MUNSTER ‘A” take on Cross Keys this Friday night (17.30 kick off) at Musgrave Park in the final of the British and Irish Cup. Cross Keys RFC is a club located in the Welsh village of Crosskeys. The club is a member of the Welsh Principality League and is a feeder club for Newport Gwent Dragons regional team. The Welsh side face Munster rugby’s young guns. The future of Munster Rugby in other words in what will sure to be a thrilling contest.
Munster ‘A’ are coached by Senior Skills Coach Ian Costello. The former UL Bohemians Director of Rugby is in his first full year with Munster. Costello has previously assisted Anthony Foley in the Musnter ‘A’ set up and was part of the back room team that lost the final of this competition to Cornish Pirates back in 2010.
Costello is expecting as tough a challenge this weekend from Cross Keys.
“They are a massive unit. We are lucky enough that we have seen a little bit of footage of them. They are a traditional Welsh side who like to play rugby very wide. They have a massive pack, who like to attack in close and they are going to be hard to take on up front. At the flick of a switch they can then go wide. We went to see them play last weekend, but it seems that they were resting several players for this weekend’s game.”
Costello has been entrusted with winning the British and Irish Cup as well as developing players for the senior side. Something the former out half feels he has achieved this season.
“We felt we needed the semi final win against Leinster for several reasons. They were a side who everyone had talked up so much. We said after seniors lost to Ulster, that the ‘A’ side really needed to win this game to show people that Munster rugby is in the right position.
“I cannot tell you how angry and annoyed I get when I read about the Leinster set up and the Ulster set up and what they are producing over Munster. Those academies are meant to be years ahead of us in Munster. You just have to look at the Heineken Cup squad and you can see that we have a low average age. For Friday night, it is a huge opportunity for those lads to stand up and be picked for the senior set up. The players have, on a selfish point of view, a chance to put there hand up to the new Munster coach, who ever that might be.”
The possibility of silverware at the end of 80 minutes is something that every players strives for. Costello would love nothing more than to add the British and Irish Cup to his CV, but he also knows that the players are the focus at ‘A’ level.
“When you are with the ‘A’ side, you try and make sure you are developing as a coach too. As your players move on, you have to want to move on too. There is a huge amount of pride in seeing these players developing. If you look at the squad we are putting out this weekend, 17 of them have played Rabodirect this season. There are a few lads who started with us at the start of the season who are now regulars on the senior side. There is some pride in that too. There are a lot of factors as to why I love the job, and they are just a few.”
With change coming at the top for Munster Costello knows that wins in this competition are crucial for sustaining the work being done at ‘A’ level and below.
“I had assisted Anthony Foley in the last two seasons with the ‘A’ side so I tried to build on what he had done. To help instil the culture he had created here. It has been building nicely now for a couple of months, so what we need to do now is continue that trend. Cross Keys are going to be another massive challenge that we are going to have to face”.
Possible Munster Side to face Cross Keys:
Scanlon, Hurley, Barnes, Dineen, O’’Dea/R O’Mahony, Deasy, Williams, Kilcoyne, Henry, Archer, Hayes, Nagle, Holland, O’Callagan/B O’Mahony, Butler.
THE BRITISH and Irish Cup is seen by many as a breeding ground for new talent. The final this weekend is a chance for Munster fans to see the future of Munster rugby first hand, as well as offering an opportunity for Munster’s ‘A’ players to put their hands up for next season.
Two players who will be looking to do just that are UL Bohemians hooker Sean Henry and Shannon back row Paddy Butler. Both young guns spoke to PostSport this week ahead of the final and both are relishing the prospect of winning some silverware.
“Obviously we are hugely looking forward to it. The semi final was a great game. One of the best games I have played in. To come through that the way we did with this group of guys is great. We know Cross Keys are going to pose a huge challenge, but we are just looking forward to getting stuck into them” commented Henry who is still on a high after his clubs promotion to division 1A of the Ulster Bank League.
Paddy Butler agrees, “I was very happy with the team performance against Leinster. It was 1-23 that got us the win. Everyone stood up and really performed on the day. Hopefully we can get that kind of performance this weekend otherwise the semi final will have been a waste”.
The ‘A’ side have built up a squad mentality of their own following wins over Ulster and Leinster in the knock out stages. That mentality and togetherness is going to be needed ahead of this weekends final. The Cross Keys challenge on Friday night will be a difficult one according to Munster’s young forwards.
“I have seen a good bit of them. We have some tapes on them in our servers and we have had a look. They are a good side. They are a real traditional Welsh side. They can play it anyway. They can play it wide and they can play it direct when they want to too. They have a very good scrum too. They are going to pose a difficult and different challenge than Leinster and we are going to have to be ready for that” added Henry.
“Most of us have been together for the year. There have been a few who have played senior. We have trained with each other and been around each other a lot this season. It is good fun playing with these lads. There is a huge freedom playing with the ‘A’ side. It is a very good experience. It is very important to put your front foot forward. It is a final and hopefully the crowds will come out to see us. No matter what happens after Friday it not down to me. Friday is all I have to focus on. The main reason to play well is to help my team mates lift the cup” continued Butler.
Both players were quick to sing the praises of ‘A’ head coach Ian Costello too.
Sean Henry commented, “Ian has been fantastic this season. He work ethic and preparation is second to none and he also gives the lads that extra bit of freedom to play”
While the final words are left to Butler, “Ian has put everyone at ease. No one has had any jitters when we play. We just have confidence from playing under him”
Both players are set to start in what is now become a crucial game in Munster Rugby’s season.
