Some more vintage Red

INSPIRATIONAL, brave, committed, skilful … all these adjectives and many more apply in spades to a magnificent Munster machine that completely outgunned the Australian tourists in appalling conditions at Thomond Park last night.

The Wallabies may have been a long way short of what could be reasonably expected of such a proud rugby nation as they miserably failed to cope with the gale force wind and rain that blew unrelentingly into the Ballynanty end of the pitch. Nothing but nothing, however, should detract from this latest superb performance by a Munster side that, as always, raised their game against overseas opposition to dominate the exchanges whether playing into or with the elements.

Some 21, 314 drenched and frozen members of the Red Army cheered this combination of the young and not so young to the echo. It was Munster’s fourth win over the Wallabies and arguably the most decisive. If there was to be one regret, it was their failure to score a try but they could hardly have come closer on at least four crucial occasions when they were foiled only be the whistle of New Zealand referee Bryce Lawrence. Nor did a ball akin to a bar of soap help in that respect.