Jack Aungier counting on Munster move to 'light a fire' under him

Vodacom Bulls' Francois Klopper tackles Jack Aungier of Munster. Pic: Bryan Keane/Inpho

Jack Aungier joined a select but burgeoning band of players who have turned out for three of the four provinces when he started in Munster’s front row against the Bulls at Thomond Park last Saturday.

If rivalries remain an integral part of the game here then professionalism has loosened some of the ties that bind. The likes of Ian Keatley, Eoin Reddan, Sean Cronin, James Downey, John Cooney and John Fogarty have all blazed that same trail before him.

It’s a journey the 27-year-old was happy to reflect on this week, after his star turn in that 26-22 win against the South African franchise at the weekend: one that started off in the low-key surrounds of Suttonians RFC and St Fintan’s High School on Dublin’s northside.

Five Leinster caps were followed by 100 appearances for Connacht before he made the decision to leave his home of six years in Salthill and commit to new digs in Adare and a place in Clayton McMillan’s evolving squad.

Settling in hasn’t been hard.

He knew Tom Farrell, Michael Milne, Sean O’Brien and Diarmuid Kilgallen from his previous postings and plenty of others – including Oli Jager who is helping on the coaching side at Munster since his summer retirement – from engagements with the Ireland XVs and U20s.

Aungier didn’t know much of McMillan but a chat with Josh Ioane, who worked under his fellow Kiwi at the Chiefs, was reassuring. 

The newcomer, accustomed to rugby-centric pre-seasons, enjoyed the focus put on jujitsu, boxing, rowing and bike work in Limerick.

And, while Charlie O’Shea’s sensational performance at No.10 grabbed the headlines five days ago, it was Aungier who earned the internal vote as ‘man of the day’ when the coaches sat down and parsed through the evidence.

It was his fourth winning debut, following on from previous starts for Leinster, Connacht and Ireland, and this one was all the more impressive for the strength of the opposition and the fact that Aungier was hampered by an injury over the summer.

Kieran Brookes and Jack Aungier. Pic: Ben Brady/Inpho

McMillan had been searching for tightheads after a first season in charge with what he called a “problematic” scrum. He was delighted to sign a man with so many pro games under his belt, no little scrummaging ability, and someone who can get around the park with it.

“He's a busy forward,” said the head coach. “I think, by his own admission, he probably wasn't in the physical condition to earn himself enough regular starts, and he probably saw an opportunity to come here and do that.

“He's worked his bollocks off, and he was actually our player of the day on the weekend. He’s come here with an ambition to want to start more and chase a green jersey, I would imagine, and he's done that before.” 

Aungier’s Test bow came two summers ago in a big win over Georgia. He is young enough and good enough to force his way back into Andy Farrell’s thoughts if he can achieve his first goal by locking down the No.3 shirt at Munster.

That’s all baked into his decision to make the switch south.

“It was obviously very tough to leave Connacht. They were kind of keen to keep me on, and I just thought Munster have lost a few tightheads over the years, a lot of experience, and there was an opportunity to come here and start more games.

“I thought I was at that stage of my career where I was trying to push on to the next level and get back in the mix with Ireland,” he explained. “Change is good sometimes. Light a fire under me again.

“If you can be the Munster starting tighthead, which hopefully I can be, that's puts you in the frame to be in Ireland. That was the big decision with me coming here. I was in two camps I think in the last two years. I want to get in there regularly.” He will have his chance.

The province has lost a number of key veterans from their front row ranks in recent times so the signings of Aungier, Marnus van der Merwe and Kieran Brookes are vital both in the immediate term and in helping to bring the next generation through.

One of the main men tasked with managing this project is new forwards coach Jimmy Duffy who has worked with the Ireland U20s, Western Force and Ulster since a spell at Connacht that coincided with two of Aungier’s years out west.

“Yeah, I know him well. He's been brilliant since he's come in here. He's really led, put a bigger focus on scrum and lineout, and he's kind of handing over to the players a lot, which is good for me. He's trying to create a leadership role for me in the scrum.

“That’s probably something that's been missing here when you think of John Ryan, Stephen Archer, Niall Scannell, all these guys retiring, that there was a bit of a hole there. So I'm enjoying that, trying to find my voice and try and lead the squad.”