Alan Quinlan: Peter O’Mahony ‘frustrated and angry’ after being ‘treated like a pensioner’ by Munster

Ireland great Alan Quinlan has criticised Munster’s treatment of back-row Peter O’Mahony over the past few months.

The 34-year-old is a genuine legend at the Irish province and has played his entire professional career at the side.

However, there were concerns that O’Mahony would depart overseas or even retire at the end of the campaign having not been offered a new deal by the start of February.

Contract fiasco

The IRFU were unwilling to hand him a central contract but, after he was named Ireland captain ahead of the Six Nations, they came to an arrangement.

Munster offered a one-year extension with the governing body paying part of his salary, which the flanker accepted.

That hasn’t been the end of the matter though, according to Quinlan, following rumours of a rift between him and Munster head coach Graham Rowntree.

In the United Rugby Championship quarter-final, the back-rower was replaced after 45 minutes, which has followed a pattern in recent weeks.

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“I don’t like the way Peter O’Mahony’s being treated at the moment in the sense of being taken off early in matches,” Quinlan told Off The Ball.

“He doesn’t look happy, it looks premeditated and I don’t think it’s the right decision.

“We spoke about the impact of Munster’s bench, it’s been really good but he’s coming off after 45 minutes – it was done to me at the end of my career. He’s 34, he’s being treated like a pensioner. I think he deserves a little bit more respect than that.

“Maybe the Munster coaches wouldn’t be happy with me, but it’s the way I feel. It doesn’t look right to me. Particularly last week’s one, he looked frustrated and angry and I think he still has a huge amount to offer.

“He’s not a dynamic 15 carries a game back-rower, he never was, but his influence around the breakdown, his presence, aggression, physicality, lineout work is important.

“I feel, as a player, you’re half thinking I’m coming off. It doesn’t look great.

“Maybe they’re right, maybe they’re vindicated. It was their 10th win at the weekend. It’ll heat up against Glasgow (in the semi-final) at the weekend, there’ll be spice to that one.”

Alleged rift

Quinlan was asked whether he was disappointed about the situation around O’Mahony’s contract or there were other factors at play.

“Just generally,” was his response, before the 49-year-old addressed the rift rumours, adding: “Whether it’s true or not, maybe Graham Rowntree or Peter O’Mahony will clarify that.

“I’m not going to break any trust here by saying they’re the rumours that are out there, I’m sure they’re aware of that, that there was some bit of a breakdown.

“All of that stuff adds to it as well. I remember my last couple of seasons being a bit angry at times.

“You must remember as a player, loyalty and all of that stuff does come into it, and you feel that you should be looked after, but it is a ruthless business.”

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