Quinlan backs O'Mahony for Ireland call

Audio

• RTÉ Rugby: Alan Quinlan, Michael Corcoran and Brendan Cole discuss the Heineken Cup, the young players Declan Kidney should select in his next Ireland squad, and the importance of the Ulster Bank League.

by Brendan Cole

Former Ireland and Munster player Alan Quinlan has called on Declan Kidney to freshen up the Ireland team by bringing young talent like Peter O’Mahony in to the next training squad.

Injuries to David Wallace, along with the retirements of Quinlan in May this year and Anthony Foley, meant Munster went into this year's Heineken Cup without any of their iconic back-row trio for the first time.

But 22-year-old O'Mahony has taken up the mantle and been a central figure in the team's unbeaten run in the competition so far this year.

With Ireland and head coach Kidney set to assemble over Christmas ahead of the start of the RBS 6 Nations in February, Quinlan believes O'Mahony should be top of the list of young players up for consideration for a call up. Leinster centre Eoin O’Malley and Ulster scrum-half Paul Marshall are others who have caught the eye.

Speaking to RTÉ Sport, Quinlan said: "I think Peter O’Mahony’s form has been fantastic. He is a guy who I have seen first hand in training over the last number years and he has a very impressive attitude to the game – always willing to listen and learn. He has the natural skillset and attributes to become a great player.

"We must remember that to step up and play in the Heineken – at that level – and to be a standout player is a huge achievement for a young guy like that."

He added: "I have been very impressed also with Eoin O’Malley for Leinster. He has been fantastic and is a guy who excites with ball in hand, (and) Paul Marshall has been in and around the Ulster team for a couple of years but he has really stepped up this year and showed a lot of form."

"It is a great opportunity now with the World Cup gone for Declan Kidney and his coaching staff to call in some of these young guys, give them a little bit of a taste of what it is like to be around the top players in Ireland and make a few changes."

O'Mahony is not the only success story at Munster. Since Anthony Foley took over from Laurie Fisher as forwards coach, the pack has impressed. The former number eight's playing record - he is still the province's top Heineken Cup try-scorer with 23 - is important, but his consultative style has also been a key factor.

Quinlan said: "The feedback from the players is nothing but respect. They love him being around the team. He gives guys responsibility and that’s important as a coach – that you give responsibility to the players to come up with new ideas as well. He works with them."

"The way he speaks and the respect he has gained over the years means they want to go out as a group of forwards and do it for him as well and instil his values into their game."

Quinlan has worked as a pundit since retiring six months ago, and he is also involved with the Ulster Bank Rugby Force programme, which gives volunteers at Ulster Bank League clubs in each of the provinces the chance to win rewards for their team.

Ulster Bank Rugby Force launch

According to Quinlan, the programme is about supporting the grassroots of the game.

"We must not forget that all these rugby players have come from somewhere – they haven’t all come from the schools system.

"In the rural parts of Ireland, all over Ireland, the volunteers who work in the clubs, the people who go out and fundraise and coach the kids on Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday morning are very important to our game. The Rugby Force programme gives them the chance to get something back."

Quinlan himself is a five-time AIL winning player with Shannon, having started playing with Tipperary club Clanwilliam before moving to Limerick in 1995.

He added: "Having played so long with Shannon and having so much success in my early days, I’m very thankful to the All-Ireland League. It gave me the chance to go on and play with Munster and Ireland."

Alan Quinlan is an Ulster Bank Rugby Force Ambassador.

Listen to the full RTÉ Rugby podcast with Alan Quinlan, Michael Corcoran and Brendan Cole, including discussion of the Heineken Cup, Quinlan's take on the other up-and-coming stars at Munster and other provinces, and the importance of the Ulster Bank League to the Irish game.