Andy Farrell released a number of players from his Ireland squad earlier in the week, with a few of the names - notably Gavin Coombes and Jordan Larmour - giving cause for concern.
Does this mean that they will not be involved against Italy, or have they been sent back their provinces for game time ahead of Ireland's Six Nations clash in Rome next Saturday?
Hopefully the latter is true, as Coombes produced yet another headline grabbing, and hat-trick scoring performance, with 15 successful carries and five defenders beaten, as Munster made very easy work of a disastrous Ospreys side.
The papers and Twitter reflected his performance with the Irish Independent and Irish Times writing:
Gavin Coombes sends out a timely reminder to Andy Farrell with an excellent hat-trick
Gavin Coombes sends message to Andy Farrell with hat-trick as Munster run riot against sorry Ospreys
While he has been picked under Farrell, he has yet to be given serious minutes against top opposition, despite being one of the best number eights in Europe for the last couple of seasons.
Should he miss out on selection for Italy, it would seem that he may be heading the way of John Cooney; an outstanding Champions Cup player, whose face, for whatever reason, just doesn't fit.
Gavin Coombes The Star Of The Show As Munster Hammer Ospreys
79 nóim #MUNvOSP@Munsterrugby - 58@ospreys - 3
An tríú úd faighte ag Laoch na hImeartha Gavin Coombes
Gavin Coombes gets a hat trick of trys tonight @IrishRugby @URCOfficial#URC #Rugby pic.twitter.com/A9YemkKSRh— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) February 17, 2023
14 nóim #MUNvOSP@Munsterrugby - 10@ospreys - 3
An chéad úd don oíche faighte ag na Mumhnaigh agus is é Gavin Coombes ar aimsigh an úd.
Munster get the first try of the night as Gavin Coombes breezes past the Ospreys defence
@IrishRugby @URCOfficial#URC #Rugby pic.twitter.com/8n7c6jftrs— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) February 17, 2023
I make it that Gavin Coombes has scored 17 senior tries since he last got an Irish Cap. Head scratcher. https://t.co/mp2Cm7Y29E
— Jim Demps (@jim_demps) February 17, 2023
Some players go a whole career without scoring 3 tries.
Gavin Coombes has 3 hat-tricks in his career already for Munster. Mad.#MUNvOSP #URC— EK Rugby Analysis (@ek_rugby) February 17, 2023
If Coombes isn't called back into camp this week and involved against Italy, you'd really, really have to wonder what's left for him to do to force his way into Farrell's thinking.
— The Loose Head (@TheLooseH) February 17, 2023
I’ve been calling for Coombes to get a shot in the Ireland team for 6/8months now. He has a nose for the try line, if he can translate that to the international stage could be a real weapon for Ireland
— Matt Stevens (@Stiglar5360) February 18, 2023
🎶Woke up this morning, got ourselves a Coombes…🎶 pic.twitter.com/rjdCAuk8PR
— Tim O'Connor (@timoconnorbl) February 17, 2023
READ HERE: Gavin Coombes Reignites Irish Credentials After November Slump, With MOTM Performance For Munster
Coombes shared words after the match, and confirmed what everyone watching this evolving Munster side can see; that the structures being implemented by Munster's new coaching ticket are starting to click.
“We have a good group of guys here so it was easy to come back in, just enjoy rugby and you see the way we played tonight, everyone is enjoying it and everyone is starting to click in the system.
“It was a good performance but we need to kick on again in two weeks’ time against Scarlets.
“We have new coaches, a new way of training and a new way of playing and everyone is buying into it and everyone is getting to grips with the game-plan now, so things are starting to click."
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