Waiting for Munster’s passion play
On the eve of what promises to be a pulsating opening weekend of Heineken Cup action, the holders face an almighty challenge.
It has been claimed that retaining a European title in any sport is even more difficult than winning it in the first place. Munster are aware of this. When your form and confidence is questioned even before the season has really got off the ground, the task is even more difficult.
By way of contrast, Ulster launch their challenge on Europe on the back of some excellent performances, which sees them head a highly competitive Magners League. They are relishing Saturday’s visit of former champions Toulouse.
Leinster open the campaign with a difficult clash against Guinness Premiership leaders Gloucester. After the outstanding victory over Munster two weeks ago, Micheal Cheika must have been hugely disappointed with the performance in defeat to the Borders last Saturday. Inconsistency remains a problem. Of more immediate concern are the injuries to their two experienced scrum-halves, Chris Whitaker and Guy Easterby.
While there has been a somewhat bizarre reaction in some quarters to Munster’s recent defeats, particularly to Leinster, it is clear that the demands of the international preparatory programme, incorporating two separate visits to Spala in Poland, has impacted on their preparation far more than the other provinces. The majority of Munster’s forward unit have played no more than two games. Sitting one place off the bottom of the Magners League with four defeats in six games is sure to elicit some straight-talking in the Munster camp.
Yet if any fixture is designed to concentrate the mind, it is the thought of facing Leicester at Welford Road. While these two sides have met twice before in the tournament, they have never clashed at the pool stage. Over the years, Munster has always been vulnerable in the opening rounds on English soil. Last season’s opening defeat to Sale at Edgeley Park left little margin for error in the remaining pool games. Sunday’s encounter will impose the same demands.
Of some comfort to Declan Kidney’s squad is that Leicester are by no means as strong as they were when the sides previously clashed. Since then both Martin Johnson and Neil Back have retired and have proved impossible to replace. As a consequence their trophy cabinet has been bare of late.
While they have an outstanding forward unit with Lions in Julian White, Ben Kay, Martin Corry and Lewis Moody, they do not possess the same threat behind the scrum as heretofore. They do have outstanding individuals in Geordan Murphy, Daryl Gibson, Ollie Smith and Leon Lloyd but have failed to sparkle in attack this season.
Much of this is due to the less than convincing half-back partnership of Andy Goode and Harry Ellis. In this department Munster have a distinct advantage with Peter Stringer and Ronan O’Gara, who will be available for Sunday. Given the blip in form suffered by Jeremy Manning and the lack of experience of Eoghan Hickey, O’Gara’s presence is vital.
The biggest concern surrounding Munster’s performances revolves around the lineout and breakdown. In recent seasons the quality of Munster’s lineout has been central to their performance. In the Magners League, the constant change in personnel has robbed them of that telepathic familiarity.
This is a worry given that Ben Kay, Leo Cullen and Louis Deacon have performed heroics in the Leicester lineout in recent weeks.
The problem for Munster is that all the training is no substitute for match time for front five forwards. Their Irish contingent has been robbed of that recently.
The other area of concern is the breakdown. In the semi-final against Leinster last season, Anthony Foley, David Wallace and Denis Leamy blew the opposition away with their physicality in this sector. Again due to a lack of match practice, Munster has played second fiddle in this area resulting in far too many turnovers. That must be rectified in order to compete on equal terms with the likes of Moody, Corry and Shane Jennings.
One could almost sense the bristling discontent on the face of new captain Paul O’Connell in the aftermath of recent defeats. Over the years, Munster always championed a cause. The recent defeats have lead to some questioning Munster’s ability to retain their status as European champions. This will surly act as a spur.
While defeat, even without a bonus point, would hardly be catastrophic, particularly in the light of Bourgoin’s visit to Thomond Park the following weekend, one senses that Munster will be keen to lay down a marker from the outset.
On Saturday, Leinster launch their campaign against an ever-improving Gloucester team who have integrated youthful talent in Anthony Allen, Ryan Lamb and Olly Morgan with an impressive forward unit. It will come as no surprise that Gloucester will seek to stifle Leinster’s outstanding back division at source by denying quality possession.
Despite the victory over Munster, it is clear that Brian O’Driscoll’s men still have major difficulties in the front five which Gloucester try to expose. With Agen and Edinburgh also in this group, victories away from home will be extremely hard-earned. It is imperative therefore that Leinster open the campaign with a victory. Despite the stuttering performance against the Borders, there is sufficient quality in this side to win. Their progress could well depend on it.
Ulster — despite their top seeding in Ireland — are in a group of death and face a major challenge against Toulouse. That said, they are the form team in Ireland and Toulouse are struggling to match their usual high standards in the French league.
Mark McCall has done an excellent job with this current squad and deserves a break. While Toulouse are favourites for this one, I fancy Ulster may well pull off a narrow victory.
Undoubtedly, Munster’s task is the most difficult of the weekend. The character of the European champions has been called into question. The response should be worth waiting for.
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