Howlett has been a revelation
Even the body language of some players, James Hook in particular, suggested they were beginning to believe their own hype, and they paid the ultimate price.
Full marks to Alan Gaffney and his Saracens players for rising to the occasion; despite injuries to key personnel during the course of the game, they displayed sufficient commitment and hunger for battle to shock a team that I was sure would make life extremely difficult for Munster in a semi-final.
Not too many would have foreseen Saracens and London Irish progressing to the penultimate stage of this year’s Heineken Cup but the presence of two sides who have never won the tournament in the last four adds to the competition as a whole.
The fact that the Saracens game takes place in the Ricoh Arena in Coventry offers Munster a slight advantage given that they have been through the routine of travelling and playing there already this season. Accommodation and training facilities will be familiar, which always helps when playing abroad. Despite being classified as the home side, Saracens have never played there.
Toulouse were back to their mesmerising best in dispatching a quality Cardiff Blues side with ease in the sun-drenched Stade Toulousian on Sunday.
Despite the absence of seasoned campaigners Clement Poitrenaud and Florion Fritz, the Toulouse backs were magic to watch. Up front, their forwards completely dominated the set piece and should they repeat that form against London Irish, they look fairly set for their fifth Heineken Cup final appearance.
One of the most satisfying aspects of Saturday’s game at Kingsholm was the manner in which Munster dealt with the last minute withdrawal of Marcus Horan and absorbed everything that Gloucester could throw at them in the opening half. It is the measure of a true champion that you hold your head in times of adversity and trust those around you. Nowhere was this more in evidence than in Munster’s defensive performance. Despite the presence of so many outstanding broken field runners in the Gloucester backs, Munster, under severe pressure at times, held their discipline in defence and made all the right decisions.
In this respect, Ian Dowling and Lifeimi Mafi took individual responsibility when breaking the defensive line at crucial moments. On each occasion their massive tackles were the catalyst for vital turnovers. When you ally that defensive steel with pace and power in attack, you have the ideal recipe for success.
PRIOR to the quarter-final one was extremely conscious of the threat that Gloucester posed from turnover ball. This season they have scored some spectacular tries from deep in such circumstances. It was ironic therefore that Munster’s two tries should stem from Gloucester turnovers.
When Alan Quinlan pilfered possession deep in his own 22, one immediately visualised a raking clearance from Ronan O’Gara. However with Doug Howlett in as first receiver, kicking doesn’t come naturally. His option to run was not only well rewarded but resulted in one of the best tries Munster have ever scored in Europe.
Howlett has been a revelation. His arrival after Christmas has presented Munster with one of the greatest finishers in world rugby. A bit like Brian O’Driscoll, it is his work rate in the more unglamorous aspects that has earned him even more respect in my book. His commitment in the tackle, willingness to chase every kick and his appetite for work when coming in off his wing have characterised every performance in a Munster jersey since his debut in such demanding circumstances at Clermont-Auvergne. With three tries in his last three games, he continues to produce what the New Zealand public became so accustomed to over the years.
One can only imagine what it must feel like for a young talent like Denis Hurley, to line out in a back three with such an iconic figure. Howlett has also played a major role in easing Hurley into the competitive demands at this level.
While Tomás O’Leary was excellent in all aspects last Saturday do not discount the possibility of Peter Stringer featuring in the semi-final. It could well be a case of horses for courses and in tandem with most other positions on the field it is a measure of the strength in depth in the squad now that no player is indispensable.
While Saracens themselves looked somewhat shell-shocked with the manner of their victory last Sunday it is worth remembering that they qualified from a group which contained Munster’s final opposition of two years ago, Biarritz.
THE difficulty for Alan Gaffney’s side now is that with a comparatively inexperienced squad, long-term injuries to Chris Jack and Andy Farrell reduce his options considerably. Having also lost Brent Russell and Paul Gustard to injury against the Ospreys, the physio room will be a busy place over the next fortnight.
If Saracens have never experienced the rarefied atmosphere of a European Cup semi-final before, at least Gaffney has been there twice with Munster, the narrow one point defeat away to Toulouse in 2003 followed by that classic against Wasps in Lansdowne Road the following season.
It is worth remembering that of the four seasons taken into consideration in declaring Munster as Europe’s number one seed, Gaffney was in charge for two of those. He knows what is required for success in Europe and also is more aware than anyone of characteristics and strengths that make Munster so difficult to beat. It will certainly add spice to the fixture even if both he and Declan Kidney will be drowning each other with platitudes in the press over the coming weeks.
Speaking of Kidney, last weekend’s comprehensive victory over England’s league leaders outlined once more just why he has to be leading contender for the vacant Irish post. While there are those outside the province who still need convincing of his capabilities, all he can do is keep producing positive results. Should he deliver a second Heineken Cup, next month even his detractors would be forced to relent.
