O'Mahony not distracted by Munster coaching uncertainty

It's been five weeks since Graham Rowntree suggested we'd know the identity of Munster's new head coach 'soon enough'.

The wait continues, with Rowntree one of those expected to be in the running to step up to the top job when Johann van Graan leaves for Bath this summer.

Whether or not he does so, he'll still be at the province having extended his contract as forwards coach by a further two years, but he's the only member of next year's coaching ticket currently signed up.

The recruitment process continues as Munster prepare for the business end of this season, fourth in the United Rugby Championship with three games to play, while they are back in Heineken Champions Cup knockout action this weekend against the Exeter Chiefs, albeit in the unfamiliar two-legged Round of 16.

Keeping the off-field uncertainty away from the pitch is a challenge the province face in the coming weeks, unless a deal already been done, with an announcement stashed away for a rainy day.

Munster captain Peter O'Mahony is confident that he and his teammates haven't been distracted by the lack of clarity in the organisation, although he accepts the situation is undesirable.

"Look, it's obviously not ideal but from a player's point of view - from my point of view - I certainly have enough on my plate and we have enough on our plate with regard to reviewing the game last weekend, and then getting on to a hugely exciting and an incredibly big test in Europe, going to Exeter this weekend," he said.

"You know, rugby is about being big in the moment and rugby is about being in the week that you're in and there'll always be noise and there'll always be people talking about this and that, and there'll be some players talking about it I'd imagine, worrying about