Andrew Smith wants to establish himself as a regular starter for MunsterMunster’s Dave Kilcoyne during squad training ahead of their Champions Cup game against Sale SharksMunster’s Paul O’Connell during squad training ahead of their Champions Cup game against Sale Sharks
SOMEBODY needs to warn Andrew Smith that winter is coming.
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As we sit down after training in Limerick, the slowly dipping sun hints at the anticipatory delights of a Wednesday off work for Munster’s newest Aussie recruit.
“Cork is really appealing to me at the moment,” says the 29-year-old from the golden beaches of Sydney. “It’s not too far away, there are some nice beaches. It will be nice to go for a swim, take your mind off rugby for a bit. Maybe some golf and then family time in the afternoon.”
You remind him of the impending lengthy darkness freighted by the imminent changing of the clocks and he bristles a tad.
“I haven’t really thought about December, but the weather is holding up now, isn’t it?” he asks nervously. “It’s in the back of my mind, though.”
This move is more about a culture change than a climate change for the former Brumbie.
If he is as nervous as some of the supporters may be at what they perceive to be the latest in a series of underwhelming overseas signings, far from the days of Doug Howlett and Christian Cullen, then he is not showing it.
The midfielder is only on a short-term deal, an indication of both his advancing age and a hint that, globally, his name wasn’t exactly on the radar of many of the leading clubs.
Munster need to cut their cloth to measure, though; early evidence suggests that, for impact, Smith may resemble more a Trevor Halstead (admittedly a No 12) more than a Gary Connolly. Time will tell.
Although brought up in Sydney, he spent the past six years of his career in Canberra and, while a series of injuries didn’t help, he saw his progress stymied by Wallaby stars such as Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Lealiifano and Pat McCabe.
When Laurie Fisher, Munster’s oft-maligned erstwhile forwards coach, suggested a move north, the Irish province seemed to be a snug fit.
“I had been based in Canberra for six years and have always had the desire to go overseas and experience a different culture,” he explains.
“I just felt it was the right time to start a new chapter in my life and play rugby somewhere else. And when Munster came up as an opportunity, I had to grab it.
“There were a lot of young guys coming through in the Australian midfield and beginning to establish themselves so it was probably the right time for me.
“Munster have a massive reputation back home and they’re known all over the world. Laurie Fisher told me what it was like inside the club as well.
“He raved about the time he had here and what a great club it was, the passion of the supporters. He put in a really good word and told me some great things about the club which made it feel like a strong option for me.
“But I’d definitely heard about Munster before that, it is one of those clubs that is respected and renowned worldwide as being a really strong club.
Positive
“I was just looking for another opportunity and when management came back to me and said Munster were interested, as soon as I heard that, that was a really positive step for me.
“I was excited to join the club, so the whole thing arrived along pretty quickly from there.
“Ultimately the team goal is to win the Heineken Cup and win trophies. We want to win the Pro12 as well. Individually, I just want to establish myself as a regular starter in the team.
“I have a way I want to play. I want to be physical and I have certain goals in the way I want to play in attack and defence that will improve me as a player and within the team.”
If it is a punt for Munster, the same applies to Smith, who had to uproot wife Bianca and his one-year-old boy, Harrison – “the jet-lag knocked the poor fella out for a week, he didn’t know where he was.”
The Munster environment has embraced him, though; he hasn’t been fully initiated and admits to struggling to follow the often cutting local banter of some of his colleagues.
“I’ve had it pretty easy with the banter. The humour is a bit different. You get used to it. Sometimes you don’t understand what’s going on with the jokes.”
He dabbled in cricket at school in Lindfield but rugby was his passion.
“I was pretty handy at both but I always made the representative teams as a rugby player so when the decision came, it was an easy call to make,” he says.
He might have arrived as a back-row forward if fate had divined it.
“I went to the back-row when we had a few injuries, and it might have been where I established myself – I liked it there but when the spots became available, I moved back.”
Touching 6ft 5ins and weighing 104kg, this centre’s strength remains an impressive asset, while the jinking memories of his time on the wing provide him with a deceptively sharp step in crowded midfield areas.
“Smithy is really coming on within the team,” points out Simon Zebo, an early beneficiary this season of Smith’s distribution, against Zebre. “He understands the way we play – he’s said to us that the Brumbies would have had a similar philosophy in how they play, so he has fitted in very easily.
“He’s a great ball player. He’s getting some lovely touches in and he’s only going to get better and better.”
For his part, Smith is excited about a back-line which, even with Tyler Bleyendaal and Keith Earls sidelined, still retains a threat in his eyes.
“There’s a lot of talent in the back-line, a lot of guys have the X-factor, guys like Simon. And there’s guys fighting for places so you can’t take it easy or otherwise someone will come in and snap up your spot,” he says. “We’re working very hard to get every individual to contribute to the team.”
He was blown away by his experience against Leinster – “the biggest game I ever played” – sometimes literally, as when he was bizarrely detailed to field early restarts, which led to some hefty welcoming charges from the blue hordes.
“I’d heard about these experiences. People had told me during the week and I was really looking forward to it and playing in that stadium for the first time. It was probably the best atmosphere I ever played in.
“The rugby was a step up and you really had to be on your game for the full 80 minutes. They were coming at us in the last 20 when we were down men so it was physically tough and it was a huge test for us.”
He can’t wait for a taste of Europe, the definitive demonstration of a Munster player’s aptitude.
“We never had much of it at home, which is a pity,” he says. “But I always watched the finals, with the world’s best players. Now that I’m submerged in this week, it feels really exciting.”
European rugby marks the shortening of the days in the northern hemisphere. Smith dearly wants now to be his winter of content.
Verdict: Munster
Sale – M Haley; T Brady, J Leota, S Tuitupou, T Arscott,; D Cipriani, C Cusiter; EL Roberts, M Jones, V Cobilas; J Mills, M Paterson; M Lund, D Seymour (capt), M Easter. Reps: S Mamukashvilii, R Harrison, A de Marchi, A Ostrikov, J Beaumont, W Cliff, J Ford, M Jennings.
Munster – F Jones; A Conway, A Smith, D Hurley, S Zebo; I Keatley, C Murray; D Kilcoyne, D Casey, S Archer; D Foley, P O’Connell; P O’Mahony (capt), T O’Donnell, CJ Stander. Reps: E Guinazu, J Cronin, BJ Botha, B Holland, R Copeland, D Williams, JJ Hanrahan, G van der Heever.
Ref – Mathieu Reynal (FFR).
Sale Sharks v Munster,
Live, Sky Sports 2, 12.45
Sale v Munster – Guide to the game
Form guide: Sale Sharks: LWLWL; Munster: WWLWW.
Match betting: Sale 2/1 Draw 20/1 Munster 4/11.
Handicap: Sale (+6) 10/11 Draw 20/1 Munster (-6) 10/11.
Key man: Ian Keatley
Munster have been speaking all season about their desire to maintain control of the fooball while playing in the right areas; out-half Keatley will be a key figure in determining this mindset.
Frankie Sheahan spoke this week about recurring fears concerning Keatley’s place-kicking too; a positive day at the office would be a huge boost to both player and squad.
Three things Munster must do
1. Exploit Sale set-piece shambles
Despite hearing yesterday that first-choice Damien Varley will be out for the foreseeable future, prop Dave Kilcoyne dismissed fears that the injury crisis at hooker has been disruptive.
Sale’s lineout was a mess against Northampton Saints last weekend – for that matter, so was their scrum – and the visitors will seek to build their platform upon superiority here.
2. Bully breakdown
Conor Murray is convinced that Munster are nearing their targets in terms of breakdown, an area that will dictate which team today can play the game on their terms. Munster must also beware of a tactic that they have virtually trademarked: Sale are clever at the choke tackle and the collisions will need to be won to obviate the tactic.
3. Make Dan Desperate
Munster have gobbled up better out-halves than Danny Cipriani in a decade and more; put him on his derrière early on and he will seek anonymity.
