Ian Costello is backing his province's Ireland 'A’ contingent to grasp their chance to impress the Irish management this week.
Eight Munster players have been included in the Ireland ‘A’ squad for this Sunday’s meeting with England ‘A’ at Ashton Gate in Bristol, with the side to be coached by their provincial attack coach Mike Prendergast.
Additionally, back rows Gavin Coombes and John Hodnett have been added to the main Ireland squad ahead of Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations meeting with Wales in Cardiff.
While Hodnett has earned his first call-up to the senior team, Coombes will be back at the Irish rugby high performance centre for the first time since the World Cup training camp in 2023.
The number 8, who won two Ireland caps in the summer of 2021, gave a reminder of his talent on Saturday night at Thomond Park, scoring two tries and making 17 successful carries in the 29-8 win against the Scarlets.
"I think Gavin's playing some the best rugby I've ever seen him play," Munster’s interim head coach said.
Speaking on Saturday night after the BKT United Rugby Championship game, Costello had been under the impression Coombes [below] would be included with Prendergast’s ‘A’ side, and while he may still have some involvement in that game next Sunday, injuries to Caelan Doris, Cormac Izuchukwu and Iain Henderson have seen him promoted to the main panel.
"He's always been a quality player but what he's doing now is moment-on-moment. His physical and mental conditioning at the moment is on such an upward trajectory, he's worked really hard.
"And then the quality moments on the back of that as well, he's well deserving and I'm delighted he's got that opportunity with the ‘A’s, and I'd be surprised if he didn't take that with both hands.
"His game is getting more and more rounded, and he was well supported by a lot of forwards tonight. The pack, in particular, had an excellent game.
"We have a good selection in there [the ‘A’ squad], and that's reflective of how the last couple of months have gone. I think it's a really good opportunity for them to kick on for opportunities to play for the senior squad over the next couple of years," he added.
His team-mate Barron is included in Prendergast’s squad for the game in Bristol, having previously featured for Ireland ‘A’ against a New Zealand Select XV in 2022.
And the hooker, who has also been involved in senior camps, is keen to grasp his chance to impress, especially with the carrot of an Irish summer tour on the horizon.
"It’s an opportunity and I’ll do everything I can to taker it throughout the week training-wise and into the game if I’m involved in it," he said.
"We’ll get stuck in and see how the chips fall.
"There was a bit of nervous energy around whether I would be in it or not; just hoping to be in it more than anything.
"It sounds cliched but the mind was absolutely on this Scarlets game because you want momentum going into something like [Ireland ‘A’]. You don’t want to be disappointed with how you performed the week before."
"It’s really up to you. Things can obviously come into the equation, injury could be down the line, but you have to put your best foot forward and that’s what I will try to do.
"There is a clear indicator that these tours and one-off games matter and are watched with a keen eye."
