TYLER BLEYENDAAL LASTED just 30 minutes in his first outing of the season two weekends ago when Grenoble visited Thomond Park, but all the signs were good.
Now fully recovered from the neck trouble that kept him sidelined last season, the 25-year-old started in Munster’s 10 jersey before succumbing to a tightening groin as he drives towards regaining match fitness.
The former New Zealand U20 captain may return for Friday night’s meeting with London Irish at Musgrave Park, but Anthony Foley and his coaches are playing it cautious.
“His groin was tightening up and we felt it was better to take him off before he did any damage to it,” said Foley of Bleyendaal’s early withdrawal against Grenoble. “Hopefully he’ll be back in tow this week.”
Ian Keatley was in the 10 shirt last weekend as Pat Lam’s Connacht recorded a comprehensive win in Thomond Park, the once-capped Ireland international looking understandably rusty on his return to action.
Bleyendaal has real pedigree as an out-half in his native New Zealand and it’s there that Munster have been running him since his move to Ireland.
“Definitely,” said Foley when asked if he hopes to see Bleyendaal provide strong competition for Keatley at 10.
“But also (we want him) to play the 12 role as well. We’re looking to see where he ends up at the start of the season. He’s a quality guy and a guy that, from working with him, we have a good appreciation of where he’s at.”
The prospect of Bleyendaal at inside centre is a fascinating one for Munster, particularly given that the more direct Denis Hurley was used in the 12 shirt for the biggest games last season.
Foley and attack coach Brian Walsh had mentioned early last season that they were pondering using a passing player in the 12 shirt if possible, although the anticipated Keatley/JJ Hanrahan 10/12 combination never materialised.
With Hurley currently out due to a foot injury, it may be that Foley and Munster look to pair Keatley and Bleyendaal in midfield for the beginning of the season, possibly with new face Francis Saili outside them.
We haven’t looked at it just yet in terms of having everyone on their feet at the moment,” said Foley of using Bleyendaal at 12. “It would make a difference in terms of having another set of hands in there, a good decision maker, a more natural first receiver in there.
“Denis has done a great job but Denis is going to be missing for two months. It’s an opportunity to look at something else and bring a bit more variety to our game, but it’s not something that we need to rush into either.”
Foley admitted he is excited to see New Zealand-capped outside centre Saili lining out for Munster this season, while he also confirmed that new second row Mark Chisholm’s work permit has not yet been finalised.
However, Foley underlined that there has been no delay beyond the ordinary and pointed out that Munster are getting exactly the type of second row they need after the loss of Paul O’Connell.
“We’re just waiting for the work permit to come through,” said Foley at yesterday’s Guinness Pro12 launch in London. “It’s not a worry, it’s just a long process. You’ve just got to wait, it doesn’t happen overnight.
He’s a quality player, he was on l’Équipe‘s XV of the Top 14 last year and was captain of the (Bayonne) side, playing every game. He’s durable and he has quality as well. He’s also a very experienced second row, which is an area that we felt we needed strengthening in.”
In relation to the loss of O’Connell, as well as leaders like Peter O’Mahony and Conor Murray for the World Cup period, Foley said he is certain other players within Munster’s squad will step up.
“That’s probably more of an outside perception. We’re working away in the background, we have fellas turning up. We have our leadership group working hard and everyone is in full flow at the moment. Hopefully we can get the show on the road on Friday night.”
