Munster’s interim head coach Ian Costello has defended the province’s decision to make six changes from the side that recorded an opening bonus-point win at home to Stade Français for last Friday’s damaging 16-14 Champions Cup defeat in Castres.
“I suppose a six-day turnaround and travel to France would be the primary reason,” said Costello in explanation of the half-dozen changes, which also factored in next Friday’s URC game against Ulster in the Kingspan Stadium (kick-off 7.35pm) and the marquee festive fixture at home to Leinster a week later, as well as the January Champions Cup games at home to Saracens and away to Northampton.
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“A lot of guys have played back-to-back games and it’s about trusting our squad. Some guys didn’t play the last two games, like John Hodnett came off the bench, and he was outstanding [against Castres],” said Costello in highlighting the benefits of rejigging the team.
“He came in fresh. And it’s about freshness and it’s about trusting the squad and generating a squad depth.
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“So, wanting to win these games first and foremost but also looking at the block we have of six massive games in a row. We’re not in the position we’d like to be in the URC and it’s very hard to weigh one over the other,” added Costello, with Munster evidently placing as much importance on the URC as the Champions Cup.
Selecting the talented Brian Gleeson for his first Munster game of the season and Champions Cup debut, while resting their primary ball carrier Gavin Coombes for such an attritional and important game, had looked decidedly questionable.
Coombes was an ever-present when starting 20 and finishing the other five of Munster’s 25 games last season and had started six and been a replacement in the other two in this campaign before last Friday.
“We know there’s Irish players that will come out over the next few weeks,” said Costello, presumably in reference to Tadgh Beirne, after his busy autumn, and perhaps Craig Casey, Peter O’Mahony and Jack Crowley. Although, as events transpired, Casey appeared to suffer a serious knee injury last Friday night.
“So Gavin, for example, he’s playing really well, we’ll freshen him up and [he will] come back in again next week.”
“Everybody wants to play but a big focus for us has been about the squad, trusting the squad, generating genuine competition,” added Costello. “Brian [Gleeson] had been outstanding in Junior World Cups and Six Nations and he’s waited for his chance. He played two A games, two club games to get ready for this game.
“The same with Evan O’Connell, who played really well. but there’s an opportunity to take him out and freshen him up and bring him back in next week when maybe one or two of our internationals might not be available.
“There’s a long season left and this six-game block is particularly attritional,” said Costello. The concluding Champions Cup pool games against Saracens and Northampton in January have now assumed even more importance, with Munster needing good results if they are to qualify, let alone earn a home Round of 16 tie.
“So, as a squad and as a group of coaches we made the decisions we think are right for now and right for the medium-term as well.”
The loss of short-term signing Dian Bleuler and Casey after 21 and 31 minutes both had destabilising effects against Castres. The former’s head injury exposed David Kilcoyne much earlier than desired in his first outing for a year, with the scrum accounting for five of the 17 penalties conceded by Munster, including the match-winning kick by Louis Le Brun in the 73rd minute after Hodnett’s second try, converted by Crowley, fleetingly had Munster in front.
Casey’s knee injury is the biggest concern and his departure possibly contributed to a mixed bag of a performance by Crowley.
“You’d back Jack to bounce back from anything,” said Costello. “He’s a quality player, a quality bloke, hugely resilient as we’ve seen repeatedly in the past. Jack will be in the mix over the next couple of weeks. He’ll have to get a rest at some point, but as always we would expect Jack to bounce back.”
Crowley bookended his and Munster’s uneven night with penalties that failed to find touch, but Costello maintained that if Crowley misses touch, then he’d rather he do so by “going for it”, adding: “It would have put the team in a very good position for one last opportunity. Unfortunately, the kick [at goal] was outside range and, look, he went for every inch out of that and as long as he was committing to it, we’ll back him.”
“With every player it’s about trust and faith in them. They’ll have good days and they’ll have bad days. We’ve a huge amount of trust in the squad, Jack and all the others.
“We’ve just got to make sure that when we come back in on Monday again we’re building on a really good five or six weeks that we’ve had.
“This is a bump in the road. We’ve got to look at elements of our performance and be really honest about it, and some parts of it weren’t good enough. But be honest and get on with it on Monday.”
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