What shape will the midfield take?
Ian Keatley, Andrew Smith and Johne Murphy make up the midfield trio for this evening’s clash with Edinburgh at Thomond Park [KO 19.35], but is it likely that Munster’s coaching team will look at a wide range of options in the opening months of the season.
JJ Hanrahan offers competition to Keatley at 10, while Tyler Bleyendaal will arrive in October to provide something different in the 12 shirt. Will Keith Earls be used as an outside centre or can former Brumbies man Smith claim that position?
Denis Hurley was converted into a centre last season, and has a strong set of physical skills – should that project be pursued? There are many choices for head coach Anthony Foley and attack specialist Brian Walsh in their midfield this season, but finding the best combination is a priority.
How will this new backroom staff settle?
Just months into their tenure, the all-Irish coaching team of Foley, Walsh, Ian Costello, Jerry Flannery and Mick O’Driscoll suffered an unwelcome incident with the accidentally distributed management report.
They have attempted to move swiftly on from the episode, and would naturally prefer to be judged on the performances of their team on the pitch. There is inexperience within the group of coaching at this level, but each member brings technical strength and a strong understanding of the Munster set-up.
As after any shift in coaching staff, the province’s earliest results will be judged with a deeper analysis than elsewhere. It will be intriguing to examine Munster’s performances, starting this evening against Edinburgh, for signs of the new men’s influence.
What does ‘back to basics’ look like?
After two seasons of Rob Penney’s insistence on dragging the opposition from touchline to touchline, the keyword for Munster in the build-up to this campaign has been ‘balance’.
Attack coach Walsh is looking for a more rounded approach from his team, a more multi-faceted and mixed method of breaking down defences. Several of his fellow coaches and some of Munster’s players have also mentioned going ‘back to basics’.
That phrase carries negative connotations in some quarters, but it needn’t. Foley is a firm believer in players having excellent core skills and has also pushed each squad member to grow their tactical appreciation. How that feeds into the game plan should become apparent from early on.
Will defensive and breakdown strengths grow?
Two aspects of Munster’s play that stood out last season were their defence and skills around the breakdown. Costello assumes control of the defensive side of play in the province and will look to add more line speed to Munster’s system.
Around the ruck area, Foley has done superb work in recent seasons, and with the former No. 8 stating that he is a ‘tracksuit on’-type of head coach, the hope is that his technical tutoring will not be lost with more responsibility up the chain.
Players like Peter O’Mahony and Paul O’Connell coming back into the selection mix will add to both of these elements, but this evening men such as Sean Dougall, Billy Holland and CJ Stander are tasked with leading the charge.
Is there silverware in this squad?
Munster have spoken recently about their desire to see more fans through the turnstiles at Thomond Park, and the one way to guarantee a rise in attendance figures is success.
The province’s most recent first-team trophy was the 2010/11 Magners League, and although Penney brought Munster into two Heineken Cup semi-finals in the last two seasons, this group needs a trophy to feel among the elite once again.
An increasingly competitive Pro12 may be more difficult than ever to win, but there is certainly the quality of player and depth in Munster’s ranks to claim the title. Whatever about European glory, Foley’s men should be competing for the league trophy come May.
Munster’s season begins with a Pro12 clash against Edinburgh at Thomond Park this evening. Kick-off is at 19.35.
Munster: Ronan O’Mahony; Andrew Conway, Johne Murphy, Andrew Smith, Simon Zebo; Ian Keatley, Duncan Williams; John Ryan, Kevin O’Byrne, BJ Botha; Donncha O’Callaghan (capt.), Billy Holland; CJ Stander, Sean Dougall, Shane Buckley.
Replacements: Duncan Casey, Alan Cotter, Stephen Archer, Dave Foley, Tommy O’Donnell, Cathal Sheridan, Johnny Holland, Ivan Dineen.
Edinburgh: Jack Cuthbert; Dougie Fife, Sam Beard, Andries Strauss, Tim Visser; Greig Tonks, Sean Kennedy; Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford (capt.), John Andress; Fraser McKenzie, Ollie Atkins; Tomas Leonardi, Hamish Watson, Cornell Du Preez.
Replacements: James Hilterbrand, Rory Sutherland, WP Nel, Ben Toolis, Mike Coman, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Nick McLennan, Phil Burleigh.
