Barry Coughlan
Rob Penney is an optimist and believes, despite defeat in an opening pre-season friendly away to Stade Rochelais in France last Friday, there are good things to come from Munster.
There were lots of positives, declared Penney this week, after examining video footage of the game in more detail.
“If you focus on the scoreline, there are some issues we have got to clear up, no doubt about that,” said Penney.
However, the new coach made more of different happenings within the game and how players had, or had not, adapted to his desire to play an expansive style of game.
And there are four positives he can concentrate on
1: To his delight, he believes he is dealing with a group of intelligent footballers unafraid to put in long hard hours on the training pitch to achieve their goals: “They are quick learners and they are hard workers, and given another couple of weeks we will be running a lot more smoothly,” he said.
2: The senior players have bought into his game plan, although he has yet to see how they will implement it on the pitch. Those on national contracts won’t be available until round two or three of the RaboDirect Pro 12.
3: In a sense, he sees their unavailability as a bonus, allowing him give game time to young challengers. He stressed that national contracts dictate what happens at provincial level right across the globe and pointed out that the more Munster men that go on to earn international recognition the better.
“There is nothing better than seeing a Munster man wearing the green of Ireland; that means our job is being done well enough to allow those boys do that. The more we can get into that environment the better, we just have to make sure our development process and our talent identification is thorough enough.”
4: Another positive he sees in the job is the fan factor; yet to experience the Thomond Park atmosphere, Penney can’t wait for it to come around. “It’s a very special environment, it’s quite unique and special. As a group, however, we have to provide a brand of rugby and obviously produce some success that will drive the supporters to be equally passionate about this team as they have been about past teams.”
Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/arVhwmt_XsM/post.aspx
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