Howlett to keep close eye on former All Black mates
Munster face a pivotal home and away series in Pool Three starting this weekend in Limerick before moving to the Liberty Stadium in Swansea six days later on Saturday, December 18 and Howlett is acutely aware of the impact Ospreys back row duo Collins and Holah can have on the encounters.
“I have played a fair few games both with and against Jerry and Marty and it is clear to everyone that they have had a huge effect on the Ospreys,” Howlett said.
“They are fantastic players and it is certainly no surprise to me that they are doing so well at the Ospreys. Collectively the Ospreys have one of the best squads in Europe — you just have to look at the names on the team sheet to see just how strong it is.”
Howlett, who won a Super 10 title with Auckland Blues in 2003 before landing a Heineken Cup winners’ medal with Munster in 2008, said his fellow Kiwis’ experience at the highest level as well as that of the rest of the Ospreys starting line-up present a sizeable challenge for Munster.
“I guess their greatest strength is the core group of players who have played in a lot of Tests together, and when they come back from international duty and impose themselves at club level it is those periods of time together that really works for them.
“We know we are in for two huge matches against them and that we are really going to have to be at the top of our game home and away.”
With all four teams in the group — London Irish and Toulon make up the pool — having won at home and lost on the road during the opening games, Howlett acknowledged these home and away games with Ospreys could make or break hopes of reaching the last eight.
“It is still early days as far as qualification for the quarter-finals goes and everyone in our pool is in with a hand so the next two weekends are vital.
“In my short experience in the Heineken Cup these back-to-back games can either break you or make you and I certainly want to experience another tournament final.
“I look back on that day at the Millennium Stadium as the highlight of my career because, although being capped by New Zealand and playing for the All Blacks was fantastic, this was special. That Heineken Cup final against Toulouse was a great event in a great tournament.
“The 2011 final will again be in Cardiff but we are not looking that far ahead. We know we have our work cut out just to get out of the Pool.”
Howlett also looked forward to the return of Paul O’Connell to Heineken Cup duty following his recovery from long-term injury.
“Of course we’ve missed Paul, he is such a key player and such an influential figure for any team — be it Munster, Ireland or the Lions. However, he is a real professional and has stayed fully involved with the team and doing everything he can to be of value while he has been recovering from his injury and I know he is just itching to get back out there for Munster.”
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