Plenty to enjoy reliving Munster’s march

THE story of Munster’s march on Europe is familiar to us all. It has been captured through the medium of print, radio, television and most recently three specific books.

Yet for the definitive record, one has to see the DVD of the journey entitled ‘The Brave and the Faithful’.

This is the inside story of Munster’s march to the Millennium Stadium on that never to be forgotten day, May 20 2006. Told without narration, Munster fans everywhere now have the opportunity to relive that moment of glory once again and capture forever what it meant to everyone involved.

This magnificent record from Iris Productions has graphically captured not only the emotion of last season but also the pain of final defeats in Twickenham in 2000 and Cardiff in 2002. This is the Munster story, presented in a manner which gives due cognisance to the legacy of times past.

The overwhelming theme to emerge is the pride and sense of responsibility that the present custodians of the red jersey have for those who have gone before them. It also pays due respect and recognition to the countless thousands who have followed Munster on the European stage since the advent of the Heineken Cup in the mid 1990’s.

The interaction of former players and events goes someway to explain what it is that makes Munster special. The famous victory over New Zealand in 1978 is paid due respect. Nowhere is the connection between past and present more graphically illustrated than the sequences that depict Seamus Dennison’s legendary tackle on All Black winger Stu Wilson and of Paul O’Connell’s hit on Sebastian Chabal in the Thomond Park encounter against Sale last January.

While the passage through the pool stage and quarter-final victory over Perpignan are well portrayed, this production really comes into its own from the semi final onwards.

The potential fear of losing to arch rivals Leinster in Lansdowne Road is there for all to see. The real crescendo comes with the build up to the final, the scenes in Cardiff, the emotion on the final whistle and the joy of the homecoming.

The footage that links the scenes from the pubs of Cork and Limerick and the masses in O Connell Street to the stadium itself is brilliantly portrayed. The reactions in the faces when Sereli Bobo scores the opening try after four minutes. The pain, frustration and anger when the realisation emerges that, yes, Bobo did have a foot in touch in the build up to that try. The anguish on the faces as Munster protects a four-point lead with minutes remaining.

Finally the moment when Peter Stringer banishes the ball into the third tier of the stand to signal the end of the match — mayhem, tears, euphoria, elation, relief all captured in a way that just elicits more tears. All of this before Anthony Foley ever lifts the trophy.

In bygone days, it was a certainty that every house in Munster had either a Sacred Heart lamp, a picture of the Pope or John F. Kennedy. From here on in, there’s a fair chance that you will find a copy of The Brave and the Faithful.

Perfectly timed for the Christmas market, this is a must have item and a ready made present for the sons and daughters of Munster both here and in far off places.

At €24.99, this production is excellent value given that the main DVD (lasting 104 minutes) is supplemented by a second which features the semi-final against Leinster and the final in its entirety. Just like the team, it is guaranteed to be a roaring success.

* Munster players will sign copies of the DVD in both Virgin Megastores, Patrick St, Cork and Empire Music, O’ Connell St, Limerick from 11.30am next Saturday, November 18.