MUNSTER rugby’s new short term signing Pat Howard has settled in well to the squad in recent weeks. The West Province young gun made his debut for Anthony Foley’s men last weekend against Newport Gwent Dragons and not turns his attention to Thomond Park, which he hears is ‘amazing’ The outside centre, who is open to making the move a permanent one should both clubs agree on same, spoke to the media this week. Here are his thoughts?
So how come you came to Munster?
I’ve been sitting behind Jean de Jong at Western Province, he’s a great player and it’s hard to get ahead, he’s been on such good form lately and I play in the same position as him. I’m a 13 obviously so what I asked is permission to get game time elsewhere on loan or release or something like that. Gert Smal coached Ireland and he had contacts over here and he actually organised this so there are on off time (in South Africa) at the moment. They are on holiday and they are just getting into pre-season at the moment so he said it’s the perfect opportunity now to go get game time and get more experience and come back all the better for it.
What did he tell you about Munster?
It’s a great club to play for, everybody in the world knows it, A few of the guys at Western Province say when they think of going overseas they’re going to want to go to Munster or Leinster. It is a well renowned place and what he (Gert Smal) said that it’s a lot of pressure to play for such a club, I can’t come here and think South Africa is better or anything. It’s a very good club to play for and they’re a very strong team.
And it is only a short-term contract?
It is until February until Super Rugby starts again. I’ll be needed back for that as cover. I am sure that if things go well and negotiations go well maybe there will be a future in it depending on how things go.
Had you ever been in Ireland before?
We played Saracens two Sundays ago with Western Province and it was my first time experiencing all of this. It was my first time in Europe. The weather doesn’t bother me that much. The weather is the only downside that people talk about in Ireland.
But the weather has been perfect since you’ve arrived?
It’s been great, most of my training has been under blue skies. I was born in the hills in Natal so I’m used to cold and snow and all of that and it’s farmlands there so I’m used to the open spaces and not the big cities.
Did you talk to anybody besides Gert Smal about coming to play for Munster?
My agent is the one who has got contacts over here, I don’t know if you know him. His name is Pete Simmons. He’s the guy who handles all the foreigners. It’s the same agency so it’s very easy to connect with all the people and get the right contacts.
What do you hope to achieve?
Personally, I would like to get as much game time as I can and improve my own game that’s what I’ve been lacking at Province due to other good players you know. It’s no fault of anybody really, but just get a bit of game time get a bit of experience to improve my own game as much as I can and to contribute to whatever team I am playing for. Hopefully, if I can impress a few people maybe a future here.
Are you settling in well with all the other South African’s in Munster?
Definitely, CJ Stander, BJ Botha and Gerhard Van Der Heever have been great. I knew Gerhard before at Western Province a year and a half ago. It was very much a case of they took me in and took me out for dinner and a few Guinness so it nice to have them around and very nice to have familiar people around.
Your home debut could be at Thomond Park, against Ulster ar
Yeah I’m looking forward to it. I hear Thomond Park is amazing. Gwent Dragons is one thing it was a very small field and small stadium but Thomond isn’t in the same league apparently. I’m very much looking forward to that. You hear about it all over the world. I’m looked forward to sitting down on Saturday in South Africa and watching the games that were on a Friday here.
Will you be familiar with a lot of the opposition this weekend?
Yeah. Robbie Diack is at Ulster. He went to the same school as I did Michael House in Natal. He wasn’t there when I was there. Ruan Pienaar did also, I don’t know if he is playing so they have a couple of South African guys and we take an interest because of the amount of South African guys in the games.
It seems you have hit the ground running?
For sure, I was fortunate to have a week off when I came back the week before they recommencement (of games) and I was able to get accommodation sorted out and bank cards and all the menial things so I was lucky to have that and I got to meet some of the guys as well, so ya hit the ground running but it was easier to do because of that week.
Do the lads coming back from autumn internationals bring an extra dimension?
For sure yeah. Given this game it is going to be the same for both sides but definitely have the boys back like Paul O’Connell, Conor Murray and Zebo back will be a big boost to the squad in general but it always is no matter what country it is. I haven’t met them yet and it will be nice to meet those guys. Paul O’Connell would obviously be world renowned in his own right as well as putting the ‘fear of god’ into everyone. They’re a nice bunch of guys here, I’m settling in well and I’m really beginning to enjoy it.
Is Paul O’Connell an iconic figure outside of Ireland?
Most definitely, everybody I talk to in Limerick or met here ask you have you met Paul O’Connell and it’s ‘what’s he like, what’s he like’ so I haven’t met him yet so everybody wants to know about him.
And is it the same in South Africa?
My dad is even mentioning it. ‘You’re going to be meeting Paul O’Connell that’s just amazing isn’t it?’
On the field, what is your early impression of the Munster back line and the way they play?
Teams are different and you have to adapt to it. I’m 22 at the moment and you never really know what you’re good at or what you enjoy or what style of play you like until you’ve experienced it and that’s what this is all about. It’s very good at the moment, there’s a lot of freedom to do your own thing within the system and structures and we’ve got a lot of good ball players like Ian Keatley abd JJ Hanrahan who can spread the ball wide to wherever you are and it is a joy to play with guys like that so I’m just hoping for a bit more time so I can experience it with them and see what happens then.
