Munster rugby is not just about Limerick and Cork, says Leamy

THE Cork/Limerick rivalry is what many people think of when they consider Munster rugby.

But Tipperary’s Denis Leamy is getting a little bit tired of it.

“Yeah, that’s something that bugs me a bit. Everyone talks about Limerick and Cork but there’s a lot of players coming from places outside the traditional areas and Tipperary is one of those places. I could name off a very, very good first 15 from Tipperary, the likes of Denis Fogarty, Alan Quinlan, Donncha Ryan, Mark Melbourne and myself with Munster, Trevor Hogan in Leinster, Ray Hogan, Barry Everett and a few others across the water.”

Denis could also make a case for Shaun Payne, Tipp-qualified now through residency.

“Rugby is really thriving in Tipp, with huge interest in the Munster team. I think Tipperary probably has three or four of the top junior clubs in division 1 at the moment – that tells you how strong it is, and I think you’ll be seeing a lot more professionals coming from there.”

The reason for that growth? “Tipperary is a tremendous sporting county, very much like Cork and Limerick in that respect, they take their sport very seriously. Whether it’s greyhounds, horses, hurling, rugby, soccer, there’s huge interest, and there’s a lot of talent.”

The backrow is an area in which Denis’s argument is best personified; of the three who started last week against Clermont, Denis played hurling for Boherlahan-Dualla in Tipp, Anthony Foley starred with Smith O’Brien’s of Killaloe at underage and had trials with East Clare U-16’s where he came up against Seánie McMahon, while David Wallace fills the Cork/Limerick interest – his parents are both Cork but he is probably recognised as Limerick at this stage, having been brought up in the Treaty city.

But a singular purpose will be needed tomorrow when Wasps come calling, determined to be the second English side in successive seasons to breach the walls of fortress Thomond and condemn Munster to defeat.

Like Leicester last season, Wasps present a mighty challenge, reckons Anthony Foley. They’re a team that just relishes adversity and thrive on collision.

“You just have to look at their defence — outside in, in your face all day, no space, no time on the ball; that’s the way they do it, try to get as many turnovers as possible.”

To the fore in that Wasps aggression is Lawrence Dallaglio, a hugely talented and versatile backrow, a man who could have played for Ireland through his Irish mother.

“I’ve met him in the past — lovely guy,” says Foley. “I’m sure if I meet him after the game he’ll be full of smiles, that’s just the way he is. Great player, great captain and he’s had another great year — I’m very respectful of someone like that; you go out and do your best against him, you mark yourself against that kind of opponent.”

Leamy is similarly impressed.

“Obviously Dallaglio is a hero of a lot of backrows who grew up in my time, you’d have to give him huge respect. Munster could have had him, he’s that sort of player, but I think he’s the kind of player who could have slotted into any team in the world really, he’s a quality player. Back a few years ago there was no-one to touch him, he was the best back-rower in the world, and even still he’s one of the best, shows great leadership.”

High praise indeed, but the backrow who has most impressed Denis this Heineken Cup season?

“We’ve come up against really good backrows in every game but the one guy who stands out is (James) Haskell. He looks like a very good young player, just coming on the scene, he seems to have all the attributes. He’s big, he’s strong, he’s quick, looks like he’s a decent footballer; he’s certainly a player we’ll be watching on Saturday.”

With Dallaglio already on record as a committed fan of Munster rugby there’s a lot of mutual respect, and with good reason. Wasps are reigning European champions and have already pipped Munster in the opening round of pool games. They beat them again a few years ago in a Heineken Cup semi-final that instantly went down in rugby history as one of the all-time great club games. In Leamy/Wallace/Foley however, Munster have a back-row axis to compare with anyone, and with the returning Alan Quinlan champing at the bit (magnificent when introduced last week), they have real depth also.

They’ve played in all three positions but each has his own strengths. Foley is the tactical brain of the forward unit as a whole, ever-alert in offence and defence, always thinking; Leamy is the powerhouse, the ripper, a wrecking-ball of a player; Wallace is the consummate ball-carrier, with tackle-breaking pace and power.

A major challenge for him this weekend will be to break that renowned in-your-face Wasps defence. Not easy, he admits. “But they can’t defend everywhere, it’s your job to find the holes, the weak spots.”

Also the job of the Munster backline, a backline that now contains record All-Black try-scorer Dougie Howlett, outside another two Kiwis, Lifeimi Mafi and Rua Tipoki. Are they more exciting than the Ireland/Leinster backs with whom he has also played?

“Yeah, they’re certainly up there; hard to say which is better but it’s very exciting to play with a backline like that. In the first match against Wasps they scored a try under the posts directly off a lineout move – that’s great to see. They’re quick, the biggest thing is how elusive they are — a few metres of space and they’re gone; they have that step, a quality that you see in a lot of the New Zealanders.”

The challenge for Wallace and the other big ball-carriers for Munster now is to stay on the shoulder of these guys when they make those breaks.

“Yeah,” he laughs, “Marcus (Horan) was saying that he was trying to trail Mafi last week, couldn’t stay with him, but that’s great, to have that kind of runner, that’s what you want, very elusive.”

Munster have it all, Wasps will be well tested.