Stringer: Munster will be fired up

THERE might have been a time when Peter Stringer was in awe of French opposition on French soil but these days, not even the mention of a plethora of international names associated with Toulon makes the veteran Munster and Irish scrum-half shiver.

Yes, Munster head for the south of France in the full knowledge that one slip will leave them in Heineken Cup hell for the first time in 13 seasons; it is a make or break, a must-win game, but Stringer doesn’t believe it will be harder than any one of a number of previous ties his side have had to play in France.

He made it clear yesterday that Toulon won’t have to work to get Munster’s respect: “They’re a quality side, filled with quality players, and, at home, they’ll be formidable.

“It’s a real rugby town, their (fans) are very passionate about their rugby and much like where we come from. There will be a terrific atmosphere which should set it (the game) up nicely on the day.”

But as to being more difficult than any others, Stringer isn’t quite sure. There have been others, he insisted.

“A few would stand out (more than one), maybe Toulouse in a semi-final or Castres in group matches over the years, Perpignan as well last year, where the crowd is right on top of you; those were very hard, I suppose.”

He figures the atmosphere in Toulon on Sunday will be similar to Perpignan last year; his attitude is to bring it on, in the knowledge that a quality performance from Munster could well turn the French supporters against their team of stars.

“It’s (France) an exciting place to play, especially when the crowd is right on top of you, when they get involved and get vocal, but it’s one of the reasons you want to play in these games.”

Toulon’s inexperience in Europe won’t make it any easier for Munster, insisted the scrum-half, who said experience would only stretch so far and reckoned the French side’s tough encounters in the French Top 14 could stand to them as much as Munster’s love affair with the Heineken Cup.

He hopes not, of course, but noted that Munster couldn’t possibly survive this huge examination unless they take a very proactive approach from the first whistle.

“It will be about trying to play rugby by winning ball first and then keeping hold of it, by playing the game in the right areas; we can’t stand back and see what they have.

“It’s nothing new, but the first 20 minutes – as it would be against all French sides – will be trying to starve them of possession and making them do the hard work.

“Of course, we will also have to acknowledge that (even then) they probably have the ability to score tries from any area of the pitch.”

Not that Stringer talked down Munster’s capabilities behind the scrum.

Far from it — he insisted that his side had the ability to compete favourably in what he expects to be a high tempo game on a hard pitch and in balmier weather conditions than Munster have been recently used to.

“We have always been able to compete in that sense; what’simportant is that we get hold of the ball in the first 20, get stuck into them and make a game of it.

“There have been situations this season where we were slow to start, and we’re in a situation now where we can’t afford to lapse like that.”