Wednesday, April 30, 2008
MUNSTER may have barely prevailed in the tightest of finishes last Sunday but who cares? Having emerged from the most competitive pool in the competition’s history, the latest feat in qualifying for a fourth final in nine seasons is truly remarkable.
Waking up on Monday morning was a good experience for Munster’s finest. With special memories of Cardiff 2006 still fresh in the mind, this squad will relish the opportunity to relive that day.
Before that, attention has already diverted to tonight’s rescheduled Magners League game against Ulster in Belfast with a completely changed starting 15 from Sunday on duty at Ravenhill. Despite the changes, it remains a highly competitive team, a reflection of the quality of player available to Declan Kidney. I am quite sure Matt Williams would be thrilled to have some of tonight’s visitors in his squad.
After that there is scarcely time to draw breath before heading to the airport for a third time in a week for their penultimate league game away to Llanelli. The squad’s return visit to Wales in just over three weeks is one that is sure to generate significantly more hype and attention than the trip to Stradey Park on Saturday.
As so often happens in sport, tight margins dictate the outcome. Had John Hayes decided to cut his finger nails on Sunday morning he may not have managed to grasp Census Johnson’s jersey with quite the same impact in the dying seconds of the game.
The sequence of events in that final minute demonstrated more than anything the collective will of this Munster team. From the last lineout, the impressive Kameli Ratuvou, who proved a thorn in Munster’s side all day, was released but subsequently swallowed in an all-enveloping tackle by Denis Hurley. From the resulting ruck, after Alan Quinlan managed to slow possession, Johnson broke but was restrained by Hayes. His offload eventually found Richard Hill in support yards from the line. Hurley, now back on his feet and David Wallace locked on the veteran flanker creating a penalty for not releasing. Game over. Unwavering commitment in defence rewarded.
Munster’s semi-final performance has now been consigned to history as the focus moves sharply to Toulouse in a final that has already captured the imagination.
If Munster have reason to complain with the heavy demands placed on their playing ranks this week, then Toulouse have even more difficulties. With eight games remaining in the French championship prior to the semi-final play-offs, Toulouse have a serious fixtures backlog. Between now and the Heineken Cup final they are scheduled to meet Auch, Castres, Montpellier and Montauban.
Mindful of the crazy demands already imposed on his squad, Toulouse coach Guy Noves has already indicated that players will be rested as their complete focus switches to getting preparations spot-on for Cardiff . He will also be encouraged by the fact that long-term injury victim Florian Fritz is certain to be available for the final and may even get some game time this weekend. In addition, Fijian centre Maleli Kunavore and Tongan World Cup star Finau Maka will also be back to bolster an injury-ravaged squad.
Saracens’ performance on Sunday had Alan Gaffney’s fingerprints all over it. Not only did he draw from his inside knowledge of the opposition, but gleaned a huge amount from Leinster’s recent victory over Munster at the RDS. As evidenced from that game and Leicester’s victory at Thomond Park last season, he was well aware that if Munster are matched in the physical battle their game suffers appreciably.
This lesson will certainly not be lost on Noves. While Toulouse’s attacking game may have been compromised, due primarily to injury and also the selection of scrum-half Jean Baptiste Elissalde at out-half, their pack is well capable of rolling up the sleeves and getting dirty.
Munster’s maul, such a prominent feature in many of their victories over the past few seasons, has not operated at the same level this season. With so many quality broken field runners now available to Munster, many of their scores this season can be traced to dancing feet, good angles of running and timely offloads as opposed to the traditional line-out maul. Like everything else, it is important that the right balance is maintained. Toulouse certainly showed against London Irish that they to have a productive line-out and a maul that needs respect.
Off the field, the hype and colour that attaches itself to Munster in Europe was still very much in evidence in Coventry despite suggestions that people were holding back for the final. In the hours before kick-off the shops and restaurants in the immediate vicinity of the Ricoh Arena were awash with Munster jerseys.
When Munster’s half-time lead was reduced to three points as a result of two early Glen Jackson penalties the response from the travelling army was instantaneous with a rendition of ‘The Fields’ that was both timely and inspirational. They knew what was needed.
Travelling to the ground by coach I spoke to a young lad from Tipperary who was travelling to an away game for the first time. When I asked who was his favourite player his reply was simple: "Denis Leamy is from our parish". No further explanation needed. It summed up the sense of belonging that characterises the Munster squad and its support base.
Declan Kidney was spot-on in his assessment of the game and was right to point out that these kind of days aren’t going to go on forever. That is why every victory must be savoured, every opportunity grasped and why Cardiff will once again be transformed into a sea of red in just over three weeks time.
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