"It won't happen overnight" - Clayton McMillan: Munster coach driven to get more players in Ireland squad as Leinster clash beckons

Munster officially contribute four players to the selected squad, with British & Irish Lions player of the series Tadhg Beirne joined by Jack Crowley, Tom Ahern and Craig Casey. However, adding extra bounce into Munster's step is Farrell's decision to include break-out lock Edwin Edogbo and back row Brian Gleeson upon the trip across the pond, as two injury covering options.

Munster head up to Dublin this weekend for a hotly anticipated match with Leinster, with the iconic Croke Park set to provide the back-drop once again for his annual clash of provinces. Munster head coach Clayton McMillan revealed how his long-term goal is to get more of his players involved in the national set-up, as his side prepares to face the defending URC champions in their own back-yard.

"I've come into this job with my eyes wide open." McMillan said in a Munster press conference. "I was aware of the international talent that was leaving, the likes of Peter O'Mahony, those guys that were leaving, and the relatively young squad that was left here. So, I'm not under illusions as to what I was walking into, but what I've encountered is a highly motivated group of young men who I think have a huge ceiling that we're nowhere near.

"What really excites me is where we can get to. Part of my motivation for being here is around ensuring that we do change our fortunes, around getting more players in the national side, because there's a lot of flow on positives that come from that. It won't happen overnight, it only comes through hard work and grit and determination, and the selection on the weekend brings into stark reality the gulf that exists between Leinster and the other [Irish] teams.

"You won't hear me complaining about it. You won't hear me making excuses for anything. We've just got to roll up our sleeves and be better in a number of different areas to help bring that change to fruition."

With six total Munster players on the plane headed 'stateside', McMillan focused upon the positives as his young talents are getting their dutiful recognition. Narrowing the scope specifically upon Gleeson and Edogbo, McMillan revealed his delight at seeing the two forwards earn their place, as the Munster coach urged his break-through talents to push the established Leinster stars for a place in Farrell's squad.

"I'm stoked for all of our guys that are going. Those two in particular was a bit of a surprise, to hear their name read out. I would just expect that they go there with their eyes and ears wide open and really embrace the experience, learn from seasoned professionals and see what it takes to operate at that level of the game. I also would challenge them not to go there and be content."

Tadhg Beirne, Jack Crowley and Craig Casey are three called-up Munster players that are at different stages of on-field form. Beirne is set for his first match of the season this weekend, following an extended stand-down period after an iron-man effort throughout the British & Irish Lions tour.

Jack Crowley hit his stride a fortnight ago with a Player of the Match performance against Cardiff, yet the fly half was then stood down from the following week's win over Edinburgh. Casey is currently on the side-lines on the mend from a hamstring injury, yet Andy Farrell backs the halfback to return in time for the clash with New Zealand. McMillan provided some insight into this trio of Munster talents, that are all set to land in the Windy City early next week.

"We're fully aware of the challenge that's ahead of us, and we've pumped for a bit of experience. It's great to have Tadhg [Beirne] back in and leading the team. We've rewarded people that we think have earned the opportunity to go out and play against Leinster at Croke Park. That's what we want when we play these sorts of games."

"He's [Jack Crowley] been fully dialed in and focused on his role here at Munster. Last week he had to sit that out, and that probably didn't sit too well with him either, because he probably felt like he was getting into a bit of a rhythm. We've made very little of the fact that there's two quality players going against each other [Crowley and Sam Prendergast].

"Reality is that both of their fortunes have been dictated by the nine blokes that are in front of them. They do a good job. The guy in the number 10 Jersey usually gets an armchair ride, and that's what we'll be needing to do."

"No plan to keep him [Casey] here. He's back at training. We've been having to keep him on a tight leash. Actually, I think he's dead keen to go. He's got the international stuff coming up, and it's the priority for him for now, but it's tracking along."

However, one man who has not yet received the call from Andy Farrell is Munster prop Michael Milne. The loose-head started of his season with a stunning effort against Edinburgh, as he bagged himself a brace of tries in the last-ditch win over the Scottish side in Round 3. McMillan believes that Milne's time will come, with non-selection from Andy Farrell plans providing a motivating factor for the 25-year-old.

"I thought he was one of our better performers last week." McMillan said. "He was good at scrum time, and another one who's dynamic around the field, at any level of the game, but at international level, your set piece still is priority. You've seen an evolution of guys that do everything, that don't just scrum, they lift, they run, they carry, they're multi skilled. I think he's one of those guys. There'll be disappointment."

"We get a real opportunity against virtually the national side this week [for Milne] to go, 'I'm capable of operating at this level'. So no better fixture [for Milne]."

"It's important to just let them feel that disappointment, digest it, just have the appropriate time to sit down with them and have a conversation. Non selection is clearly an indication that the [Ireland] coaches aren't seeing what they need to see at the moment. So, keep turning up and striving to be better. Let your performance speak for itself."

Wrapping up the team news, McMillan provided an injury update to his Munster wing Calvin Nash. The flyer was put through the wringer upon his returning match for his province, as Edinburgh provided quite the physical offensive, with Nash now dealing with a shoulder injury.

"I don't think it's anything serious, but he [Nash] took a decent whack to it last week, and hasn't taken part in much training this week, enough to keep him out of selection. You'd imagine, it was his first game back, so he probably hasn't had the overall runs on the board, either training wise or playing wise to push his way into that squad, but he'll be back."

Looking at the task at hand, McMillan expressed how he wants his Munster side to start this Saturday's Irish derby with a real vigour in the contact zone. McMillan was not best pleased with the slow starts his side had produced so far in the URC season, with the danger of an early Leinster runaway on the cards should Munster struggle to get off the mark from a physicality perspective.

"The start for one. We can't come out of there and sit on our heels, and wait to feel what a quality Leinster side looks and feels like. If we do that, then we'll get run over. So, we've got to come out of the blocks. We've got to be physical, we've got to be accurate, we've got to be disciplined.

"Before I'd even landed in in Ireland, Leinster are a team that was admired around the globe for the style of rugby that they play and the quality of players that they have. You know what you're getting yourself in for, and you certainly can't afford to give them many opportunities. Make them work for everything, and if you can do that for long enough, you give yourself a chance."