‘The hunger doesn’t go away because you’ve won it twice’
The cynics might suggest they’ll need more than that to cope with the Tigers in their own backyard given that they are going into the game on the back of two successive Magners Celtic League defeats and four in all. The squad readily acknowledge this fact; nobody more than scrum-half Peter Stringer, now entering his eighth Heineken Cup campaign.
Scorer of the try in last season’s final that has already attained legendary status, Stringer has clearly benefited from the summer lay-off and on Friday night last when so many around him were foundering under Edinburgh’s sustained pressure, he was the epitome of calm and efficiency.
“We are fully aware we haven’t been playing all that well,” he accepts. “We’ve done all the analysis throughout the week, trying to figure out where we’ve been going wrong and where we can improve. Welford Road is basically one of the toughest places you can go. We have good experience of going there a few years ago and coming out with a victory but we also realise how tough and physical it was and so we’re under no illusions that it’s going to be hard.
“Leicester mightn’t have been playing great but one of their strengths is that they can grind out victories whether through their backs or forwards. They seem to get these results when things are going against them. We’ve got to raise our game to beat them. You think of Leicester and the power of their forwards but in actual fact when we played them over there, it turned out to be more of an open game than a physical game up front between the two packs.
“I remember Tim Stimpson missing a few kicks that gave us an opportunity to stay in the game. We just worked really hard and the tries from Ronan and myself gave us a bit of breathing space. But it was the all-round energy levels and the work rate that won the match for us.”
It’s amazing how much things can change in the space of three years. Stringer’s opposite number that day was Tom Tierney, an old friend and one time Munster team-mate. He was replaced during the game by Austin Healey. Martin Johnson skippered the Tigers and inevitably became embroiled in one or two incidents, most notably when Stringer, about half his size, felt compelled to throw a haymaker in his general direction.
“I threw a swing at him alright but didn’t connect and that’s probably why I’m sitting here talking to you today”, he laughed.
“Their fans were singing and chanting and Munster would come back at them. You really feel the spectators are on the pitch, something like Thomond Park and Musgrave Park, and the sound came from every corner of the ground. You could see the Munster people jumping the fences and jumping the walls and it was something we hadn’t really experienced at an away venue.
“That gives you an unbelievable lift and a buzz. As a professional rugby player, you want to go out and savour the atmosphere and hear the recognition from the crowd and know that they’re here to support you. It means they’re up for it and you’ve got to match that and get to a level where you don’t disappoint them.”
Nevertheless, Stringer insists the 2003 result won’t have a great deal of bearing on Sunday. He accepts it is a positive but says Munster have got to do things right on the day. He doesn’t conceal the squad’s disappointment at their most recent performances but reasons: “No one goes out to do something negative on purpose. Things haven’t clicked yet. Training this week has been very physical and that’s probably guys getting that anger and emotion out. There is no need to panic and it’s not all doom and gloom.”
This time his direct opponent may be Frank Murphy, fellow Cork man and a good friend. And there will be a few Leinster men as well, certainly Geordan Murphy — “a good friend but it would be nice to upset his weekend” — probably Leo Cullen, possibly Shane Jennings, something that lends added spice to the occasion.
It’s his 63rd Heineken Cup game — and Stringer can’t get enough of it.
“Losing two finals was a heartbreak but last season made everything worthwhile,” he smiles. “I try not to look at the video because I’d get worked up too much. You want to pick up a rugby ball and score a try in the yard or throw somebody the ball and tackle them. I’ve been playing the game since seven years of age and to slacken off at any stage would make it hard to live with yourself. You just want more and more. The hunger doesn’t go away because you’ve done it once. You want to get out there and do it again and again.”
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