Ruckedtobits wrote: ↑June 3rd, 2021, 9:26 am
A word on the side for three former Munster players, who have benefited from the JvG era in the Province. Next Sunday, James Hart, Dave O'Callaghan and, possibly, Billy Scannell will be in the Biarritz Squad that take on Perpignan in the Pro D2 final where the winners claim the prize of a Top14 place for next season. (There is also a unique side-story for the Biarritz lads whereby if Bayonne lose their last Top14 fixture on Saturday and Pau win their last game, there will be a play-off between the losing Pro D2 finalists and either Bayonne or Pau for the final place in next year's Top14- so possibly a local Derby between Biarritz & Bayonne as a consolation prize).
O'Callagahan has been an ever present in the BO Squad this season and has regularly been in the Pro D2 Team of the Week. Hart has emerged as an excellent and important place kicker this Season and although not always claiming first team selection, he has been a vital contributor in their long season. Billy Scannell has not had such a high profile season but has attracted good compliments from the Forwards Coach for his contributions & progress.
Not a bad year for three JvG 'rejects' and a season such as this in the beautiful, rugby-mad, city of Biarritz will undoubtedly remain in the memory of all three, long after some of those nights in Limerick and Cork when they sat in the stand watching team-mates try to perform the JvG game plan, thinking "I could do better than that".
Good luck on Sunday lads in Perpignan and relish the atmosphere and the experience.
Always good to see former Leinster and Munster players do well.
Of the 3, DOC is the one I would have loved to see make it with Munster.
When fit he had all of the attributes to push on and become a first choice player, and IMO would have likely picked up a couple of Ireland caps along the way.
Unfortunately for DOC, his injury profile really hampered his career in red, and is the likely contributor to his Munster career coming to an end, rather than his ability as a player.
Hart was a player who struggled to push his way into the team under Rassie rather than JVG.
He came with a solid reputation, built in France after being let go by Leinster, but IMO and obviously Rassie’s he failed to impress.
Billy is a player who may well still feature in a Munster jersey. Or he could turn out like a Cronin, Beirne or Farrell and end up becoming an international whilst playing for another province after being overlooked by his own.
All in all, it is great to see Irish players playing professional rugby, and making a mark elsewhere.
Just because a post upsets you, that doesn’t mean that it is wrong. People have different views in all aspects of life, this is a key ingredient to an interesting conversation.