Monday, April 28, 2008
AND so we’re left with the Heineken Cup final all neutral rugby fans craved — Europe’s most consistent team against its most successful one. Between them Munster and Toulouse have contested seven finals, with the French side out on their own with three triumphs.
Both may have been overwhelming favourites coming into their respective semi-finals but how they were pushed all the way. I made the point during the week that semi-finals are fraught with danger, and in Munster’s case, it couldn’t have been closer.
In three Heineken Cup clashes against Saracens, Munster’s combined winning margin is four points. In the end it took a great tackle by Denis Hurley on Kameli Ratuvou and an incredible intervention by John Hayes, who somehow managed to get a hand on Census Johnson’s jersey when he looked like changing the course of history.
Munster now set out to emulate both Leicester and Wasps, by winning the trophy for the second time, in a season’s climax that can’t come soon enough. Toulouse will dispute that fact, as they badly need the next four weeks to rehabilitate a backline that has been ravaged with injuries.
So severe was their injury crisis that they were forced to overload the reserve bench with six forwards — their only fit back was the unheralded Maxime Mermoz. Under the circumstances, I am sure their charismatic coach Guy Noves will just be thrilled to reach yet another decider.
Munster secured their passage with a performance that was far from vintage but that in many respects was due to the refusal of a highly committed Saracens side to accept their billing as also-rans. They were like a limpet Munster just couldn’t shake off and all the high-intensity attributes so evident against the Ospreys in the quarter-final were there once again.
When Munster review this one on the video they will have every reason to thank Dougie Howlett. His battle on the wing against the flying Fijian Ratuvou provided a fascinating sub-plot throughout this contest. On four occasions in the first half alone, Howlett stood between Ratuvou and the try line. Famed for his try-scoring exploits, Howlett defended as if his life depended on it. Munster have every reason to be grateful.
In the modern game, the 10 minutes either side of half time are referred to as the championship moments. When Munster scored a majestic try on the stroke of half time, by Alan Quinlan, after outstanding foot work and a classic offload, from Ian Dowling to Howlett, you could visibly see the confidence drain from the Saracens players as the trundled to the dressing room. It would have killed off a lesser team.
To their credit, inspired by two early second-half penalties by Glen Jackson, they refused to roll over. They even survived the crazy period when both props Johnson and Nick Lloyd were dispatched to the sin bin, where they joined the already-banished Rua Tipoki.
Alan Gaffney’s stamp was all over this performance with a game plan which restricted Munster to just four line outs in the second half, the first of those not arriving until the 59th minute.
Munster created so much from that lineout platform that Saracens refused to kick to touch. As a result, Munster were camped in their own half for long periods and their attacking game faltered.
The other area of intense confrontation was the breakdown. As they did with such efficiency against the Ospreys, Saracens committed huge numbers to this phase and turned over possession with too much regularity for Declan Kidney’s liking. With the back three of Ratuvou, Richard Haughton and Francisco Leonelli on fire, Munster relied heavily on their defensive attributes.
In this respect, they were heroic and somehow managed to restrict Saracens to just one try, that score coming after only four minutes. In addition to Howlett, two tackles from Tomas O’Leary and Tipoki were seismic and inspirational.
In the end Munster’s composure, accumulated after so many contests of this nature in Europe, proved the vital difference between the teams.
On the final whistle, that warrior and iconic figure Richard Hill was left to ponder "what if" as the tears rolled down his face when the reality hit that his career was over. At least he bowed out in a game that brought honour to the club he represented with distinction throughout his entire career.
On Saturday, Toulouse, shattered and vulnerable due to the demands of another full-on domestic season, resembled a patch work quilt in the final quarter, as they held on grimly to a dangerous six-point lead, with London Irish in the ascendancy.
With Yannick Nyanga, their outstanding back row forward, stationed on the wing due to a lack of fit alternatives, they were on the ropes and open to a strike from one of London Irish’s impressive wingers Topsy Ojo and Sailosi Tagicakibau. Both had already punished poor defence from Cedric Heymans and Yannick Jauzion with spectacular tries and were on fire.
Alas, Irish just couldn’t find the composure or creative spark to produce the winning score. Toulouse had sufficient firepower up front with their line out in particular impressive, negating a platform that has served Bob Casey’s men so well this season.
They also had the tactical awareness to close the game out and frustrate their willing but limited opponents.
From here, all roads lead to Cardiff on May 24. For Munster it is a return to the scene of their greatest triumph two years ago as they set out to replicate those scenes of unbridled joy that will never be forgotten by all those privileged to be there.
They do so with a reality check certain to focus the minds over the next few weeks. With the probability that the final could be Declan Kidney’s last with the province, it could provide the cause that Munster thrive on.
For today, though, they are just relieved to be there.
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