home to Glasgow Warriors.

Munster captain Tadhg Beirne is still under wraps but attack coach Payne, the former Ulster and Ireland centre/full-back who joined McMillan’s backroom staff in pre-season and takes responsibility for the team’s strike plays and first three phases, praised Casey’s leadership and behind-the-scenes input to the squad since his arrival.

“I've been amazed with Craig, all the players, in fairness,” Payne said. “We've tried to make it pretty inclusive in and around how we plan the strikes.

“It's not me saying, ‘just do this’. We'll share ideas with them, they'll share ideas with us. We meet up on a Monday morning, agree on a few things and go forward.

“His energy is probably unmatched. I haven't seen someone bounce around as much as he does around the environment. (He) loves sending text messages about plays, got great ideas.

“Really good leader, drives good standards. Good guy, has fun with it too. Someone like (fly-half) Jack Crowley, he's been doing the same in the background.

“Unfortunately we can't have him playing at the moment, but he's been great as well. It's not necessarily just what I want to do. We get to where we want to be as a group.

“Players take ownership of it… They've been very good at grabbing it, coming up with a few ideas and really driving the week so far. Very impressed with them.” Munster otherwise received mixed injury news following the Glasgow defeat.

Four fit-again players have returned to training: wing Shane Daly, back-rower Ruadhán Quinn, lock/flanker Tom Ahern and summer tighthead prop recruit Jack Aungier. 

Yet the head coach has lost a quartet of last Saturday’s starters. 

Full-back Mike Haley picked up a first-half knee injury while hooker Diarmuid Barron, back-rower Jack O’Donoghue and centre Alex Nankivell picked up concussions and all are unavailable. 

McMillan is set to name his team this Thursday afternoon.