Munster have no apologies to make
Thirteen members of last Saturday’s Heineken Cup-winning squad travel to London today where they will meet up with the remainder of the Ireland squad for the long trek to New Zealand and Australia, where they will play two tests.
Since Ireland faced Scotland on August 11 in preparation for the World Cup, the demands have been non stop, with the collapse in France to the forefront of the players’ minds for much of the season. In sport, disappointment is a more frequent visitor than success. That is why the triumphs must be savoured.
In the context of Munster’s Heineken Cup pool and the requirement to win a quarter final, semi-final and final away from home, last Saturday’s win over Toulouse ranks as an even better achievement than two years ago.
In those circumstances, it is difficult to make sense of the bellyaching in some sections of the English and French media over the manner in which Munster closed out the game. This comes from the same people who rightly hailed England’s magnificent success in winning the World Cup in 2003 without any reference to the pragmatic approach adopted for that competition.
In the build-up to that tournament, England played their best rugby in the away tests against New Zealand and Australia when that excellent side reached its peak. There was a recognition within the senior members of that team and their management that to win the World Cup a tighter approach was required.
When Australia won in 1999 they did so by introducing defensive patterns honed in rugby league to shut out the opposition. In their seven games they only conceded one try. England learned from this and developed even further the mantra that defence wins trophies.
Munster recognise that to win silverware requires organisation in defence, ruthless physicality at the breakdown, competence at the set piece and a combination of pace and power in the three quarters to exploit space.
Byron Kelleher, gracious in defeat, recognised this simple fact when he stated Toulouse lost because Munster were far more physical at the breakdown, which enabled them to slow the opposition ball.
For those who question the quality of the modern game, TG4’s re-run of clashes from the amateur era highlight how far the sport has evolved, offering far more time with the ball in play, higher skill levels and far greater continuity. Does it really require further modifications to its laws? If the existing ones were implemented properly the game would be even better.
Rugby is suffering in the southern hemisphere due to familiarity. The same players are constantly in opposition in the Super 14 and Tri-Nations series. The emphasis in Super 14 is put on entertainment in an effort to win back dwindling crowds who have suffered an over exposure to a limited pool of players. The diversity in cultures and tactical approach in Europe offers a more varied mix.
For the purists, Saturday’s final provided a real contest. Rugby has always been a physical sport with the team winning the collisions usually coming out on top.
The Super 14 games played under the new experimental law variations this season have been awful to watch. Teams do not apply enough numbers to the breakdown resulting in a game resembling an overcrowded version of sevens.
Infringements at ruck and maul are penalised by free kicks as opposed to full penalties, which means teams just tap and go, reducing the number of set pieces even further. It’s not rugby as I know it.
Munster’s success can be attributed to experience, a street wisdom accumulated over years of exposure at this level and decision-making by key personnel who have become mentally strong on the back of past disappointments.
Just look at the contribution of the second row pairing in Cardiff. Paul O’Connell was superb in every facet of play. His athleticism out of touch and his upper body strength at the breakdown was seen to best effect. Beside him, Donncha O’Callaghan was equally influential, but in a different way. He was the workhorse of this pack. The amount of rucks he hit was phenomenal. When Denis Leamy scored his crucial try O’Callaghan assisted in driving him over the line. On many occasions he picked and drove four or five yards which put Munster on the front foot. .
The IRB need to be extremely careful in the way they propose to tinker with the laws next season. It is important that all the basic nuances that contribute to make rugby what it is must not be taken for granted.
It is also time the ERC factored in the contribution Munster supporters continue to bring to this competition. Again this season away games were fixed for Coventry and Clermont on a Sunday with scant disregard for the difficulties that this would impose.
ERC also needs to examine the serious shortcomings of Cardiff as a final venue. In terms of travel, Munster’s three final appearances in the city to date have proven nightmare experiences for thousands of fans.
I was one of several hundreds left stranded in Cardiff Airport until 8am last Sunday. The behaviour of the Munster fans was impeccable in the circumstances. Arriving in Cork at 9.15am it crossed my mind that soccer fans made it back from Moscow’s Champions League final in quicker time.
At least the victory helped ease the discomfort.
