Alex Wootten on POM “He’s a Munster man through and through so I’m sure he won’t go too easy”

Munster’s top try scorer Alex Wootton has impressed at the Irish province so far, this season as the 23-year-old looks to make his mark at Thomond Park.

It’s vital for the progression of young stars such as Wootton to be surrounded by, and learn from experienced veterans as they attempt to find their way in the professional game.

You would be hard pressed to find a better role model to an aspiring pro than Munster captain Peter O’Mahony, who is now being linked with a move away from the province.

Wootton has stressed how much of an influence the Cork man has on the dressing room and doesn’t think the back row forward would take leaving his beloved club lightly.

“He’s a big leader for Munster. It would be a massive loss but he’s a Munster man through and through so I’m sure he won’t go too easy”

“He’s the sort of person who you’d look up to. For younger guys he helps you come through the system. He does a lot of work behind the scenes so for Munster it would be a massive blow. I’m sure he won’t leave the club on easy terms”

The flying winger has also spoken about his first impressions of new head coach Johann van Graan.

“He came over for the Racing game and he saw what we were doing for that week so there’s been a transition period there where he’s learned a lot about what we’re doing here and what the ethos of Munster is and he’s brought that to the table. This morning (Tuesday) we had a very good meeting so we’re all on the same page in that regard. It’s been quite smooth to be honest. The performance last weekend, discipline let us down but apart from that we’re all pretty clear where we need to go”

This Saturday Munster face into a Pro 14 clash with bottom of the conference Ospreys. The Welsh side have only managed two victories in the competition so far, this season and come into the game off of the back of a 47-6 loss at the hands of top side Glasgow Warriors.

“I think they’re sitting bottom of our conference at the moment. They’re obviously going to be hurting after their loss at the weekend, it was quite a big score. They’ll be hurting and want to put in a performance for their staff and for their supporters travelling. There might be a backlash from that we’ll try and bring that physicality to match theirs and hopefully come out on top”

With Munster’s International contingent returning to action next week, this may be the last chance for some of the province’s younger stars to impress ahead of a busy few months on the European front.

“That’s one of the big things over the past two years. It’s what you can probably realise yourself that competition is huge at the moment in Munster, all over the park. That’s healthy and that’s making us get better week in week out, for me it’s just about putting my best foot forward”