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Munster assistant coach Lawler is confident any problems can be ironed out before Cardiff on Friday

Munster assistant coach Lawler is confident any problems can be ironed out before Cardiff on Friday

Irish Times24-04-2025
Munster
have adopted a 'heal thyselves' philosophy rather than dwelling unduly on the well documented, and acknowledged, officiating fiasco in their 16-13 URC defeat to the Bulls last weekend.
A primary area of focus is the lineout issues that have scuppered their ambitions to a ruinous degree in the last two matches, their defeat to Bordeaux-Begles in the Champions Cup quarter-final and the Bulls game at Thomond Park.
Alex Codling's secondment to Munster earlier in the season had a very positive effect, but given that his primary role is with the Ireland women's team during the Six Nations Championship, there has to be a little bit of a remote element – reviewing game footage – to his work in trying to repair and reboot a malfunctioning set-piece.
Rather than focusing on the problem Munster assistant coach Mossy Lawler is confident that a solution can be found ahead of their next game, against Cardiff at the Arms Park on Friday night.
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He said: 'It's not been an excuse. If you look at the Bordeaux team we played, and certainly the Bulls too, Bordeaux are one of the best defensive lineout teams in Europe, and if you make any inaccuracies there in your detail they are going to pick you off.
'It's not ideal ever having any kind of coach away. But Alex (Codling) is in constant contact with Tommy (O'Donnell) and his shot callers so from that point of view there has been no stone left unturned. And there is a hell of a lot of experience in this group, so I have no doubt we will get it right this weekend.'
Munster head coach Ian Costello with assistant coach Mossy Lawler. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho
Lawler made an interesting observation about how Munster need to stick closer to their playing DNA, trust it, and that if they were able to do so in the match environment that they possessed the players and patterns to be successful.
'Before I joined (from Connacht in the summer of 2023) this group won a URC playing with ambition and that has been our mantra. We are a possession-based team, and we want to hold on to the ball and go after teams.
'Obviously the last couple of weeks we haven't been as accurate as we have wanted to be, but we certainly won't be tightening up. We have a hell of a lot of experience in the room who have played in massive games, bigger than what we will face in the next couple of weeks. So they will be leading the charge into being who we are and sticking to who we are.'
Gavin Coombes, a consistently brilliant and integral performer for the province this season, missed the Bulls game with an ankle injury sustained in Bordeaux, but his presence at the media conference suggests that he will be back to drive Munster's push for the playoffs in Cardiff.
Munster's Gavin Coombes against Bordeaux on April 12th, 2025. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho
He's upbeat in his views. 'We've beaten a very good La Rochelle team in Europe and Bordeaux, we saw glimpses of where we put them to the sword, so I think to say we're a long way off it is completely wrong.
'I believe in this group, and we have been off it on a few occasions during the season and a few games, but when we've been on it we've had some great days and some great performances. There's a lot of belief in this group that we have the talent to challenge for the league, and that's definitely what we're speaking about.
'We've reviewed it (the Bulls game) and probably small things that we didn't get right so that's frustrating for us, but I don't think you can fault the effort that we had on the pitch. Defensively we were defending on our own line quite a lot in that first half and putting in big shots, turning those over.
'I think everyone realises this is a huge week so it's not one where we can come in (on Monday) and feel sorry for ourselves and waste a day. We've got a six-day turnaround, we're playing Friday evening, we need everyone on it.
'Everyone had it parked by the time we came in, we had a quick review and spoke about what we can work on, you know, small moments where the game got away from us.'
Munster had a day off on Tuesday and returned to the training pitch on Wednesday. Every match now is like a cup final, and as they have demonstrated in the past that's when the province is at its most focused and dangerous.
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Inside Kerry star David Clifford's life with girlfriend Shauna and son Óigí
Inside Kerry star David Clifford's life with girlfriend Shauna and son Óigí

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  • Irish Daily Mirror

Inside Kerry star David Clifford's life with girlfriend Shauna and son Óigí

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'Coming from Munster, it's all you want to do. It's such a proud club'
'Coming from Munster, it's all you want to do. It's such a proud club'

The 42

time2 days ago

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'Coming from Munster, it's all you want to do. It's such a proud club'

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I just kind of came to the stage in my career where, yes, you could go back, but you're probably taking a contract that's not worth that much money and it's like, how long are you prolonging the inevitable? 'It was a difficult decision and you probably had sleepless nights over it and still do, but I'm happy with the decision I made.' Advertisement One of the other reasons Australia was so attractive was that McHenry's partner, Louise, was already there. McHenry won the Shute Shield with Easts. Easts Rugby Easts Rugby She was down in Melbourne working as a chemical engineer and so, when the Shute Shield season ended with Easts, McHenry made the move south. They've been together for years, but this is their first time living together. Having seen him move from Munster to Wasps on loan, then onto Jersey Reds and Dax, Louise had decided to do her own thing and head Down Under. Happily, Alex joined her. 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James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO 'I was crocked before the match but they're like, 'Whatever you do now, don't pull out because you're going to get on the pitch, you'll get your debut.' 'I got 90 seconds off the bench, but it was massive, playing with those lads that you grew up with. Coming from Munster, it's all you want to do. It's such a proud club and it's boyhood dream kind of stuff.' His parents, John and Sylvia, were watching back in Cork with Daly's parents. Daly scored his first Munster try as McHenry got his debut. McHenry's parents still have a champagne cork from that night. They're currently over in Melbourne to visit him and Louise, as well as take in the second Lions Test today. 'They give so much,' says McHenry of his parents. 'They came to Jersey a couple of times and they came to Dax last year with my aunt and uncle. They kept being like, 'What's the next trip?'' Now, they're all enjoying Australia. Jack has settled in Sydney, where he plays 'subbies' rugby, and youngest brother Harry has just finished university in Cork. The McHenrys lived in Kildare until Alex was 11 because John, a professional golfer, worked at the K Club but they 'thankfully saw some wisdom' and moved back to Cork, where rugby took over. Playing for Munster was a dream come true, then McHenry played for Wasps on loan in 2021 before joining Jersey when he left his native province in 2022. Sadly, both English clubs ended up going bust. McHenry with his good friend Shane Daly. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO Playing with Dax in the Pro D2 was another fantastic experience for McHenry, who couldn't get over the sight of the club's players smoking cigarettes outside the gym, with the S&C coach sometimes joining them. The rugby was ferocious and fun. Now, he's loving life in Australia. 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Enya Breen: Eight-year wait makes World Cup special
Enya Breen: Eight-year wait makes World Cup special

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time2 days ago

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Enya Breen: Eight-year wait makes World Cup special

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