Munster head coach Graham Rowntree has strongly rejected the idea that he and his former captain Peter O'Mahony fell out last season.
O’Mahony’s decision to stand down as Munster skipper after ten years last November sparked rumours that the pair's relationship had strained, and those rumours continued to hang around in early 2024 before the flanker’s prolonged contract talks were eventually resolved when he signed a new one-year deal in April.
Rowntree yesterday confirmed Tadhg Beirne as his official Munster captain for the season, with the Ireland international having done so on an interim basis for much of last season.
In a lengthy discussion with the media ahead of the new BKT United Rugby Championship season, Rowntree was keen to set the record straight around his relationship with O’Mahony.
"What was the word used? Innuendos. Innuendos around Peter O’Mahony. It’s not easy," he said.
"And by the way, on that, we didn’t fall out. I didn’t raise my voice once.
"I raise my voice a lot in various contexts but I’ve never raised my voice in any contract negotiations. It just took a long time. It’s complicated, that scenario was complicated, but we got to a greater agreement."
Beirne’s [below] appointment as captain came as little surprise, with the Kildare man becoming the province’s eighth permanent men’s captain of the professional era, following on from Pat Murray, Mick Galwey, Jim Williams, Anthony Foley, Paul O’Connell, Doug Howlett and most recently O’Mahony.
"He is world-class, world-class. That's a big one for a captain, I think, he's got to be up there with one of your best players," Rowntree added of his new captain.
"He's got an aura about him, the way he plays the game. He's good for the group, he's a giver as well. He likes pulling along the group standard-wise. He's easygoing, a laidback dude as well, he does it his own way.
"We have a strong leadership group to help him along with things but there were some good candidates. I spoke to a few guys the night before I announced it.
"There are a few strong candidates within our group who could do the job, who I think probably will do the job eventually and particularly when Tadhg is not here, not available on international duty or whatever."
One big player who is in line to feature on Saturday is Jean Kleyn (below). The second row missed all but one game of last season due to a long-term eye injury.
"He is very important to the group, the work he does, the minutes he plays, the numbers he punches on the field, the rucks he hits.
"He has big ballast in terms of the second row and his game has really come on with Mike [attack coach Mike Prendergast] coming onboard.
"His softer skills, that little sweep, his handling. He is good for the group.
"We haven't had him since last November in the Aviva, that was his last game. Delighted to have him around," Rowntree added.
Kleyn’s fellow South African Thaakir Abrahams is also in line to feature at Thomond Park for a competitive debut, having started the recent pre-season friendly defeat to Gloucester.
And while the former Lyon and Sharks wing-full back (below) hasn’t been in Limerick long, Rowntree said he was excited to unleash the 25-year-old.
"Do you remember Jason Robinson dancing around people? I remember playing against him and training with him, and wow, seeing him up close and the agility he had. Well, I feel the same with 'Tucky’. That’s his nickname, Thaakir Abrahams
"Just to see him up close, his agility around the field and his movement. He’s quick, high ball skills and another one the lads have really taken under their wing.
"He had visa issues, as a lot of South Africans are going to experience very quickly, coming back to the country, but was working away in 38 degrees in Lyon so I don’t think he minded having visa troubles when the rain was lashing here in August.
"And from what I’m seeing early on I’m excited about him. It’s that cutting edge, that extra gear on the end of a pass that I’m expecting to see wherever we pick him, across the back three."
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