To win, Munster must perform at a level they have not yet reached this season
Having played on a number of occasions for Munster against Leinster at headquarters in front of a few thousand at best, it represents a remarkable turnaround.
On Sunday, those lucky enough to secure tickets are likely to witness scenes normally reserved for an All-Ireland hurling final. The colour, atmosphere and fervour on the terraces should make for a unique rugby experience.
This is the tenth season of European rugby. While Munster struggled to find their feet in the early years, their consistency over the past five seasons marks them out as the best team never to have won the tournament.
Given that they now host a semi-final for the first time, many people feel their time has come. If only it were that simple. This year’s competition has undoubtedly been the best yet. One of the principle reasons for this is the change in the mindset of the French clubs. For years they have valued success in their domestic competition over everything else. However, because of the growing status of the tournament on a world stage, that has now changed. This is shift of seismic proportions. That is why the first semi-final on Saturday between Toulouse and Biarritz promises to be a classic. While holders Toulouse are many people’s favourites to reach yet another final, it will come as no surprise to me if Biarritz pull off a shock victory.
On Sunday, Munster face star-studded Wasps, who, much like last year, are peaking at the business end of the season. They have been the best team in England for the last two years. Since Warren Gatland’s arrival, they won the Zurich Premiership last season and are favourites to retain the trophy. More significantly, they also tasted European success when they won the Parker Pen trophy last year.
Gatland has done a superb job for the London club since his controversial dismissal as Irish coach two seasons ago. He has instilled a strong team ethic, evidenced by the fact that England World Cup stars Lawrence Dallaglio and Joe Worsley both accepted 20% salary cuts this year in order to stay with the club.
The thing that sets this Wasps side apart is their ability to perform under pressure. This was very much in evidence in their quarter-final annihilation of Gloucester. It is also clear that this Wasps side will not be intimidated by the atmosphere likely to prevail on Sunday. For proof of this one needs to look no further than their highly impressive 34-6 demolition of Perpignan last January in the hostile atmosphere of Stade Aime Giral.
The most impressive thing about Wasps is their ability to alter their game plan in accordance with the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition. Their forward unit is sufficiently strong to play a tight driving game if circumstances require it. On the other hand, with the likes of Josh Lewsey, Mark Van Gisbergen and Stuart Abbott, they have sufficient power and pace to play an expansive game.
From this perspective, their most influential player this season has been scrum-half Rob Howley. He has proved an inspired acquisition by Gatland. While some Welsh players have found it difficult to perform away from ‘The Valleys’’, Howley has thrived in England. Had the Lions been touring this summer, he would have been a certainty, despite his absence from the international stage.
Even at 33, it is no surprise he is playing his best rugby. He is the supreme athlete. When the Lions were being kitted out for their tour to South Africa in 1997, Howley met Austin Healy for the first time. Healy, a dedicated trainer himself, is notably proud of his upper body physique. In the course of the fit-out, Howley removed his shirt and, despite his slight appearance, revealed a body Charles Atlas would die for. Healy almost collapsed in shock. Any man with the ability to silence Healy deserves respect.
In order to curtail this Wasps team, it is vital to upset the experienced link between Dallaglio and Howley. To enable this to happen, the Munster scrum will require considerable improvement from that against Stade Francais. In mitigation, because of injury, neither John Hayes nor Marcus Horan was in a position to do any scrummaging in the build-up to the quarter-final. Therefore one can expect to see a marked improvement in this sector. Given the experience of Craig Dowd, Trevor Leota and Will Green in the Wasps front row, it is an absolute necessity for Munster to compete.
However, Wasps are vulnerable in other areas. Their Achilles heel in recent times has been their lineout. As a ball carrier and an explosive tackler, Leota at hooker has few peers. Yet at the bread and butter of his trade, his lineout throwing, he can be extremely inconsistent. Wasps tend to use Simon Shaw exclusively in defence and Dallaglio at the tail, in attack. The presence of the comparatively inexperienced Richard Birkett in the second row affords Paul O’Connell and Donnacha O’Callaghan an opportunity of pressurising Leota’s throw.
The other area that Munster must target is the defensive channel manned by Alex King. He is very much a confidence player but suffers from a lack of concentration at times. This also affects his place-kicking, which was decidedly poor against Gloucester. Given that this is likely to be a very tight encounter, his lack of consistency with the boot could prove the difference between the sides. In order to ask questions of King, Foley, Williams and O’Connell must be given the opportunity to run at him with ball in hand.
Despite all Munster’s outstanding victories on French soil at the semi-final stage, their hardest earned victory could yet come at home. Wasps are the most consistent team I have seen in Europe this year. To win, Munster must perform at a level that, for a variety of reasons, they have not yet reached this season.
It will be that tough.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
