Graham Rowntree wants the likes of Billy Burns and Thaakir Abrahams to make an impact.
AFTER A SEASON that saw them lose a home semi-final in the URC and exit the Champions Cup at the Round of 16 stage, Munster are in the mood to bounce back in 2024/25 .
In the first of a four-part series looking at the Irish provinces ahead of the new season, we’ve examined the options in Munster’s 44-man senior squad and their academy. Josh Wycherley, still only 25, probably feels he has ground to make up on Loughman. Wycherley was part of the Emerging Ireland tour in 2022 and has long been seen as a promising prop but enjoyed only three starts for Munster last season. His contract is due to expire at the end of this campaign, so he will be out to prove a point.
Former academy hooker Eoghan Clarke rejoined Munster on a short-term deal last November to cover injuries and the 26-year-old impressed enough to earn himself a contract that covers the upcoming season. Munster’s long-term hope at tighthead – Hawaii native Roman Salanoa – remains sidelined with the knee issue that meant he didn’t play a single time last season. Prior to that, the powerful tighthead had been on an upward trajectory, even featuring in the Ireland squad during the 2023 Six Nations. The 26-year-old is said to be making good progress with his rehab after a tricky period earlier this year.Jean Kleyn is nearing his return to action.
The same is true of 24-year-old Thomas Ahern, who had an explosive, coming-of-age impact last season from the number six shirt and in the second row before an ankle injury ended his campaign and his hopes of touring South Africa with Ireland. His first Test cap will surely come sooner rather than later.
Number eight Gavin Coombes featured in the second row while others were injured last season and started the two recent pre-season games against Bath and Gloucester as a lock too. It’s a handy string to Coombes’ bow. Peter O’Mahony will play on for another year but handed over the Munster captaincy last season. O’Mahony and Jack O’Donoghue, who has passed 200 caps for the province, are the experienced heads in this back row group. O’Donoghue, who can play in all three back row slots, worked his way back into the starting XV at the end of last season and will be aiming to earn a new contract with his current deal up in the summer of 2025.
At number seven, John Hodnett and Alex Kendellen will be fighting for starting honours. Hodnett’s chop tackling and low-centre-of-gravity carrying have caught the eye in recent years, while Kendellen’s combative qualities were to the fore often last season. Looking to break up that well-established pairing of Casey and Murray are 25-year-old Paddy Patterson, who made only five appearances last season due to injury, and Ethan Coughlan, who has stepped up from the academy after the departure of Neil Cronin.
30-year-old Burns has played Test rugby for Ireland and arrives after six years as the first-choice number 10 for the northern province, meaning he brings lots of know-how. Tom Farrell has arrived from Connacht looking to get back into the form that had him in the wider Ireland squad in 2019. At his best, Farrell is a dangerous attacking weapon thanks to his sharp footwork and deft offloading ability. He could work well in tandem with Nankivell and has looked powerful in pre-season.
In their stead, Shane Daly and Calvin Nash have become the key men on the Munster wings, with the latter pushing into international rugby with Ireland and being named the province’s player of the year for last season. 22-year-old Patrick Campbell, who had his own injury travails last season, is someone who might have designs on that number 15 shirt. He has long been viewed as a big prospect by Munster and can also play on the wing.
Billy Burns Brían Gleeson Depth Chart Munster Options Squad Thaakir Abrahams
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