Crucial we keep winning run alive says Rowntree
PREVIEW... Munster v Zebre Monday. Kick-off 8.15pm, Thomond Park
MUNSTER scrum coach Graham Rowntree has drummed into his troops the significance of keeping their winning run going ahead of facing Zebre at Thomond Park. The three-time PRO14 champions are in the midst of an unbeaten start to the season under Johan van Graan, who has moulded a set-up now thriving from the addition of Stephen Larkham as attack coach and the emergence of academy products such as Ben Healy and Craig Casey.
But their faultless record will not leave the hosts resting on their laurels according to momentum-hunter Rowntree, as they welcome a Zebre outfit beginning to make inroads under Michael Bradley.
“We have got a lot of respect for Zebre,” Rowntree said. “They gave us a bit of a scare three years ago (when Munster won 36-19 in Parma), we were a couple of tries down there. We can’t read into their previous results and we are at home in Thomond Park and we want a big performance.
“We live in the moment. In this season, with the guys that we have got, we are working on growing areas within this team and we have to keep that momentum going.
“It means nothing if we don’t keep it going this season, in my book.
“You can see the devel
opment of the team under what Steve (Larkham) has been doing with the guys, the knowledge and what he is bringing is incredible.
“We have got more young lads ready to come into the team because they have seen other guys come in and take their chances. That is putting pressure on everyone else to step up when they get their opportunity.
“The senior lads are looking behind them thinking ‘crikey, these young lads are coming through’. So it is about driving the performance of the team in the here and now.”
Munster are boosted by the return of flanker Chris Cloete and wing Liam Coombes from their respective neck and hamstring injuries.
As for Zebre, the loss of 14 members of their first team to international duty has left the Italian club relying on the support of clubs from the country’s Top 12 league.
Former Leicester Tigers academy prop Riccardo Brugnara has become the latest player to be granted a permit to play for Zebre on loan from Rugby Rovigo for the rest of the season.