ComeAllWithin.co.uk (CAW): So, how has it been over here for you so far?

Jeremy Staunton (JS): It’s been great, I’ve settled in well so far, the guys are good and I like the area too so I can’t complain. And it’s not just the rugby, everything else outside the rugby makes you happy too, the people are pretty nice, I’m well settled and I’m a lot happier here than I was in Limerick so far, I think I needed the change, I was stuck in a rut and I wasn’t happy at all, and it showed in my performances.

 

CAW: Does it make a big difference having so many Irish lads here already?

JS: Oh definitely, that’s what’s made me settle in so quickly, I knew Gavin, Andy, Simon and Mel already so it does make it a lot easier. Even before I joined I knew I was coming here so I had a word with a few of the boys to see what it was like. I’m here two months now and it’s been great, I’m having a good time.

CAW: It’s no secret that Mark Evans tried to sign you when he first came to Quins, what made you take up his offer this time?

JS: Well I was only nineteen when Mark first got on to me, and in hindsight I probably should have come, but I was young; I was still in college; I would have been coming over to London which is a big place; I didn’t really know anyone over here; I was just entering a junior contract in Munster and I was happy there so it really was a number of different factors. The reason I came over this year was because I was out of contract, I’m a bit older and Mark asked me to come over as outhalf which is my preferred position. It was an easy decision in the end.

 

CAW: I’ve had a look on the Munster fans web sites and looking back over last season you seemed to get a lot of grief from a lot of the fans, but I understand that you were playing through a number of injuries that the fans didn’t know about, does it annoy you when the fans get on your back?

JS: Well I don’t know if it was me, maybe I’m not a likeable guy but in generally my time at Munster was pretty good but I was always conscious of the criticisms. I obviously had a few bad games but the fans didn’t know half the story,  but that’s not the point. I wasn’t playing well at fullback. Most of the Munster fans were great while I was there but it was the right time for me to go when I did go. I’m happy here so far, I can’t complain and I hope it turns out to be a good decision for me.

 

CAW: Do you have any advice for Burkey over there?

JS: I don’t know, Burkey’s a good guy, I’m sure he’ll be alright.

 

CAW: You can obviously play anywhere from 10 to 15, where do you want to play?

JS: Definitely 10, I always wanted to play there but with the situation at Munster I decided that it was best to play fullback just so I could get some games, but I was never happy there and my heart wasn’t really in it,. Maybe it was OK for a few games but I never had consistency there, I was learning a whole new position and I didn’t like it. I always wanted to get into the outhalf position and I hope that this way I’ll be able to do that.

 

CAW: What’s it like going up against a friend like Andy Dunne?

JS: It’s fine, we’ve been against each other the whole way up and we are actually living together so it’s fine. Andy’s a great guy and we’re good mates so it’s fine. If you get a chance on the pitch you just have to take it, that’s sport.

 

CAW: And what about Adrian Jarvis, have you seen much of him?

JS: He’s a good player, I’ve seen him playing sevens and I’ve seen him in training, he’s got good skills and good speed too. All three of us are going for the same position so it’s going to be good. It’s a long season, Andy was telling me that last year he played more games than Burkey did, through injury or whatever, so you can never say I’m going to play twenty-two games, that’s impossible. The thing is that when you do get a chance to take it.

 

CAW: What’s it going to be like going back to Thormond Park?

JS: I was thinking what’s the chance of drawing Munster first, and lo and behold, a week later it happened. It’s going to be weird to be honest. It’s going to be hard, the record shows that no one beats them there. But we’ve got six or seven tough games in the Premiership first so Munster’s on the back burner for the moment.

 

CAW: A lot of people in the past have spoken about you and Gavin in the same way, both being schoolboy stars etc., Gave came here from Connacht and got into the Ireland side, are you hoping the move will help get back into the Irish side?

JS: Oh it would be great to do what Gavin’s done but I just want to play rugby. The problem with Ireland is that there are so many talented youngsters around and there is so much pressure around and if you have one bad game you might not make it. The crowd can get on top of you and it builds the pressure on you. I think Gavin made a great decision to come over here, he had a good season and he’s got caps now. I’m just hoping to get as many games under my belt as possible and the rest will happen, I’m not worried about what’s going on after Christmas I am just looking at getting my position and getting my game going well at number ten and going from there. When I was at Munster I was in the Ireland training squad but I couldn’t get a place on the pitch for Munster so I was kind of worrying about that instead of the basic stuff. Now I just want to concentrate on the basics and play for Harlequins.

 

CAW: How was your trip over to Belfast?

JS: It was great, we were well looked after

 

CAW: It got a bit feisty against Belfast Harlequins…

JS: That was always going to be the case. They were a physical side and they were up for it and I suppose we weren’t too prepared for that. We came through it well in the second half, they put it up to us in the first half and we only went in 7-3 up. In the second half we pulled away and against Ulster on the Friday night we did well and Luke Sherriff got a great try at the end. It was nice to come away with a win because you rarely win in Ulster. I’ve played there before more than once and it’s a very hard place to go and win, I know it’s only a friendly but even so it was still nice.

CAW: Did Luke have to buy drinks for everyone because of the try he scored?

JS: No. I think a few players ended up buying him a few drinks for it. All the new lads got a bit of a going over, I know that. We had a good night, Friday night in Belfast was a good end to the pre-season tour.

 

CAW: Does the Double Header being against London Irish hold a special significance for you?

JS: Not really, I am new to all this, but I suppose it’s almost like a derby game because they’re only down the road. There is added pressure because both teams want to win the first game of the season. And I’ve never played at Twickenham, there’ll be a big crowd, it’s a big game and it will be nice to win. It should be good.

 

With one of the new lads interviewed it was time to move onto another, Dafydd James, but that’s for another article coming to this site soon…

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