MARK CHISHOLM WON’T get a chance to return to France this weekend, but a trip to Paris wouldn’t have come under enjoyable circumstances in the slightest.
The Munster lock and his teammates were scheduled to travel to the French capital on Saturday for a Champions Cup meeting with Stade Français the following day, but the fixture was postponed on Tuesday evening on the advice of local police.
Chisholm, who spent four years with Bayonne in the Basque region of France before moving to Munster this season, says the province hadn’t discussed any concerns about the game among themselves, but did hint that many players would have had an unspoken doubt.
“It was all directed on the game, which is great,” said Chisholm yesterday. “It takes your mind off what has happened over there. I’m sure in the back of every player’s mind there was that question. But to do with how we play on the weekend, it was just always rugby.
“In the back of your mind obviously what’s happened over there sticks with you, but if anything the security would have been a lot tighter playing this week than the last few weeks. And reading what’s been put out on Twitter and that, they don’t want to strain the police and security more than they already have.”
Chisholm and Munster have moved swiftly on from news of the postponement and will continue with their training week as normal, taking advantage of the weekend off to enjoy two full days of recovery.
There is increased fixture congestion to worry about at some stage further down the line, but Munster aren’t the only team with such concerns and Chisholm points out that “no one is getting out of it scot-free.”
Munster fans will have to wait to get another chance to see their impressive new Australian signing in action, after Chisholm has greatly impressed in his first six starts for the province.
“I am really enjoying it,” says Chisholm of his new life with Munster. “Coming from the Brumbies in Australia and going to France I sort of lost that… whether it would be professionalism or accountability.
“Stepping straight into the Munster team, it is all about accountability. It doesn’t matter who you are or what level you have played. If you are not doing your job you are going to be told about it. To improve your game that is exactly what you need.”
The 34-year-old, who joined Munster on a two-season deal, ended his time with Bayonne as captain, a great honour for a foreign player in France and a marker of his leadership qualities.
The fact that he admits he is a “harsh critic” of himself means Chisholm is at home in the environment of accountability he has found at Munster.
After four years of playing with a Bayonne side that was always in the bottom half of the Top 14 and was relegated in his final season, Chisholm says it’s something of a relief to be back in a squad that has ambitions of trophy success.
“The pressure is different,” says the 58-times capped Wallaby. “The release of pressure of not being asked by presidents to win games and get things together, it’s quite relaxing being here.
“You’re here and you know everyone is going to do the right thing and everyone is going to follow the game plan and play that way. That is a release of pressure.”
Queensland native Chisholm has enjoyed linking up with Donnacha Ryan in the second row since the Ireland international’s return from the World Cup, saying the Tipp man has “a great brain on him and a high work ethic.”
The sight of the locking duo in animated discussions on the pitch last weekend as Munster overcame Treviso with a strong lineout performance was probably encouraging for Anthony Foley. Two intelligent locks working together for the benefit of the team.
“It’s great to be able to go to a bloke like that on the field in those times and get suggestions or ask questions or make sure I’m on the right line or he’s on the right line,” says Chisholm.
“There’s no real hierarchy or there’s no hierarchy in the team – except the captain. To be able to speak to players on the same level – he’s played for Ireland and that is great.”
Chisholm had an awareness of many of the players who have become his teammates before he arrived in Munster, but CJ Stander was not one of them. The experienced Australian lock has been happily surprised by the 25-year-old number eight’s quality.
“To be honest not a lot,” said Chisholm when asked what he had known of Stander, “but as a bloke coming over here and meeting him and meeting his wife, he’s fantastic. A great bloke.
“The amount of heart he puts in on the field is fantastic. I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes that next step into international rugby. I heard last week that he has got his international clearance to play for Ireland and I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes that step.
“The way he’s playing in the Pro12 week in, week out is amazing.”
Stander has swiftly become Munster’s talisman after the departure of Paul O’Connell and the injury to regular captain Peter O’Mahony, but Chisholm doesn’t see any over-dependence on the powerful number eight.
“The great thing is we don’t really depend on CJ, none of the game is based around CJ at all,” said Chisholm.
“CJ has a massive work-rate, he carries the ball, but if you see the blokes cleaning out around him doing their job, they’ve an enormous work rate as well. It’s those little finer details.
“Sure he’s got the ball and he might have the ball the whole time but it’s the blokes around him that are making that space and making sure we’ve got the quick ball for Earlsy (Keith Earls) and those guys at the back is a big team collective effort.”
Life Style Sports has launched its international online delivery service that will send replica jerseys around the world. For the first time ever Munster, Connacht and Leinster supporters can order their province’s latest range of jerseys and associated apparel and have it delivered to over 200 countries worldwide.
