Monday, January 23, 2012
AFTER the drama of Friday night when Gloucester and Connacht turned form and expectations on its head by beating Toulouse and Harlequins in Pool 6, you sensed it was going to be one of those dramatic Heineken Cup weekends.
Yet nothing could have prepared us for the magnificence of Munster’s performance in Milton Keynes and the manner in which they demolished the challenge of the English Premiership side in a remarkable second half. Scoring tries has been an issue for Munster all season. In the five pool games prior to Saturday they had registered just nine.
Then from nowhere the opportunities they had been frustratingly spurning to date were being converted in spectacular fashion. To score five against a Northampton side who made no secret of the fact that they were thirsting for revenge after Thomond Park was incredible. Perhaps with four wins from five against this Saints outfit in recent seasons, their coach Jim Mallinder may finally have to accept that Munster are the better side.
The biggest beneficiary of that magnificent win by Connacht in Galway were four-time champions Toulouse who were out on their ear only for Eric Elwood’s men. In addition it propelled Ulster into the quarter-finals, ensuring that for the first time in the history of the tournament three Irish sides would progress to the knockout stage, changing the dynamic of their very challenging trip to Clermont.
By Saturday afternoon Leinster had their home quarter in the bag with Munster the only side capable of replacing them as top seed, which they did by virtue of completing the only clean sweep in the tournament this season — that, remember, from a team in transition. Leinster’s reward is a home quarter-final against Cardiff Blues, a side against whom they have an excellent record in the Celtic League over the last few seasons.
Despite the withdrawal of Jonny Sexton prior to kickoff, Leinster still had far too much for a game Montpellier outfit in attack and especially in defence. The manner with which they protected their line through an intense period of 14minutes prior to half time, despite having Damien Browne in the bin, demonstrated forcibly why they will be so difficult to dethrone.
Ulster’s quest to top the pool was thwarted by virtue of a single try when it came to separating themselves from Clermont Auvergne — both teams finished Pool 4 locked on 20 points — after another terrific performance in the Auvergne. Their prize for securing one of those precious two best runners up slots? A trip to Thomond Park which at the very least guarantees an Irish presence in the semi-finals. Clermont have to travel to Watford to play Saracens in their quarter-final.
The semi-final draw, also made yesterday, has been favourable to the winners of the Munster/Ulster quarter-final in that it guarantees a home semi-final at the Aviva Stadium.
Leinster have not been as fortunate and should they, as expected, account for Cardiff, they will be on the road to play the winners of the Saracens/Clermont Auvergne quarter-final.
ON the day Simon Zebo announced his arrival in the big time with a brilliant hat-trick of tries, Munster may have even convinced themselves they have what it takes to go all the way to the final. While there will be a renewed focus on the scrum after the difficulties encountered on Saturday, I don’t think that will be as big an issue in the knockout stage. Northampton have a juggernaut of a scrum and BJ Botha, who has been a revelation for Munster all season, has had difficulty in dealing with Soane Tonga’uiha in the past. In addition Brian Mujati is a brute of a tight head and also had his fellow Springbok Wian du Preezunder severe pressure. Northampton were especially strong on their own put in and were hugely successful in continuing the drive through the hit.
By way of contrast, the manner in which Munster contested their restarts was massively impressive, regaining possession on six occasions. Zebo augmented his try scoring exploits by using his pace to chase down Ronan O’Gara’s exquisitely measured drop offs. Two such restart turnovers led directly to points on the board, the opening try from Botha and that psychologically crucial touchdown from Johne Murphy just two minutes into the second half. That rocked Northampton and gave Munster the momentum to kick on. The net result —Munster’s most impressive performance on the road since that memorable 17-34 win over Perpignan at the Stade Aime Giral in December 2009.
Tony McGahan deserves huge credit for what Munster have achieved in this season’s Heineken Cup regardless of what happens from here on in. The total number of tournament debutants this season was extended to nine when David O’Callaghan was introduced off the bench with eight minutes to go. He joined Zebo, Conor Murray, Peter O’Mahony, Tommy O’Donnell, Stephen Archer, Ian Keatley, Danny Barnes and Will Chambers, who returned to Australia yesterday after making his final contribution to the province when the A’s beat Ulster in the British and Irish Cup on Friday, all experiencing Heineken Cup rugby for the first time.
Equally satisfying is the fact that all except Keatley and Chambers were produced from within the province.
What impressed me most about Saturday’s display was that at no stage, despite conceding two penalty tries and being under pressure for long periods in the opening half, did Munster ever look rattled. In fact it was the opposite. To see the likes of Zebo, O’Mahony and Murray in deep conversation, urging people on and directing traffic, augurs well for the future. Denis Hurley, the perennial unsung hero within the group was also mesmeric delivering two sumptuous passes that put Murphy and Zebo in for crucial scores.
MUNSTER just continue to defy logic in this competition and look as if they have the capacity to do so for a long time to come. They simply refuse to lie down and disappear. The tournament is so much better for that. They now have the opportunity to make the final at Twickenham without having to travel out of Ireland. That offers them a massive incentive.
Tournament specialists Toulouse have not gone away either. Munster or Ulster could well meet Guy Noves’ men in a semi-final in Dublin if the French aristocrats, unimpressive in the tournament, manage to beat Michael Bradley’s Edinburgh in their quarter-final at Murrayfield. Bradley has worked minor miracles in his limited time with Edinburgh and what would he give for a semi-final in the capital against his native province.
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