O’Callaghan draws a line
The ignominy of losing at Thomond Park was one thing but the manner in which Tony McGahan’s side collapsed against the English outfit is perhaps the greatest annoyance for players, management and supporters alike.
Donncha O’Callaghan doesn’t need to visit the internet message boards or bar counters in rugby heartlands throughout the province to understand the dismay which has mounted over the past fortnight.
And he hopes tonight’s Magners League semi-final against Ospreys — at the scene of the Harlequins crime — can be another step on the road to redemption for McGahan’s squad.
O’Callaghan admitted: “Looking at the Harlequins game, a lot of guys could have seen loads of things that they did wrong, but ultimately it stood out as one thing —physicality. Harlequins won the physical breakdown, the tackle contest, the set piece; their want on that day was greater than ours. That is gutting to say about a team that prides ourselves on the opposite, but it was true and we can’t let it happen again.
“In the past, we might have been beaten by teams but under-performing and not appearing to give our all was not something we could ever be accused of. Now, the drive has to come from within. We know (from experience) what is needed to win, we know what winning feels like, the sheer joy of winning massive games like European Cups and Magners Leagues. Once you get the taste of it you want more.”
O’Callaghan understands the bar has been raised in terms of expectation.
“Keano (Roy Keane) was harping on about Irish soccer for years because he was so driven. Go back 10 years or so ago and people would have been happy with the type of progress we made this year. But now, supporters aren’t happy, we’re not happy, the management aren’t happy. It’s more than just reaching semi-finals or reaching finals. You want to reach the finals and win them while you’re at it. We’re aware that we have fallen in the last few semi-finals and it hurts, it bloody well hurts.
Meanwhile, promising 21-year-old Danny Barnes has been handed the number 13 jersey alongside Lifeimi Mafi, with McGahan making a number of changes from the team beaten by Harlequins.
Barnes takes over from Paul Warwick, while Marcus Horan starts for Wian du Preez, the evergreen John Hayes for Tony Buckley, skipper Paul O’Connell returns in place of Mick O’Driscoll and Donncha Ryan is in for Denis Leamy.
While four of the deposed players are included in the replacements, Buckley has been passed over for another youngster, Stephen Archer (23). Peter Stringer and Mike Sherry retain places on the bench and will be joined by another exciting talent, Simon Zebo.
Ospreys will be missing front-liners Shane Williams and Lee Byrne, (knee injuries) but director of coaching Scott Johnson insists his team aren’t travelling to Limerick to merely make up the numbers.
“It has been an up and down time this season,” said Johnson of the Ospreys’ late surge to win a semi-final spot.
“It has been a bit of a roller coaster, but every team has peaks and troughs over the course of a season. It’s always going to be the case. We’ve had some pretty good peaks, and over 22 games we’ve earned a place in the play-offs and we don’t want to waste that hard work and effort. It’ll be a real test, but we know plenty about Munster, just like they know plenty about us. I can see it being a real arm wrestle.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
