'Fond memories' bring Munster back to their Cape Town happy place
Simon Zebo during a Munster training session in Cape Town, South Africa. Picture: ©INPHO/Steve Haag Sports
Munster are back in a happy place, and not just in terms of results. Saturday’s historic victory in the Bulls’ backyard at Loftus Versfeld was a statement of the URC champions’ intent not give up their title lightly. And they have decamped from altitude to sea level and the scene of their Grand Final win 11 months ago to recharge and prepare for battle anew on the Highveld, against the Lions at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park this weekend.
What was once viewed, outside the camp at least, as a daunting long-haul tour at a critical point in the season and in the wake of a demoralising Champions Cup Round of 16 exit at Northampton Saints three weeks ago, now looks like an endorsement of Munster’s credentials as back-to-back champions.
Their 27-21 win against the Bulls, a fifth in a row in the URC, allowed them to leapfrog over their hosts into third place in the standings and consolidate their position in the top-four home play-off berths for June’s quarter-finals with four games of the regular season remaining.
And what better place to gear up for the run-in than in Cape Town, Munster’s base until Friday’s return to altitude.
For head coach Graham Rowntree it was a no-brainer to break camp and come down to a familiar hotel with a view of the Indian Ocean and the pleasant memories of last May’s trophy lift courtesy of an epic run of away results that climaxed with victory over Cape Town’s Stormers.
There is no science behind the decision and no fall-off from the adaptation the squad made to not only survive but thrive over 80 long-busting minutes at Loftus ahead of their appointment with the Lions.
“You keep the adaptation,” Rowntree said yesterday. “So, we haven’t lost the adaptation that we got last week. We just like it here. Fond memories. The weather’s great, this place is good. Good recovery, good restaurants, nice hotel, which is important because you got to get the right place. You can pick up bugs and sickness a lot, which other teams can testify to.
“We like it here and we’ll go back up on Friday.”
Furthermore for the Munster management, this South African tour brings players and coaches together for two weeks as they face into the final four matches, a run starting this Saturday, before the play-offs.
“It’s invaluable. Getting the lads together 24 hours a day, you find out about each other, getting a bit closer, the same with the coaches. We’ve got a great vineyard visit booked tomorrow, which we’ll enjoy as coaches.
“It just gets everybody away. It’s a slog, this season. We’ve had guys going with injuries, they’re back on deck now with us; we’ve guys away with the Six Nations, they’re back on deck. Everyone’s back on deck now and we’re able to now push on to the business end of the season.”
Jean Kleyn was never going to be involved in this business end, yet Rowntree yesterday felt the need to address reports that surfaced last weekend that the South Africa lock’s season-ending eye injury was worse than first thought.
Kleyn, who was capped by the Springboks off the back of a strong campaign in Munster’s URC title-winning team last summer and added a World Cup winner’s medal to his league success in 2023, sustained the injury on his seasonal debut against Leinster last November 25.
The 30-year-old was ruled out for the remainder of the season in January when Munster announced that due to his slow recovery from the eye issue, he would undergo knee surgery.
Then those reports of a more serious issue with the initial problem arose. Rowntree said: “There has been a bit said about Jean Kleyn’s eye injury.
“He has been to America and we are very happy with the plan for him going forward. He will be available for the start of next season.”
Asked if the start of next season meant being involved this summer for South Africa against Ireland, or later on in the Rugby Championship, Rowntree said: “It could, it could be, yeah. I never thought about that. Crikey, thanks for reminding me.
“There was a bit of confusion in the Irish media that his eye injury may be worse than suggested, but no, he has seen a specialist in America, and he and we are very happy with the plan going forward.
“He will be available for next season. When that next season starts, I can’t tell you exactly.”
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