Munster must react to Thomond torment
Supporters left wondering could they continue to pay good money to watch a whole bundle of collapsed scrums in a game lacking imagination and innovative thought.
Most of Ireland’s best were out there supported by big overseas names. Many wondered if the poverty of the exchanges was an accurate reflection of the downward trend displayed by our national side, that the talent simply isn’t there and that we face a long and arduous road back to being a world-ranking top-five team.
At least Leinster coach Joe Schmidt had the considerable consolation of seeing almost his entire squad prove the deep reservoir of talent he can pick from for the Heineken Cup quarter-final against the Cardiff Blues on Saturday next.
It seems most unlikely that they could lose to an out-of-form Blues side handicapped by Sam Warburton’s injury.
Leo Cullen, Sean O’Brien, Cian Healy and Richardt Strauss’s arrival changed the game and confirmed the current healthy state of Leinster rugby.
When Munster tried to do the same, little happened. Furthermore, the Leinster academy looks far more powerful, just as the schools game seems set to produce a stream of highly promising young players.
The same could hardly be said of Munster if the recent Schools Cup was a reliable yardstick.
Munster, of course, were short three key players on Saturday in Paul O’Connell, Donnacha Ryan and Conor Murray and their presence could have made a big difference. It is essential that O’Connell, Ryan and Murray come back on Sunday against Ulster.
One thing is for sure: the poor performance against Leinster will prevent over confidence creeping in. All the more so because Ulster have been moving very nicely in the build-up to the game. Stephen Ferris’s fitness will be vital and, like O’Connell, he intends to be there, come hell or high water.
Departing coach Brian McLaughlin will probably start Ruan Pienaar and Ian Humphreys at half-back before switching the Springbok to number 10 shortly after the interval to make way for Paul Marshall.
His rapier-like breaks can be lethal and this Ulster side possesses plenty of scoring power, while the host of other South Africans in the pack will ensure a fierce, unrelenting contest up front.
This will be a much chastened Munster side after the relatively tame acceptance of defeat against their biggest rivals. But you also recall how well they have performed in Europe after disappointing in the league a week earlier.
If O’Connell does start, he will lead the side and Munster fans would also be much encouraged by Ronan O’Gara’s comment: “I have full belief in this team. We are in a 30% better position than this time last year because of the emergence of the younger brigade.”
Munster players, both young and old, need to do a lot better on Sunday if those words are to be backed up by the necessary level of performance on the field of play.
