Last week Rob Penney issued a huge vote of confidence to Ian Keatley as he stated that the former Connacht player would begin the season as Munster's first choice fly half. As was widely expected Keatley will for now at least, have unenviable task of filling the void left by Ronan O'Gara.
Penney admitted:
It would be fair to say that Ian’s got the inside running given his performances last year and the growth that he showed.
Keatley has deserved the nod from his coach but it is how he goes about holding onto the jersey that will set the tone for the season ahead.
Having spent three years at Connacht under the watchful eye of Eric Elwood, Keatley's game plan is very reminiscent of that of his former coach. Keatley is a brilliant link player who himself is more than capable of taking on defenders. Comfortable in passing off both sides, his defence is remarkably more assured than the man he has replaced. In his two Heineken Cup pool appearences for Munster last season, Keatley was instrumental in guiding Munster to two crucial bonus point victories at Thomond Park.
A sluggish first half performance against Edinburgh last October was ignited by Keatley grabbing the game by the scruff and dictating those around him. For a player with so little Heineken Cup experience, Keatley put in a fine display and was equally as impressive when he filled in for the suspended O'Gara when Racing Metro came to Limerick in another crunch pool game.
Penney was quick to heap the praise on Keatley ahead of the start of a new season:
His performances this year have shown that he’s stepped up another level again which is wonderful for him, wonderful for the province and hopefully wonderful for Ireland as well.
There are far too many doubters over Keatley's abilities to steer the Munster ship to glory which is in this writer's view far too premature. Like Elwood, Keatley doesn't do anything flash but is an excellent reader of the game. However, like all great out halves, he must develop a ruthless streak.
The Munster ethos has always remained the same; 'You are only minding the jersey until the next person comes along'. In "minding" that jersey you must do everything within your power to hold onto it and that should come across in your attitude both on and off the pitch.
Keatley made an impressive start to the season in Munster's win over Edinburgh. The Dublin native put in an assured performance at fly half and kicked seven points on his way to picking up the man of the match award. One of Keatley's main strengths is his game management. Admittedly this has yet to be tested in a pressure situation with Munster but he showed plenty of bottle in the Emerging Ireland side's last gasp win over host nation, Georgia during the summer.
As the clock ticked into over time, Keatley held his nerve as he slotted two late penalties to hand Ireland victory. A Heineken Cup pressure situation will reach far greater heights but the signs are there that Keatley is more than capable to handling himself in big games. The main problem for Keatley is that JJ Hanrahan is coming hot on his heels for the number 10 shirt. Hanrahan has come up through the ranks at Munster and has already endeared himself to supporters.
Hanrahan came off the bench last Saturday and continued his try scoring run by touching down his third try in as many games. There is a fine line between arrogance and confidence but Keatley's comments after the win over Edinburgh didn't exactly come across like a man who is confident of remaining Munster's first choice.
As far as I'm concerned I've got the nod for the moment but JJ Hanrahan scored three tries in three games and Johnny Holland is learning all the time. The two lads will get their chance.
It is in instances like that Munster supporters would like to see a bit more confidence from the man who Penney has put his fate in. An attitude of 'it's my jersey and the other two lads are going to have do something special to over take me' wouldn't go astray. The fact that Munster were unable to sign a NIQ fly half during the summer (as a result of Gopperth signing for Leinster) meant that Penney's hands were tied. Having sought a special dispensation from the IRFU, their request was flatly denied. Keatley must now prove the doubters wrong in making the number 10 shirt his own.
As it is, Munster have two Irish players who look set to go toe-to-toe for the fly half berth which can only benefit the national side in the long run. Hanrahan continues to impress at every given opportunity prompting Penney to state:
JJ’s going to have the blowtorch on him but the hotter it gets hopefully the better Keats gets to keep JJ at bay.
Munster fans must be patient with Keatley. He certainly has the quality and the capability to lead this new Munster crop to future glories. But he, like his supporters will be only too aware that there is only so long the blowtorch can burn from the bench.
Cian Tracey is a freelance sports journalist currently writing for The Irish Independent, Irish Examiner & the Irish Sun.
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