Wednesday, January 07, 2009
IT WAS difficult to comprehend the contrasting emotions one felt on leaving Thomond Park on Saturday night with those experienced only five weeks earlier after that epic against New Zealand.
Euphoria was replaced by despair and concern. The sight of Munster supporters congregating in small groups outside the stadium in stunned silence, almost afraid to speak, told its own story.
When they did manage to utter a few words the question was the same: ‘what’s happening to the team?’
After three defeats in the last four games it’s not an unreasonable question. While watching the Leinster-Connacht game on Friday night I remarked to a former team-mate that I feared Munster could be on the verge of a hiding in the not too distant future. Little did I think my prophecy would materialise within 24 hours.
With the exception of that unforgettable night against the All Blacks, Munster performances in the new Thomond Park have been uncharacteristically poor.
Glasgow Warriors, Montauban, Clermont Auvergne and now Ulster have come and lifted the quality of their performances inspired not only by a fear of getting thumped, but also by the magnificence of the new surroundings.
Thomond Park is now an arena that all self-respecting rugby players want to experience. There is a worrying similarity to what happened when the French national team moved from Parc des Princes to the new Stade de France in Saint Denis.
Suddenly visiting teams felt far more comfortable in the more neutral surroundings than those which characterised the bear pit of the old stadium where the noise levels were so loud it was almost impossible to communicate. French home results quickly suffered.
Unfortunately blaming the recent drop in Munster’s form on the stadium alone is too simplistic. There are other, more central issues at play.
Over the years this Munster squad have never lost touch with reality, and have always remained self-critical and honest within the confines of the dressing room. They demand high standards.
There is now a serious requirement for a review of what has happened over the last month and a reassessment of their tactical approach.
It is too early to hit any panic buttons and small refinements will make a big difference. It will also be a big help to Tony McGahan that he will be allowed select from a full deck, injuries notwithstanding, as the national players will now be fully available to him.
This was not the case over the Christmas period with the requirement to rest certain players at the behest of the national management.
For me, the most worrying aspect of the last few games is that Munster have lost the ruthless edge up front which has been the foundation stone for so many famous victories over the last decade.
The Munster pack play with a physical edge that has opposition forwards thinking twice about getting isolated.
Think back to the famous quarter-final victory at Welford Road in 2003 when England’s World Cup-winning second row combination of Martin Johnson and Ben Kay were left looking on in bemusement at two young tearaway locks in Paul O’Connell and Donncha O’Callaghan who were all over them like a rash.
That type of intensity has been at the heart of so many memorable outings since and needs to be rekindled over the next fortnight against the Ospreys and Sale Sharks.
Despite the evolution of the game over the last ten years, some things remain central to the success of any side. Last Saturday’s man-of-the-match Ian Humphreys, when reflecting on his two successful forays to Limerick with Leicester and Ulster, highlighted that both victories were built on magnificent performances from his respective packs.
A solid scrum and a productive line-out delivering a variety of quality ball is a basic requirement for any back-line to function. One could only feel sorry for Peter Stringer, fighting for a starting position in the last two games with a retreating scrum that put him at a constant disadvantage.
Munster’s line-out has also been less efficient this season. Teams are now targeting Munster up front and denying them the dominant platform that one almost took for granted for so long.
Tactically, Munster also need to look at their ball-in-hand game. After the close shave against Montauban I quoted Warren Gatland’s oft-used phrase about teams having to earn the right to go wide — teams must look to commit defenders through phase play in order to create space out wide.
Munster learned that lesson after their Heineken Cup opener and varied the game far more in the next outing against Sale in Edgeley Park in their best performance of the season. Their kicking game was also far more accurate.
But against Ulster they fell into the same trap of playing with too much width without committing any defenders. It didn’t help that their passing was inaccurate against a well-organised and aggressive blitz defence; they offered Ulster far too many targets which the visitors duly accepted. In attempting to force the game, they lost composure. Credit Ulster also for capitalising on every chance that came their way.
MOST significantly of all Munster’s decision-making when O’Connell, Ronan O’Gara and Rua Tipoki are not on the field is poor.
Those three are central to the success of this team. Tipoki’s hamstring injury could not have happened at a worst time. He made a big impact in the opening 30 minutes last Saturday. At least the word on O’Gara’s hamstring is more promising, but with that type of injury you just never know. The news that Denis Leamy may soon be back in contention is also a positive as his presence has been sorely missed. Nick Williams is badly in need of match practice and time is not on his side.
Despite all these woes, Munster are only a point off the lead in the Magners League and remain in control of their own destiny in the Heineken Cup.
In times of crisis in the past they always pushed the right buttons and got the show back on the road. That manic desire for success needs to be rekindled quickly.
Somehow, you just sense that last Saturday’s defeat may be the wake-up call that was needed to refocus the minds once again.
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