Gaffney admits styling Saracens on Munster merits

ALAN GAFFNEY has admitted that he has been styling his current Saracens side very much on the qualities and strengths that Heineken Cup opponents Munster hold so dear.

The two teams will clash at the semi-final stage of the European Cup next weekend, with the Australian insisting that he holds no advantage having previously managed the province.

“A lot of things that Munster are, Saracens would like to be. Responsibility, accountability, trust, loyalty, belief are all things that Munster very much pride themselves in,” he said. “It’s about trusting the guy inside you, not making excuses; you stuff up and you hold your hands up and admit it,” he told the Sunday Tribune.

Gaffney did, however, reject out of hand the suggestion that the Sarries are one of the Guinness Premiership’s big-spending sides.

“We have a first-team squad of 34 players and, by the end of the season, we’ll have played 34 games.

“We have Andy Farrell and Chris Jack out until the end of the season and, of the rest, we have 11 front -row players.

“That leaves us with 23 players covering 12 positions. That’s how it’s been for most of the season. And people say we’re underachieving. If anything we’re overachieving with the resources we have.”

That will not stop Gaffney and Co putting every effort into dispatching Declan Kidney’s men on Sunday.

“(Munster) have moved on a long way since I left. They play differently now. I only know what everybody else knows about them.

“They’re a hard-edged side with amazing mental strength, who are very good rugby players. I don’t think I have any advantage over them; it’s negated by what the players know about the way I coach.”