Ian Costello on Graham Rowntree's departure, selecting Munster team to play the All Blacks and picking new coach

Ian Costello is the man tasked with answering the questions surrounding the sudden departure of Graham Rowntree from Munster.

With his Head of Operations hat on, he is the first person from the organisation to face questions on the gaffer’s exit.

But also, having been appointed Interim Head Coach, he has just raced into the room following a selection meeting where he picked the team to face an All Blacks XV on Saturday.

The Kerry-born Limerickman has a busy schedule this week!

READ MORE: Munster 'crisis' is far deeper than many think - they are on the brink

READ MORE: Munster rugby: The runners and riders in contention to replace Graham Rowntree in Thomond Park hotseat

So, Ian, just why did Munster and Rowntree part company?

“I suppose in terms of what we’re going to comment on, it’s exactly as you read it, mutually agreed between Graham, the IRFU and Munster, and unfortunately we can’t comment any further than that for the respect of process, privacy, etc.

“And there’s obviously been a big reaction and a lot of stuff we’ve had to deal with since, we’ve worked our way through that and toward the weekend as well. It’s a massive change and a massive transition any time your Head Coach leaves, and it’s never going to be a good time.”

Changing coach ahead of a game with the All Blacks is unusual all the same.

“In a strange kind of way, this week, because when you’re dealing with something like this match we obviously had to deal with the match for these few days.

“Having such a big occasion, a special occasion at the end of the week before we go into a break gives us a chance, and gives any sports people a chance to process it, and that’s what we’ve really tried to do.

“We would have been concentrating on New Zealand anyway this week. It is pretty unique and special, but we have really tapped into that, how do we embrace the occasion? How do we make it special? How do we put the lads in a position where they really, really enjoy it?”

The admission Rowntree has been good for Munster comes easily - but the club has to move on and look after itself.

“I think our biggest strength as a club, in my opinion, is our integration, our alignment top to bottom at the moment.

“We made a very conscious decision to go that way a few years ago, and Graham has been a central part of that.

“So no, we’d absolutely be trying to build on that as we would if Graham was here. It’s evolving all the time, and he was a huge supporter of that and that’s where me, him and the likes of Gar Prendergast work really closely together to make sure that goes through the building.

“And to be fair, we’re really well supported by the board and the PGC (the IRFU’s Professional Game Committee).

“Like anything, there will be subtle changes, but this week really is about managing and dealing with what happened, moving towards one game, and we’re just kind of fortunate we’ve got 10 days off, and then we have two and a half weeks before we play a game, which again is a bit unique. We’re trying to block that out in stages.”

This is a stance he is hoping the supporters will understand.

“Well, I think first and foremost, we have so much respect and are so grateful for what the supporters do for us, whether it’s travelling away and we’re going to have a full house here.

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“And we’ve talked about that internally, because we’ve talked about everything. If I’m honest, that would be the approach, name it, talk about it and don’t be afraid to talk about it.

“We left lots of space for that, and one of the big things the lads really wanted to focus on was a performance that the fans could really identify with to show that they were still really united, and to play with a real sense of freedom and passion, and we’ve built the occasion around that.

“So I hope if we get it right, that’s what the fans will see, and they’ll see through the lads performance that they really, really appreciate what they do week in, week out.

“And that’s what we’ve tried to focus on because we had to turn this around really, really quickly, obviously, with two days prep for this game.”

There was some clarity about the new Head Coach though; Munster are not looking for a Director of Rugby.

“It’s not a model that we are going to... I am pretty confident that won’t be the model that we will employ because a head coach has to be responsible for the team.

“And even my role in terms of operations and performance management has to be more strategic because I think sometimes you have a director of rugby, personally, I would feel so attached to the result at the weekend.

“And there’s enough with the head coach and all the other coaches living and dying by that every week, whereas we need somebody in the building that has more of a broad view in terms of short, medium and long-term.

“I think that model, the way we are set up at the moment, is definitely ideal for Munster. I am not saying it’s ideal for every club. It’s Munster’s solution for our context.

“We really believe that. Obviously there has been massive news this week but that hasn’t deviated from what we really believe, and we think that’s the model.”

Costello is frank about his own ambitions - he doesn’t want the Head Coach job.

“I was very very clear before I stepped into this and I communicated that to the players and staff yesterday, because I think it’s important, again around messaging, I said I want to be really transparent from the outside, I will not be doing this.

“I’ll do it for as long as is required and I’ll give it everything I have, I’ll throw every ounce of energy, passion, experience that I have, and I won’t leave a stone unturned, but this is not the best thing for me and it’s not the best thing for Munster Rugby.”

Munster famously beat the All Blacks in 1978 - it would be some feat if they see off their opponents tomorrow.

“Yeah, it’s a bit of a step from when I took over for the Wasps match, although I shouldn’t say anything about Wasps because I love Wasps, obviously being there for three years, but there’s a bit of a difference isn’t there?

“A full Thomond Park, and it’s kind of a pressure and a privilege, isn’t it? Coaching Munster has massive pressure associated, but it’s also an incredible privilege, whether it’s for one game, whether it’s for a month or a season.

“And I’m trying to practise what I preach. I stood up in front of the lads and said, we want freedom, we want to embrace the occasion, we want to enjoy it.”

Munster: Mike Haley; Shay McCarthy, Tom Farrell, Rory Scannell, Diarmuid Kilgallen; Billy Burns, Ethan Coughlan; John Ryan, Diarmuid Barron (C), Stephen Archer; Fineen Wycherley, Tom Ahern; Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes. Replacements: Niall Scannell, Kieran Ryan, Ronan Foxe, Evan O’Connell, Ruadhán Quinn, Paddy Patterson, Tony Butler, Ben O’Connor.

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