FRISCH IMPETUS
Munster centre looks ideal fit for Ireland in problem position
WHEN MUNSTER announced the signing of Antoine Frisch from Bristol Bears in April of last year, it barely caused a ripple among the fanbase. Behind the scenes, the province believed they had pulled of a major coup in the transfer market, however.
Frisch had undoubted quality. He was also Irish-qualified, by dint of a Dublin-born grandmother, which was another big box ticked for the club and the IRFU. What he didn’t have was much of a profile. He had featured in just 13 games for the English Premiership side and had been lining out for Rouen Normandie in PRO D2, the French second division, prior to that.
This wasn’t a box office signing like Damian de Allende, Jean de Villiers or Rua Tipoki. Frisch was an unknown quantity. Well, to most observes anyway. But the powers-that-be had a good feeling about him. The 26-year-old had barely unpacked his suitcase after landing in Limerick when he got the call to join the Emerging Ireland tour of South Africa, joining the best and brightest young talent across the provinces on a divisive, but worthwhile, development project.
Still, plenty reserved judgement until they saw what this Frenchborn midfielder could deliver on the pitch. There was far more hype and expectation around the impending arrival of former All Blacks midfielder Malakai Fekitoa. Munster’s so-called marquee signing is now lining out for Treviso after a one-season stay in Limerick. Frisch has proved the more worthwhile investment.
From the moment a lovely one-handed Frisch offload put Shane Daly away for a brilliant score against the Springboks at Pairc Uí Chaoimh, it was obvious this unknown quantity had plenty about him. There has been a series of other subtle and effective little contributions from Frisch in the meantime.
Plenty of these low-key signings have come through the doors of the HPC in Limerick and left a few seasons later, barely mapped and spending most of their time on the AIL beat.
Frisch is made of different stuff. He has slotted into Munster’s first team seamlessly, featuring in 19 games in his maiden campaign last season.
‘Tony Fresh’ – as he’s known by his Munster teammates – has fully justified the threeyear deal which landed on the table when he decided to cross the Irish Sea and pursue a new career path. ‘I’m not shying away from the fact that I came here with ambitions to try and play for Ireland,’ he boldly stated in December.
Indeed, there were noises in France a while back that Frisch piqued the interest of Fabien Galthie, who is aware of his dual citizenship.
His loyalties look firmly with Ireland now. A classy, gliding midfielder in the mould of Jeremy Guscott, he is a natural outside centre. He appears utterly comfortable in the No13 channel, a place which is notoriously tough to defend and a place where space in the modern game is at a premium.
He has quietly become a key player in this ever-improving Munster – he is this generation’s Shaun Payne.
He is not afraid of the physical stuff either and boasts a solid defensive skillset. Last night at Thomond Park didn’t lend itself to open, attacking stuff. The likes of Frisch had to roll their sleeves up and get stuck in. He was regularly seen hitting rucks with venom.
Again, it’s the kind of thing which would not draw the attention of fans on the couch. But coaches notice things like that. Andy Farrell is definitely taking note.
As the last of the frontliners rocked up for URC duty this weekend, the Ireland head coach is busy in the background plotting the way forward.
The 2024 Six Nations is not far
I’m not shying away from the fact I came with ambitions to play for Ireland
away and plans are already in place for the first-round clash with Les Bleus under the Friday night lights in Marseille.
Garry Ringrose, fitness permitting, is already pencilled in to start that championship opener at Stade Velodrome. Indeed, he might even get a tap on the shoulder about the captaincy.
Ringrose remains the best No13 in the country, but what does the landscape look like behind him? There are plenty of hard-running, powerful centres around but not many share the same traits as Ringrose. Farrell has some work to do on that depth chart.
Many feel Frisch is the kind of player who can move up that pecking order quickly. It will be interesting to see how he progresses in the new year. He may have been a low-key arrival, but he is making waves and we could be seeing him in a green jersey sooner rather than later.