Munster in top shape as Gloucester D-day looms

COMPETITION is the heartbeat of any side. On that basis alone, Munster are in rude health as their quest to regain the Heineken Cup gathers momentum over the next 10 days.

One of the criticisms faced by Eddie O’Sullivan was his assertion that the players who humiliated England on that famous day in Croke Park would remain his first choice side for the pivotal contests at the World Cup. Given that view was expressed several months prior to leaving for France, fringe players could be forgiven for feeling they were chasing a lost cause.

Contrast that to the healthy competition in the Munster set up.

It has been my contention for some time that the squad of players available to Declan Kidney is the best in terms of quality and strength in depth that the province has ever enjoyed. Last Saturday’s comprehensive victory over Ulster was a case in point. While Mick O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell destroyed a suspect Ulster lineout, the two Donnchas, O’Callaghan and Ryan watched and waited for the opportunity to be sprung from the bench.

Likewise Peter Stringer, who has endured the most frustrating season of his spectacular career, was also forced to bide his time as Tomas O’Leary, severely lacking game time due to a serious bout of pneumonia, enjoyed one of his best games for the province.

At full back, Denis Hurley was outstanding and offers a serious alternative on the hard grounds to the manager in waiting, Shaun Payne.

Payne was probably Munster’s most consistent performer at the pool stages of the Heineken Cup when many of the games were played in appalling conditions geared to test the basic attributes of any full back.

As has been the case since his arrival a number of seasons ago, Payne was outstanding, particularly in the gale force winds that engulfed Stradey Park last December. While the South African native is the front runner for the No 15 jersey for the visit to Kingsholm on Saturday week, it is extremely reassuring that when he moves to concentrate on his managerial responsibilities, Munster has a ready made replacement in Hurley.

If the younger brigade were responsible for providing the brightest moments on the international stage this season, then the performances of Hurley, Niall Ronan, Paul Marshall, Niall O’Connor and David Pollock in Musgrave Park on Saturday night underlined the steady progression of fresh talent being nurtured and groomed in Munster and Ulster. The more these young players are exposed to this level of competition, the better.

With injury doubts surrounding Denis Leamy and David Wallace, Ronan’s performance was not only timely but comforting. While it looks like the experienced international duo will be fit for Gloucester, it is reassuring that former Leinster panellist Ronan has continued his development since making the brave decision to switch provinces last season.

With Alan Quinlan also on top of his game and with Anthony Foley fast approaching 200 caps for the province, Kidney has a multitude of options available in selecting his breakaway unit.

With the ever-improving weather conditions, Munster will seek to expand their game even further now that Doug Howlett has settled in so seamlessly. The most significant development this season has been the manner in which Munster can tweak their game plan to suit both opposition and weather conditions. The 32-phase sequence of rucks and mauls that characterised the victory in the storm at Llanelli highlighted the traditional strength of Munster up front. However the counter attacking, off-loading game that lit up the away fixtures against Wasps and Clermont Auvergne forcefully demonstrated that on the dry surfaces that prevail in the knockout stages, Munster now have a backline that will prove a handful for any opposition.

As always, in such circumstances, there is a caveat. Former New Zealand Maori star Rua Tipoki has been an inspirational figure for Munster in the centre this season. While Trevor Halstead’s more direct style was sadly missing in the weather conditions that prevailed throughout the autumn and winter months, it is clear the Tipoki-Lifemi Mafi midfield axis could really take off once conditions improve.

Unfortunately a back injury to Tipoki robbed him of valuable game time against Cardiff and Ulster, thus casting a shadow over his availability for the quarter-final. A succession of injuries, including a recent hamstring strain, has also meant that Barry Murphy has had precious little on-field time in a Munster jersey this year.

The centre combination is the most taxing issue facing the Munster management at present. In last year’s quarter final, Halstead’s absence due to his problematic knee resulted in Mafi and Murphy forming the key midfield partnership. Because both had similar attributes, the combination lacked balance. That is why Tipoki’s availability is a key factor as Munster prepare for the Kingsholm showdown.

If Friday night’s game against Connacht offers Munster a final opportunity to fine tune preparations for that Gloucester game, it also affords them a further opportunity of closing the gap on Leinster at the top of the Magners League. Leinster have a very difficult game away to a rejuvenated Llanelli and given the feelgood factor in Welsh rugby one could not discount a home win. With the two sides meeting at the RDS on April 12, the league is still up for grabs.

Kidney, of course, will privately have other issues on his mind as the search for Eddie O’Sullivan’s successor gets underway in earnest this week.

The wish list of candidates comprising Jake White, John Mitchell, Pat Howard, Wayne Smith, Mike Ruddock and Kidney has been inspired by the bookies. While the IRFU’s Appointments Committee is set to go about their business in private this week, the rate at which high profile figures are making themselves unavailable for this top job is a concern. One hopes whoever is presented with the honour of directing Ireland’s pathway towards the World Cup is of the highest calibre and the appointment doesn’t develop into a case of “Last Man Standing” gets the title.