Munster Rugby v Cell C Sharks Match Programme
United Rugby Championship Round 1 | In this issue, we get the lowdown on our opposition, the Cell C Sharks, we get to know new Munster player Rowan Osborne and look at a busy calendar of matches for our women’s clubs teams with the start of the All Ireland League this weekend.
United Rugby Championship Round 1 | In this issue, we get the lowdown on our opposition, the Cell C Sharks, we get to know new Munster player Rowan Osborne and look at a busy calendar of matches for our women’s clubs teams with the start of the All Ireland League this weekend.
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around him. We’ve got a saying, we don’t<br />
compete with each other, we share with each<br />
other and he’s been really excellent with all the<br />
lads and the younger lads. If you look at our<br />
squad there’s some incredible competition in<br />
that back three and everybody’s bought in and<br />
so has he. So really good to have him around<br />
the building.”<br />
JACK O’DONOGHUE<br />
On pre-season training.…<br />
“I had a good pre-season. It was tough. The<br />
first two weeks were very much led by the S&C<br />
department. We got a lot of work done early on<br />
and then were able to focus on the rugby for the<br />
latter end of pre-season. It was very beneficial.<br />
The group as a whole has hit the ground running.<br />
You could see that from the performance and<br />
result against Exeter. The group of players that<br />
are here are a young ambitious group and are<br />
certainly hard working. We are looking forward<br />
to kicking off the season now on Saturday.”<br />
period. I see myself as one of the senior players<br />
within the group and being able to give some<br />
words of wisdom to the younger lads when you<br />
are on the field together is hugely beneficial.<br />
I’ve been there in that situation…an arm around<br />
the shoulder or a quiet word during the game<br />
goes a long way.”<br />
On his ambitions to represent Ireland again…<br />
“Absolutely. That’s a major driving factor for<br />
me personally and I think a lot of players in this<br />
squad. You are looking at a World Cup in two<br />
years’ time – to be<br />
in Andy Farrell’s<br />
squad for that is<br />
a huge ambition<br />
for someone like<br />
me anyway going<br />
forward.”<br />
On the younger players coming<br />
through…<br />
“It’s been a seamless transition for<br />
them. They might seem young but<br />
they are certainly a confident group.<br />
Their abilities are incredible, from the<br />
work that they’ve done in the Academy<br />
and the transition through that. Last<br />
year, with Covid, it brought us all<br />
closer together as a group. That has<br />
eased the transition for a lot of them.<br />
They might still be in the Academy or<br />
just moved up to the senior system<br />
but it feels like they’ve been around<br />
certainly for the last two or three years<br />
anyway.”<br />
On his own role in the squad…<br />
“Over the last few years I’ve been building<br />
into more of a leadership role. Unfortunately<br />
losing the likes of CJ, Billy, Tommy…these<br />
lads. They were huge men within our squad<br />
so there is that gap. Over the last<br />
few years there has been a transition<br />
MUNSTER V CELL C SHARKS | 25.09.21 | THOMOND PARK<br />
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