Langford tips Munster

Being forewarned is to be forearmed and Munster captain Anthony Foley is now being forewarned —

if Munster finally win the Heineken Cup, John Langford plans on stealing his medal.

Langford won’t be in Cardiff for the final but he, his wife and family are planning a trip back to Ireland over the summer and Foley had better watch out.

After playing in the 2000 final and being in the stand for the 2002 final John has his sights set on a medal and if larceny is the way to go then he’ll take that route.

“Yea, I’m trying to organise a trip back to Ireland in the summer for some of the lads’ weddings and a trip to (Anthony) Foley’s place is definitely on the cards," Langford told The Evening Echo.

“If they win (as I expect them to do) and his medal is lying around it might just find its way onto the flight back to Sydney with me.

“Although I expect that if I try that Axel will have the airport police warned in plenty of time!” said Langford.

John Langford is, of course, one of the first Australians to add to the Munster legend over the years and after spending three seasons with the Reds he keeps a keen eye on their progress during the season.

The towering second row became a cult hero during his time in Limerick and keeps in regular contact with his former team-mates.

He would dearly love to be at the game in the Millenium stadium but hopes that his not being there will actually be a help to the team.

“Well I was playing in 2000 when we lost the final and was in the stand in 2002 as I was on standby for Paul O’Connell so I’m hoping that if I stay on the other side of the world it might be a help.

“I know that Declan (Kidney) is a fairly superstitious guy so I think he’ll be happy that I’ll be at home watching the game on tv as opposed to being in the stadium.”

Ever since returning to Australia and Sydney to take up a job as a Project Manager with a major construction company, Langford has kept tabs on Munster’s results and performances.

Usually it’s through the internet but he was delighted when he found out that he’d be able to watch their semi-final against Leinster live on television.

It meant a 1am rise for him but such trivialities didn’t deter him.

“I watched the game with my father-in-law. We were delighted when we found out that we’d get to see the game.

“I thought it was an excellent performance. As expected Munster dominated up front and they were very good defensively whenever Leinster got the ball.

“It was an overall performance and one that will give them a huge boost ahead of the final against Biarritz.

“That game is going to be another battle of the packs because French teams always take their scrum very seriously and it’s definitely going to be a bruiser.

“Munster will be solid though. John Hayes is as solid as ever and I think the news on Marcus’s (Horan) injury is good so you’ve basically got the Irish international front three there.

“Then you’ve got the two lads in the second row and another three internationals at the back so Munster are, obviously, well catered for in this area.”

So with all the talk about Munster’s famed pack, are we again falling into the old trap of underestimating Munster’s back division?

“Nah, keep the ball in the forwards. If you let it out the backs they’d probably drop it!” said Langford, tongue firmly in cheek.

“I’m only winding them up. You don’t get to a European Cup Final without your whole team performing and the Munster backs are always being overlooked but they’re all class players.

“They don’t look for the headlines or anything like that because to them they’re just doing their job but they can attack at will and are exciting players.

“They’re maybe overlooked because they are all modest guys who just get on with things but they can turn a match and will be a crucial part of Munster’s game plan in Cardiff.”

Speaking to Langford you can’t help but realise that while he may be gone from the scene it would just take one phonecall and he’d strap on the boots for the cause, especially when the emotion seeps through as he talks about his time in Limerick.

“I have three Munster Senior Cup medals and they are a great source of pride for me. I loved my time in Ireland with Munster and made some fantastic friends.”

So what about strapping on the boots for one more fling?

“Not a chance! The fact that the older guys like myself, Claw and Gallimh are gone is probably helping Munster these days.

“We were probably holding them back and the new blood they have are coming on exceptionally well. The younger guys in my time are now grown up and are the senior members of the squad.

“You need that blend of youth and experience and Munster have that even if most of the experienced guys are still fairly young.”

No conversation about Munster would be complete without mentioning the phenomenal support that is certain to follow them to Cardiff on May 20.

The only certainty about that day is that the Millenium Stadium will bleed red.

“They are professional supporters. That’s the only way to describe them.

“My father-in-law was taken aback when we were watching the Leinster game and was wondering had Leinster any supporters at the game.

“That’s the atmosphere that they create at every game. I’d love to be in Cork and Limerick now just to see the lengths people are probably going to in order to get a ticket for the final.”

The final itself is going to be a fascinating battle between the two protagonists and Langford just can't bear to think that Munster might not finally land the prize they’ve craved.

“To be the bridesmaids for a third time doesn’t bear thinking about.

“The first two final defeats were very hard to swallow and while playing in a final is motivation enough the memories of those two days will be a little extra for the players.

“Finals aren’t won in the first ten minutes of even the first half. You have to keep plugging away at the opposition, keep wearing them down.

“You saw that in 2000 when Northampton beat us by a point and in 2002 when Leicester won it we could so easily have scored in the closing minutes when Neil Back got the hand in.

“Even in the semi-final at 16-6 Leinster were still very much in it and it was only in the last few minutes when those two tries were scored was the game beyond them.

“It promises to be an epic battle but Munster, I believe, will be hungrier for it.

“After going so close so many times they will not be willing to let it slip again and that could be the difference in the final,” Langford added.

Despite the protestations to the contrary, should Munster win, it probably wouldn’t surprise anyone if Langford turned up in Limerick for the celebrations after the game.

“Mate I’d love to but I’d probably end up divorced.

“I’d truly love to be at the final but if I went I’d have to turn around and come home immediately afterward.

“Should Munster win I’d find that extremely hard to do because I’d want to stay for the party but I’ll be back over in the summer for those weddings and I’ll catch up with the lads then.

“In the meantime I’ll just have to settle for watching the game on the box and cheer the boys on from here.”