EXPERIENCED MUNSTER LOCK Billy Holland believes the arrival of Tadhg Beirne could be one of the missing links as the province bid to end their longest period in the professional era since winning silverware.
Munster have not lifted a title since winning their third league crown in 2011 but Holland reckons they are building a serious squad.
He made his debut back in September 2007 and has seen good and bad times since then.
Beirne will add competition in the second row but Holland is ready for the challenge and reckons the acquisition of the recently-capped Irish international is a big boost.
“The more players of quality who come into our squad the better. To really compete, you need 30 top-class players with two guys at least for each position throughout the season,” he said.
“Tadhg certainly showed what he could do last season. Competition is so important, there are now five second-rows going to compete for two positions and one on the bench.”
Holland, 33, has chalked up 188 appearances for Munster since arriving on the scene and feels he too can help Beirne develop as Johann van Graan’s side bid to end their barren period.
“I think he is going to bring in great ball skills. You have seen what he can do on the poach, maybe I’ll learn some things off him and maybe he’ll learn a few things off me in terms of the lineout.
“Maybe that’s something he hasn’t developed in his game yet and that’s something I’ll be expected to help him with. It’s exciting to play with him and to compete with him for positions and hopefully making us all play better,” he added.
A son of former Munster manager Jerry, Holland has been in the Munster system since 2004, coming through development and academy contracts before making his senior debut against Scarlets.
He followed his father’s footsteps two years ago when he won his only Irish cap against Canada and is fit and raring to go as he heads into a new campaign against the Cheetahs at Thomond Park on Saturday.
“They are a very physical pack and their backs are so elusive,” Holland continued.
“They just run at some speed. They have a lot of very good, skilful individual players and you don’t know what they’re going to do. One or two who are tiny and they run at you and you’d prefer a guy of 6ft10ins and 150 kilos because they’re easier to tackle.
“They have a good scrum, good maul, good set piece and backs and if you kick loose ball to them, they’ll run riot all day.
“When we first played them last season, they weren’t used to European rugby. But they got to the play-offs of the Pro14 so they certainly learned as the season went on and certainly playing them at this time of year with a dry ball and firm grounds will suit them more than, say, in January in the mud and rain.”
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