"When the Munster players talk about the relationship with their supporters, it's not lip service. It's very real. The baton is there, but nobody passes it on - they all just their hand on it."
Philippe Saint Andre, Sale director of rugby: "It's funny. I knew Munster had won 23 or 24 consecutive games in Thomond Park and that it's not an easy place to go. I told my team that this would be like an away quarter-final.
"I told them that they'd see the Munster spirit and passion, that Munster would win the 50-50s, that we needed good discipline and no mistakes, that we couldn't give them a line-out inside our 20m or they'd drive us. I told them it would be a war, they'd feel they were playing against 25 opposition players.
"They were saying 'yeah, yeah, don't worry' but they don't know. They don't know."
: "On Tuesday, we touched on what would be required, the permutations that kick in at this stage of the competition - the relevance of tries and bonus points. But then those things are put to one side. After all, that becomes irrelevant if you lose, so the concentration is then wholly on just winning as it was against Gloucester three years ago. We hadn't talked too much about bonus points ahead of the Castres game, and it looked after itself. But the manner of that win certainly provided an extra boost in confidence as we prepared for Sale.
"We put in a lot of work into our defensive strategies. We allotted 15 minutes to work on this. That meant full suits and at full match intensity. This drills can go right to the edge as you have guys in direction opposition for places going head to head. Sometimes these things can spill over into fisticuffs but not on this occasion. That is where I would pay tribute to the lads, the level was just perfect."
"I remember thinking that if we could replicate that intensity on Saturday, we would be going places. Away to Sale, we did it for the first 40 or 50 minutes and then fell away. That was to prove the most pleasing thing on Saturday - we went from the first to the 85th minute without taking our foot off the gas."
: "We tried to get through all our contact work, our defensive drills, mauls and so on. The session in Limerick was a bit scratchy."
: "I try and keep a normal routine. The days leading up to a game, you try and focus completely on that for the hour and a half of training and during the analysis as well. Everyone will tell you, even your coaches, that you should try and get away from it all when you can. Forget about it. I do my own thing, head into town, do a bit of shopping, clean the house. I find I can relax quite easily."
: "Thursday was our final full session and was less physical than the work done on Tuesday. Graham Steadman came to look at what we would have to do attack and defence wise. We are always working on technique along with discipline and getting coaching points across. Of course we also looked at the Sale video and would identify where there strongest ball carriers would be and how to cope with them."
: "We worked on our defensive stuff, the one-on-one techniques and the like. Things were still a bit scratchy, but a little bit better than Tuesday. There was a lot of obvious tension going around. Mind you, when things don't go well during the week, that can be a good thing, sometimes.
"My emphasis was on making sure the attitude was there in training, the intensity, the focus, and it was, it always is, even if sometimes the skill in execution wasn't.
"I've played with most of these guys, the established fellas, but also with the younger lads coming through like Barry Murphy and Steve Keogh. It helps to have built up that rapport with them, when making the transition from player to coach. We've got a healthy respect for each other, and that's a good place to start."
: "There was a good feeling in the camp Friday night, but there always is in a Munster camp. I know that sounds a cliché, but I've been in one or two teams which didn't have that; there's definitely something different about Munster."
: "It was one of the shorter captain's runs on Friday. We were together at Thomond Park for 15 minutes, first with the subs, then just the team, and we ran a few patterns. The forwards stayed on for a while, fine-tuning line-outs. One thing that struck me was how quiet it was - something I remember from a few years ago. There was a steeliness in the players.
"Sale would have known a few of our line-outs from the previous game and the video. So Friday evening offered us a chance to work on a few things that the would not have seen before."
: "After dinner they watched some of the matches on TV in the team room. Some like to play scrabble, others cards. I don't fancy the idea of getting fleeced by these guys, so I keep away from the sharks. The culprits would be Frankie Sheahan and Rob Henderson who weren't there on Friday night so it turned out that Mick O'Driscoll would be the main guy in organising the card pool."
: "My girlfriend lives in Limerick so I called over to her after that and had dinner with her family. There's six young kids in their house so that kept things quite normal. The last thing you could think of was rugby. It was great actually, a nice escape.
"When I went back to the hotel, I stayed up fairly late watching DVDs but I was actually spending more time trying to fix everybody's bloody ipods and computers. I don't have a computer degree or anything. It's just by getting them myself and fiddling around with them that I've learned how to use them. I was sharing with David Wallace. They usually try to pair you with guys who would have a similar sleeping pattern to you so you're not tip-toeing around each other, so you're not worrying about keeping a fella awake. It works out well when you get used to someone."
: "Most of the squad stay at the hotel, though some of the Limerick-based players may go home to sleep in their own beds. On the menu we had minestrone soup, stir fried chicken, pork or beef. We usually have a lot of pastas but rice was available Friday which was a welcome change. For desert we had fruit salad or pancakes.
"There is no set order to the seating - the forwards or the backs don't all sit together - we are all very comfortable in one another's company. There is always a good slag going on with Marcus and Donnacha usually to the fore.
"The film of choice usually goes to a vote - or else whatever Axel wants to watch. Blazing Saddles is one that often gets a run out! There used to be an active card school but that seems to have died. Maybe some of the key punters must be injured. I headed out for a beer or two around 9pm. Usually you try and go somewhere to chill."
: "I got up early and drove to Limerick with my sister and my girlfriend. Pat Geraghty had asked me to turn up to the Heineken and Toyota functions and meet the people there and have a chat with them. So, when we got to Limerick, myself and Christian Cullen headed out to Thomond. We got there around 2pm and the place was already really busy. There was a really good atmosphere at that stage."
: "With two kids I'm usually up between 7 and 8, so I pottered around, watched some TV. I tried not to read the papers too much - not trying to be horrible - because I try not to think about the game, there's a long day if it's a late kick-off."
: "I was looking mainly to the attitude, making sure everything was okay and their minds clear. I keep an eye on the younger guys - having come through with the Brumbies myself, I know what it's like trying to make the breakthrough.
"I had the likes of Joe Roff, George Gregan, Stephen Larkham, and Owen Finnegan available. You'd ask questions, they always answered as best they could and helped you along. So I feel an obligation to do the same and help the younger guys.
"We hadn't said anything about the need to get four tries to top the group, there was no need. It was there throughout the media, definitely put in front of us. Our focus was just on winning the game, qualify for the quarter-final. We were coming off a good win in France, got the bonus point, so we were in a much better frame of mind; the attitude was the same, however, just get the win."
: "I like my sleep but not half as much as someone like Donncha O'Callaghan. That fella could sleep all day if there wasn't a game to play. I like it when it's a late kick-off like 5.15pm.
"You have a bit of time in the morning if you want to sleep in. You're not too rushed. With a lunchtime kick-off, you're up at 8am and you have your pre-match meal at nine. Try eating chicken and spaghetti or something like that at nine o'clock!
I got up about 10.30 and strolled down for breakfast. Afterwards, I went out for a drive on my own and saw the flags on O'Connell Street. I like to go for a stroll, just walk around town for half an hour or so, try to pick up the atmosphere of the place. I like meeting people beforehand, getting a buzz off them. Some players don't want that, but I like it.
"People passing always say best of luck and give you a slap on the shoulder. They know enough not to try and get into a big discussion on the game itself, to bore you to tears. They have a respect there. Keep walking, I think that's the main thing, but people understand the pressure of the day and they tend to give you your space.
"I'm not really a nervous person but I would be anxious for it to get started. It's always in my head thinking how many people will be there, what the atmosphere will be like. Thinking about that is where I get my buzz from and it gives me shivers down the back of my neck."
: "About 1pm we did a bit of line-out practice in the hotel car park before the pre-match meal. I then went for a bit of a lie down and a cold shower before we boarded the bus for the ground at about quarter to four.
"It was very noticeable coming into Thomond Park that there were an awful lot more people already at the ground than would normally be the case and they were already very vocal and very loud. Mick O'Driscoll said to me that he'd never seen so many people there that early."
: "I would be a good reader so I grab a couple of papers and look at the match reports from the night before and more importantly, the state of the pools. Naturally, there would be interviews and features about our own game and that leads to some slagging about what the player in question does or does not say.
"Breakfast is served any time from 9.30-11am but as we're eating again at lunchtime, some players may not come down. I joined Jerry Holland and Pat Geraghty. There were two menus - one for the players and one for he management. I still like my fry in the morning."
: "By lunchtime there were a lot of people milling around the hotel because there were so many functions on in the Clarion that day but I noticed there were very few Sale supporters staying in the hotel. Our own supporters always respect the players' privacy."
: "The coaches have their own routine as well. I normally try to get around to every player for a chat, to make sure they know what we expect out of them, the breakdown stuff, continuity, reiterate what we've gone through in the video sessions. If we've worked on something specific with a certain player, I like to go over that again, one-on-one."
: "We did our regular line-out practice in the Dock Yard adjacent to the hotel at 1.15pm. The session went particularly well though the ground was quite slippery as a few lorries had passed through. We knew the atmosphere would be electric so we worked on communicating the line-out calls, keeping our concentration.
"I had a brief word as this would be my second-last chance to speak to the eight. I said that we needed to be physical and to make space an absolute premium. We had to bully them. John Hayes also said a few words about the scrum. John is not a man to talk much but what little he says is always very apt. If he spoke I knew he was going to be okay."
: "It was a little surreal travelling in the bus. Limerick seemed like a ghost town. Maybe, people were already in the pubs getting ready for the game. Even if you are nervous, now is not time to show it. If you are asking them to be cool calm and collected, you need to lead by example."
: "On the bus it's time for reflection, virtual silence. You turn your mobile off, or, at the very least, put it on silent. Either the players are lost in their own thoughts or soaking up the atmosphere en route. Recognising faces. This is the goose-pimples moment.
"When the Munster players talk about the relationship with their supporters, it's not lip service. It's very real, and it's a privilege. They know people on the streets would pay anything to be a player on this bus.
"What is it about Thomond Park? It's indefinable. Coming from outside Munster, I thought I would be able to suss it fairly quickly, but the longer I'm here, the more indefinable it becomes. Is it the players, those in the jerseys? Hardly. You think when Gaillimh, Clohessy, Langford and Crotty go, then the X factor will disappear and Munster will become an ordinary side at Thomond Park. But then the next gang comes along and the magic seeps into them - Tomás O'Leary, Barry Murphy, Ian Dowling - they are cut from the same cloth.
"Donncha talks about not letting down the jersey, but everybody in the squad means that. They realise that fans organise their lives around Munster rugby, around this team. They abandon family holidays, or work their holidays around, or involving matches.
"This is not Toulouse, an all singing all dancing team of talents - they are a team of the people. Just look at the continuity - Garret (Fitzgerald) used to be manager, Jerry Holland was coach before, Jim Williams was a player.
"The baton is there, and nobody passes it on - they all just lay their hand on it."
: "With the lights on as well and a low cloud, Thomond Park can create an eerie atmosphere. Most players admitted that it was an atmosphere they never felt before."
: "I've never seen the crowd in their places so early for a game. The place was packed 35 or 40 minutes before the kick-off. There were very few arriving with 10 minutes to go."
: "Even during the warm-up, the crowd were going mental and when we came out onto the pitch Cara O'Sullivan had just finished a rousing version of 'Stand Up and Fight' and the atmosphere was really frenzied."
: "We were just doing a few sprints back and forward across the pitch, but every time we reached the far side of the pitch they gave a huge roar. It was awesome."
: "The final chat. Declan reminded us about the analysis from the week and then expressed his own thoughts on the game. He would have one or two motivational things up his sleeve, nothing gimmicky and they worked perfectly. He then handed it the floor, over to the players, and Axel hit the nail on the had, pointing out that we were out there representing our friends, our families, our supporters and that no one, other than ourselves was going to win the game for us.
"Paul O'Connell and Marcus Horan spoke very well too. It is one thing having natural leaders who are good to talk about the head of battle but these guys back it up in the white head of battle. When a fellow says he will lay it on the line - he will lay it on the line."
: "On the way to Thomond Park my work is done, apart from the meeting two hours before the game. I told them they needed to play the perfect game, but all the mistakes we asked them to avoid were made in the first 15, 20 minutes."
: "You always knew it was going to be confrontational in terms of the physical battle. The first 15 minutes were going to be especially important. We knew it was going to be intense."
: "We have set components to our drills, working on passing, handling, stretching, line outs, defending and then team patterns. With the lineouts we try to keep it simple to build on the confidence. We do five on one touchline and then five on the other. We have ball boys and they know exactly what we require. For example Jerry Flannery likes a towel to dry the ball before a throw whereas Frankie Sheahan would like the ball to be dried when he gets it. The form of Jerry has not been as great a surprise as some people make it out to be. When we asked him to move from Connacht, we knew what we were getting. And since then he has worked very hard on his game. But his performance this year is no shock to anyone involved in rugby - this was a guy just waiting for his opportunity."
: "I told them they'd see Munster spirit and passion, that Munster would win the 50-50s, that we needed good discipline, that we couldn't give them a lineout in our 20m or they'd drive us. What happened? In the first four minutes, a yellow card, we slice one kick, a lineout 15m out and they score."
: "From a personal point of view, the crowd were great and they mean everything to the players, but you have to focus yourself on the game and what's going on. They're not going to be making any tackles. The thing they can do, however, is get inside the heads of the Sale guys and freak them out. Anything that got them thinking: 'Jesus, what's going on here?' was fine with me."
: "Sale looked pretty focused as well, but about 20 minutes into the game someone went down injured, and I saw the faces of the Sale players. They just had this 'I don't know what's going on here' look on their faces."
: "Something was working because (Epi) Taione said to me afterwards that it was a frightening place to play. Even so, you try not to be too dependent on the crowd."
: "Things were fairly intense from the first whistle. I got into a fight in the first few minutes and I was lucky I just ducked under what would have been the haymaker of the year from their second row (Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe). I was lucky that he got binned and I stayed on the pitch.
"Sale's have been used to burying teams and having things their own way. The thing was that we couldn't let that happen to us; if they got the upper hand at all, we were history. We had to face them down and if that meant there were going to be a few dust-ups, then so be it."
: "Before the game I'd been talking to a few Irish lads from Wasps and they were saying Sale were brilliant when they were in front, so it was crucial for us to capitalise if we went ahead. There could be no taking our foot off the gas."
: "Once the game had kicked off, things settled a little and I remember the restart after Charlie Hodgson had levelled it at 3-3 with a penalty, that Chabal caught the ball and Paul (O'Connell) and Donncha (O'Callaghan) wrapped him up and drove him back 20 or 30 metres. That was an awesome moment for everyone - the players and the crowd alike - and it was just the response required when they had got a score back. The fact it ultimately led to our first try has to be taken into consideration too."
: "The whole pack got behind him and drove them back a long way. You see something like that and it is really inspirational - for you as well as the crowd."
: "There were a lot of Sale fans around us and they were all 'Seba this' and 'Seba that,' but their jaws just hit the deck when Paul hit him early on. The timing of the hit was incredible, because he had to slow down slightly before he got to him. But he did it to perfection and it set a tone. In fairness to Chabal he was really up for it and he took a lot of punishment during the match, but that early hit laid down a marker."
: "In no way was Chabal deliberately targeted for that. He called for that ball, Paul (O'Connell) just happened to get a good hit on him, the boys piled in behind him, in the typical Munster way. Moments like that make a huge difference. We scored a try off that hit, eventually, but it goes to prove that the simple things we take for granted can often make a big difference in the game.
"This isn't to say we hadn't singled out Chabal, you can't ignore the quality of guys like him and the same applies to Sheridan, Hodgson and Jason Robinson. Chabal's form had been excellent, he runs hard and straight and we made a point of making sure that when we made the tackle, we made big hits. There's no denying those hits on Chabal did help our momentum and probably startled them a bit."
: "We had looked at that kind of double hit and it was fortunate that the timing worked out. But it was really a sign of intent.
"Even after getting the third try I was not completely happy. We had played a little loose and had forgotten what had got us into the position we enjoyed. That has been a problem all year. We lost our rhythm and they had come back at us. The scoreline at the break was beyond our wildest dreams but in a case like that you approach the break with trepidation. For the trailing team it offers a chance to regroup while the concern for the team in command is that the momentum may be lost."
: "All the coaches have their bit to say. Declan is talking, Brian and myself get up with the forwards, have a chat, lineout and set-piece with Brian, breakdown work with myself, guys have different times to talk. I speak to the backs, the forwards, about the breakdown, the continuity. Sale are a quality side, they are always capable of coming back from that. The break caused us to lose a bit of momentum. We knew we needed only one more try to top the group, but sometimes that one try can be the hardest to achieve."
: "We have set structures at the interval. The first minute-and-a-half is player time - the docs and medics go round do what they have to do - but the lads have time to themselves. Then the management will have a brief discussion about what needs to be done regarding set pieces, tackling and the like. The bonus point was not mentioned. The match was not yet won. That remained our primary objective."
: "Paulie, Axel and Donncha were very vocal throughout the second half and the team really kept its focus. But coming towards the end I was beginning to feel the pace. At half-time I felt brilliant, but 20 minutes into the second, I was absolutely f**ked. I said it to Paulie and he said: 'You'll be alright, you'll get your second wind.' Ten minutes later and there was still no sign of it.
: "In the second-half we knew not to panic and just look for the fourth try if we could. We were patient and it worked out for us."
: "The second half was a little flat compared to the intensity of the first and that was reflected in the crowd too, who were a little muted for spells, but we knew if we let the intensity of the game drop, Sale would be back in it like a flash. I was completely drained and sore coming to the end of the game, but I knew I had to keep it going. Anytime you lose focus, bad things happen.
: "As the second half went on, I thought we maybe let it get away. They made a lot of substitutions and they were pressing hard. They weren't giving in easy. When we missed that lineout on their five-metre line towards the end, I thought it was over. But even if that had been the case it would still have been a great performance."
: "I don't think the bonus point was playing on our minds because you can't think about those things. In fact, I wasn't aware how much time had actually gone when Wally scored. I was more worried that we'd just missed our throw in on their five-metre line and when that happens usually you screw up the next three or so. But we nailed the next one. Wally's try came shortly after that."
: "In the second half we were in control, but Munster were better on the day. Their fans were fantastic, and it was a great day for rugby. I found the scoreline didn't reflect the game. In terms of territory it was 50-50. They were more clinical, it was a great experience for the development of our team, but 24-12 might have reflected the game."
: "I specifically remember Barry Murphy's try afterwards - not only because it was one of the best I've ever seen at Thomond Park, but because I just stood back in awe at what he was doing. That was something special."
: "Immense satisfaction all around. There is a huge adrenaline build-up for days like this. The players on the pitch are completely drained. All the subs were on at that stage too as well. It was happy days to finish with the bonus as well. Something you couldn't dream up what just happened. Anthony said a few things from the stand, though there was no triumphalism. There is nothing on the sideboard at this stage."
: "Electric. Declan has a chat, I go around one-on-one again, congratulate them, but you don't want too many voices, just enjoy the moment, let the guys soak in the atmosphere. Not a lot was said, but it's hugely satisfying. To see the progression, see guys doing certain skills, carrying the ball, doing things at the breakdown - all of that is really pleasing. I've always had faith in the guys. When I was playing, that was just something I never questioned, their attitude, intensity, passion. It was their execution, their skill levels that sometimes let us down. We've been working hard to fix that, to see it coming through in games is very satisfying."
: "After the game we had a function for ourselves and the girlfriends in the hotel. It's up to the guys then to decide if they want to head out after. I think most guys did last Saturday.
"The town was mayhem. I don't drink at all and at times it gets kinda tough. I'd be patient enough at the best of times. It's easier when you win obviously but when you lose it's hard to listen to some 18-stone fella telling you how to pass the ball.
"I left about 2am. Next day I was back in the girlfriend's house watching the Leinster game. It was looking great after 20 minutes and then towards the end you're thinking, 'Jesus, don't let them in for another try for the bonus point.' Rob Kearney went to kick a ball into touch at one stage and missed and I was just praying that wasn't a sign that it wasn't going to be our day."
: "I did think we'd beat Sale but perhaps not in the fashion we did. It left a real glow, the feeling of knowing the lads had beaten a really good side. Decisively. When you are privileged to be as close to these guys as I am, you write them off at your peril. I think the (Celtic League) win in Edinburgh was important, and the Castres performance was a step up again. Was there something different, something that made the week special? No. The players go about their business in the same way every week, every year. They are very professional. You are dealing with a very experienced squad."
: "It felt so good to be part of such a great win and, to be honest, it was difficult to take it all in - what we'd done, the crowd reaction, the whole thing. It was a class feeling."
: "I was exhausted. It's not just the game, it's the whole week, people wishing you well, talking about the game, it's building up the whole time. If you lose a game like that you're shattered, but winning puts a spring in your step. I was still back in the hotel around midnight, though."
: "I didn't tell them 'I told you so' afterwards. We watched the video during the week and I explained some points to them. A horror film? Yeah. But fantastique Munster."
: "I remember thinking I had to get Declan down to the dressing room but he was happy to sit there and soak it all in. This had been an emotional three or four weeks for him personally and professionally. I had seen what he had gone through and he handled himself so well. Though the aftermath was incredible, the players will know that we have nothing to show. This team want to win the Heineken Cup. That focus remains.
"After the post-match function, I drove home and sat down to watch a video of the match. Usually I might fast forward over bits and pieces. This time I let the tape run...."
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
