Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
TYLER’S GOT IT ’DAAL TO PLAY FOR WITH REDS
TYLER BLEYENDAAL is centre stage for Munster again and playing with no fear after an horrendous spell on the sidelines.
His problems started even before he moved to the Reds in 2015 with a long-term neck injury.
Quad problems followed for the out-half before another neck setback arrived.
In the meantime, Joey Carbery (below) was signed last summer from Leinster.
But a hamstring injury to the 24-year-old during the Champions Cup quarter-final against Edinburgh pushed Bleyendaal back into the spotlight off the bench.
He will now start at No.10 against Saracens in next Saturday’s semi-final in Coventry.
“I’m not playing with any fear now,” said the talented Kiwi. “It’s fully healed and it would be extremely bad luck for it to be injured again.
“You can’t think about your body out there. You just get stuck in as required and make smart decisions – maybe you don’t have to put your neck into one of those places so I’m learning.
“It was great to be picked on the bench against Edinburgh because there’s been great competition.
“Through the whole European campaign Joey was sometimes playing 80 minutes because he was performing so well.
“To come on before half-time, it was sad to see him leave because he’s been such a great performer but it was just about getting on with my job.”
Whisper it but Bleyendaal could yet push himself into the World
Cup picture.
He took part in a couple of Joe Schmidt’s camps before his second neck injury and said: “I’m well qualified now, it’s about out on the pitch and maybe one day that discussion comes up again. It’s a wee way off.”
Reward of that type would be fitting because it has been a real struggle for the 28-year-old born in Christchurch.
“I’ve had a bit of time off,” he acknowledged. “Munster just showed great patience. Do I feel guilty? You want to be out there, performing. You want to earn your keep but I’ve never slacked off.”
As for Saracens, the favourites to win the Champions Cup, Bleyendaal believes Munster can overcome them if they play their own game.
“They’ve been the benchmark in Europe for nearly a whole decade,” he said. “We’re going to have to do everything well.
“We just have to stick to our DNA and what makes us great. That’s what got us to all those semi-finals.”