Kieran Marmion Interview: ‘You want to win as much as you can in your career - Bristol feels like a good place to do that’
Marmion will be in action for Bristol against an Australia XV
©Bristol Bears
The next 24 hours or so might well be more rugby-centric than usual for Kieran Marmion.
On Friday, the 32-year-old is in action for Bristol Bears when they take on an Australia XV under the lights at Ashton Gate while back in his native Ireland, Andy Farrell’s side will be welcoming New Zealand to Dublin.
The Bears will then renew their rivalry with Bath in the Premiership Rugby Cup on Saturday so a hat-trick of wins may be on Marimon’s mind.
After a pulsating series against world champions South Africa in the summer - which ended all square - Ireland have been gearing up to face the All Blacks as they look to exact their revenge following their quarter-final heartbreak at last year’s World Cup.
Of course, Marmion, who has 28 caps for his country, will not be representing Ireland anytime soon due to player eligibility rules but he feels Andy Farrell’s men are in a good place to topple New Zealand.
“I always watch their games and obviously, I have got a few friends involved there, so I will be watching,” he tells TRU.
“I think their record over the last couple of years is way up there with the best, and seeing the squad that they picked, it is pretty consistent with what they have picked before, so I would expect them to go pretty well again.
“A few big games in there obviously with New Zealand and that, but I expect them to go well.”
Ireland have won three of the past five meetings against the All Blacks, and Marmion will have everything crossed for former clubmates Bundee Aki and Finlay Bealham who he lifted the Pro 12 trophy with back in 2016.
That success, of course, came at Connacht and was masterminded by Marmion’s current boss Pat Lam.
At the start of last season, the scrum-half linked back up with Lam at Bristol and after making history together at Connacht, Marmion hopes silverware isn’t too far away from Ashton Gate.
“I have really enjoyed the new environment at Bristol,” he tells TRU. “I have really enjoyed the new challenge here. Coming from Connacht into this environment here, it is completely different, which is something that I wanted, so I am just loving life here at the moment and really enjoying the rugby.
“I guess as a player you want to win as much as you can in your career, so I thought this was a good opportunity to come over here, test myself in a different league, and hopefully go on and win something else, so he [Lam] was a big part of me coming over.
“I knew who I was working with and kind of what he did for me at Connacht and the success that we got out of him there.”
Success at Bristol for Lam has come in fits and starts. He guided the club to the Championship title in 2018 before making their European dreams come true two years later.
Beating Toulon 32-19 to lift the Challenge Cup was arguably the greatest night in the club’s history and since then, they have flirted with the biggest domestic prize.
Two Premiership semi-final appearances - one in 2021 after finishing first in the regular season - is the closest they have come but perhaps this term, they can add to their trophy collection.
The Bears currently sit third in the Premiership table after four wins from their opening six games and are set to resume their Premiership Cup campaign against rivals Bath this weekend.
The Blue, Black and White occupy top spot in the Premiership at this stage but Bristol are the only side to give Bath a bloody nose this season, after defeating them 36-26 at The Rec last month.
On that occasion, Lam’s troops mixed their immaculate attacking rugby with some staunch defence and Marmion is enjoying the balance across the side.
“I think the way we play is different from other teams, and when it comes off [their attacking brand of rugby], it looks pretty good, and at the moment we are doing a good job of it,” he says.
“We are training it well, and I think we are showing that in games and I think the way we are going with the amount of options we have, it is tough for teams to stop so it is great to play in at the same time.
“There is definitely that belief within the group with what we are doing, and that is transferring onto the pitch.
“The way we are playing, the players we have, there is definitely a great opportunity to go a long way this season.”
Marmion was key to dictating the tempo last time out against Bedford Blues, managing to score a try himself in the 67-19 victory, and he will be looking for a similar display against the Wallabies XV on Friday in the Looseheadz Cup.
The Irish international has flourished in his role at Bristol and he believes Lam’s approach to the scrum-half position is unique, helping to bring the best out of him and fellow No.9 Harry Randall who is currently with the England squad for the Autumn Nations Series.
While Lam has been crucial for Bristol over the past seven years, Marmion believes a key cog in the Bears' machine has also been former Connacht colleague AJ MacGinty.
“It is great to be back playing with him [MacGinty],” Marmion says. “I really enjoy playing with him. He is up there with one of the best 10’s I have linked up with for sure.
“The way he drives the game, the way he drives the environment here, and kind of just the way he plays, you wouldn’t think he is as old as what he is, making breaks every week!”
At 34, MacGinty is still very much a valuable asset for Bristol - as is Marimon - who feels in great shape to attack this campaign with the Bears.
“I’m 32 now, but I feel fitter than ever, better than I did a few years ago, so I probably have a few more years left in me,” he adds. “I am still keen to play on for a few more years.
“I still coach now and then, going back to my old school or to the club. I wouldn’t rule it out [after rugby]. It is something I am interested in, but I haven’t looked too much into it yet as I am still pretty focused on playing, but it is something I do enjoy, but maybe down the road I may get into it a bit more.”
