FIN’S GOING CAP IN HAND
Wycherley’s eager to keep on progressing
MUNSTER young gun Fineen Wycherley would welcome the new Club World Cup that is being lobbied for by Champions Cup chiefs.
Outgoing EPCR chief executive Simon Halliday yesterday revealed that the organisation that runs the elite European club competitions is pushing for a World Cup every four years that also includes South African sides.
Already the platform has been laid for such a move with the Bulls, Stormers, Sharks and Lions all competing in the new United Rugby Championship this season.
Munster have kicked off their season with home victories over two of t he newcomers — t he Sharks and Stormers and Wycherley, who called in the lineout in both games for the Reds, believes the concept of a World Cup c ompetition i s “interesting”.
The new Ireland cap said: “I haven’t really thought about it too much but it would definitely add a bit of competition.
“And every four years it would be something to look forward to, 100 per cent.”
Wycherley got on for the final 22 minutes of the Summer Series game against the USA.
Poised
But now he faces a tough fight to stay in the Munster team with Jean Kleyn in strong form, RG Synman poised to start games again after his injury problems.
Into the mix comes a third South African-born second row, new signing Jason Jenkins — who can also play in the back row — now that he’s fully fit again and hoping for his debut at the Scarlets on Sunday.
And, lest we forget, Tadhg Beirne still has to return after he was away with the Lions in South Africa.
“Each year you want to build on the year before and lucky enough, the last game of the season was the Irish cap,” said 23-year-old Wycherley.
“Of course you want to build on that, we did a really good pre-season. The new guys coming in have added, you try and pick up things off them.
“Look, I’m just going to try and build on it again this week.
“The competition is massive in that back five. We all have to work really hard.
“Everybody brings their own attributes. It’s all about the team and you keep trying to play and focus on yourself, what you bring to the team and what you are good at — and hopefully you will get selected.”
Munster forwards coach Graham Rowntree believes the squad depth is the strongest since he has come to the province and that it has led to the longest selection meetings among the coaching staff. staff
“There’s no hiding pace for these guys now, because we know the maximum they can achieve in terms of work rate and output,” said Rowntree.
Hard
“I compare them all and they see every Monday morning how hard each other are working.
“Jean ( inset) is fitter now that I’ve ever seen him since I’ve been at the club club. He gets through a huge work rate and just gives us a height in those physical areas around set- piece and breakdown.
“He’s doing well in those numbers, as i s Fin Wycherley — another guy who is working exceptionally hard for us.
“We’ve got some good stocks there, haven’t we? Particularly young guys coming through.
“I’m very, very pleased with the resources we’ve got there in the back-five of our scrum. Selection is hard, believe me.”