Jack O’Donoghue describes night of high emotion for Munster Rugby
‘For me personally, it was very emotional,’ said Jack O’Donoghue, who came on as a second half substitute Saturday night and was in the squad a decade ago
THE tributes to the late Anthony Foley were a big part of the occasion at SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh as Munster battled to victory in their opening European Champions Cup clash, defeating Top 14 side Racing.
On a night that was as much about reflection as setting up the season ahead, the Munster players rounded off the night with their own tribute to their former coach, and club legend.
As the crowd of 24,906 had mostly left the Leeside stadium, the Munster players gathered in a huddle in the middle of the pitch and gave a rendition of Stand Up And Fight - just like the class of 2016 did when they defeated the Glasgow Warriors the day after Foley’s funeral.
"For me personally, it was very emotional", said Jack O’Donoghue, who came on as a second half substitute Saturday night and was in the squad a decade ago.
"I stood in that circle 10 years ago as a young fella just coming through.
"I was asked after the game what Axel meant to me and he gave me my first opportunity. He put time and effort into me and sitting down as an academy player, watching videos, watching training and teaching me the little intricate bits of the game.
"To be 10 years on and to still be in that circle, it was very emotional for me because it means a hell of a lot to me.
"It means a hell of a lot to still be in this group and to still play. Putting in a result and getting a result like that, it meant a lot."
Speaking after the game, current head coach Clayton McMillan explained how the legacy of Foley lives on in Munster Rugby.
"I didn't personally know the man, but you actually feel like you know him through the constant mentioning and presence of his name,” the New Zealander said. “That's been really good for me and the other guys that are not necessarily from Munster but want to understand him and the legacy of Munster.”
McMillan praised his squad for how they handled a difficult week, with other off-field obstacles thrown at them.
"I thought the players managed the week really well. We had some disruptions. We had one day in at UL, a normal training base. They had a big (EU) function there with a whole lot of dignitaries. We weren't able to go to our own base. We adapted. We changed up the week.
"That, along with everything going on with the memorial around Axel meant it was a different week, but I thought they showed a huge amount of professionalism and just kept their emotions in check."
European action goes on the back-burner now with the second round not until mid-December. However, United Rugby Championship (URC) comes back into full swing with a clash against rivals Leinster coming up on Saturday at the Aviva Stadium.
After letting a big lead slip against Ulster in the last league clash, McMillan’s side will take great confidence in how they withstood a Racing fightback in Cork.