‘Axel’ keen to avoid attack of Scarlet fever

FOURTEEN days ago, Anthony “Axel” Foley was shivering in Shannon RFC colours helping his beloved club to AIB League victory over Blackrock College in Coonagh.

A week later and again the wind and rain were his companions in the Munster jersey and in a much higher profile game against Llanelli Scarlets in the Heineken Cup.

Foley, who led Munster to their only Heineken Cup success, was making his 82nd appearance in the tournament, and it counted.

If there was an X factor — and there always seems to be in Munster’s great days in Europe — this time it probably all came down to Foley.

At 34 (only just), he is far from ready to head into retirement and, in any event, he is not the oldest member of the squad. To remind us, he names Shaun Payne as the elder lemon.

“If anyone puts me in the same age bracket as some others, I’ll bring ‘em all down with me,” he joked earlier this week.

For Munster coach Declan Kidney, there was no joking when he assessed Foley’s contribution to the victory at Stradey Park.

“I thought both Shaun and Anthony played brilliantly. I was so pleased with them but not surprised that’s the calibre of men they are,” he said.

He went on: “It just shows that if you look after your physical well-being, age doesn’t necessarily count.

“You only have to look at Lawrence Dallaglio or Mike Catt; then remember that Teddy Sheringham playing Premiership football at 39. It’s just a figure to some people.”

As well as a playmaker, Foley is also clearly an assessor. As the plot at Stradey Park unfolded, pundits gave Foley credit for Munster’s ability to survive the deluge of rain and the Llanelli threat on Welsh soil.

Stuart Barnes said of him: “That Munster pack was brilliant and Foley was at the heart of it all.”

But Foley refused to take the credit and insisted: “This was a total team effort; individuals played a part from time to time, but there was no way this Munster team wanted to leave Wales on the losing side. Everyone was conscious that defeat would have been disastrous.”

Of course he was happy with his individual display, saying: “It was nice to get back after a few weeks on the fringes and a couple of cameo appearances. It was a good day all around.”

Last week may have been a great day for Foley and for Munster, but there are no guarantees of a second win in the eagerly awaited rematch at Thomond Park tomorrow.

“I’m almost sure, that Llanelli have never been beaten in back-to-back Heineken Cup games against the same opposition, and we take no notice of the fact that they have lost their opening three fixtures.

“They’re a much better side than the results suggest, and we know the damage they’re capable of inflicting.

“We will give them the same respect we gave them in Wales, because we have been down a long, hard road against them over the years. We’re just chuffed to have come away with one of those rare wins from Stradey Park,” he said.

The appalling weather in Wales made play difficult for the players from both sides, and

Foley admitted: “Given that the weather forecast for the weekend is pretty favourable, it should be a totally different ball game.

“You can’t possibly compare like with like. Last week it’s just that we seemed to adapt better to the conditions. Certainly, we’re approaching the game with extreme caution.”