Archer set to make history with 269th Munster cap
Munster's Stephen Archer. Pic: ©INPHO/Bryan Keane
Andi Kyriacou has a way with words when it comes to Stephen Archer.
Munster’s forwards coach hailed a player “who looks about 50” ahead of last May’s URC semi-final away to Leinster and he delivered that same mix of humour and genuine affection ahead of Saturday’s encounter against the same opposition at the same venue.
“The fella is one of the best. He is incredibly giving with his time to younger players. He is incredibly welcoming to young players and new people into the building. He’s like a Toyota Hilux, isn’t he, with about 400,000 miles on the clock, but it will never break down.
“He’s just a brilliant human to have in the building and [we’re] incredibly lucky to be working with someone like that on a daily basis. And we know it as coaches and as a playing group here as well. We understand what it is to have someone like that in the building.”
Archer has been part of the furniture at Munster for 15 years now, his first appearance for the province coming with a 21-minute cameo against Edinburgh in 2009, and he will become the club’s most capped player of all time when he makes a 269th today.
Last week’s 33 minutes off the bench against the Stormers in Thomond Park brought him level with Donncha O’Callaghan at the top of that chart. Other stalwarts like Peter Stringer, Billy Holland and Ronan O’Gara have been surpassed in the last few campaigns.
The Cork man has turned out for his country in various hues. There was a year with the U20s and runs with the Wolfhounds, Emerging Ireland and two caps at Test level as well but he will be indelibly linked with the red jersey.
Now 35, Archer has played under six head coaches. What was once the Celtic League has changed names five times since he started and his time involved spans the gap between Munster’s Magners League title in 2011 and their URC success last term.
Fifty-one games have come in Europe, there were three outings in the Rainbow Cup and defeats of Australia in 2010 and the Maori All Blacks six years later. An ankle injury deprived him of the full SANZAAR set when the Springbok A side was beaten in Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
Archer was returned to the starting front row for the April regular-season game away to the Stormers. Coincidence or not, that marked the start of their five-match winning run from the back of the peloton to first-past-the-post, and he starts again this evening.
“It’s all with love, yeah,” said Kyriacou of his tongue-in-cheek take.
It’s been earned.
