Munster must start with away win
The national side profited too from the dominance enjoyed by Munster and Leinster with a Grand Slam finally delivered under Declan Kidney’s watch in 2009.
Since then, the ground rules have changed appreciably on the club front, especially in France and England, with vastly increased financial resources flooding into those two markets, courtesy of improved television deals for their domestic leagues and the deep pockets of a clutch of rugby-loving benefactors.
The impact is already being felt by all Irish provinces as the search for the marquee player is frustrated by cheque-book limitations. Factor in also the newly launched European Champions Cup is four teams lighter than its storied predecessor and you begin to appreciate qualifying for the last eight of this season’s tournament will prove more challenging than ever before for Munster, Leinster and Ulster.
High-flying Connacht are the first of the Irish to suffer the fallout from the revamped tournament as they find themselves back in the Challenge Cup after three years dining in the main hall with the big boys. Ironically their squad, especially when their high profile signings Mils Muliaina, Bundee Aki and Tom McCartney become available in November, is in a better position to compete than at any time over the last few seasons.
It is only when I sat down to pen my verdicts for Friday’s tournament overview in this paper I really began to appreciate the magnitude of the task facing the Irish provinces in the revamped tournament and how much the margin for error has shrunk.
Should Munster emerge from Pool 1 next January, Anthony Foley and his new management team will have more than earned their corn in their opening season at the helm. The fact three of last season’s Heineken Cup semi-finalists have been landed in the same pool gives you an idea of the challenge facing Munster.
Clermont Auvergne are the current leaders of the French Top 14, while Saracens occupy second place in the Aviva Premiership. As a result, Munster cannot contemplate opening their campaign with anything less than an away win over Sale on Saturday. Only problem here is Munster’s Heineken Cup history is sprinkled with opening round defeats away from home to English opposition, necessitating some famous last day heroics in round six.Away wins in Clermont’s renowned fortress, the Stade Marcel Michelin, and on Saracens electrically fast artificial surface at the spanking new Alliance Park stadium will be extremely difficult to come by. A minimum of one win on the road is a prerequisite for qualification; consequenctly, Munster must open their campaign with a victory at the AJ Bell Stadium in Salford.
Back to back wins in the Guinness Pro 12 over the last two weekends could not have been better timed, none more satisfying than their breakdown demolition of Leinster at the Aviva Stadium. The only frustration from that outing was that Leinster were on the rack in the opening period of the second half and Munster failed to put them away.
They will need to be more ruthless than that if and when the opportunity arises in Europe as every try and point scored could prove vital in getting out of the pool.
Leinster were decimated with injuries at that stage but Munster panicked somewhat resulting in a bizarre sequence of four yellow cards. That was a direct result of the pressure Leinster managed to exert at a stage of the game when Munster should have been out of sight. The most pleasing aspect of Munster’s performances to date has been the form of the back row. When Munster dominated Europe, the platform was set by a deep well of quality back rowers in Foley, Jim Williams, Alan Quinlan, Denis Leamy, David Wallace and James Coughlan.
Having, at last, been offered a run of games, the early promise so evident from the moment CJ Stander scored two tries in a man of the match performance in his first start for Munster against Glasgow in Thomond Park two years ago is finally beginning to break through.
It has taken a long time for the South African to win the confidence of the Munster management. Rob Penney was of the opinion his skill set wasn’t quite up to the type of game he wanted to play, but his direct style and explosive ball carrying was always going to endear him to Foley. In addition, when coming on for the injured Peter O’Mahony in last seasons outstanding quarter final win over Toulouse, Stander also displayed the big game temperament required to shine at this level.
He was outstanding against Leinster and with O’Mahony now back in harness and sure to lead the side against Sale, it looks as if Tommy O’Donnell and new signing Robin Copeland are in a fight for the remaining back row slot. Selecting Copeland and Stander would require O’Mahony shifting to the open side, a role he is very familiar with.
The only question for Foley here is whether or not his captain has sufficient rugby under his belt to execute his duties here. It should help that Sale’s former All Black groundhog Daniel Braid will miss Saturday’s game due to injury.
I am a big fan of the athleticism Copeland brings to the table, but, after a slow start to the season by his Cardiff Blues standard, he may have to be satisfied with a place on the bench next weekend. That should help awaken him from his early season slumber and offer Foley the type of competition for places prerequisite for any side chasing silverware. I have no doubt Copeland will come good and Saturday could well be the day he announces himself to the Munster faithful.
Leinster are a bit all over the place at he moment but any side deprived the services of Cian Healy and Sean O’Brien in the ball carrying department is bound to suffer. Factor in the loss in terms of sheer presence Brian O’Driscoll and Leo Cullen bring to the dressing room, along with Jonny Sexton and Isa Nacewa, from the previous season and Leinster are now having to deal with the type of leadership void Munster faced after the retirement of so many stalwarts and the long term injury absence of Paul O’Connell.
Leinster are fortunate, however, to find themselves in one of the less competitive pools in this years tournament and to open their campaign at home against Wasps. The Londoners are nowhere near as strong as the side that captured two Heineken Cups in 2004 and 2007 even if they are showing steady signs of improvement under Dai Young.
Ulster’s pool is every bit as competitive as Munster’s with reigning back-to-back Heineken Cup champions Toulon and former winners Leicester offering a serious barrier to progress.
Ulster’s visit to Welfort Road next Saturday is well timed, however, as the Tigers are still reeling from a catastrophic injury list.
The visitors also have an outstanding 19-22 win over the Tigers at Welford Road last January fresh in the memory bank to draw on and such was their form in a clinical 29-9 victory over the previously unbeaten Glasgow Warriors last weekend that I wouldn’t bet against them repeating last seasons seismic win in Leicester this weekend. With three opening wins a distinct possibility for the Irish in the newly launched Champions Cup, maybe its not all doom and gloom in the new order after all!
