Clermont have look of champions-in-waiting
The French and English clubs had their days in the sun in the past and it was only a matter of time before they re-asserted themselves in the competition again and that is exactly what is happening.
Munster and Leinster have been to the forefront of the tournament for over a decade but even Manchester United fail to win the Premiership the odd year.
Ulster still represent the best opportunity for Irish success this season as their graph is very much on the upward curve while Munster are now at an advanced stage of building another very competitive side. This season is too early in their evolution and even if they do manage to reach the quarter-finals, they are not contenders for ultimate honours this time out.
Leinster’s season has not only been decimated by injury to key players but the fact that they have contributed the vast majority of players to the Irish setup in recent times, is now beginning to take its toll, as it often does after a World Cup cycle. The loss of Brian O’Driscoll, Rob Kearney, Luke Fitzgerald, David Kearney and Eoin O’Malley has stretched their back line resources to the full and that has manifested itself in their lack of tries in the tournament to date, with a miserly three in four games.
Clermont Auvergne, with 13 in the same timeframe, have clearly targeted the Heineken Cup as their main priority this season after letting it slip from their grasp in Bordeaux last May. And they have selected accordingly in recent weeks despite the accusations coming from the Anglo-French alliance in the war pertaining to the restructuring of European competition in two years’ time that the Irish have a distinct advantage by resting players in the Rabo before big European games. Clermont did the exact same thing the week before the first of their back to back challenges against Leinster.
Faced with travelling to Toulouse for a Top 14 clash against their great rivals, only Nathan Hines, Jamie Cudmore, Morgan Parra and Aurelien Rougerie of their regular side started that key fixture. Kettle and pot anyone?
Clermont are a smashing side and appeared almost liberated playing away from home on Saturday. The word in France the previous week was that the pressure of defending that now 51-game unbeaten home record is beginning to impact on their performances at the Stade Marcel Michelin. In any event, they had the look of champions-in-wait at the Aviva.
Leinster’s injury issues also had a major influence on the quality of their bench and with Kevin McLaughlin also ruled out at the 11th hour, the quality required to stay with the best sides in the final quarter — think John Smit’s and Mako Vunipola’s influence on the scrum for Saracens on Sunday — just isn’t there at the moment. In addition, I think Joe Schmidt may have got his selection wrong in recent weeks especially with regard to shifting Isa Nacewa from full back. In the absence of Rob Kearney, Nacewa offers a greater attacking threat from 15 and appeared disconnected on the wing.
I also felt Cian Healy’s dynamism was sorely missed from the start last Saturday and the decision to start Heinke Van Der Merwe ahead of him backfired. Leinster have been experiencing difficulties in the second-row for some time with Brad Thorn papering over the cracks in his three-month sojourn last season and while Mike McCarthy will solve a problem there in the short term, Leinster will also need a replacement for Leo Cullen fairly soon. Cullen was magnificent in Clermont and was also his usual annoying self last Saturday but last season, Schmidt had the luxury of replacing him in the big games after 50 minutes whereas now he is required to go the full distance. For a multiplicity of reasons, Leinster have struggled to generate any momentum this season and you can see why Schmidt isn’t exactly thrilled at the prospects of travelling to Ravenhill on Friday night.
Munster have more reason to be optimistic after coming through their back-to-back sequence of games against one of the top two sides in England with honours even on all fronts — 28 points scored, five match points accumulated and a try apiece. Not bad for a team in transition. The younger generation, introduced to this level of competition over the last 12 months, have swiftly found their feet and are now beginning to lead the charge.
While, in the continued absence of Paul O’Connell, a heavy burden of expectation has fallen on the experienced shoulders of Ronan O’Gara, Donncha O’Callaghan, James Coughlan and Doug Howlett, slowly the work-load is being spread across the park. Donnacha Ryan has emerged from the shadow of O’Connell and is now a force to be reckoned with in his own right, both in playing and leadership terms. If he can maintain his current form into the New Year, he could well feature for the Lions in Australia.
Behind him, Peter O’Mahony is displaying all the qualities that have sign-posted him as Munster’s next long term captain with his totally committed style, abrasiveness and physicality an inspiration to all around him. Conor Murray continues to take pressure off O’Gara in the tactical kicking stakes, which has improved since his problems in that department against South Africa. In addition, Mike Sherry, Simon Zebo, Dave Kilcoyne and Dave O’Callaghan have all been superb in recent weeks.
While I think there is every chance Munster will progress to the knockout stage as a best runner-up, that will probably result in a trip to Clermont, Toulon or at best, Harlequins. While that experience would be great for the development of this young squad, part of me feels that ending up being directed to the quarter-final of the Amlin Challenge Cup might prove even more beneficial. With that final set for the RDS, it would be a great achievement in the evolution of this side to lift silverware in Europe.
Two seasons ago Harlequins, who were at the same stage in their development, won the Challenge Cup, beating Stade Francais in the final. It brought them on in leaps and bounds. The following season they won the Aviva Premiership for the first time in their history and are now serious contenders for the Heineken cup. Something similar would do Munster no harm at all.
nNote: It was with great sadness that I heard of the death of Kerry legend Páidí Ó Sé on Saturday. I had been blessed with Páidí’s company on many an occasion over the last 30 years and he, along with another outstanding Kerry man, my former second-row partner Moss Keane, were two of the greatest characters and raconteurs you could ever wish to meet. My sympathies extend to his entire family.
