Disciplinary disasters gnawing at McGahan

AS Tony McGahan admitted this week — defeats demand questions. It’s just that some answers can wait.

The demoralising manner of Munster’s exit from the Heineken Cup last week in Toulon has brought plenty of analysis and criticism as pundits and followers alike have pondered a first elimination at the group stage since 1997-98 and where that leaves the province’s rugby future.

With London Irish visiting Thomond Park today, however, McGahan sees no time to look too far ahead as there are pressing issues enough in the present.

Not least a lack of discipline that has plagued the Australian coach’s side this season and reached its nadir at Stade Mayol last Sunday when Toulon racked up 13 points during Donncha O’Callaghan’s absence from the field following an easily avoidable yellow card, and a further three when Ronan O’Gara was less fortunate to be sin binned.

To McGahan, both cards pointed to a problem for Munster. One was a matter of individual responsibility, the other highlighted the baggage his side now travels with in terms of being perceived as perpetual miscreants.

McGahan said: “We’re certainly guilty of putting ourselves in positions that we shouldn’t be. There’s no doubt about that, and it’s nothing we’ve shied away from. We’re putting ourselves in those positions and when 50-50 calls need to be made like they were at the weekend, we’re not getting them. And we’re not going to get them until we change our behaviour and put ourselves in a better position to play within the rules of what the game is there.”

And it’s not just in the Heineken Cup. Munster have picked up 11 yellow cards this season in 13 Magners League games and McGahan is acutely aware that his side’s reputation is clouding some referees’ judgement.

“We picked up three yellow cards (in the last three Magners League games), one with 10 seconds to go, one with one minute to go and we got Keith Earls sent off (with a yellow) in one of the games for a penalty in the green zone that was clearly not a penalty. We’re not going to get the 50-50 calls until we change our general behaviour and demeanour on the field.”

He added: “I don’t think (referees) have it in for us, I don’t think that’s the case at all. We’ve been the architects of that. But what I would be saying is that when it comes to 50-50 calls, we’re not going to get them because of what we’ve displayed.”

As to why discipline has become an issue for Munster this season, McGahan replied: “It’s a good question and if I had the answer to that it would be solved already.

“We need to take responsibility for it, from the coaching staff and from the players’ point of view.”

For all the woes in the camp, McGahan said there would be no worries about getting Munster right back on the horse this afternoon against London Irish, a game in which victory would secure progress to an Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final as one of the next best three Heineken Cup pool runners-up after those two that reach the premier competition’s last eight. It maybe second tier but the Amlin represents another shot at silverware and, aside from wanting to maintain Thomond Park as a fortress, that is plenty enough incentive for Munster this afternoon.

“I’m sure for the players, like the management, it’s been an emotional rollercoaster the last few days, through sadness and a bit of anger and then frustration but now a determination to make sure that we finish off the campaign (on a high).

“We wanted to make sure we won all our home games, that was a real target for us.

“We’re playing at home this week, and for our supporters, it’s important to get a decent performance out.”

That target necessitates putting big-picture matters such as the future of the province’s rugby and who will play a part in it, to one side today, in terms of selection and direction.

“You need to distance yourself from what is important, what can be controlled and what are the major factors in getting a result this week,” the Munster boss concluded.

“The other factors that are out there are always continuing to be looked at, but we need to make sure this week that everyone is focused on getting a result.”

YET McGahan accepts that the questions raised by last Sunday’s defeat in Toulon are reasonable and will need to be addressed and that the make-up of both the playing and coaching staffs is a live topic for debate.

“Any organisation needs to evolve and evolve on a number of fronts. All of those factors are there and Munster’s no different.

“We’ve been analysing ourselves heavily since I came in over two years ago, right from our underage system through our academy and all the way through to the playing group itself, and what’s important at this point in time is where are we going to be at certain stages in the next three to five years and what do we need to get there.

“We’re also looking at our coaches and developing coaches at the same time and looking at a playing style than can compete on two fronts successfully and how we do that. All the questions that have been asked are certainly valid. When you don’t win questions need to be asked.”