Pain, not Paris, after weekend wipeout

A WEEKEND pregnant with promise and expectation for Irish rugby was terminated brutally and conclusively in north-eastern Spain yesterday.

The rest of Europe looked on as the combined might of the French Championship proved too much as Toulon, Toulouse and finally Biarritz strangled the life out of three brave Irish provinces, all of whom were found wanting in some shape or form.

Munster and Leinster may yet be destined to meet once more before the curtain comes down on another fascinating season, but somehow the prospect of a potential Magners League showdown does not look that appetising at the moment. Maybe, that will change.

Yesterday, San Sebastian witnessed such an untypical Munster performance that one can only surmise on the effect that the late injury withdrawals of Doug Howlett and Ian Dowling had on the mindset of the side on the back of the earlier confirmation that inspirational skipper Paul O’Connell would also be missing.

On so many occasions in the past in close matches, I have remarked that Munster just don’t do panic. This time, however, they were architects of their own downfall in so many areas and the penalty conceded when Paul Warwick opted to run out of defence in the second half – one of six from six to be converted by the magnificent Dimitri Yachvilli – proved crucial.

At that stage, Munster’s set piece was in complete meltdown as the Biarritz pack took total control with Imanol Harinordoquy, who looked like an extra from Star Wars with a shocking face mask, sensational.

In all Munster lost seven lineouts; consequently, they were never able to control the game. Ronan O’Gara had precious little ball to control field position and Jean de Villiers, Keith Earls – despite scoring the only try of the game – and Lifeimi Mafi had little or no opportunities in attack.

Instead Karmichael Hunt, incredibly playing only his third ever game of rugby union in the pivotal out-half role was able to camouflage his limitations. That was because the game was run by Harinordoquy and Yachvilli, who worked brilliantly together at the base of the scrum.

The key to winning matches of this intensity is to put points on the board when you are in the ascendancy. Munster had their moments in control in the first half and in addition to the Earls try, should have had another when a fantastic break from Jerry Flannery opened the door for O’Gara. Unfortunately, he knocked on with the line beckoning. Leinster had the same problems on Saturday when Eoin Reddan was within inches on two occasion of touching down, but crucially was held up.

It all started so promisingly for Munster when in the crucial opening quarter, they played all the rugby, competing brilliantly in the vital opening three scrums – winning two scrum penalties in the process – and displayed great patience in defence. After the break, however, it went pear-shaped as Munster lost their rhythm, shape and confidence.

Despite wearing the same blue jersey they donned the last time they met French opposition at the Stade Aime Giral in that exceptional performance last December against Perpignan, they looked a pale shadow of the side that looked potential champions on the basis of that performance.

In the absence of the highly influential Damien Traille, there was always the possibility that Biarritz would attempt to dominate this contest through the quality of their scrum and lineout. Anthony Foley speculated as much during the week. In truth, the longer this game went on, there was only going to be one winner.

WHEN the final whistle blew in Toulouse on Saturday, the aristocrats of French rugby went to their magnificent supporters and held up a hoarding they had removed from the side of the pitch – Paris 2010. It was a fitting statement of intent; Stade Toulousain are back in a record-breaking sixth Heineken Cup final. On the evidence of this performance, they will be hard to beat.

Leinster surrendered their hold on the trophy but there was no shame in this defeat – very few sides come to Le Stadium in the knockout stages of this tournament and win. They achieved that feat back in 2006 but the odds were always stacked against them doing so again. Injuries didn’t help either. While Shaun Berne acquitted himself quite well at out half, Leinster missed the expansive kicking game that Jonny Sexton brings to the table and they suffered accordingly.

The other area of vulnerability coming into this game was the Leinster scrum and Toulouse targeted this. Time and again they used the scrum to squeeze the life out of a brave but creaking Leinster front row where, despite using a number of different combinations, they were always under severe pressure.

At just 22, Cian Healy has come a long way in a short space of time and he learned some harsh lessons against the powerful Benoit Lecouls. He has the heart to take it on board and come back better. However, his replacement CJ Van Der Linde, did not look match fit and was struggling soon after his introduction. In the circumstances given his scrummaging prowess, Mike Ross may have been a better option off the bench.

In defeat, Leinster can still hold their heads high after a display of true grit and courage where it looked for long periods as if their exceptional defence would keep them alive. The problem with Toulouse is they have several gears and 15 minutes into the second half, they switched from a direct forward-orientated approach and switched seamlessly into their sumptuous off-loading game. The result was immediate, dramatic and there for all to see. Two tries in five minutes ultimately signalled the end of Leinster’s reign as European champions.

It was no coincidence that those two scores came minutes after the departure of the magnificent Shane Jennings who, up to that point, was Leinster’s best forward. But Leinster had several heroes. The aerial skills of their back three was a joy and the midfield battle between two exceptional centre pairings ebbed and flowed before are vitalised Yannick Jauzion tilted the balance in favour of the challengers.

All season we have speculated that vulnerability at scrum time could hurt Ireland in the Six Nations – yet they survived and prospered. How ironic, therefore, that once again the French should use it as a platform towards an assault on the Heineken Cup.