Dragons star aims for maximum return against Munster
The Newport scoring machine is set to return for the first of the back-to-back games between the Dragons and Munster at Rodney Parade Saturday.
Sweeney missed last weekend’s Powergen Cup win over Worcester following treatment to a groin strain after playing in all four of Wales’ Autumn Tests.
But having faced the All Blacks, Springboks and Wallabies last month, Sweeney now returns to take on Munster in a bid to save Newport’s flagging European dreams.
“It doesn’t get any easier does it,” he joked. “It doesn’t matter what happens in the Celtic League, Munster are always regarded as one of the top five or six teams in Europe and one of the biggest challenges you can face.
“They are experts when it comes to Europe and they know exactly what it takes to win games in the Heineken Cup. It’s always been what their season is all about.
“Their preparations for the big games is always spot on and they always seem to get it spot on to at least reach the last eight, if not the semi-finals or final. You don’t reach two finals without knowing a bit about winning big games.”
Sweeney may have figured in the free-running style of rugby that earned Wales the Grand Slam and that has been adopted at Newport by their new coach Paul Turner, but the outside-half admitted Munster’s more patient style was just as effective.
He said: “Munster’s biggest strength is their pack. Last year their line-out really stuffed us and it felt as if we just couldn’t get our hands on the ball. Their pack dominates games and in Ronan O’Gara they have an outside-half with a great kicking game who keeps pinning the opposition back in their own half. At times you almost feel suffocated because you just can’t get out of your own half.
“That frustration creates mistakes. Teams start trying to run the ball out of defence and end up handing Munster more chances to score. That’s why Munster are so good at what they do.
“Some people may say it’s not exciting but it’s winning rugby and that’s what cup competitions are all about. Just because some teams score eight tries in a game does not make them a better team than sides who grind out narrow results.
“Ask any of the Munster fans what they want and they will tell you that they want to win the Heineken Cup with whatever it takes. They have got their own style and it really works for them. You can’t argue with that.”
A 29-24 loss at Castres followed by a 38-11 defeat at home to Sale means Newport must win both games against Munster to stand a chance of making the quarter-finals for the first time.
Sweeney said: “We were fairly happy with a bonus point at Castres but we all knew that we could have won that game. It was still a positive result but we let ourselves down the following week at home to Sale.
Hopefully we have learned the lessons from that game.
“Consistency has been our biggest problem. We have beaten Leicester this season and pushed Castres in France but failed to build on them.
“But we have won our last two and hopefully that will give us some momentum for the Heineken Cup and two massive games against Munster.
Plus we’ve already sold nearly 7,000 tickets so I’m sure the home fans will make a big difference.”
Turner names his squad today but has already re-called Gareth Chapman from the Wales Sevens squad in South Africa after wing Gareth Wyatt was ruled out for two months following a dislocated elbow.
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