Big talent in a small package

Size doesn't matter . . . at least not to Peter Stringer. At five foot six inches in height he eschews the typecasting of modern rugby union where gargantuan physiques are an increasingly prized commodity.

The 21-year-old Munster scrum-half smiles at the constant references to his lack of stature, but beneath the quiet self-effacing exterior lies a steely determination that suggests that the second year chemistry student at UCC carries no emotional insecurity.

"If people refer to my size then that's their prerogative," he says. "It doesn't affect as I have known nothing else. I have always been smaller than virtually any other player on the pitch and have learnt to cope with that over the years. "It has never been a hindrance playing against guys who are bigger: tackling does not bother me. I accept my physique and get on with it."

Those who have followed closely Stringer's journey from a six-year-old with Cork Constitution to the Munster senior team are aware that his words carry substance. Brian Hickey coached Stringer at UCC, nurturing a burgeoning talent.

"The main critique that people voiced from the time he joined UCC from school was his size. He's "unlucky" in that he is fresh-faced to boot which inspires all the communion and confirmation jokes from team-mates. He's shy and quiet and willing to take all the slagging, but beneath that exterior you can't mistake his determination.

"You can almost see him smiling as he says `I'll show you', to anyone who doubts his ability to compete. We played Peter as an 18-year-old in the All-Ireland League Division Two behind a light college pack. It was a concern at the time but he more than paid us back.

"We impressed upon the forwards of the need to protect him. He would look after them but they too had a responsibility to him. "It's funny I was watching the Munster cup semi-final and the opposition had targeted him. On one occasion they (the opposition) singled him out and the Shannon pack responded aggressively to a man in his defence.

"Obviously he can be exposed in a head on tackle with bigger men but he still makes the tackle. Any minor shortcomings he makes up for in ability."

Stringer's earliest rugby memory was being ushered to Cork Constitution at six years of age where he continued playing until he attended Presentation Brothers' College, Cork, at 12. "I subbed for a SCT victory and the following year played on another cup winning team," he says.

It was at the august academy that the young Corkman encountered Declan Kidney, then teacher and coach to the senior XV. The current Munster coach would play a pivotal role in Stringer's career. "I learnt a great deal from him and he has always been someone I could turn to for advice," Stringer says.

STRINGER travelled with the Ireland Schools on their all-conquering tour of Australia, the second choice scrum-half behind Blackrock College's Ciaran Scally. He represented Irish Universities and last season helped UCC to win the European Students' Championship.

Injuries to Tom Tierney and Brian O'Meara provided him with the opportunity to make his Munster senior debut last season when coming on as a replacement against Ulster at Musgrave Park. The southern province's next assignment was a European Cup tie against Perpignan in France: Stringer retained his place.

Munster were completely dominated in the forward exchanges, a potentially unnerving and harrowing experience for a young scrum-half. He refused to be daunted, commendably defiant in standing his ground against a rampaging Perpignan eight. He made countless tackles and no matter how hard the collision, never shied away from the physical wear and tear. It was impossible not to notice his character and skill in adversity.

The memory of the Perpignan match remains vivid: "It was my first start for Munster and I had never experienced anything like that. "Nothing in senior rugby prepared me for that day, particularly when you consider that I was playing university rugby. The partisan atmosphere, feeling the presence of the crowd were two abiding memories. I wasn't sure how I would react but it seemed to inspire me.

"It fostered a love of playing in France, one which hopefully won't be diminished by whatever happens today." Stringer played seven times for Munster that season and followed that up by playing for the Ireland Under-21s earlier this year. He missed out on the summer SANZAR tournament in Argentina because of an age restriction (two weeks too old).

It appeared that he would have to bide his time patiently with Munster this season: Tierney having claimed the scrum-half's role with Ireland during the World Cup and O'Meara his deputy. The physical and mental toll on the Garryowen scrum-half and an injury to O'Meara precipitated Stringer's return to the Munster team. He now refuses to relinquish the jersey.

"We are friends even though we are rivals," Stringer says. "I work with Tom and Brian every day, we train together and help each other out. But we work hard to get the most out of individual skills so that we can compete for the (Munster) jersey. You have to become a better player if there is that quality of opposition around."

Stringer relishes a challenge, a trait epitomised in a game in which he faced the then Oxford University captain and former Irish captain, Niall Hogan. "He came to the Mardyke with Oxford and all I heard about before the game was Niall Hogan this and Niall Hogan that. I wanted to see what all this talk was about. Pitting myself against an Irish international was a decent test of the progress I was making.

"We won on the day and I was pleased with my contribution." Hickey watched the match. "He played Niall off the park." Stringer quickly pointed out that Hogan is a player whom he greatly admires, albeit that they have differing styles. A player with whom he would have a greater empathy in playing terms is former Wales and Lions scrumhalf Robert Jones.

"He was someone I looked up to when I was growing up. I admired his quick passing, the speed at which he moved the ball away." Therein lies Stringer's primary asset according to Hickey. He recounts a story involving former Irish scrum-half Michael Bradley.

`ABOUT four years ago I asked Michael to come down and work with the scrum-halves at UCC. Peter was on the under-20's at that stage, but later that season would break into the first team. "I noticed after a while that Peter was standing quietly to one side. I approached Brads and asked him to work with everyone, not just the first team guys.

"He turned to me and said, `there is nothing I can teach that guy about passing.' His qualities are pretty diverse. Even though he is not a physical leader in the Tom Tierney mould, he's very good at bringing his pack into a game. His cover tackling is excellent and from a coaching perspective, he is absolutely fantastic to work with because he listens.

"I think Munster have three excellent scrum-halves and in a national context much will depend on what game the coach wants to play. As far as Stringer is concerned, he has progressed step by step and he has yet to fail a test."

This is all the more laudable when one considers that the young Corkman is under tremendous pressure from two quality rivals, aware that a poor 40 minutes let alone a full match could see him plummet down the pecking order.

Stringer wrote down on a sheet of paper a series of short and long-term goals. The former included trying to get into the Munster side and hold his place. "I'd love to be involved in an Irish side but that is for others to decide. Playing for Munster is the only thing that concerns me and doing that to the best of my ability. I don't want to look any further than today's game."

The UCC student certainly talks the talk and offers pretty compelling evidence that he may soon walk the walk.