Challenging year ahead for Munster's Gavin Coombes and it could do with starting four days early
Coombes is a cause celebre for the Thomond faithful but there remains just two Ireland caps, only one a start; leaving him a 27 year-old cause celebre trying to replace 26 year-old Caelan Doris.
Andy Farrell has a sanguine view of back-row rugby, very set ideas, and that includes Gavin Coombes.
Munster fans have very set ideas about back-row rugby too, about Gavin Coombes, albeit they seem at 180 degree odds with international management.
Ireland have started Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris at open-side no7 and no8 in 13/16 games since RWC 2023; JVDF and Conan at no7 and no8 twice; and Peter O'Mahony and Doris once.
READ MORE: Leinster v Connacht player ratings: who did well - and who didn't - against their opposite number?
The blindside no6 jersey has been shared between them by Tadhg Beirne and Peter O'Mahony 13 times, Ryan Baird has had it twice and Cormac Izuchukwu once.
Considering Beirne hasn't started in the Munster back-row since November 2022 and O'Mahony's international future looks uncertain, there is cold comfort here for Reds fans who see Gavin Coombes, John Hodnett, Alex Kendellan and tyros Brian Gleeson, Roughan Gleeson as the real deal.
Coombes, in particular, is a cause celebre for the Thomond faithful but there remains just the two caps, only one of them a start, against USA; leaving him a 27 year-old cause celebre trying to replace 26 year-old Caelan Doris.
Yes, of course, Coombes has been a star since debuting in 2018 in the Munster shirt, his muscle is relentless and he is an effective, important try scorer.
If Munster are looking for a first try in a tough game, Coombes is the man, a late try near the whistle, Coombes is the word.
He knows how to stop opposition players too, he is a defensive bulwark and there was that astonishing tally of 34 tackles against Ulster last week.
Were Skibbereen's finest French or South African he would probably have a dozen or more caps and he would certainly be in the wider Ireland squad...
“You know, it's probably something I've had, small bits here and there throughout my whole time coming up - not being selected for certain squads," he says ahead of tomorrow night's game with Leinster in Limerick.
"Recently being left out of Irish squads or even when you're in an Irish squad, you're hoping to get into a matchday squad, and you don't get in. All these little things are challenges, and, you know, luckily, I think I'm quite a resilient person.
“If you're pointing the finger, you're getting three or four fingers pointing back at you. I think it's important to look at yourself and what you can do instead of blaming others."
Yet the very reason Coombes would have made French and Springbok squads is the one holding him back at Ireland as Farrell and Simon Easterby - both back-rows in their time - have a different view of the pack as a unit and the back-row specifically.
France and South Africa want physicality above all, beef on the hoof, and both have a game-plan that includes rest-ups for those nos1-8 and include such as not kick-chasing when they are in midfield, slow walks to lineouts, no need to hurry to rucks, slow rucks, six-two splits on the bench...
Ireland try to speed the game up, everybody kick-chases, races back to defend, looks for ruck speed and aside from the 'crook' created when the second-centre dashes up are not allowed miss tackles.
So, yes, Coombes made 34 tackles against Ulster in a dreadful game of 19th century carry-one-yard rugby as neither side kicked and, line abreast, simply ran into each other endlessly. Those who complain about 'kick-tennis' should watch that appalling slog.
34 tackles? Niall Scannell, overlooked in the November Series in favour of Leinster's fourth-choice hooker, made 35 tackles.
So Munster won against Ulster, just about and against 14 men for a significant period, but that won't have turned Farrell or Easterby's head in relation to Coombes and his GPS stats for metres covered.
To be fair, beating Leinster at Thomond tomorrow might garner more credit and the win over Ulster had definite comforts in the Reds attitude to defending - repelling Ulster from five metres out on eight separate occasions was exceptional.
"Yeah I think our goal line defence and our defence in our own score-zone was definitely something we've pointed out a few months ago that we needed to work on because when you hold them up or when you turn it over there, it's a huge moment in a game.
"It's almost like scoring a try, isn't it? You know, it's five points, seven points and it could be the difference. So, they are huge moments in the game and I think there would've been more celebrating during the night if we kept our discipline prior to those occasions.
"But like I said, they're huge moments in games. Unfortunately, last weekend, I think they had a penalty nearly every time we held them up, so you couldn't really afford to celebrate.
"To be fair Denis Leamy, he put a plan together, and I think you could see the fruits of that labour at the weekend. Everyone bought in and everyone put their body on the line at the weekend, and we had to go to the well at times, well, for most of the game, to be honest.
"I think it was a pretty impressive defensive display from us to keep them out when they had so many chances. We saw the effect of Coddlers (Alex Codling) as well and that maul 'D', they had eight attempts on our own 5m line.
"So, yeah, that gives us huge confidence for this week, but, again, Leinster is a different challenge, and I'm sure they're thinking of different ways they can attack us in there so, yeah, we'll be prepared."
Coombes is hoping not just for a Munster win but a big personal display as he still mulls over not being selected in the matchday squad for the recent Castres game - maybe there isn't just points to prove at international level.
"It's always going to be difficult when you hear that you're not selected, and you know how much European rugby means to this club and how special it is to represent Munster in Europe.
"It's obviously disappointing that I didn't get the chance to play in that and then when you're watching, it's even harder because you have no control. I'm disappointed and we've got huge competition here, so I can't afford to be off my game.
"At the start of the season I probably didn't start the way I wanted to, went to South Africa and wasn't involved, which was a setback and a disappointment and that's probably what lit the fire and then came home and built on it against New Zealand and then against Lions and Stade."
Maybe the change from 2024 to 2025 will see a remake, remodel from a player so many want to see do well.
“To be honest, I'm not fully sure what it was. When you're in the moment, sometimes you don't see it.
"And then when I got that disappointment of not being selected, I had a chance to take a step back and have chats with some lads in the squad and with Cathal Sheridan and the coaches, and figure out what I can work on and how we can work on it.
“I suppose mentally then getting over that disappointment and focusing on what's ahead."
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