A trying time, but Munster edge closer to Holy Grail
Leinster’s disappointing away defeat to Biarritz only serves to highlight Alan Gaffney’s team’s achievement in reaching the quarter-finals for the sixth successive season.
When Lawrence Dallaglio scored Wasps fourth try in injury-time to defeat Perpignan 34-6, Munster went from second to third seed.
They now play Stade Francais at home, thus avoiding a third showdown with Gloucester in this year’s competition.
The Munster management will, I suspect, be much more pleased with that outcome.
The character of this Munster side has shone like a beacon since their defeat to Gloucester in early January. Since then, they have secured three bonus points in-a-row, scoring 13 tries in the process. Not surprisingly, given the wind and rain in the hour leading up to the kick-off, the atmosphere at Thomond Park on Saturday was short on what was experienced against Gloucester two weeks previously.
If anything, a sense of nervousness prevailed on and off the pitch. Given that Burgoin had no hope of advancing, it was difficult to predict how they would approach this tie. However, when their front five stood to face the tunnel from which the Munster team would emerge, they made a clear statement of intent.
Munster knew that victory in itself was not sufficient. The four-try barrier would have to be breached. This requirement doesn’t sit well with the Irish psyche.
Moreover, the Burgoin pack had come to play. They competed feverishly in the set piece and succeeded in robbing two of Munster’s throws in the first quarter. When Munster reverted to the tried and trusted catch and drive at the front of the lineout, they began to establish a solid platform up front.
The necessity for Munster to score tries produced a chronic case of ‘white line fever’. Every time they got within five yards of the opposition try line, they panicked. As early as the third minute John Kelly passed on a clear opportunity to score in the corner when he cut back inside.
Fifteen minutes later he made amends when his midfield break released Mike Mullins with the line at his mercy. The centre, who has been in outstanding form of late, dropped the ball.
The epidemic reached crisis proportions in the second-half when Paul O’Connell, of all people, having done tremendous work to secure possession, ignored a clear three to one overlap and a certain score.
In their quest for the bonus point, captain Jim Williams made a number of brave decisions throughout. On 20 minutes he refused an easy penalty to the right of the posts, opting for a scrum instead. From that platform, Mullins scored Munster’s opening try. Similarly, on the stroke of half time, he opted for the line-out option in the corner from which O’Connell scored their second try to lead by nine points at the break. Fortune favoured the brave.
In the second-half, Munster’s dominance continued everywhere but on the scoreboard. When they reached the final quarter with the score still at 12-3, one feared that the vital bonus point might elude them However, pressure manifests itself in many ways.
Every team that has visited Thomond Park in this year’s Heineken Cup has ended up with players in the sin-bin. Indeed both Gloucester two weeks ago and Burgoin on Saturday ended with two players yellow carded. Munster, more than most teams, have been clinical in capitalising on that numerical advantage. And so it proved once again. The line-out platform yielded the opportunity for Peter Stringer, magnificent throughout, to score the third try on 61 minutes.
With five minutes remaining, Bourgoin, defending a five-metre scrum with seven forwards, collapsed. Referee Spreadbury generously ran under the posts. Most referees would issue a warning and a re-scrum.
With victory and the bonus point secured, Munster could finally afford to relax.
Arguably, the most satisfying aspect of Saturday’s display was the control exerted at halfback.
Stringer was back to his best, despite taking a heavy knock early in the game. Ronan O’Gara steered the ship magnificently when leadership was required in the second-half. His tactical kicking was of the highest quality.
At the other end, Munster’s replacements for the injured Marcus Horan and Frankie Sheahan also played their part. Scottish prop Gordan Mcllwham was brought into the squad as cover for John Hayes. Primarily a tight head, he has done an excellent job at loose head when deputising for Horan, whose ongoing back problem must be a cause of concern at this stage.
Likewise, in the absence of Sheehan, James Blaney has worked his socks off in the last two games. In the past, a lack of depth on the bench has cost Munster in this tournament. It could make the difference this year.
When the competition returns in April, the mercurial talents of Christian Cullen will add immeasurably to Munster’s backline potential.
When Alan Gaffney was appointed to the Munster hot seat in succession to Declan Kidney, he had a difficult act to follow. Since his appointment, Munster have won the Celtic League and lost to eventual winners Toulouse, by the narrowest of margins in last season’s Heineken Cup semi-final. His achievement in reaching the quarter-finals again this year deserves huge credit. With the distractions of the World Cup, he has done a magnificent job to date.
Of the eight teams remaining, Toulouse and Wasps look the biggest threat to Munster’s dream of European success. Tomorrow at Iveagh House in Dublin, Sports Minister, John O’Donoghue will make the draw for the Heineken Cup semi-finals. That will give a clear indication of Munster’s potential path to the final.
Having agreed to fund a new home for rugby last week, the Minister could become even more popular with the rugby fraternity by granting Munster the possibility of a home semi-final for the first time.
It’s the least they deserve.
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