Toulon are solid, but no more than that

FOUR defeats in 17 competitive outings across the Magners League and Heineken Cup hardly constitutes a crisis, but such is the competitive edge and expectation set by those within and on the periphery of Munster rugby that in times like this it feels like one.

Problem is, with due respects to the Magners, it all boils down to Europe and what happens in the Heineken Cup. Munster have created a stick to beat themselves with and for some, qualification for the quarter-final stages of the Heineken Cup is seen as a god given right. It doesn’t happen like that however, especially from a pool as difficult and competitive as the one Munster find themselves in this season.

If Munster’s home record in Thomond Park — one defeat in 40 Heineken Cup contests — is something to be rightly proud of, qualifying for the quarter-finals for 12 seasons in-a-row represents an even greater achievement. Even Toulouse have only ever managed a run of four consecutive quarter-finals. That is what is on the line when Munster travel to Toulon this weekend even though it is not widely appreciated that a losing bonus point could keep Munster’s qualification hopes alive should London Irish defy the odds and beat the Ospreys at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday. Even then qualification would be out of Munster’s hands and dependent on results elsewhere in round six.

Over the years, Munster have travelled to many a daunting French venue and come home with the spoils. Sunday’s visit to Toulon breaks new ground and if the recent comments of their multi-millionaire owner Mourad Boudjellal are anything to go by, then it should prove another interesting experience. He was slightly taken a back by the failure of the Munster Branch to provide free wine along with the free beer on offer at the post match reception after the game in Limerick last October. Apparently it’s a cultural thing. Toulon had better get used to another culture shock when the Munster faithful start to roll into town on Friday night.

As Donncha O’Callaghan pointed out after the Glasgow Warriors game last Saturday night, “it’s cup rugby time and we were reared on it, bring it on”.

Sunday’s game is all about winning and a one point margin would do just fine. Munster are winning games at the moment but there is no disputing the fact that they are playing within themselves. They have so much more to offer. Apart from the specific issues surrounding the set piece at present, they are not dynamic enough either at the breakdown. The ball being delivered for Peter Stringer and Tomas O’Leary at the ruck is still too slow and of even more concern, support for the ball carrier is also too slow in arriving.

Against Glasgow, Munster created at least five clean line breaks but failed to capitalise on them due to a lack of support. Paul Warwick looked threatening every time he was in possession — even if the opposition are reading his chip kicks a bit too easily — and his pace was seen to good effect. Johne Murphy, Denis Hurley and Lifeimi Mafi all made clean breaks but little was created as a result. Patience is the key and positive things will start happening.

The other thing that has to be said, having watched Toulon closely once again in their three point defeat by Racing Metro in Paris on Sunday night, is that they are a very predictable side — solid but not spectacular. I did point out last week that they rely heavily on playing territory and on the boot of Jonny Wilkinson to deliver penalties and drop goals. Even by Wilkinson’s standards, Sunday night was extraordinary. In total Wilkinson had six drop goal attempts, converting three in-a-row in the opening half and missing all three in the second half.

His approach rubbed off on the opposition, with Racing also successful with three drop goals of their own. Eighteen points and nine drop goal attempts in one game certainly gives credence to those who argue, with some justification in my view, that the drop goal is overvalued and should be reduced to two points. If we have any more games like last Sunday’s then it is an issue that will certainly raise its head at some stage.

Toulon are in 7th position in the French championship — they were 9th before Sunday’s losing bonus point — for a reason. They are a predictable side that are easily read and that renders them vulnerable. Their scrum is solid but, in the absence of Carl Hayman, against Racing, was in trouble at times against a team that included former Munster prop Julien Brugnaut — and he is no great scrummager.

With the exception of former All Black Rudi Wolf, they offered very little in attack and at one stage so intent was Wilkinson in kicking for field position that centre Mafi Kefu was seen doing press-ups in one break in play in order to stay warm. Without question, Toulon have some of the best players to grace the professional game in Wilkinson, Springbok Joe Van Niekerk, Wallaby great George Smith, former Leinster star Felipe Contepomi and Hayman at tight head.

Incredibly, their squad boasts just two French internationals, both surplus to the requirements of Marc Lievremont, in former Sale hooker Sebastian Bruno and scrum-half Pierre Mignoni, who will retire at the end of the season. So while they have some outstanding players, they also have a number of journeymen who were past their best in the English Premiership before moving to France — such as second rows Chris Chesney and Dean Scofield and Tom May in the centre.

The challenge for Munster is to expose their lesser players and minimise the influence of their leading lights, something that was achieved to good effect in Thomond Park. Toulon coach Philippe Saint-Andre has his hands tied to some degree in Europe as he can only field two foreign players in any one match squad. Therefore he has to decide which high profile names he must exclude. It would be great if Hayman was left out but that is unlikely to happen as he is set to return from injury.

For Munster, attitude and self-belief will play a crucial part in this contest, as will Tony McGahan’s final selection. It could well prove the most important team he has ever picked as he deliberates on whether or not to start Paul O’Connell and on his best combinations in midfield and in the back row for this specific contest. All of those decisions however will become irrelevant unless the traditional Munster foundation stones in the scrum and lineout are in place. There lies the real challenge. Solve it and Munster will win.