Munster not yet in crisis but hard to see how things can improve

When one side scores arguably the finest try of the season within the first three minutes and the other misses a penalty from in front of the posts a few moments later, the message is already loud and clear.

And so it proved at Thomond Park last night when Leinster performed with control and precision in cruising to a handsome, if flattering, 24-7 victory.

Munster huffed and puffed for the umpteenth time this season, proved tactically naive in their decision making, and made what has now become a familiar catalogue of unforced errors.

Watching Ireland coach Joe Schmidt would have liked much of what he saw in Leinster’s display while wondering why there might be any complaining from the southern end of the country about Munster’s meagre representation on the national XV.

On the evidence of this game, Leinster, will, if anything, provide even more members of Schmidt’s squad come the Six Nations . That early Leinster try was the direct result of a superb break by centre Garry Ringrose, a young man surely destined for great things, and just the kind of line breaker that Ireland have lacked since the retirement of Brian O’Driscoll.

Throw in the likes of wing-forward Josh van der Flier, to name but one other fine, young prospect, and you recognise that Leinster’s rich supply of talent has far from dried up.

Such a happy state of affairs is conspicuous by its absence down south. In spite of the restrictions imposed by the IRFU, they have been able to to call upon the services of several overseas players including Francis Saili, Tyler Bleyendaal, BJ Botha, Mark Chishol and CJ Stander.

With the obvious exception of Stander, who won’t have done his Irish squad prospects any harm in his head-to-head with Jamie Heaslip, a large percentage of the Red Army who packed out Thomond Park last night were left to wonder just how they are benefiting the Munster cause in these extremely difficult times.

Take Bleyendaal. The out-half position continues to plague Munster. Last night they rested Ian Keatley and instead opted for the (very) injury-prone Kiwi. Having arrived with a big reputation, he has failed to make an impression, largely perhaps through no fault of his own. However, for a man who has worn the New Zealand jersey and is in receipt of a handsome wage, you might have expected a lot more when he finally got a chance on one of the biggest days of all.

When it came to penalty kicks at goal or to touch, Munster bypassed their No. 10 and turned instead to the youthful Rory Scannell. And when the talented but still inexperienced Dolphin man missed a goal kick from under the posts as early as the fifth minute, you feared for the young man’s self-belief.

Skipper Stander maintained he made the decision “to keep up the tempo” when three eminently kickable penalty chances were scorned in favour of fruitless kicks to the corner early in the second half. But Leinster were only three points ahead and were playing into a meaningful wind at the time, leaving many to wonder if there was any Munsterman willing or indeed capable of taking on the responsibility.

Even those who disgracefully blackguarded Ian Keatley during the recent European Cup game against Leicester would have been covering their faces in shame!

On this point, though, it is only fair to stress that Scannell acquitted himself very capably and indeed may now be many people’s idea of Munster’s best option at 10.

It is 11 seasons since Munster have lost five games in a row. This may not yet be crisis time for Anthony Foley and his players but with a visit to Kingspan Park looming next week, it is difficult to see how things can improve any time soon.

Foley’s Leinster counterpart Leo Cullen, for his part, is left to regret that such an inspirational result has been delayed until after their elimination from Europe. Given that they have the likes of Jonny Sexton, to name but one outstanding player, to come back into the side, it augurs well for the rest of their Pro12 campaign.