Munster’s new partnership the centre of attention for McGahan

By Charlie Mulqueen

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

THE one obvious decision facing Munster coach Tony McGahan as he ponders his team for Saturday’s Heineken Cup clash with Italian side Benetton Treviso at Thomond Park is whether to continue with the midfield axis of New Zealander Lifeimi Mafi and South African Jean De Villiers.

On paper, it sounds like a dynamic partnership and no doubt it will come good. However, after the team’s recent defeats against Leinster in the Magners League and Northampton in the Heineken Cup, it could be that McGahan just hasn’t the time to wait.

Manager Shaun Payne addressed the situation last night: "Mafs and Jean obviously hadn’t had many games together," he pointed out. "They are two quality players, no one is questioning that. It’s just taking the lads a little bit of time to settle. And I’m very positive that it will happen. They are two of our more skilful players. Ideally we would have liked a game or two more at the minimum. I’m sure we’ll be better this week having got a really tough game under our belts last weekend."

Tony McGahan, of course, could opt for the three-quarter line that finished the game at Franklin’s Gardens, Doug Howlett and Ian Dowling on the wings with Keith Earls in the centre alongside Jean De Villiers. Out of the equation this week, though, are wing/full-back Felix Jones and prop Dave Ryan, who were both injured in club matches at the weekend, and centre Barry Murphy.

Treviso’s remarkable victory over Perpignan sent shock waves through the Munster camp and they have been well forewarned of what to expect on Saturday. And Munster had just yesterday’s two sessions at UL and another at Musgrave Park tomorrow to rectify defensive failings that have seen them leak 61 points in their last two games.

"That is a very definite worry", agrees Shaun Payne. "Those two tries either side of half-time really killed the challenge. Even though we nearly came back and snuck it at the end, we cannot afford to be giving away tries like that. Conceding 14 points from nowhere shouldn’t have happened."

Shaun Payne and indeed everyone in the Munster camp are adamant that there was no fluke about Treviso’s win over Perpignan. They have watched the video and while he agrees the wet weather played its part and that Perpignan were probably over confident, "everything changed as early as the first 45 seconds when they got mauled half the length of the pitch, collapsed the maul and conceded a penalty."

Five years ago, Payne was a member of the Munster team that travelled to Treviso for the previous meeting of the sides in Europe. He recalls how "it took us a while to put them down. They are a side you need to respect and get through your phases. We will approach it like we would against any other team. I know their coach, Franco Smith, very well. I can guarantee you he’s not the sort of guy who’ll come over here just expecting to make up the numbers.

"I know him from South Africa. He played centre and out-half for the Springboks.

"He is very thorough and will not accept defeat lying down," said Payne.

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Wednesday, October 14, 2009