Forward power key to Reds revival

SAY what you will about Munster, but for their supporters they are the gift that keeps on giving.

This was supposed to be the season that chickens came home to roost and turkeys were prepared for a grisly end as the province continued the slide into European oblivion that began with last term’s failure to reach the Heineken Cup knockout stages.

That campaign was marked by wretched away form, including a pre-Christmas defeat at Ospreys that highlighted Munster’s decline in forward power. This weekend in Wales, they notched up their second victory on the road in the competition and did it with all the forward dominance of old.

Another big performance from the scrum, anchored by Springbok props Wian du Preez and BJ Botha, a cleaner lineout, superiority at the breakdown, and the defensive grit and determination left Scarlets bemused and frustrated as their own unbeaten start to the competition came to a end in round three.

Add to that another near flawless kicking performance from Ronan O’Gara, minus any hint of a drop goal but with four penalties from four attempts, and an extremely well-worked try from the backs, finished by flanker Niall Ronan, completed a satisfactory away day for Tony McGahan’s team.

If only they could stop being quite so generous to opposing teams early in games, because those are the sort of kindnesses people tend to take advantage of. Munster are simply giving themselves too much hard work to do by going behind early in games and it is leaving them having to eke out narrow victories time and again.

The late drop-goal drama may be thrilling stuff but one wonders how often a team can win by such narrow margins and sail so close to the wind without things going the opposite way.

For now, Munster are top of Pool One, thanks to this 17-14 win at Scarlets on Saturday, with the Welsh region, armed with a losing bonus point, looking to return the compliment at Thomond Park this coming Sunday.

Allowing Nigel Davies’ talented young side the freedom of Limerick as they have done in each of their three European games to date this season by conceding early leads, really would be a gift too far.

Munster players and management are acutely aware of that, with McGahan echoing the feelings of the travelling party as it turned its attentions to the return encounter.

“To be honest I think we need to improve right across the park,” McGahan said. “Our ability to make sides work for their points at the moment, we work so hard to gain our own points but cheaply give sides an opportunity to get back on the scoreboard.

“We really need to make sure we’re controlling the scoreboard, which amounts to pressure too often.

“At this stage, round three of the pool, we need to make progress every week.”

Still, you cannot deny Munster their victories, all borne of a rejuvenated pack and a determination across the board not to fail, as was recognised by the contingent of Munster fans that helped make the 13,183 assembled at Parc y Scarlets a record attendance for the Welsh club’s Heineken Cup games

“We’ve got a lot more doggedness about us,” McGahan said, comparing his squad’s mentality with that of 51 weeks ago when a forlorn squad trudged back from south Wales with a costly defeat at Ospreys.

“We’ve got a scrum which we didn’t have last year with reference to that game. It certainly gives you a platform on both sides of the ball to mount a challenge and continue to stay in the contest.”

Referring again to his players’ “doggedness”, he added: “I think that certainly comes from our senior players and it shows their capabilities to win two close games on the road and another at home.”

Maybe this was the performance that vindicates McGahan’s handling of a tricky transition period for the Munster squad, gradually integrating his young players into an experienced team and letting them benefit from the experience. And when those senior players can produce the goods as they have this season, the kids benefit too.

After a spell of success that brought three Heineken Cup semi-finals in the early part of the last decade, Scarlets began rebuilding three or four seasons ago, sweeping out the majority of their senior players and greenhousing their young talent at the business end of European rugby.

It has been a painful process that only now seems to be bearing dividends as the likes of Rhys Priestland, Jonathan Davies, Scott Williams and Liam Williams are flourishing in the red of region and country.

On Saturday’s evidence and by their coach Nigel Davies’s own admission, Munster taught them another lesson in their own backyard. Another test awaits them at Thomond Park.

SCARLETS: D Newton (S Jones 58); L Williams (V Longi 76), S Williams, J Davies, S Lamont; R Priestland, G Davies (T Knoyle 58); I Thomas (P John 63), M Rees (K Owens 63), R Thomas (D Manu 76); S Timani (K Murphy 63), D Welch; A Shingler (J Edwards, 46), R McCusker, B Morgan.

MUNSTER: D Hurley; J Murphy, W Chambers (D Barnes, 56), L Mafi, S Zebo; R O’Gara, C Murray (T O’Leary, 63); W du Preez (M Horan, 76), D Varley, B Botha (J Hayes, 77); D Ryan (D O’Callaghan, 56), P O’Connell; P O’Mahony (D Leamy, 41), N Ronan, J Coughlan.

Referee: Romain Poite (France).