The new season can’t come quick enough for Munster.
Just before he joins a batch of online journalists, Billy Holland’s phone pings. He picks it up, grins, scrolls down and emits a laugh.
“The [Munster] lads have caught sight of our photoshoot,” he explains.
Being asked to lie on the pitch and clutch a goal-post. That was always going to earn Holland some slagging.
The versatile forward is needed at Munster more than ever. 31-years-old, able to cover second and back row and with more than 130 appearances for his province, Munster are desperate for his seniority. His passion too. He is one of the shining examples to the next generation.
Rassie Erasmus’ side need every bit of that Munster spirit as they introduce some South African accents to the next generation coming through. That generation is under pressure from the start. Munster are in danger of being cut adrift.
A tough, tough Champions Cup group doesn’t help but Munster must consider themselves fortunate to get there, having leapfrogged Scarlets on the final day of last season. Holland believes that do-or-die finish to 2015/16 will stand to the younger players. He says:
“We were in a situation where if you lose, you’re not in Europe and you shame Munster Rugby. And if you win, you finish sixth and you shame Munster Rugby. It was a real no-win…
“[For the run-in] we had a sold out Musgrave Park and Thomond Park was nearly full. Guys like Johnny Holland and Rory Scannell came through as being really important for us. They came of age in those games. They were outstanding.”
One of the changes implemented for the new season has seen training centralised at University of Limerick and a dozen players relocating up, lock, stock and family, from Cork. The new faces on the coaching staff certainly helps. Holland says:
“With Rassie and Jacques (Nienaber) coming on board and Felix (Jones) coming back in, there’s been a really good buzz around the place which has been really exciting…
“We played Zebre the other night in horrendous conditions, it wasn’t the most enjoyable of pre-season games but we’re all looking forward to getting stuck in to the season.”
First up is Scarlets, away, and Munster will get nothing easy. They never did.
Holland knows all about it. Now is the time for the next generation to take what they need.
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