All or nothing as Munster must now prey on Saints

THE Jackeens came to Thomond Park last week and they won.

It was Bad Friday for Munster and maybe it was also the shape of things to come.

There is a sort of red mist in the southern air ever since, a lot of concern about the impending arrival of the Saints from Northampton who, in all fairness, are seasoned sinners when you come to the business end of the Heineken Cup, and know all you need to know about how to sin without getting caught.

The omens are not good. It is bad enough for the Jackeens to come down and strut away with a win but worse still if Northampton knock the men in red out of the competition.

There were some developments in the early part of the week which brought some solace to Munster followers.

At the weekend it appeared that both the talismanic O’Connell and Earls were out of the upcoming clash because of injury.

That was rubbing salt into the Magners wound and also robbing Munster of the most of their pride of Lions. And they will need all that they have against the rugged Saints.

However there were somewhat better tidings yesterday with the official statement that both injured warriors are likely to partake in training this week.

Hopefully they can be called upon for the finish on Saturday and, after all, it is the finish that counts.

Paul O’Connell is a known quantity at this stage of his distinguished career.

The blazing Keith Earls though, if he can be deployed at any stage, has latterly been bringing something a bit special to Munster displays.

He is quick and he is strong and, maybe above all, he brings an unpredictable element with him.

He can try about anything from about anywhere in the cockpit.

Sometimes it works brilliantly and sometimes it does not. However that very unpredictability and pace was something which Munster perhaps lacked down the earlier years when this side was being bolted together and it is a spark which often ignites the collective flame and passion.

If he can play, it will be a major plus at a time when Munster need it.

Earls, if you like, is the kind of player whose forays can easily turn Saints into offside sinners and, hopefully, create the penalty fodder for O’Gara’s again unerring boot.

It is going to be an interesting week between now and Saturday and, if Munster were below par last Friday, it was reported that though the Saints won last weekend they were well before their best form too and had to grind out their win.

O’Connell’s injury, like that of Wayne Rooney to Manchester United, is much more than just a setback to a player.

That is par for the rugged course. But when a player becomes the totemic figure for his team, like both men, the loss is much deeper than that.

It affects not just the patterns of play but also morale and spirit.

A Munster surge without O’Connell as the spearhead just does not have the same edge and force.

The ilk of Quinlan and O’Driscoll surely did not let the side down against Leinster, both driving in good performances, but O’Connell is more than just another passionate jersey.

He is the icon of all their successes to date, the badge of their courage and guts against the odds. They are somehow a bit bereft when he is not there.

I notice that Wayne Rooney is trying hard to get his sprained ankle back on the field sooner than would have seemed possible. I am sure that is also the situation in relation to Paul O’Connell.

Doesn’t that pose a fierce problem for Tony McGahan? Do you play him still injured for as long as possible for the impetus and qualities he brings to his colleagues or do you do the more prudent thing for the long term and keep him out of the huddle?

Given the pressures of this stage of the Heineken Cup and the fact it is the end of the road if Munster lose, I would not be surprised to see O’Connell coming on to the field even on one leg if the tide starts to turn against his side.

It’s a brutal business at the end of the day.

Was it General Ferdinand Foch of France who was involved in a battle in the past which he was badly losing, and uttered the words: “The left flank is overwhelmed, the right flank is crumbling, the centre is falling back. The situation is excellent. Attack!”

Maybe Munster are there or thereabouts this week and need to adopt the same attitude.

One way or the other, their followers will be hoping that bad Good Friday will be followed up by a Good Saturday, a resurrection, and a posse of crestfallen Saints.

Given the Munster history it is as likely as not.

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