Now that’s more like it

FROM bottom to top in one fell swoop – what a difference a game makes.

Propping up the Heineken Cup Pool 3 table after that defeat in the Majedski Stadium last weekend, Munster rolled back the clock last Saturday, produced a vintage performance that owes as much to character as anything else.

Leinster also delivered in the inspirational surroundings of Wembley to lead one of the toughest pools in Heineken Cup history. Inspired by a magnificent performance from Jonathan Sexton they made life more difficult than it should have been but survived in the end.

Billing Munster’s contest against Toulon as the battle of the haves and the have nots was a little bit rich – if you excuse the pun.

Munster rugby, backed by world leaders in Adidas and Toyota and supported by a strong business model which incorporates regularly playing in front of a passionate 26,000audience, is hardly in the Angela’s Ashes department. What separates it from the money-driven moguls behind some of the top French and English clubs is identity. At the end of the day if the desire and passion for the battle is absent then it doesn’t matter how many zeros there are in your bank account.

Of the 38 players registered in the Heineken Cup by Toulon, only 14 are French and of those only two hail from the city itself.

Of Munster’s match day squad on Saturday, 18 of the 23 learned the rudiments of the game within the geographical boundaries of the province. When your back is to the wall – as Munster so often find themselves – that makes a difference.

It also helps to play in front of a raucous crowd who know exactly what is required of them when it matters most. During the week, Donncha O’ Callaghan, who excelled on Saturday, appealed to the masses to make it one of those special occasions in Thomond Park. He needn’t have bothered; they knew exactly what was required.

If Munster felt the pressure coming into this one, it didn’t show. They displayed a confidence and, at times, an arrogance that defines a champion side. Of even greater importance, they unveiled a creative streak that we feared had all but disappeared to unleash their best performance since that memorable win in Perpignan last December.

As always Munster didn’t make life easy for themselves. The one thing I felt was crucial in advance of the kick off was not to give a Toulon side with 12 alterations from a week ago, any momentum. Make them suffer early, dampen their enthusiasm. Munster did the opposite and granted them a seven point cushion with the easiest of tries from the very first play. Mick O’Driscoll was central in that with a missed tackle on outstanding Toulon captain Joe Van Niekerk.

That is when your character is called into question. He along with the rest of the team regrouped behind the posts, dusted themselves down and refused to panic. From that moment forward O’Driscoll, with an immense performance out of touch allied with some excellent ball carrying and a manic work rate that even produced a try, drove Munster forward.

In the good days, Munster’s lineout has been the catalyst for success. When it under-performs, as it did against London Irish last week, the team suffers. On this occasion it was flawless with a 100% return on their own ball (12/12) and three steals on the Toulon delivery. That set the platform to reintroduce the maul, allowing Ronan O’Gara to dictate matters. He mixed his game wonderfully and after a dearth of tries in recent outings against the Exiles and Leinster, Munster produced six stunning efforts. It could have been eight. All this with a backline that was playing together for the very first time. Already Johne Murphy looks set to be Munster’s most valuable player of the season after only six weeks of competitive action. To perform in four different positions in as many weeks is a remarkable achievement and his value to the squad is self-evident. I hope that is taken into consideration in selection when the suspended players return.

The other areas of concern from last week, namely Munster’s efficiency at the breakdown and their indiscipline, were all much improved. This was facilitated by the return of Alan Quinlan, who again made a telling contribution on the day he became Munster’s most capped player, and David Wallace. At times you wonder just how these grizzled veterans can keep producing but it is up to the younger brigade to step up to the mark and take their places.

That said the lesser lights covered themselves in glory on this occasion, none more so that Damien Varley, who took a bit of stick after the lineout difficulties last week when there were clearly other issues also contributing to the problem. Lineout apart, he carried magnificently and worked his socks off in defence. Denis Hurley and Murphy were also brilliant. A word too for Peter Stringer. It can’t have been easy for him over the last few seasons sitting on the bench given all he has contributed to the Munster cause but when called upon to deliver he was ready – the mark of a true professional. Stringer, along with Dougie Howlett had a massive influence on the outcome.

Most pleasing of all was that Munster rediscovered their ruthless streak. This was most in evidence when Toulon had Wallaby great George Smith and Felipe Contepomi in the sin-bin. Munster amassed 21 points during their periods of numerical supremacy and but for the TMO it could have been even more.

The only downside was the sight of a disconsolate Jerry Flannery who was forced to leave the field only 20 minutes after his comeback with what looked like another calf injury. That is a worry with the autumn internationals now only weeks away.

What Munster have done with this bonus point victory is buy themselves time. When the Heineken Cup resumes in December it is hoped that all the injuries and suspensions will be behind them not to mention the confidence boost that are turn to arms of Paul O Connell would do for the squad.

LEINSTER have also put themselves in the best possible position for their pool defining back to back games against Clermont Auvergne prior to Christmas with a return of nine points from their opening two games. Yes, they contrived to make life difficult in the second half in Wembley but they also succeeded in making Saracens look a very ordinary side.

Since Jonathan Sexton was reintroduced to the team in the Aviva against Munster, Leinster’s season has taken off with three great wins in a row. Clermont’s defeat by Racing on Saturday has also bought them some valuable breathing space in this impossibly difficult pool and that could prove crucial.

Overall with the Irish squad for the autumn internationals due to be announced tomorrow, the provincial teams have once again done their bit to guarantee that the players will assemble in a positive frame of mind.