Doug Howlett looks forward to league start
2nd Sep - 2010
Doug: hoping to add to his ten tries
AOIFE DANAGHER talks to Doug Howlett as Munster prepare to break new Magners League ground:
Dougie Howlett, who is now in his third season with Munster, has spoken of the excitement within the squad as they face into a new season.
“Having done the hard work in the pre-season I am excited about getting tucked into some Magners League games."
Munster have been in this competition since it began in August 2001, but this year sees the introduction of two Italian sides, Aironi and Heineken Cup regulars Benetton Trevisio.
Aironi Rugby, which translates as Heron in English, come to Cork this Saturday with a squad that includes players from Italian clubs Viadana, Rugby Parma, Gran Parma, Colorno, Noceto, Reggio Emilia, Modena and Mantova.
"The addition of these sides to the competition will be extremely beneficial for Italian Rugby," said the All Blacks all-time record try scorer. “For the game itself it is a good thing and it will improve the standard of the Italian rugby players, so they can push forward.
"I think it is great that they are in the league and I know it will be brilliant for the competition. It will be really good for Italian rugby going forward in terms of strengthening up their national team. I think their league up to now involved the same two teams fighting it out for honours each season and now they can play competitive matches week in, week out. They have done an incredible job on recruiting some great players. We know in the first match on Saturday we will be coming up against Nick Williams who played here for a bit. We know how confrontational he is. We also know how he would want to put in a big performance.
"It is a bit of a disadvantage not having video footage of them for the last few years."
Speaking to press agency Reuters, Aironi coach Franco Bernini said: “We are excited for the first match. It's a new project. It's not about just being there. We want to play good rugby and entertain.
"The table doesn't interest me a lot because if you play well and entertain people and take controlled risks then results will come.
"Some British bookmakers have said we'll be 10th or 11th out of 12. They are wrong."
Saturday's game in Musgrave Park kicks off at 7.30 p.m and is being shown live on RTE 2.
Dougie Howlett, who is now in his third season with Munster, has spoken of the excitement within the squad as they face into a new season.
“Having done the hard work in the pre-season I am excited about getting tucked into some Magners League games."
Munster have been in this competition since it began in August 2001, but this year sees the introduction of two Italian sides, Aironi and Heineken Cup regulars Benetton Trevisio.
Aironi Rugby, which translates as Heron in English, come to Cork this Saturday with a squad that includes players from Italian clubs Viadana, Rugby Parma, Gran Parma, Colorno, Noceto, Reggio Emilia, Modena and Mantova.
"The addition of these sides to the competition will be extremely beneficial for Italian Rugby," said the All Blacks all-time record try scorer. “For the game itself it is a good thing and it will improve the standard of the Italian rugby players, so they can push forward.
"I think it is great that they are in the league and I know it will be brilliant for the competition. It will be really good for Italian rugby going forward in terms of strengthening up their national team. I think their league up to now involved the same two teams fighting it out for honours each season and now they can play competitive matches week in, week out. They have done an incredible job on recruiting some great players. We know in the first match on Saturday we will be coming up against Nick Williams who played here for a bit. We know how confrontational he is. We also know how he would want to put in a big performance.
"It is a bit of a disadvantage not having video footage of them for the last few years."
Speaking to press agency Reuters, Aironi coach Franco Bernini said: “We are excited for the first match. It's a new project. It's not about just being there. We want to play good rugby and entertain.
"The table doesn't interest me a lot because if you play well and entertain people and take controlled risks then results will come.
"Some British bookmakers have said we'll be 10th or 11th out of 12. They are wrong."
Saturday's game in Musgrave Park kicks off at 7.30 p.m and is being shown live on RTE 2.
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