Keatley: ‘We’ll hunt them in packs’

Ian Keatley has warned Toulouse’s “monsters” that they will have to overcome Munster’s pack mentality to get the better of them in Saturday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final at Thomond Park.

Keatley believes if Toulouse’s strike-runners break one tackle they will be hunted down by up to three other defenders coming from different angles to ensure there are no meaningful line breaks.

“I suppose it all comes down to individual tackles at the end of the day,” he said.

“But if I’ve got my connection with my seven and my 12, it makes it a lot harder for them to break us down. That’s why I’m talking about our own individual jobs and responsibilities that if I do get a half-tackle in then there’s someone there to finish him off.

“We don’t defend as individuals, we defend in threes and fours. We have that pack mentality to take them on so hopefully if they do send their monsters down we’ll be able to smother their attack, slow down their ball and make it a lot more difficult for them.”

For Keatley though, the chance to line up opposite out half Luke McAlister is a major opportunity to make a statement. Although McAlister will be assessed by the Toulouse medical staff before the game to see if he is fit to play, Keatley hopes to pit his game up against the former All Black.

“I’ve obviously been watching Luke my whole career. He’s one of the top out-halves in the world and he’s a bulky enough 10. I’m just looking forward to the challenge of playing him.

“I like testing myself against other 10s in the world, seeing how far my career is going compared to theirs.”

Keatley has grown into the jersey vacated by Ronan O’Gara but admits it’s still a work-in-progress situation.

“Yeah I’m happy enough but there’re always things to work on, my game is always developing and growing, but I think I’m in a happy place with game time and hopefully I’ll continue on.

“I thought I did well enough against Leinster, but if I can step it up another level now on the weekend I’ll be happy.”

One thing he will be looking for is creating more opportunities to attack. In last week’s defeat to Leinster, he conceded that Munster’s game was stymied by inability to go through the phases.

“We didn’t launch very many strikes off line outs. I think the first three balls we got off the line out we didn’t get past two or three phases.

“The first we knocked on, the second we got choked and the third we got bundled into touch.

“Our game is based on building phases, but if we can’t manage our strikes and get past three or four phases, we’re going to struggle against any team. Even in that second half, we had one line-out ball and it is very hard to strike.”

Striving for excellence and achieving it are two different things and Keatley knows they have yet to produce a total stand-out display this season. They will need one against Toulouse.

“We have shown it in a lot of matches, what we are capable of doing, but we haven’t got that 80-minute performance yet. It is hard to flick a switch but we are professionals, this is our job, we should be able to do it.

“It’s literally just one or two little conversations, those little micro-chats with the players around you. Having that chat and then going out and doing it as well because little scenarios can pop up at you.

“It’s just trying to get those things clicking again, which I thought we did against Gloucester away and evenEdinburgh at home in the last two group games of the Heineken Cup. I think we are capable of doing it, it’s just clicking in with those different systems again.”

20 questions with Ian Keatley

1. What are you currently studying?

Fitness and conditioning in Setanta College.

2. Favourite holiday destination?

Dubai.

3. Do you have any superstitions or routines to do before a game?

I have to come out of the tunnel last, bless myself when I reach the field and then jump into the air.

4. What work are you doing in the community?

I donate to the ChildFund Ireland charity every month and I am getting involved with Goal Ireland.

5. Which famous four would you invite to dinner?

Jonny Wilkinson, Dwayne Johnson (The Rock), Floyd Mayweather and Diego Maradona.

6. What’s your favourite movie?

Me, Myself & Irene.

7. Favourite sport other than rugby?

Golf.

8. Most memorable moment in your career?

Winning the Leinster Schools Cup with Belvedere, the semi-final of the Amlin with Connacht, my first Irish cap and playing with Munster.

9. Where were you when the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve?

Sitting on my couch, because of training in the morning, with Andrew Conway and Johne Murphy.

10. Your best friend in rugby?

In Leinster it was Cian Healy, Connacht was Sean Cronin or Fionn Carr and now in Munster it’d be James Downey, Johne Murphy or Andrew Conway.

11. If you could be a character from a book or movie, who would you be?

Jordan Belfort [The Wolf of Wall Street].

12. Stuck on an island — what three things would you have?

A boat, a nice bucket of beers and a roasted pig.

13. Who is your favourite player?

Dan Carter.

14. Favourite toy as a child?

Duck Hunt on the Nintendo.

15. Favourite thing to do off the field?

Eat!

16. Favourite musicians band?

Kool & The Gang.

17. Who are your heroes?

My dad.

18. Biggest fear?

Not succeeding.

19. Favourite TV series?

At the moment it’s House of Cards.

20. What would like to be doing once you’ve finished playing?

Once I’m healthy and happy I’ll be ok.

Source: IRUPA’s In Touch magazine