Donncha says Reds are on right road for Toulon

TO those who figure Munster’s current form is under-whelming, second row stalwart Donncha O’Callaghan suggests the critics take a look at their position on top of the Magners League table before the rush to judgement.

Ronan O’Gara’s late rescue package was just about enough to secure a 22-20 Magners League triumph against battling Glasgow Warriors at Musgrave Park on Saturday night, but O’Callaghan argued strongly that it was deserved, and, as a game, a good dress rehearsal for Sunday’s make-or-break Heineken Cup clash away at Toulon.

“People may say we’re not playing well but the table reflects what we’re doing, I think. Actually, I was very happy with the performance; you can be disrespectful to opponents but Glasgow are a very good team and we knew that they would take it at us around the fringes of the ruck and at the maul.

“I wouldn’t be disrespectful and say it was a handy workout, because this was a vital four points for us and it was a good result against a quality team.”

O’Callaghan admitted that coach Tony McGahan had harsh words at half-time relating to the concession of a staggering number of penalties; the count from Welsh referee James Jones going 11-2 in Glasgow’s favour.

But O’Callaghan made no excuses, commenting: “You’ve got to go with what the referee was saying and his calls were right, he was penalising guys but making it very clear why. ‘Dumper’ (McGahan) made that point clear at the break, he wasn’t happy with our discipline and I think it improved hugely in the second half with guys being smarter.

Yet, McGahan was generally happy with the performance and at the victory over what he described as a quality side.

“We played quite well in the first half but didn’t get the rewards for it because we gave away a lot of penalties. We were the ones that had to change and accordingly the second half (penalty count) went our way. The display was a step up on the last three weeks, and our attacking play was a lot better.”

O’Callaghan’s focus was more on the pack than anything as Munster appeared to get back to stability at the basics. Concentrating on winning clean, safer line out possession and focusing on an improvement at scrum time, he was happy with the outcome.

“The scrum particularly is something we’re putting huge focus on; we weren’t happy the way it was going (recently) but the big thing is that you take responsibility and don’t look to blame anyone such as the referee.

“It is what it is, so we have had to get our timing right. It (the scrum) was disappointing against the Ospreys where we had a bad scrum followed by another bad scrum. We certainly didn’t do that here and that was hugely pleasing.”

He is in no doubt that Toulon will up the stakes though; they will be keenly aware of Munster’s perceived frailties at the set piece and will set out to attack the two-times champions there.

But O’Callaghan and company promise they will be prepared.

“A win (before a Heineken Cup game) always puts you in good form and a lot of things went well for us, even though I’m sure the coaches will find things we need to improve on.

“Next week is about Europe, it’s a cup final and we’re playing for our lives.Yes, it’s a season-defining game but we figured this one probably would, we figured that in this pool it would come down to (what happens in) one or two games particularly.

“This is it, we have two games to go and it’s all on the line, but it is where we want to be.

“There is a huge standard expected of this team and the players take that on, although sometimes people can be overly harsh.

“Still, we do know that we have to up things this week, this is what we love, cup final rugby, we’re reared on it, bring it on...”