Graft and guile earn some festive cheer for Munster

THREE wins in a row and a one-point lead at the top of Pool Five of the Heineken Cup with four matches played.

It’s little wonder, then, that Declan Kidney and his squad of Munster players will enjoy the festive period before getting down to the two excruciatingly difficult games next month which will decide whether the side qualifies for the quarter-finals for the 10th successive year.

With Doug Howlett due to arrive within the next fortnight and competition for places ever greater with the return from injury of Paul O’Connell and Alan Quinlan and the emergence of Donncha Ryan as a formidable operator at this high level, morale is sky high after yesterday’s completion of that rugby rarity — back to back wins over the proud Llanelli Scarlets.

Now comes the hard bit.

Nobody appreciates the extent of the challenge involved in a visit to Clermont Auvergne followed a week later by the home clash with holders London Wasps more than Munster out-half and captain Ronan O’Gara.

“We have a mighty task on our hands but it’s a task we’re already looking forward to,” he declared. “We’ve won three out of four games in Europe and have a massive Christmas period coming up as we try to stay in contention for the Magners League. We have to reassess for Europe after that but at least we’re in there with a chance. That’s why the fellas in the dressing room are so satisfied given the calibre of the teams in this group.”

For the second successive week, Simon Easterby won the toss and handed Munster first use of the strong wind. The move looked to have backfired when Jerry Flannery crashed over in the left corner after six minutes but for much of the next 35, Munster huffed and puffed without being capable of amassing enough scores to put the game beyond Scarlets reach.

They found themselves being frustrated by a Scarlets side that retained possession against the elements just as impressively as Munster had done a week previously. Their cause wasn’t helped by the failure of English referee Dave Pearson to spot a crafty obstruction by Vernon Cooper, the Scarlets second row, that opened the Munster defence allowing Stephen Jones sail through for the visitors first try.

“I felt I was obstructed a little bit but Shaun Payne was saying there were seven fellas outside me and that we had plenty of numbers,” observed O’Gara. “So it was a little bit of a breakdown in communication and maybe a bit of good shielding out of them. But it’s something we’ll have to look at because it was their first foray into our 22 and it is unacceptable.”

Moreover, Munster failed to capitalise as they should have when Llanelli prop Ben Broster was yellow carded in the 33rd minute.

O’Gara tapped over the resultant penalty to open the gap to 14-7 but that was the way it stayed to half time. Munster did pound the opposition line for five minutes before the break but the Welsh defence stood firm and a seven-point lead was tenuous in the extreme turning to face the wind.

As the second half unfolded, the Munster plan was clearly to keep things as tight as possible and no side does that better. But Jones kept Scarlets’ spirits high with a penalty and Munster failed to use possession deep in the Scarlets 22 and were duly turned over. These were decidedly nervous times for and the fans fears were not allayed by a close range O’Gara penalty.

Jones immediately replied in kind as Declan Kidney sent on Donncha Ryan in place of Mick O’Driscoll. Mr Pearson certainly could not be labelled a “homer” as he banished Marcus Horan to the bin on the say-so of touch judge Chris White and awarded a couple of questionable penalties against Munster at the breakdown that undid a lot of the good work of a typically committed home pack.

And then, in the 74th minute, came the score that settled the nerves. Ryan played a leading role before the backs were afforded the space and opportunity to show their mettle. Brian Carney finished it off in the corner as Alix Popham (who spent almost the entire afternoon offside) was yellow carded for a punch on David Wallace.

This certainly wasn’t Munster at their best and you have to doubt if it would suffice in the mammoth post-Christmas games against Clermont Auvergne and the potential pool decider against London Wasps. For all that, they remain in pole position with Declan Kidney visibly proud of how the team has recovered from losing the first game away to Wasps to lead the table into 2008.

That in itself demonstrates spirits are as high as ever. Individually, too, there was the very welcome sight of forwards like try scorer Jerry Flannery, David Wallace and Denis Leamy all back to close or actually at their best. Rua Tipoki and Lifeimi Mafi have given the side a new dimension with the former’s balanced, jinking runs something that we have rarely if ever seen from Munster midfield players over the years.