Postponement Forces Munster To Readjust

Munster’s plans for a week in northern Italy have been scuppered by the blanket of snow that covers the region and with temperatures set to drop further, the postponement of Sunday’s RaboDirect PRO12 match with Aironi was inevitable.

Celtic Rugby officials have rescheduled the fixture and Munster will rearrange their travel plans with the Benetton Treviso game on Saturday week now the focus of attention.

The Aironi v Munster game, originally scheduled for this Sunday but called off due to adverse weather conditions, will be played on Sunday, March 11, with kick-off at 3pm local time/2pm Irish time.

It does deny Tony McGahan the opportunity to have a planned mini camp away next week. The Munster head coach explained: “Both the games falling as they were provided the opportunity as a group to go away together and spend some time as a group.

“We had a great finish to the second block of games with regard to the ‘A’ team, with their wonderful away win in the quarter-final of the British & Irish Cup and then the senior squad with that win over Northampton.

“So everyone went away in fine spirits for a week off and we came back had a great week training and everyone was looking forward to the preparation. So it’s really disappointing from that point of view. But look, it is what it is and we’ll get on with it.”

Now instead of RaboDirect PRO12 action, McGahan will look to the Ulster Bank League to give his players much-needed game-time.

“We have a really good relationship with our club coaches and their willingness to put players back in the club system has certainly been a really strong aspect of Munster over a long period of time, particularly so now that the players coming through are from the club system.

“And yes we’ll look for the opportunity this weekend to put some more players back there to play.”

One of those who is expected to see Ulster Bank League action this weekend is the fit-again Felix Jones, who will get game-time with Shannon against Young Munster on Friday night.

Games in hand can be the bane of a coach’s life but chasing points or position is not something McGahan will concern himself with.

“If you miss out on a game it’s not really a question of chasing the table. At the end of it you’ll get all your games (played) so whether you have a four-week block starting this week or a four-week block starting next week, it”l be pretty much the same. Again as long as we look after our own capabilities of what we’re about we should be fine.”