Niall Scannell says it's hard to get frustrated at Munster's managerial merry-go-round with so many factors involved in the various changes at the club.
Former Munster players Keith Earls and, more recently, Conor Murray wrote about their frustrations with constant changes to the coaching tickets.
Including interim head coach Ian Costello, Scannell, who is in line for his 200th Munster cap against Scarlets in Saturday's BKT United Rugby Championship opener, has played under seven bosses since making his debut in 2013.
With New Zealander Clayton McMillan now at the helm, the 33-year-old was asked what he made of former Ireland scrum-half Murray's recently released book and if he shared the disappointment about so many switches.
"I've been here since Rob Penney was here, so I've certainly had a lot of head coaches," said Scannell, who won the last of his 20 Ireland caps in 2019.
"It's hard to be frustrated really because when you look at the circumstances of a lot of them leaving...Rob went to Japan, Axel [Foley] passed away, Rassie [Erasmus] came in and left, Johan [van Graan] came in and extended his contract and then went to Bath.
"We had a mutual agreement with Graham [Rowntree] last year and now we've got Clayton.
"It's not like soccer manager stuff where they are chopping and changing at a whim, it's just how the circumstances have played out.
"It's been a variety of reasons we've changed coaches so it's hard to be frustrated.
"Clayton is here now and trying to implement his own style of game. We're looking forward to seeing how far we can take it."
When he next steps onto the pitch, Scannell will become the 17th player to reach the 200-cap mark with the province, an illustrious list that includes younger brother Rory.
The Cork man made his debut against Saturday's opponents in 2013 and has scored 23 tries and won the URC in 2023.
The front row forward signed a one-year extension last February.
"We haven't got there yet, I'm still anxiously awaiting selection, hopefully it happens," he said with a smile when speaking to RTÉ Sport on Monday afternoon.
"Look, it was great to see Rory get his before he left at the end of last season, so I suppose getting beaten to it by your younger brother is a little frustrating but it feels like it's been a while coming but I'm really proud to have gotten there.
"More so than other weeks I've probably had a look back at the journey and the ups and downs.
"The early part of my career, for a few years there I thought I wouldn't get one and then I was on two for about a year and you just don't know how it's going to pan out.
"You keep grinding away and it's great when you reflect back.
"At this stage I've played so many great games for Munster, I've so many memories, made so many friends out of it so it is nice to reflect on.
"Saying that it would be made very special if we could go over to Scarlets and get a win on Saturday.
"My 100th cap was one to forget so I'm eager for that not to happen again.
"We played Racing in the La Defence Arena in the Champions Cup and it didn't go great for us unfortunately.
"I'm hoping that Saturday can be a bit more of an occasion."
Munster yesterday confirmed that Ireland forward Tadhg Beirne will remain as captain for the coming season.
The British and Irish Lions player of the series against Australia is expected to return to action for the round-four meeting with Leinster at Croke Park.
The 33-year-old will integrate back into what Scannell describes as an "interesting" new regime, if the pre-season, which included boxing, hill runs, swimming, rowing and 10-pin bowling, is anything to go by.
"There has been enough different to make it interesting," he said of the new influx, which includes McMillan and fellow Kiwis Brad Mayo (head of athletic performance) and Martyn Vercoe (team manager).
"Particularly for more senior players like myself, that bit of difference, that new twist has been great.
"In terms of the rugby, he's blended in really well with what we've been doing and he's adding his own little bits all the time.
"It hasn't been one fell swoop of change so we are hoping to bring that consistency in where we've been building our game in the last few seasons.
"Hopefully we can kick it on to new levels in various aspects.
"It's been a really interesting pre-season, I'm not going to lie to you.
"It's been a long slog but I think they've got a great mix of the physical and the amount of rugby they've got through.
"We feel like we're in a really good place going to Saturday."
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