‘It’s always good to be more versatile’ – Munster’s Tom Ahern using blindside move to catch the eye again

The Waterford lock was Munster’s next big thing in 2021/’22, coming off the bench against Toulouse in that classic Champions Cup knock-out game and featuring through the knock-outs all season.

Fresh from a starring role alongside Jack Crowley in the curtailed 2020 U-20s campaign, he looked like he had all the attributes to take the next step, but injury intervened last season and he only featured three times all year.

Now, he’s back and looks bigger and better for the experience.

Redeployed on the blindside flank against Leinster and Glasgow, the 23-year-old has been outstanding for Munster.

He barely took a backwards step at the Aviva Stadium and followed that up with a brace of tries last Friday night, a performance so good that Graham Rowntree speculated it’s going to be difficult for Peter O’Mahony to get back in the team when he’s fit for the European clash with Exeter on Sunday week.

Before then, he’s expected to be named to start against Bayonne on Saturday as the URC champions look to get off to a winning start.

“It’s European rugby with Munster and it doesn’t come much bigger than that,” said Ahern. “Especially with what I presume is going to be a packed-out Thomond Park. These are the games you dream of playing in, so hopefully, we’ll see.

“It was a frustrating season last year. I set the goal pre-season that I was going to hit the ground running this pre-season and at the start of the season, so hopefully, I’m doing that.

“Staying injury-free is another help for me. It’s tough (to stay patient), but everybody in the squad has gone through it. We’ve got such a competitive squad, training, everything is so competitive.

“When you’re younger, everybody goes through that small phase of a bit of frustration and wanting to get into the team, but it’s all about being patient, keep working in the background, and eventually, hopefully, it’ll pay off.”

His aggression has been a notable factor in his performances and Ahern says he’s been working hard on developing a streak that doesn’t come naturally to him.

“No, it’s a big work-on for me, that tight work with the carries, the barrels (at the ruck), and stuff like that. We’re getting there, but there’s plenty of work to do,” he explained.

“I’ve very good coaching with (Denis) Leamy and Andy Kyriacou and even ‘Wig’ (Graham Rowntree) himself. I still have a long way to go, I’m just trying to work around that contact skills. It’s getting better but there’s still a good bit to go.”

Before he “shot up by six inches” at 17, Ahern played as a full-back – and his old skills have been given a new lease of life by his positional switch.

On Friday, he scored a brilliant try by rising above Seán Kennedy, who took him out in the air. As he glanced towards the referee, Ahern showed the presence of mind to pick himself up and drive over.

He’s too humble to take the credit, but it was a phenomenal finish.

“It’s come with switching back to No 6,” he says of his more wide-attacking remit.

“‘Prendy’ (Mike Prendergast) gives us a bit more licence to hang out in the channels and obviously come in and help the boys when we can, but the back-row, Nos 6 and 7, are linking in with the backs and you get a bit more space out wide, which is nice.”

He last played at blindside for Waterpark at underage level, so the suggestion from Rowntree came as a surprise before the Leinster game.

“I hadn’t thought about it prior to this whatsoever,” he said. “Wig said it to me earlier last week that we were going to give it a go and see how we get on.

“Luckily enough, there’s plenty of other good experienced back-rows with me, chatting me through all the plays, what to do and what not to do. I’m lucky to have good team-mates who help me out there.

“I can’t complain. It’s always good to be more versatile, so I’m happy enough with that.”

The sour note on Friday was Munster’s repetitive issues at the maul, something Bayonne will surely target on Saturday.

​“We pride ourselves on our maul defence, our scrum and our set-piece. It just wasn’t good enough from us on Friday,” Ahern said. “We’ve got to make a massive improvement in that area. Bayonne have quite a good maul.”