HEINEKEN CUP:AS THE dust settled on last week's chastening defeat in Toulon, Paul O'Connell had by yesterday gathered his thoughts sufficiently well enough to expand on his post-match comments that Munster had reached a crossroads.

The words “desire”, “effort” and “work-rate” were reiterated time and time again in an effort to reassure that a lack of appetite was not an issue for the twice-European Champions.

Instead, O’Connell conceded that a more identifiable approach was needed before any corners could be turned, and argued that Munster could bounce back in a way similar to Ireland following their disastrous World Cup bid in 2007.

“As a team, we’re at a crossroads,” stressed the 70-times capped lock forward, included in Declan Kidney’s Ireland squad for the upcoming Six Nations.

“We need to figure what we’re doing in terms of how we’re playing. We’re not putting in the big performances as often as we’d have liked and we need to figure that out and improve what we’re doing.

“Certainly the age profile in the team is older than what it was in the past but I think there’s plenty left in a lot of players.

“Every team has mileage on the clock and players with lots of miles on the clock. But the desire in training is every bit there as it was when I came into the squad, probably more after the way things have gone after the last few years.

“I think we will turn the corner but we just have to stick at it, not lose faith, and not be broken by what people are saying about us.”

O’Connell added: “We had a very disappointing World Cup in 2007 and it didn’t turn around straightaway during the 2008 Six Nations, but by 2009 we had won a Grand Slam. So, (maybe we can do) something similar with Munster. Guys just need to keep working hard and a corner will be turned.”

Part of the blueprint proposed by O’Connell included the worn-out aspiration for improved discipline, though he still appears to be beating himself up over the red card he received in December.

“I made a big error against the Ospreys, and as captain of the squad, to talk about discipline having done that is a bit poor,” he accepted.

He also pointed towards the advances made by recent academy graduates, and backed the likes of Peter O’Mahony and co to lead the way forward.

“These guys are going to be vital to drive the whole thing on and give us an extra impetus.”

But for now, all thoughts are on the present rather than the future, and the challenge presented by London Irish this weekend.

With both teams already out of the Heineken Cup, Munster find themselves in the unusual position of scrapping for rite of passage through to the Amlin Challenge Cup.

“For most of us it’s very unusual,” admits O’Connell, “but the big thing for us is that it’s a home game.

“It’s a home European Cup game at Thomond Park, and a lot of the players feel we owe the supporters a lot and we owe the supporters a big performance. That’s where our motivation will be coming from.”

Having got through 74 minutes of action last Sunday, O’Connell was understandably stiff and sore come Monday morning, but he took a full part in yesterday’s training session and is good to go again this weekend, which should please Kidney.

Elsewhere on the injury front, coach Tony McGahan confirmed Jerry Flannery is still four weeks away from a return to action, despite his inclusion in Ireland’s Six Nations squad.

Marcus Horan, meanwhile, has returned to full-time training, and is expected to tog out for his club side Shannon either this weekend in a friendly against Thomond or the weekend after against Garryowen in the AIL.

McGahan also commented on transfer rumours surrounding upcoming lock Ian Nagle, suggesting all efforts would be made to keep him at the province.

He said: “Ian is certainly a very important part of our plans at this point in time.

“From our perspective we would be very keen to keep him because we think he’s got a very good future in front of him.”