No pain, no gain for unshakable Downey

James Downey saw Sunday’s Heineken Cup clash at the Stoop as the mother and father of all physical battles and had the scars to prove it when Munster gathered yesterday to run off the pain at the University of Limerick.

Downey’s second-half tackle on Harlequins full-back Mike Brown was a major moment as the two-time champions came from behind to create the big shock of the weekend, but the overall physical effort took its toll and left him in a spectator role for part of yesterday’s ‘recovery’ session.

The big centre wasn’t the only one feeling the pain, but there is unlikely to be any significant fall-out in advance of another huge game against Leinster in the RaboDirect Pro12 at Thomond Park on Saturday.

Still hurting from the effort in London were Paul O’Connell, who took no active role yesterday, Donnacha Ryan, Donncha O’Callaghan and Casey Laulala, but all are expected to be available later in the week.

It’s unlikely injured skipper Doug Howlett (shoulder and thigh injuries sustained in the recent loss to Glasgow) will make it back, but he is on course to return before the European Cup semi-final against Clermont Auvergne, by which time Keith Earls will also be in the picture.

Earls, who damaged his shoulder in Ireland’s Six Nations loss to Italy, played a significant role in yesterday’s session and if not available for the weekend game, the likelihood is he will be ready for the final European warm-up game against Zebre a week on.

Downey, despite his facial scars, was still hugely satisfied, and smiling.

He said: “Yeah it was a great game to be involved in. ROG [Ronan O’Gara] said it after and Paulie [O’Connell] said it, that’s the way Munster are, that’s the way Munster play, that’s the Munster game and it’s great to be part of it.

“We just imposed ourselves on them physically. We said we wanted to do that. Obviously, English teams are normally physical and we had to step up and increase the intensity.”

He had every reason to be pleased with his personal performance too, the ferocious tackle on Brown apart.

“It went well and I got my hands on the ball early, I wanted to do that,” he said. “I made some tackles as well. That’s a big part of my game and I’m glad it paid off.”

Downey said Munster’s ability to change into cup rugby mode was crucial to the outcome.

He said: “It was a cup game and everyone held their hands up. I wanted the ball, all of us wanted it, and I maybe demanded it a bit more off ROG than I normally would, I just wanted to get into the game.

“As it worked out, it is the kind of game I like, it suited my sort of style. There is a time and a place for it, it is a fine balance.”

It was Downey’s first experience of a big away success with the province and he was impressed by the special feeling of elation at the finish.

“It was a unique day to be a part of it at the end of the game when you are walking around and seeing so many Munster fans, wondering where they got all the tickets,” he said. “I don’t know where they got them from to be honest. But that’s it, that’s what makes these days. As Paulie said, when you go out there you find someone in the crowd and look at them and you see what it means to them. They had paid good money to get over there and get the tickets; you have to produce for them, that’s what it’s all about.”

Having savoured the moment in west London, there has been no time for celebration, however, with all focus now on Saturday’s clash with Leinster as Munster search for the consistency that has been lacking so far this season.

“I think we have just got to keep it going,” said Downey. “We need a couple of back-to-backs wins and no better game to have than Leinster to be honest.

“That Harlequins game was a full performance, but it is about backing it up now and we have to back it up this week.”