The message is clear: the scrum is back
It is interesting to note that none of the six teams involved in those three deciders managed to reach the Heineken Cup final adding credence to Guy Noves’ assertion that it is becoming impossible to compete on both fronts.
Of that sextet, only Leinster managed to advance as far as the European semi-finals.
For good measure, those who have an interest in keeping tabs on developments in the southern hemisphere, the Super 14 final – an all-South African affair between holders the Blue Bulls and the Stormers – also takes place on Saturday.
French championship finalists Perpignan and Clermont Auvergne meet in a repeat of last year’s decider with Clermont desperately attempting to deliver the Bouclier de Brennus for the first time after 10 final defeats.
Interestingly, both were beaten by Irish opposition in Europe this season with Munster accounting for Perpignan both home and away while Leinster just scraped past Clermont in that classic quarter-final at the RDS.
They must have looked at last Saturday’s Heineken Cup showpiece in Paris and wondered what might have been had Brock James brought his kicking boots to Dublin.
While the Heineken Cup final was hardly a classic, producing just one try, it was nevertheless a very interesting experience to witness the atmosphere that two French sides create in a major decider. The red and black of Toulouse was prominent all over Paris last weekend and the noise levels generated by both sets of supporters was fascinating to hear.
On the field, Toulouse were once again brilliant but vulnerable. Had they lost this one it would have even been worse than that last-minute defeat to Wasps in Twickenham back in 2004. Sometimes it is harder to play against a familiar foe but Toulouse was that they were mentally strong when it mattered most.
They can, however, be frustrating to watch given they are capable of producing so much more. A bludgeoning pack with a rapier backline seems the ideal combination yet all too often they play within themselves, doing just about enough to prosper. On this occasion it almost backfired. The sight of their excellent hooker William Servat giving high-fives and saluting the crowd when he was withdrawn from the action with eight minutes remaining looked premature – even more so when Karmichael Hunt scored the game’s only try two minutes later. What they did have though was sufficient experience to hang on against a Biarritz side that was inferior in all areas except the lineout.
The biggest lesson from this encounter and one that will not sit well in Ireland is the renewed importance of the power of the scrum. Munster fans will have noted with some horror the damage the Toulouse scrum inflicted on a Biarritz pack that destroyed Tony McGahan’s outfit in the same facet of play in San Sebastian.
Indeed, Leinster can take some solace from the power display of the Toulouse front row given their experiences in the set-piece against the same opposition in their semi-final.
Biarritz have bullied most opposition in the scrum this season but got a taste of their own medicine from the moment that former All Black tight-head Campbell Johnstone was propelled skywards in one of the early engagements. That set a marker and hit the Biarritz confidence badly.
Toulouse also succeeded in one fell swoop in negating the impact – lineout apart – of the outstanding Imanol Harinordoquy. As a result of a retreating scrum he made no impression with ball in hand. The message is clear. The scrum is back big time and it is an area that all Irish sides now need to prioritise.
The other key factor was the extraordinary bench that Noves was able to turn to, to kill off the Biarritz challenge in the second half. Their dominant scrum was supplemented even further in that period by the introduction of an all international replacement front row in Springbok Daan Human, Argentine hooker Alberto Vernet Basualdo and Samoan giant Census Johnson. What most sides would give to be able to start with that awesome trio? In addition, to be able to spring another crop of French internationals in Louis Picamoles, Yann David and Cedric Heymans gives an indication of the quality available to Noves.
ON SATURDAY, Leinster have an opportunity to finish off the highly impressive reign of Michael Cheika by delivering silverware for the third successive season. The Ospreys will bring a star-studded side to Dublin for what could be a classic.
Cardiff Blues’ Amlin Challenge Cup success last weekend, where they became the first Welsh region to deliver a European trophy, has upped the ante on an under-achieving Ospreys outfit, and they will be under huge pressure to deliver.
Leinster’s record in the RDS this season is spectacular. They remain unbeaten in the Magners League at home and have only tasted defeat once in competitive action at the RDS all season, that Heineken Cup opener against London Irish.
The Cheika factor, the retirements of Malcolm O’Kelly and Girvan Dempsey along with the departure of influential coaches Kurt McQuilkin and Alan Gaffney is sure to deliver a night of raw emotion in Dublin.
As long as Leinster get the mix right on that front in their build-up, they should have sufficient quality to prevail and make it a perfect end-of-season finale.
The fact that the two South African franchises have progressed to the Super 14 final is bad news for Ireland’s upcoming tour of New Zealand and Australia.
Not only does it afford All Black coach Graham Henry more scope to prepare for that opening test on June 12 but it also gives his players, especially the Crusaders contingent who were forced to travel to Johannesburg twice over a three-week period, additional time for rest and recovery.
While Henry, not unlike Declan Kidney, has a number of injury worries to contend with, it is clear that both New Zealand and Australia have a very exciting batch of promising young players coming to the fore in the Super 14. It will be interesting to see how many of them will be promoted by both Henry and Australian coach Robbie Deans over the course of the tests against Ireland. With so many tests to be played next month, all sides are set to learn a little more about themselves.
