Reliving Axel’s magical Munster years
Foley’s career with Munster was remarkable. It is only when you see the list of his achievements in the opening sequence of this production that you really begin to get a handle on the massive contribution the Shannon man has made to the transition of Munster rugby from the amateur to professional era and from European also-rans to a championship-winning side.
Not only is Foley Munster’s most capped player with 201 appearances, his 86 Heineken cup caps is a tournament record. He is also Munster’s top try scorer in the competition with 23 and has a career total in the red jersey of 46 tries in all competitions, an extraordinary feat for a forward.
With that background there was no more fitting person to lead Munster to the promised land in Cardiff in 2006, and the link to the heroes of 1978, when his father Brendan was second row on the team to beat New Zealand cements a unique contribution to the greatest days in Munster’s proud history.
In rugby, tradition is everything. I have no doubt it played a huge part in shaping Anthony’s approach to the game.
The role his family played in defining his sporting values is captured through contributions from his parents, wife Olive, and sisters Orla and Rosie, a multi-capped Ireland and Munster forward.
It reveals a touching insight into the competitive sporting environment in which Anthony was raised.
The fact a large part of his childhood was spent with a slightly older and even more competitive neighbour called Keith Wood also stood to him in later life.
Woody’s recollections of those early days playing hurling, football, soccer, rugby and even a strange version of contact tennis offer a cameo of what growing up in Killaloe in the 80s was like.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of this DVD is the footage of Munster’s early games in the Heineken Cup, most noticeably the very first match against Swansea at Thomond Park before a sparse attendance.
In one of the many hilarious contributions from Mick Galwey and Peter Clohessy, the former points out that Pat Murray’s try at the death in that match set in train the remarkable unbeaten sequence that ironically lasted until the very last game in Thomond before redevelopment, against Leicester.
The myth surrounding the stadium was almost buried from the very first European encounter.
Ronan O’Gara played some of Munster’s epic clashes along the way in the company of Foley. !
O’Gara is almost shocked looking back on some of those early games before his elevation to the squad, especially the ease with which Toulouse racked up over 60 points in south of France in 1996.
With over five hours of rugby including a bonus disc featuring the semi-final against Toulouse in Bordeaux in 2000 and the quarter-final against Leicester at Welford Road in 2003 this compilation represents great value at under €25.
Not only is this DVD a wonderful record of a special player it is a must for all Munster fans especially those who were not on board from the start. It provides a fascinating road map of the parallel journey undertaken by a great player and a great team whose growth and development were inextricably linked. It will surely find its way on to the Christmas stocking list for many a household this December.
