HIS SUMMER WITH Ireland marked Rory Scannell out as a contingency out-half as well as a live centre option for Joe Schmidt, who loves versatility in his starters and replacements to cover off positional bases in case of injury.
With winter setting in, he must have felt that vote of confidence somewhat tempered last weekend when the number 12 jersey went to Tyler Bleyendaal – who operated there in Canterbury and qualifies for Ireland in January – for Munster’s visit to Leinster. But immediately after the inter-provincial loss, Rassie Erasmus was back placing building blocks in Scannell’s confidence, clearly stating the Corkman he was his first choice inside centre.
Munster won’t run out in Castres (Sunday, 1pm Irish time) with three out-halves in the side, but with Scannell back in harness from the start, they won’t lack for creativity.
“Yeah it’s great to be given the nod going into Europe,” says the 23-year-old, now an established front-line Munster star who might look back this weekend and see how far he’s come since his province’s last away clash with Castres. That day, as Ronan O’Gara continued his habit of striking late winning drop-goals, a 17-year-old PBC out-half watched from home.
“I was in fifth or sixth year. Obviously they wouldn’t be as familiar to a lot of the squad over the last few years, but a couple of the – they probably wont like me saying this – the ‘older guys’ will have remembered going over there.”
Fresher memories, and less happy ones, will come from his centre partner Chris Farrell who felt the full Olympique force last season in a Grenoble shirt. Farrell’s stature and physicality looks tailor made to offer a foil for Scannell’s playmaking skills. However, he’s quick to point out his new team-mate is more than just a battering ram. He knows the full skill-set of the Tyrone man more than most.
“For a big guy he has great distribution skills as well. I actually played with Chris first at U18 Schools level as a 10-12 combo, so I am really enjoying playing with him again and he has made a good impact so far this season and I think he is going to be crucial to us as a squad going forward over the next few weeks.
He is nearly like having another forward on the pitch, but as you saw at the weekend he is well able to rip a pass 20-25 metres as well. He has great off-loading ability too, so I think having that physicality in the centre kinda frees me up to play the type of game I like to play as well. I don’t mind the physical things myself, but I like the distribution side of things as a centre as well.
“It was actually quite a good advantage going into games because people didn’t expect (Farrell to be able to pass as well as carry). They are expecting he will run straight over you and he will be on the gainline throwing a flat ripped pass to the winger, so it is great to have that for a 13.”
