Losing Chris Farrell could have grave consequences for Munster's season
Over the years, when their backs were firmly pressed against the wall, Munster always found a way to prevail in Europe, writes
Gloucester hardly represent a European giant, even at Kingsholm, but any hopes of Munster hosting a Heineken Cup quarter-final next April is dependent on winning on the road on Friday night. That is something they had only achieved twice this season prior to last Saturday night’s win over Connacht in Galway.
Given that the only away wins to that point were against PRO14 basement sides Zebre and the Cheetahs, last weekend’s victory was crucial. The last 10 days have been very productive from a Munster perspective and could prove the perfect launchpad for the second half of the season.
It helps too when results elsewhere go your way and Benetton’s excellent victory over Glasgow in Treviso helped propel Munster to the top of PRO14’S Conference A. Prior to the Leinster clash in Limerick, Munster sat in third behind a Connacht side making great strides under Andy Friend, which made the journey to Galway even trickier than normal.
While the victory over Leinster was critical for a variety of reasons, the manner of the win at the Sportsgrounds, coupled with the return to action of Chris Farrell, would have pleased Johann van Graan even more. With back-to-back Champions Cup games against Gloucester and Exeter Chiefs, presently fourth and first respectively in the Gallagher Premiership, Munster may have timed their run perfectly.
Gloucester are no world beaters and, in contrast to Munster, have had a disastrous festive period, losing their last two Premiership outings, at home to Sale Sharks and away to Leicester Tigers last weekend. David Humphreys’ side has been compromised by a growing injury list to key players, and Munster need to exploit their vulnerability.
Watching Munster at the moment can be quite frustrating. The squad is undoubtedly stronger than last season with Tadhg Beirne becoming more influential with every outing. As always, the side boasts a very productive set piece, a back-row combination that is well balanced in all the key areas of ball carrying, winning primary possession and either generating turnovers or slowing down opposition ball at the breakdown.
Their attacking game teases you with glimpses of exciting potential every now and then, with the back three in scintillating form, even if their strike rate from opportunities created needs to improve. Problem is to date, that quality and variety in attack has been missing against the top sides.
Despite their comparatively lofty position in the Premiership, Gloucester don’t rank when it comes to identifying the top five teams in Europe. Their standing in domestic English rugby is more a reflection on the standard of a league overrated in so many ways.
What would have excited Johann van Graan most about next Friday’s fixture was the prospect of Conor Murray, Joey Carbery, and Farrell finally starting in the same backline five months into the season. Cruelly, with Farrell injuring the opposite knee in the last play of last Saturday’s game to the one that suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear last season, that combination will have to be put on hold once again. The seriousness of Farrell’s latest setback could have grave consequences for Munster’s season.
Munster will need to be careful and not allow themselves be sucked into a loose, unstructured game that would only serve to feed the pace that Gloucester have in abundance across their back line. The problem for Humphreys is the loss of his chief playmaker in Danny Cipriani, whose recent injury- enforced absence has proved costly. There is a possibility that he may be rushed back into action for this key game but, unless he is 100% fit to play, that could end up backfiring.
What we do know is that with all their key players on board, Gloucester are capable of competing and making life difficult for all opposition as they showed when the went to Sandy Park and beat Exeter in round three of Champions Cup action - something that Munster failed to achieve.
Since then they have integrated the highly influential Springbok lock Franco Mostert into their side and he could have former Munster lock Gerbrandt Grobler alongside him in the second row for this one.
The issue for Gloucester is that they tend to play too much rugby when playing at home in front of the famous Shed and that makes them vulnerable to sides capable of putting them under sustained pressure, something Munster are certainly capable of. Gloucester made that mistake in the return fixture against Exeter in round four.
As a result, all four sides in Pool 2 are still alive and kicking going into the last two rounds of action. It means that even if Munster beat Gloucester, the winner of the Exeter verses Castres game next Sunday - which I suspect will be the Chiefs - will still be fighting for qualification in the final round of pool action.
That could well result in a winner-takes-all clash in Thomond Park against Exeter the following week. That would be a scenario Munster would surely be happy to take, with tradition favoring the men in red. Van Graan’s men hold a clear edge up front and at half back which should be enough to see them through.
The game of the weekend takes place at the RDS where a revitalised Toulouse take on the current European champions. The fact that France’s former kings of Europe can afford to lose this one and still qualify, with a home game against a Bath side already out of the qualification mix in the final round, makes them even more dangerous.
Having beaten Leinster already in the pool, they will have no inhibitions in traveling to Dublin and will have a right cut. That victory over Leinster back in October at the Stade Ernest Wallon provided a massive boost for a young squad playing a brand of attacking rugby more in keeping with the traditions of the club than the attritional forward-orientated style that characterised the final days of Guy Noves’ great reign.
On a highly impressive 12-game unbeaten run at present, Toulouse retain that physical power up front with former All Blacks Charlie Faumuina and Jerome Kaino along with long-time favourite Joe Tekori and their exciting 23-year-old hooker and captain Julien Marchand all explosive ball carriers.
Behind the scrum, Toulouse have reverted to type where their offloading in the tackle and the quality of their running lines has been a joy to watch. Key to that has been the spectacular emergence of Antoine Dupont at scrum-half, the handling and passing ability of 19-year-old Romain Ntamack in midfield and the electric finishing of Springbok winger Cheslin Kolbe. Supplementing that across an explosive backline is the experience offered by seasoned French internationals Yoann Huget and Maxine Medard.
What separates Leinster from the rest at present is their ability to deliver when the need is greatest which has seen them come out on top in all of their must-win games over the last 18 months. In order to host a home quarter-final, Leinster have to win this one and that is what makes it most interesting.
Despite the massive strides Toulouse have made in recent times, I don’t think Leinster will be found wanting. Their big players have been consistent when it comes to delivering in the biggest games. In addition, they have more seasoned quality, in all the key positions, which offers them a vital edge in what promises to be a fascinating contest.
