Denis Leamy admits he wasn't expecting the call from Munster to come home.
Former Ireland star Leamy, 40, left his role as Leinster's contact skills coach in the summer to become part of his own province's new management set-up under Graham Rowntree as defence coach, a role he has experience of with Ireland's under-30s.
"There was loads to think about," said the Cashel man about the offer to return to Munster. "It wasn't an offer I was really expecting.
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"I was aware that Munster were looking for a new coaching team, I heard nothing for a long, long time so I presumed there was a process going on with other people.
"I was working in a really good environment with Leinster and was very happy in that role. But when the chance came it was a big opportunity to take over a defensive brief, putting your own stamp on that brief, and it was a promotion in effect.
"I thought long and hard about it, and it was the right decision for me. Leinster were very accommodating in allowing me to go back down the road.
"Leo (Cullen) understood where I was coming from in terms of family, and being from Munster, he was very good in allowing that to happen.
"I was very appreciative from all sides - for Munster giving me the offer, it was a huge honour to be given the offer and a massive opportunity for me, one that I'm really enjoying.
"It's very interesting from the point of view of coming back to my home province, relocating from a work point of view, a shorter commute and more time with my family which is really good.
"Just getting to know people again, getting to know the new players and new staff. It's been very exciting, it's been hugely interesting and engaging, you bounce out of bed every morning, and there's loads of work to be done.
"It’s been very good. There’s always been really good young Munster players, that doesn’t change. We’ve been very lucky that we produce an awful lot of good players over the last 25 years or whatever of professional rugby.
“So we’ve always had a good conveyor belt of players and I’ve been very interested to meet these guys and to work alongside them. The way they apply themselves, their hunger for knowledge, their ability to get up and go again, it’s really, really strong.
“So I’ve a lot of hope and I’m really looking forward to building relationships with these young guys because these guys are the future of the province.
"These guys are really good players and they can only get better as well.”
Munster's URC opener against Cardiff at the Arms Park has been moved back from Friday night to Saturday afternoon due to the visit of King Charles to Wales on Friday.
The Reds are looking for a big improvement after two pre-season losses as they try to get up to speed under new management.
"It's a tough challenge, it really is," said Leamy. "Going away from home, going to Wales, Cardiff play very fast, attractive rugby.
"When they get into their style of play they cause a lot of trouble around the pitch. They can hit you up close, out wide, they are a really, really good side.
"We've been together only a number of weeks, that's the reality of it. It's a big game on Saturday, and it's one that we will go after very, very hard.
"We have to be realistic in that it will take a little bit of time to bed in and gel. We'll go all guns blazing but there's a big picture here as well, and whatever the result is on Saturday we move on and get better and better.
"We had huge training numbers, we had 50 on the pitch, we're trying to train at high speeds, and get everyone reps.
"It's difficult at times, it's pretty chaotic, but the idea was to expose as many players as we possibly could to that test against big Premiership sides in London Irish and Gloucester.
"We learned a lot about fellas, we learned both good and bad, we learned a lot about our systems and our attack, and defence, and set-piece, and we got a load of really good feedback. Rather than doing an extra week of training, playing games gives you great feedback."
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