Dowling keen to atone for French failure

IAN DOWLING says today’s rematch with ASM Clermont Auvergne in Thomond Park represents a mission of atonement, following defeat to the Frenchmen last weekend.

The Kilkenny native, whose career continues on an upward spiral, is also looking forward to returning “home” for the first time since he and Munster faced the All Blacks last month — a red-letter night in Munster’s history when they almost caused the shock of the new millennium, coming within three minutes of defeating Graham Henry’s side.

One of Dowling’s abiding recollections of the night was the passion of the Thomond Park faithful, which he believes is worth a few extra points on the scoreboard.

“I definitely think that, yeah. It’s something you can’t replicate anywhere else in the world. We had journalists from all over the world talking about the atmosphere after the All Blacks game. Fans from New Zealand talking were about it, and they’re the best rugby nation in the world, but they were raving about our fans.

“We know we have something special and hopeful they’ll come out all guns blazing and get right behind us, pick us up when we’re down and drive us on when we’re going forward.”

Dowling, 26, shows all the signs of someone heading towards a first Ireland cap — though he admits such decisions are outside of his control.

Since breaking into the Munster side in January 2006, he has faced down and tamed some of the Europe’s marquee wingers mainly due to his strengths as a robust tackler and an uncanny ability to retain the ball in contact before presenting it cleanly for his scrum-half.

Named again in his favourite position on the left wing, he’ll play opposite French international Julien Malzieu, though ASM’s try-scoring machine Napolioni Nalaga could well move across to the right side.

Dowling says he garners mental strength from being part of a team that is undaunted by the toughest challenges.

“That’s the mentality that Tony (McGahan, coach) has tried to instil in us. We have to be constantly improving and taking that next step means winning those away games.

“We were up at half-time and took the foot off the pedal and suffered the consequences and hopefully in the future we can drive on from there.

“We’ve put ourselves in an awkward, difficult position again. We really wanted that win at the weekend, it would have made a strong statement to the rest of Europe and show how hungry we are. But we have a chance of having another crack at Clermont and that’s the beauty of this stage of the Heineken Cup.”