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Graham Rowntree insists no fallout with Peter O'Mahony – report

Munster head coach Graham Rowntree, left, with Peter O’Mahony (Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Munster boss Graham Rowntree has insisted he hasn’t fallen out with Peter O’Mahony, the veteran back-rower who has relinquished the captaincy of the Irish province after 11 seasons. It was last November when it was confirmed that O’Mahony, who first captained Munster in a competitive game on September 3, 2011, at the age of 21 in just his 12th appearance for the province, would give up skippering the team at the end of the 2023/24 season.

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Despite going on to lead Ireland to the Guinness Six Nations title in March, it wasn’t until April 11 when Munster confirmed they had agreed a one-year deal for O’Mahony, who was coming off an IRFU contract, to stay on at the club. Ahead of the new season, which kicks off this Saturday with a home URC fixture versus Connacht, Rowntree has now addressed the speculation that he and the recently turned 35-year-old O’Mahony had a falling out.

Speaking with Irish media at a briefing where Tadhg Beirne was confirmed as the new Munster captain, Rowntree said about the past season: “I’m more experienced, yeah. I have been through some things that I hadn’t, with the injury crisis, players retiring, players coming off national contracts, their negotiations. What was the word used, innuendos? Innuendos around Peter O’Mahony? It’s not easy.

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“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 have 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.”

As for his decision to finally back Beirne to take on the captaincy on a permanent basis, Rowntree added: “I took my time. He did a great job last year, he managed us through most of the season as captain. He is world-class, world-class. If he’s fit, I will be picking him. That is a big one for a captain, he has got to be up there with one of your best players.

Fixture
United Rugby Championship
Munster
12:30
21 Sep 24
Connacht
All Stats and Data

“He has got an aura about him, the way plays the game. He is good for the group, he is a giver as well. He likes pulling along the group standard-wise. He is easy-going, a laid-back dude as well, he does it his own way. As in most clubs and most pro sports, most businesses, you have got a strong leadership group. It won’t be Tadhg doing all the talking.”

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1 Comment
E
Ed the Duck 20 hours ago

So that is ending in tears…nailed on!

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Bull Shark 53 minutes ago
Why Rassie Erasmus should cull some Boks veterans for 2027

I think cull is the wrong word.


I think Rassie and the senior players will be pretty open and honest with each other about their prospects for another World Cup campaign. And, ironically, I don’t think Rassie is thinking as far ahead as 2027 in terms of who is going to go.


There are likely going to be injuries too where players one would assume will be at 2027 won’t feature. Think Marx and Am and 2023.


I think the priority is really having as many players as possible in contention for a spot on the 33 by the time squad selection comes around.


I made this point a while ago, but having double World Cup winners in the setup over the next 3 years is going to be golden for the boks. It’s like having a coach in each position.


Razor was criticized for having too many coaches in his team. Rassie has more than 15 player coaches at his disposal.


I think Siya is being teed up to play the same role Duane did at the 2023 RWC. Invitation to the coaching box this coming weekend included.


I think many of the old guard are playing a role in the team that certainly does not guarantee them a 2027 place but doesn’t hurt their chances at being selected - but they will have to be the no.1 or no. 2 best in that position to be selected at that time. There won’t be any dead weight - whether old or young.


In my mind the strategy would be quite simple. Take everyone who will be over 32 by 2027 and pencil their names in right now in slot number three for their relative position. We know what they can do and they know what they need to do to be in contention for 2027.


Then ask yourself who do we have to take position no.1 and no. 2. Tried and tested or not. Find them and trial them over the next 3 years. Their job is to keep the old guys out. And the old guys job is to help them do just that.


That’s what Rassie has to do and has started well trying 48 players and 11 debutants in year one as the article mentioned (and winning).


I reckon there’ll be another 5-10 new players tried by the end of this year, particularly in November.


2024 ✅

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