Howlett turns back to start of rhapsody in red

HAVING just moved on from the emotional rollercoaster that saw him face his native New Zealand at Thomond Park, Doug Howlett is likely to feel more than a tinge of sentiment when he returns to Stade Marcel Michelin on Sunday, the scene of his Munster debut.

Certainly the All Black picked a good one to begin his journey in red in last January’s corresponding fixture. It had an epic quality about it, with tries, three yellow cards (and two subsequent citings) and the unseemly sight of referee Rob Debney being hounded from the field by enraged home fans and ASM Clermont Auvergne hooker, Mario Lesdesma, following a few controversial penalty decisions that saw Munster nick a losing bonus point (Clermont won 26-19).

If there is whiff of cordite in the air, however, Howlett doesn’t believe last season’s controversy-cloaked fixture will bring any added spice to events in two days’ time. “I certainly didn’t feel that it was controversial — maybe I was wrapped in my own little world, with it being my first Heineken Cup game and outing for Munster. I’m not sure of the history between Munster and Clermont but we don’t see anything that way this weekend.

“Personally, I look back on it with fond memories — although we did lose, we managed to get a losing bonus point that proved vital in helping us through the pool and into the quarter-final.”

His debut for Munster may have been played amid a passionate, raucous din, but nothing prepared him for what was to unfold in Thomond Park over a fortnight ago. It’s an occasion he’d like to park, he says, as Munster recommence their love affair with Heineken Cup with reverse fixtures against ASM.

“Playing the All Blacks in Thomond Park was unlike anything I have played in before,” said the 30-year-old winger. “The build-up, the emotions going into the game, the game itself, the crowd involvement and the occasion that it was: it was unlike any other test match I have played in. The festival atmosphere and anticipation of playing the All Blacks made it what it was.

“The disappointment was huge… just to know there was an opportunity to beat, in my eyes, the best team in the world. We just didn’t quite get there but we have no regrets. We played to a standstill really and that’s all we could do on the night.”

He added: “We were quite bruised and battered and it was a huge high to come down from. We came back and played Llanelli last week and we’re back into the groove again. The All Blacks match is something we will look back on with fond memories. It was just a great occasion to be part of, and Sunday could be too.”

Indeed most of Munster’s European away games turn out to be memorable affairs, but critically these two matches against the French Top 14 side could go a long way to deciding the destiny of Munster’s title defence.

“If we can get some results, they could decide the pool for us really,” agrees Howlett. “It’s easier said than done, however, especially having to go to Clermont. With a team like Sale in your pool as well, it’s dangerous. If we go and impose our game-plan on Clermont, we’d like to think we’ll come away with a result. That’s our focus.”

And, he believes, this game can be won on a single game-changing moment. “They’ll be waiting for us and prepared after what Sale did to them (Sale posted four tries in Clermont). We’re expecting a tough game and it may come down to one instance to winning and losing the game.”