Argy bargy won’t be pretty
For pure theatre, drama, excitement and belligerence, the Thomond experience won hands down. When Mafi, Tipoki, Manning and Howlett stepped out and challenged the visitors, the ground rules changed immediately.
If the All Blacks thought that Munster’s confrontational effort would end at the Haka, they were sadly mistaken. What transpired afterwards was the stuff of true legend, cruelly denied the perfect finish by New Zealand’s last gasp try. Given the hype surrounding the 30th anniversary of Munster’s most famous win, how ironic was it that the winning try was conceded in the 78th minute?
The sizeable New Zealand support certainly enjoyed the atmosphere, the setting and the interaction with such a knowledgeable rugby public. It replicates so much of what they are used to at home.
The fact that such an electric atmosphere is capable of being generated in the new Thomond Park bodes well for the future and the ground rules have now been set for the crucial games coming up against Clermont Auvergne and Sale Sharks in the Heineken Cup. One feels however that it will be hard to top last Tuesday’s experience for some time to come for the simple reason that what is rare is wonderful.
It is 19 years since the All Blacks played against Munster and who knows how long it will be before it happens again. What has made the Lions the biggest draw in rugby is the fact that they only play every four years or visit an individual southern hemisphere power only once every twelve years.
In many respects international rugby has become stale with teams now playing against each other with monotonous regularity. Speaking to New Zealand rugby president Andy Leslie after the Munster game, I stressed such fixtures must have a place in the professional game. He was in full agreement; despite captaining the All Blacks on a number of occasions, he said his most memorable experience in rugby, despite being well beaten, was playing for Wellington against the Lions in 1971. Graham Henry also acknowledged that his young players would benefit by eking out a win at the death in such a cauldron.
What about Munster’s young talent? The performance of the pack was inspiring. With the presence of so many of Munster’s first choice backs, they were always going to compete. Peter Stringer, despite all his recent disappointments, had a phenomenal game. The question was would that backline see any ball? In this respect the three senior pros up front — captain Mick O’Driscoll, Frankie Sheahan and Freddie Pucciariello — were simply magnificent and led the way. To lose such an influential figure as Denis Leamy after only 25 minutes would have deflated a lesser side. Yet Timmy Ryan, Niall Ronan, James Coughlan, Donncha Ryan and Billy Holland, all playing against this level of opposition for the first time, drew on the tradition of this fixture and the occasion to rise to new heights. Their performance showed that there’s a good base of young talent being nurtured and developed in the Munster academy — but, crucially, employing what they are learning with Munster in the club environment where developing a team ethic is so important. It is the key ingredient in retaining what Munster has. Tuesday showcased once again what separates Team Munster from so many other sides in professional rugby.
The one advantage Munster had over Ireland tomorrow is that Tony McGahan’s men had nothing to lose against New Zealand. Declan Kidney does not have that luxury. Ireland have to win to cement that top eight ranking position on the assumption that Scotland will surely beat Canada. What makes it all the more challenging is the fact that Argentina also have something tangible to play for. A win for them, depending on England’s results against South Africa and New Zealand over the next two weekends, will secure them a top four seeding in the world cup draw. That would mean avoiding the big three southern hemisphere sides in the pool stages.
Argentina lit up last year’s World Cup with a series of outstanding performances in finishing third. Since then however the retirements of seasoned campaigners in Augustin Pichot, Gonzalo Longo, Omar Hasan, and Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe has had a major impact. In addition injuries to Felipe Contepomi and Ignacio Corleto has robbed them of two of their most influential runners. Even their famed scrum has struggled badly to cope with the absence of Hasan and Clermont’s Martin Scelzo at tight head. Against France and Italy over the past fortnight their scrum has been in all kinds of trouble.
As always Los Pumas will be a very difficult side to play against. They are extremely physical at the breakdown and have a knack of sucking teams into trench warfare. Their recent 12-6 defeat to France was an awful game to watch and if you are travelling to Croke Park tomorrow, then be prepared for another war of attrition. It will not be pretty.
Kidney has kept change to a minimum by re-introducing Jerry Flannery and Stephen Ferris up front. Flannery is entrusted with ensuring that Ireland produce ball of a higher quality from the line out than last week where his understanding with Paul O’Connell and Donncha O’Callaghan is a factor. Ferris is there to impose his physical presence.
Perhaps I am missing something but I don’t understand the reluctance of either the Leinster or Irish management to hand Rob Kearney the full back slot. For me he has the perfect mix of Girvan Dempsey’s solidity and positional sense and the attacking flare of Geordan Murphy. Murphy is having an excellent season with Leicester and perhaps Kearney’s defence is an aspect that Les Kiss feels still requires attention. That said it can be more difficult at times to defend on the wing than full back.
The introduction of the ELV’s has had a big impact on Argentina especially when it comes to the effectiveness of the maul. The one thing they still possess is a footballing genius at out half in Juan Martin Hernandez. His kicking game will be used to good effect but given the absence of Contepomi and Corleto don’t expect him to shift too much ball.
Ireland have far more attacking options and as long as they keep their patience and build a platform to run they should win this one.
If however they forget the lessons of Munster’s game against Montauban and attempt to go wide too early, they could be in for a long day.
