Back-row battles against all the odds

If ever there was a game for a back-row to stand up and fight it was this one.

Munster’s build-up to the home Heineken Cup tie with Saracens on Saturday had been undermined by loose forwards falling by the wayside. Where sixes and sevens were concerned, Rob Penney’s selection options were becoming increasingly limited; at sixes and sevens even.

No Sean Dougall, nor Barry O’Mahony, forget Niall Ronan and discount CJ Stander. When No.8 Shane Buckley limped out of Munster A’s British & Irish Cup tie victory at Rotherham on Saturday you began to wonder whether an evil conspiracy was afoot. So it was fitting that, against such a backdrop of woe and misfortune, the back-row sent out against Saracens just a couple of hours later should all put in outstanding shifts to help defeat the English heavyweights. Dave O’Callaghan, Peter O’Mahony and man of the match James Coughlan all shone, bristling with fervour and intensity, putting their bodies on the line and carrying the fight to Saracens throughout the evening.