RORY KEANE: Munster having ONLY TWO players in Ireland squad of 36 is humiliating – and now there is only one thing the province can do

Published: 17:32 EDT, 21 October 2026 | Updated: 17:32 EDT, 21 October 2026

Clayton McMillan’s team talk will write itself this week. On Saturday night, Leinster entertain Munster at Aviva Stadium in the fourth round of the URC.

This is a feisty encounter at the best of times. The hosts will be keen to atone for what transpired at Croke Park 12 months ago when Munster cruised to a bonus-point win at GAA HQ.

Yesterday’s Ireland squad selection will add another layer of bitterness, however.

Of the 36 players who have been summoned to international camp in Abbotstown, Leinster, as ever, are bulk suppliers with 17 members of their squad reporting for duty.

Tadhg Beirne is one of only two Munster players in the Ireland squad, and the only frontliner

Munster, meanwhile, got a meagre two call-ups. It’s a sign of the times really. And to add to the humiliation and the thing which should really sting the players in McMillan’s camp is that it wasn’t really a surprise.

After all, only three Munster players made the cut prior to the summer tour of Australia and New Zealand.

Craig Casey and Tadhg Beirne were the only Munster men deemed worthy of Farrell’s attention ahead of the autumn internationals next month.

Injuries have played a part. To a degree. Jack Crowley is sidelined. Ditto, Michael Milne, Edwin Edogbo, Tom Farrell and Calvin Nash.

In truth, Crowley is the only injured player in that group who would be guaranteed a place in Farrell’s squad at the moment.

The only thing Munster’s overlooked players can do is deliver on the pitch. Beginning with Leinster this weekend.

Craig Casey made the squad at scrum-half along with Jamison Gibson-Park and Nathan Doak

Brian Gleeson was unlucky to miss out yesterday. Especially with Caelan Doris and Jack Conan ruled out.

The fact that Farrell opted to include just one specialist No8 in Sean Jansen should rile up the young backrower from Tipperary.

Gleeson, a former Ireland Under 20 star, has caught the eye of the Ireland management in recent times.

He was pencilled in to travel with Farrell’s squad to Chicago last year ahead of the rematch with the All Blacks before a fractured shoulder, sustained in that big win at Croker, derailed that plan. He was part of the wider training group at the tail-end of last season’s Six Nations.

He’s been banging on the door for quite some time. Gleeson needs to kick it down in the coming months.

Brian Gleeson did not make the cut but has the potential to challenge for a place in Ireland’s 23

He has the potential to be challenging Doris, Conan and Jansen for a spot in Farrell’s matchday 23.

We’ve seen glimpses of that potential over the past 12 months. Not enough and not consistently, however. Farrell sees it the same way.

The only way Gleeson can change that narrative is to deliver some blockbuster displays in the weeks and months ahead. Leinster, the back-to-back URC champs, on their home turf would be a good place to start.

The same goes for the likes of Tom Ahern, Sean Edogbo, Charlie O’Shea, Dan Kelly and Ben O’Connor.

Munster aren’t feeling the love from the national selectors of late.

There’s only one way to change it. By delivering consistency on the pitch.

If Ireland suffer more scrum issues next month, Farrell may need to look for fresh options. Jack Aungier, who is turning the page again after stints with Leinster and Connacht, and Kieran Brookes, the veteran Irish-qualified tighthead who arrived from Perpignan in the summer, have made strong starts to their careers at Thomond Park.

Ben O’Donovan, Evan O’Connell and Shay McCarthy are other players who could have the right stuff at Test level.

Right now, Farrell and his coaching team don’t feel that way. Again, it’s no shock. Munster’s myriad issues, on and off the field, have come at a cost when it comes to Ireland recognition.

The great Anthony Foley, who was honoured on the 10-year anniversary of his death at Páirc Uí Chaoimh last weekend, had a great saying about Munster: ’We’re better when we’re bitter.’

The province have plenty of fuel for the emotional fire now. Delivering a big display against Leinster would be a good start.

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