Munster look set to maintain their ‘back to basics’ approach

MUNSTER coach Tony McGahan is encouraged by the improvement in the side’s scrum and rolling maul ahead of Saturday evening’s big Magners League opener against Aironi Rugby at Musgrave Park (7.30pm).
Munster’s pack turned in an impressive display in their pre-season victory over Gloucester on Friday night and the ‘back to basics’ approach looks set to be maintained as the province locks horns with Italian newcomers Aironi in Cork this weekend.
Tony McGahan said: “When you finish a season as we did last year there are a lot of focal points going into this one. The set-piece is such a crucial part of results.
“We weren’t anywhere near where we needed to be last season with those areas.
“We put a lot of work into them with Paul (Mccarthy) coming on and doing a great job with the scrum. Laurie (Fisher) and Axel (Anthony Foley) have done tremendous work with the maul. They are two weapons we want to get back into our game and be a cornerstone going forward with them. Tonight (game with Gloucester) certainly was a step in the right direction. We had a tough hit out against a full strength Leicester side the previous week, but we saw the fruits of that against Gloucester.
“The game is ever-changing across the whole pitch, but there are some elements which don’t change. Having a solid set-piece, a good solid scrum and line-out to work off in order to be able to play either through the opposition or around them is very important.
“We hope to continue making progress in those areas.”
Saturday’s opponents Aironi Rugby have assembled a very decent squad which includes impressive front-row forwards Salvatore Perugini, hooker Fabio Ongaro and prop Matias Aguero.
Marco Bortolami, who has joined from Gloucester, and former Ulster player Carlo Del Fava are quality locks. In the back-row, New Zealander Josh Sole has won 46 caps for Italy while former Auckland Blue, Nick Williams has joined the Italian set-up from Munster this summer.
Experienced French out-half Ludovic Mercier, who was a prolific points-scorer with Gloucester, is a key member of the Aironi backline.
Saturday night’s game will be televised live on RTE 2 with coverage beginning at 7.15pm.
Meanwhile, the Munster U20s open their Interprovincial campaign when they host Ulster at the Mardyke on Friday evening (7pm). Munster warmed up for the series with a friendly fixture against a UCC selection at Cork IT on Friday last.

Munster U20s squad 2010/11: John Randles (Crescent College Comprehensive), Tom Doyle (Rockwell), Paul Mullen (Kings Hospital), Jake Considine (Young Munster), Ian Mullarkey (Dolphin), Kieran Stokes (Christians), Kevin O’Byrne (UCC), Niall Scannell (PBC), Brian Vaughan (PBC), David O’Mahony (PBC), Tom Goggin (St Munchin’s College), Rob O’Herlihy (PBC), Yasin Browne (Christians), Shane Buckley (Rockwell), Simon Hanbidge (Christians), Jack Duffy (PBC), Conal Murphy (UCC), Luke Cahill (Rockwell) Cathal O’Flaherty (PBC), Henry Travers (Bandon Grammer School), Ronan Barry (PBC), Eoin O’Shaughnessy (PBC), Sean Upton (Young Munster), Gareth Quinn McDonagh (Shannon), Johnny Holland (UCC), JJ Hanarahan (Rockwell), Sean Og Murphy (PBC), Lucas Kunz (St Munchin’s College), Daniel Horgan (PBC), Ben Sargent (Shannon), Cian Bohane (Dolphin), Jamie McGarry (Ard Scoil Ris), Dara O’Doherty (Crescent College Comprehensive), Corey Hircock (Garryowen), Olan Dennehy (UCC), Cathal Quinn (CBC), Jack Costigan (PBC), Eoin O’Donnell (Cork Con), Derry O’Connor (Garryowen), Jack Murray (St Munchin’s College).

Colm Kinsella