Plenty of positives to take from Thomond

IN the sporting arena, the team that reacts best to pressure invariably comes out on top.

As a consequence of Sale’s comprehensive bonus point victory over the Newport Gwent Dragons on Friday night, Munster faced Castres on Saturday a whopping nine points behind the pool leaders. Defeat would almost certainly result in a Heineken Cup exit before the turn of November.

As with all French sides, for Munster to win, they knew they would have to match the power of the massive Castres forward unit. A quick scan of the Thomond Park stand before kick off underlined the scale of the task. In their civvies, Paul O’Connell sat with his hand in a heavy plaster, while Alan Quinlan was on crutches. At home in Cork, in a neck brace, Frankie Sheahan wasn’t able to travel. To compound matters, Limerick was awash with rumours that John Hayes was unfit to start.

The only ray of light at this stage was confirmation that Castres’ French international out-half Yann Delaigue was a late injury withdrawal.

When Castres then withdrew their first choice scrum half, Alexandre Albouy, one felt they would struggle without their regular half back pairing.

In a manoeuvre reminiscent of his country’s Haka, Castres’ captain Kees Meeuws stood his forwards facing the gate from which Munster would enter the field. The challenge was being laid down.

If the opening 20 minutes dictates the pattern of a game, then any concern that Munster’s injuries up front would prove crucial were laid to rest. In that period, the home forwards were simply magnificent. Over the years, Munster’s lineout maul has been their most potent weapon in this tournament. By the completion of the opening quarter, despite different personnel, it was executed to such devastating effect that Munster were two tries to the good.

While Donncha O’Callaghan’s comforting opening score was secured from close range, the second credited to Jerry Flannery was poetry in motion for connoisseurs of forward play. From all of 22 metres, Munster cradled and protected the ball at the back of the maul as if it were a winning lotto ticket.

Not to be outdone, Munster’s newly constructed back division also showed signs of creative ability. Over the past few weeks, the midfield has shown real promise. However due to injury, Trevor Halstead and Gary Connolly have had limited opportunities of playing together. On Saturday there was evidence to suggest that they are capable of making a telling impact.

Connolly in particular displayed some deft touches and his neat grubber kick in the build up to Anthony Horgan’s try demonstrated a capable football brain. The only concern at the break was that Munster’s dominance was not reflected on the scoreboard.

For a brief period, as Castres upped the ante to reduce Munster’s lead to three points, there was growing concern that the visitors could snatch an unlikely victory. That was the point where Munster grew in stature as a team. In this respect, nobody did better than the half-back pairing of Peter Stringer and Ronan O’Gara. Their experience came to the fore and O’Gara, in particular, drove Munster forward through a mix of intelligent kicking and skilled distribution. Such was their dominance that they outscored Castres by an incredible 17-0 in the closing quarter.

On a day of many heroes, none did better than two of Munster’s front five, neither of whom would have started but for injuries. In the modern game, the lineout is king. Therefore, the spotlight invariably shines on the hooker. It is a pressure position. In the circumstances, Jerry Flannery was outstanding. His composure at lineout time betrayed his inexperience and his contribution around the field was noteworthy. When he was announced as “man of the match”, he responded by taking a ball against the head at a time when Munster had only seven forwards. In his first Heineken Cup start, he could do no wrong.

Behind him in the second row, Mick O’Driscoll is in the form of his life. As in Manchester last week, he was Munster’s primary ball winner out of touch and his work at the restarts was exemplary. In an excellent back row, Denis Leamy enjoyed his most commanding Heineken Cup performance to date.

When John Kelly touched down in the 56th minute to secure the vital four-try bonus point, Munster’s European show was very much back on the road.

Credit must go to Declan Kidney for the manner in which Munster were prepared for the mental challenge. While Sale are still in the driving seat in this group, they face back-to-back games against Castres when the competition resumes in December. Munster face the less daunting Dragons.

The prospects are looking brighter.

Yesterday Leinster also revived their hopes of qualification with a solid away victory over Glasgow at Hughenden.

The acquisition of a four-try bonus point has elevated them to second place, just three points behind leaders Bath. While the margin of victory was comprehensive in the end, Leinster can thank an appalling kicking performance from Glasgow captain Dan Parks, successful with just one kick from seven.

On the flip side, Leinster No. 10 Felipe Contepomi is almost single-handedly carrying his team through the group stages. He followed up last week’s 19-point haul against Bath with another 18 yesterday, including a second try in a row.

This victory has bought Leinster time. There is every chance that injured captain Brian O’Driscoll could be back when the competition resumes. Malcolm O’Kelly’s timely return to the second row also coincided with an improved performance from Leinster out of touch.

Of concern to coach Michael Cheika will be the ease with which Glasgow breached their defensive line.

Their next opponents Bourgoin will have noted the ease with which Glasgow scored their three tries. If Leinster are to survive in this competition, this deficiency needs to be addressed urgently.