'It’s been a really rewarding period over the summer' - Jimmy Duffy
Munster Forwards Coach Jimmy Duffy says his side are looking forward to their season opener against Glasgow after what has been a ‘rewarding summer.’
Munster open their United Rugby Championship against Glasgow Warriors on Saturday evening at Thomond Park, looking to right some of the disappointing wrongs of last season.
Munster were defeated at the quarter-final stage of last season’s URC against the Bulls in Pretoria, losing 45-14 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
The province have recruited former Ulster coach Jimmy Duffy ahead of the season and the Galway native has enjoyed life in Limerick so far.
“It’s been really good. They’re a great bunch and once you throw yourself into the work, you get to know people pretty quickly. They’re a really enthusiastic group and they are really keen to work, both players and staff alike. I’m really enjoying it.
The Red Army’s have benefited from their two recent friendly fixtures against La Rochelle and Leicester Tigers, according to their new Forwards Coach.
“La Rochelle was a good opportunity for players to get to know each other. There was a lot of youth brought over there as well and those lads did very, very well. For us, it’s about trying to build as much experience and depth as possible within the group, connect whilst we’re away.
“We tried some stuff against Leicester then to try and see where we were going so it’s been a really rewarding period over the summer.
“We’ve got some good learning about the playing group that would be more experienced and then the younger crop coming through and how we marry that up.
“You’re never fully happy but there are a lot of green shoots in certain departments and stuff we can really go after in the coming months to hopefully make us better.”
Former Connacht lock Duffy, who played a key role as Assistant Coach in the province’s 2016 PRO12 title win, says he expects a stern test from the 2024 URC champions on Saturday evening in Thomond Park.
“A huge attacking threat, a big maul, a big scrum. They want to come after you, they’ll want to counter attack and they’ll want to have a go from everywhere.
“They will rely on their maul a lot. They get to the latter stages of the Champions Cup and obviously they were league winners a few seasons ago.
“They have a host of internationals in the group, they’re a pretty settled squad. They are very, very good at what they do so we have to be 100% on our game to compete.
With news of Tom Wood’s shoulder injury, due to keep the 20-year-old out until the New Year, Duffy says there is no cause for concern within the province.
“It doesn’t matter what position you’re in. The nature of the game now is that you’re going to have injuries from time to time in a certain area, and you have to deal with them.
“I don’t any club is any different. Any club I’ve ever been with, there’s always been some kind of injury worry around certain positions.
“We’ve got able bodies here and they’re going well in training so we’re not concerned. We’d love to have everybody obviously but the nature of the game is that’s not possible,” the former Western Force coach concluded.