It’s time for Europe’s big boys to make statement of intent
I have to admit, it was never the worst thing for Munster to lose to our neighbours the week before the start of the Heineken Cup. It was the kick up the arse that guaranteed us the reaction we needed going into Europe. Jonny feels that the mindset has come full circle. Leinster didn’t produce at Thomond Park two weeks ago, but by God did they do it away to the Ospreys in Round One of the Heineken Cup last Saturday.
We were debating it in the context of Racing’s opening round win over Clermont-Auvergne, and the fear that after the Lord Mayor’s carriage, there could be an unceremonious fall to earth for us away to the Scarlets tomorrow. Given the French mindset, that has to be high on the list of fear factors for us.
Clermont-Auvergne gave it a right rattle on Sunday night; Racing were hanging on for dear life at the end, but our boys played for each other, which is the first time we’ve done that over the full 80 minutes this season — certainly against that level of opposition. The best player on the opening weekend by a country mile was in the opposition ranks — Sitiveni Sivivatu’s attack stats with ball in hand was 140 metres, which is staggering. It’s amazing how world-class players like the All-Black winger find form when their contracts are up for renegotiation!!!
We’re hoping the win is a season-changer. It needs to be. Coming home from the Top 14 home defeat to Grenoble, you felt like driving off a cliff. If Racing win in Wales, we’re in the box seat in the pool. Saturday is seen as Moving Day on the PGA tour. Round 2 is Moving Weekend in European rugby.
I wonder if Leinster got sufficient credit for the performance in Swansea. That was only the second home defeat in 26 Heineken Cup games for the Ospreys at their place, and Leinster were full value for it, their big players did really well. Jimmy Gopperth seemed a big addition for them. He looks transformed, a player energised by a winning culture in Leinster. With the question for Ireland of who is going to back up Jonny Sexton, the Ian Madigan issue isn’t going anywhere. However for Castres tomorrow, I suspect Matt O’Connor will be tempted to stick with the same XV that did the business in the Liberty Stadium.
While Harlequins and the Ospreys already look in trouble, Toulon, Leinster, Scarlets and Montpellier made big statements in round one. I wouldn’t fancy Ulster’s trip to Montpellier this weekend; the Top 14 outfit were very impressive when I saw them in Lausanne in pre-season, destroying Leicester. They have a really good pack, good half-backs, and have two more explosive additions to bed in with Rene Ranger and South African centre Robert Ebersohn bulking up their squad.
Undoubtedly, Munster’s defeat to Edinburgh was the raised eyebrows result of Round One, but it’s hardly fatal — even if some of the reaction at home to the result would indicate it was.
That happens sometimes — they obviously emptied the tank against Leinster — and it’s not as is it hasn’t happened before. Munster have lost four of the last five first-round games in the Heineken Cup. Nowadays, unless it’s a big mismatch, top level rugby is all about the 80 minutes. What happens the week before, or after, is largely irrelevant. Look at Llanelli, shipping 42 points to Leinster in Round 2 of the Rabo and then destroying Harlequins away from home in Europe. Explain please.
Munster still have five games to recover and they don’t need to start chasing bonus points either, because they can easily win away in Perpignan and away in Gloucester. They are the key games in the pool.
However, they understand themselves they were poor at Murrayfield, that most individuals were poor and the team was poor. But what people don’t understand is that happens in sport. Some with glorified opinions think there’s a switch you flick, but mentally and physically, players feel better some days than others. They’re human.
The Perpignan back-to-back games in December will be key. That pool, four wins could top it. Perpignan are strong at home, but still beatable at Stade Aime Giral. And they’ll be intimidated going to Thomond Park.
Of all the possible excuses for Munster last weekend, the one I buy least is the early kick-off issue on the Saturday. I presume management are still making the players get up and have breakfast at seven o’clock Thursday and Friday, so early afternoon kick-offs shouldn’t be a shock to the system.
There’s been plenty of analysis on JJ Hanrahan’s attempted dink over the top. Of course, it’s magnified because it was JJ and because it was a decisive moment in a big game. If you gave JJ back the ball again, he wouldn’t do that again. I did that a dozen times at that same stage of my career, so I can completely understand what he was thinking — he’s trying to make something happen, coming off the bench, frustrated he didn’t get game time against Leinster, trying to push it a little bit hard and that’s what happens. With the good players, you look for the reaction; his confidence was shaken, because he dropped a ball later in the game. But when you’re trying to make it — and this guy will make it — it’s hard going, but he has to respond positively.
It didn’t help Munster’s mood that they’ve lost Simon Zebo’s X Factor for a couple of months. He’s a big loss, no doubt, and there’s despair and desolation for him in the first few days after an injury. But I know from the time I did my cruciate, that those weeks of rehab, if you apply yourself, will make you a better player. The amount of time you can get to work on different aspects of your game and to work on proper rehab, will make you stronger. I can see it with our scrum-half here at Racing, Maxime Machenaud. He’s out for six weeks with broken bones in his hand, and he’s totally dejected. The club gave him until next Monday off but he said he’d see me yesterday morning to work on one-arm passing.
Ian Keatley just needs time in the 10 position. And he must be given it. He hasn’t played many important Heineken Cup games and it’s wrong to expect more of him. He was the least experienced member of the backline that went on Scotland. And yet you have to admire him because he wants that responsibility, he’s craving it. But in that position, the first thing he needs to do is survive for six months. Do the basic duties week in week out. Anything else is a bonus for now.
