25th May - Parisian delights for Toulouse
With as many Heineken cups in the bag as the combined might of Leicester Tigers and Munster, Toulouse now stand alone as the undoubted kings of European rugby. From the moment that ERC chiefs designated Paris as the venue for this year’s decider, Toulouse coach Guy Noves set his sights and his teams’ priorities on reaching the decider in the Stade de France and bridging a five year gap since their last success.
Yet on the final whistle, despite an unprecedented fourth Heineken cup win the man voted as the coach of the first fifteen years of European rugby looked strangely subdued. Toulouse have always prided themselves not only on winning trophies but in the manner in which they perform. Despite being the vastly superior side in this contest, a winning margin of just two points left Noves slightly cold at the end.
In fact they could have suffered a similar fate to their 2004 reversal when on the back of a dreadful error from last Saturday’s full back Clement Poitrenaud; Wasps Rob Howley scored a try at the death which denied Toulouse another crown after an epic final in Twickenham. I am sure those thoughts must have filtered through Noves’ mind as Karmichael Hunt ghosted in for the only try of the game with eight minutes left on the clock. Anything could have happened at that stage.
The fact that Hunt’s try coincided with the withdrawal of Toulouse hooker William Servat who was saluting the crowd and hugging the rest of the bench while Hunt was in the act of touching down highlighted the fact that Toulouse had lost their focus and concentration at a crucial time in the game. Had Biarritz been mentally stronger they could well have caused the shock that their performance hardly deserved given that they were forced to play second fiddle for the entire second half.
Munster fans will have noted with some horror the damage that the Toulouse scrum inflicted on a Biarritz pack that destroyed Tony McGahan’s side in the same facet of play in San Sebastian. In fact Leinster can take some solace from the power display of the Toulouse front row given their experiences in the set piece against the same opposition in their semi final. Biarritz have bullied most opposition in the scrum of late but got a taste of their own medicine from the moment that former All Black tight head Campbell Johnstone was propelled skywards from in one of the early engagements.
The one thing that kept Biarritz competitive was their line out which not only won good ball on their own throw but also wreaked havoc the Toulouse delivery. Once again Imanol Harinordoquy was majestic in this sector. It also helped that Dimitri Yachvili was razor sharp in converting every penalty opportunity that came the Biarritz way. He kept them in the game.
Toulouse threatened to open up in the early stages of the second half but butchered a number of try scoring opportunities that on another day they would deliver with ease. In truth we saw very little of the mercurial skills of Poitrenaud, Maxime Medard, Yannick Jauzion or Vincent Clerc as the Red and Blacks did just about enough to prevail. That - despite the win - was definitely playing on the mind of Noves at the end.
Not that it mattered much to the fanatical Toulousain support base who created a magnificent atmosphere in the great stadium right throughout the contest. The other key factor was the extraordinary bench that Noves was able to call on to kill off the Biarritz challenge in the second fourty minutes. Their dominant scrum was supplemented even further in that period by the introduction of an all international replacement front row in Springbok Dan Human, Argentine hooker Alberto Vernet Basualdo and Samoan giant Census Johnson. What most sides would give to be able to start with that awesome trio? In addition to be able to spring another crop of French internationals in Louis Picomles, Yann David and Cedric Heymans gives an indication of the quality available to Noves.
Another notable factor of the weekend was the number of Leinster and Munster jerseys visible at all the landmark sites in the French capital, all of whom booked their travel arrangements in advance of the semi finals. Given the glorious sunshine that engulfed Paris for the last few days at least they were able to sit back and enjoy the delights of this magnificent city without having to worry too much about the outcome of the final itself. While Cardiff next season will not look as appealing at this stage, the prospect of an Irish presence in the final once again will come into sharp focus when the draw for the pool stages takes place in just a few weeks time. Talk soon.
Donal Lenihan
19th May - Toulouse on the Verge of History
Last Saturday's explosive meeting between Leinster and Munster at the RDS offered a brief glimpse of what might have been. With both sides reaching the penultimate stage of the Heineken cup only a few short weeks ago, a nation dared to dream of an Irish takeover of the French capital next weekend. Alas it was not to be.
Paris is now set for an influx of another kind from the rugby mad factions from the south of the country when the fanatical fan base of Toulouse and Biarritz descend on the Stade de France. The fact that neither side has made it through to the French championship final at the same venue on May 29th will only enhance the colour and atmosphere of the occasion even further.
For some time now Toulouse coach Guy Noves, deservedly named this week as the European coach of the past fifteen years by the ERC, has claimed that it is impossible at this time of the season to compete on both fronts. He has clearly identified winning a record fourth Heineken cup this season as his priority and showed his hand last weekend by resting several front liners for the French championship semi final against Perpignan which they subsequently lost by 21-13. Gone are the days when people questioned the commitment of the French to the Heineken cup.
Toulouse, for so long the artisans of European rugby, now have the chance to distance themselves even further from the exploits of the other European super powers in Wasps, Leicester Tigers and Munster when they make a record sixth final appearance. In the likes of Yannick Jauzion, Vincent Clerc, Clement Poitrenaud, William Servat, Cedric Heymans and Jean Bouilhou they have true giants of the Heineken cup and for them five years since their last tournament success is a lifetime.
Biarritz on the other hand have almost slipped in unnoticed through the back door after hobbling through a relatively easy pool stage where they crucially engineered a home quarter final and subsequent semi final. Since then in their two victories against the Ospreys and Munster they have displayed a pragmatism and determined will to win that neither of the Celtic sides could match on the day. Driven by the dynamic French international trio of Damien Traille, Dimitri Yachvili and the imperious Imanol Harinordoquy they have proved very difficult to beat.
While it seems very unlikely at this stage that the talismanic Traille will recover from the arm injury that forced him out of the semi final, he is still hoping against hope that he can make an appearance. Of even more significance is the fact that Harinordoquy has recovered from the nose and rib injuries sustained before and during the game against Munster. He was the difference between victory and defeat in San Sebastian and without him Biarritz would find it very difficult to compete with a Toulouse back row of French Grand Slam captain Thierry Dosautoir, Springbok Shaun Sowerby and Bouilhou.
Privately Toulouse are very disappointed that Munster didn't make the final. Speaking to some of their party immediately after their win over Leinster, they made it very clear that they were thirsting for revenge after their final defeat to Munster in 2008. In some respects they will find it more difficult against Biarritz as the two sides meet regularly in domestic competition and know each other inside out.
Toulouse are the undoubted favourites and their backline, especially if Traille is forced to sit this one out, is far more dangerous in attack. The Biarritz back three of Ian Balshaw, Takudzwa Ngwenya and Jean-Baptiste Gobelet looked vulnerable and hesitant in defence, a trait that will be exploited to the full by the likes of Poitrenaud if repeated on Saturday.
For me, this Toulouse side in full flow is a joy to watch and when they launch that irresistible offloading game, with a mix of backs and forwards playing the ball out of the tackle, they are mesmerising. The battle in the set piece however will dictate whether or not Dosautoir's side will be in a position to unveil that spectacular brand of rugby. In their respective semi finals, both Toulouse and Biarritz dismantled their Irish counterparts in the scrum and we are set fair for a battle royal in that key phase. The lineout should also offer a titanic tactical duel as Toulouse can be vulnerable at times out of touch while Biarritz, inspired by the aerial skills of Harinordoquy, are very aggressive on the opposition throw.
I am fortunate enough to be in the Stade de France on Saturday and look forward to a cracking contest where Toulouse look odds on to win but Biarritz are certain to make them fight all the way. I look forward to sharing my thoughts on the day's proceedings next Monday. Enjoy the spectacle.
4th May - Set-piece Meltdown Buries Irish Aspirations
Within a twenty four hour period the hopes and aspirations of not one but two Irish teams were shattered by a superior force. For some time now the prospect of Munster and Leinster meeting in a European final in the Stade de France sustained us during the winter months and when both emerged from two classic quarter final encounters against Northampton and Clermont Auvergne, Paris was within touching distance. Unfortunately it is not to be.
I had a bad feeling about these two contests all week. When the build up to big matches is dominated by talk of injuries and who will be fit to start it is always a worry. When Jonny Sexton and Paul O’ Connell were both declared unfit to start last Thursday, the omens weren’t good. When news filtered through to us in Toulouse on Friday afternoon that Doug Howlett and Ian Dowling had also failed to last the final team run, Munster were down to the bare bones on the reserves bench.
In Toulouse on Saturday the weather matched the mood as thousands of Leinster fans descended on Le Stadium soaked to the skin. While the conditions were set to militate against Toulouse’ famed off loading game, all it did was force them into an adjustment whereby their forwards would become the focus of attention.
Over the course of the two semi finals, Munster and Leinster's set piece suffered a collective melt down. When playing any French team on their home patch the one area where you have to be competitive is the scrum. That becomes the first point of attack and if they sense any smell of weakness then they will go for the jugular. Right from the very first engagement Leinster’s scrum was in retreat and the Toulouse forwards grew in confidence.
Young Cian Healy was forced to absorb some harsh lessons and no matter what combination Michael Cheika introduced in the front row Leinster were in trouble. To their eternal credit they hung in with a very gutsy defensive performance up to the point when David Skrela, not known for his searing breaks, capitalised on a breakdown in communication between Isa Nacewa and Gordon D’Arcy in midfield to ghost in under the posts unopposed.
Two tries in five minutes would have killed off a lesser team but Leinster displayed their champion qualities in the manner in which they picked themselves up off the floor and responded with a great try from Jamie Heaslip. Unfortunately Heaslip, who was once again outstanding, took a knock to his ankle around the same time as the inspirational Shane Jennings was forced to leave the field. The Leinster back row was in trouble from that point onwards and when Toulouse tripped the switch to unveil their running and offloading game the holders were in serious trouble. When Toulouse are in the zone they are fascinating to watch but a nightmare to play against.
While Munster stood up to the initial onslaught from the Biarritz pack in San Sebastian, boosted by the fact that they won two penalties from the opening three scrums, I was happy that we would not see a repeat of the scrummaging woes that had blighted Leinster’s cause the previous day. That however proved a false dawn as the Biarritz eight slowly put the squeeze on Munster and subsequently proceeded to dismantle their set piece.
The thing that differentiates Munster’s loss from Leinster’s is that Biarritz are not a great side. In fact their backline, especially the back three of Ngwenya, Balshaw and Gobetet looked vulnerable every time Munster put the ball in behind them.
The difference was that in Imanol Harinordoquy and Dimitri Yachvili Biarritz had the two best players on the field and they controlled and influenced the outcome of the game. Munster despite that great opening which yielded the only try of the game from Keith Earls could not win enough ball to allow Ronan O’ Gara dictate the pattern of the game.
When you lose seven lineouts in a contest of this nature you will always struggle especially this Munster side that use the lineout as a means of launching their game plan. The biggest surprise for me was that Munster, despite all their experience, panicked and started to chase the game too early. Their decision making was flawed and they conceded too many silly penalties that Yachvili was only too willing to punish. With a return of six penalties from six he extracted the maximum from Munster’s indiscretions.
On the final whistle the heavens opened once again and offered a stark reminder of the type of weekend it had been for Irish rugby, a total washout. So now we have an all French showdown on May 22nd with Toulouse looking odds on to achieve their cherished goal of winning the Heineken cup for the first time in five years. I will offer my thoughts on that once we have recovered from the disappointments of the weekend. Talk soon.
30th April - Belief on the Road is the Key to Success
At least both teams now know where they stand with the declarations from the respective camps that Paul O’Connell and Jonny Sexton will not be fit to start against Biarritz and Toulouse respectively. Both it seems were fighting a losing battle and now the onus is on the respective team leaders in Munster and Leinster to move on and accept their fate.
It isn’t as if their opponents have been without their injury woes either. While the outstanding Imanol Harinordoquy will start in San Sebastian the loss of Damien Traille in the centre for Biarritz is a major blow. He is their driving force in midfield and Biarritz will miss his leadership in defence, his siege gun boot and the opportunism which saw him convert three drop goals in the quarter final against the Ospreys.
I know from experience that playing the week after surgery to repair a broken nose is extremely painful when even the slightest knock to the face is accompanied with excruciating pain. I have no doubt that Harinordoquy’s pain threshold will be tested early on. While O’Connell is a huge loss for a variety of reasons, he has not played for Munster since January and Mick O’Driscoll has slotted in seamlessly in his absence.
O’Driscoll will also assume the responsibility for calling the Munster lineout options and will have to be very sharp throughout as Biarritz are very effective in attacking the opposition throw. They also have an excellent lineout maul and in the absence of Traille will seek to take on Munster up front and play for field position. The key player for Biarritz is Dimitri Yachvili. Everything revolves around him. Not only is he their chief points scorer with the boot but he more than out half Julien Peyrelongue dictates their tactical approach. For Munster to win they must stop him and match the Biarritz set piece. They must also exploit the fact that they have a better backline. It isn’t often that Munster have been able to make that boast against French opposition at this stage of the competition.
The loss of Sexton is a severe handicap to Leinster as he has matured greatly over the last twelve months. Right from the start he was going to struggle to make this one given the nature of his injury. The likes of Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy and Eoin Reddan must now rise to the challenge and relieve the pressure on Shaun Berne. At least Berne is an experienced campaigner with considerable experience behind him with the Warratahs in Super 14 rugby and also with Bath.
Leinster have come in under the radar for this one as their form of late has not been great. Toulouse will have examined the manner in which Clermont Auvergne took them on around the fringes of the ruck and maul and attempt to exploit that. I would be surprised however if Leinster defence coach Kurt McQuilkin has not addressed this issue in training.
This time last year Leinster were in a very similar situation facing a Munster side that was playing excellent rugby resulting in eight players being selected for the Lions. We all know what happened. Leinster prevailed because their collective will to win, allied to a magnificent midfield performance from that O’Driscoll/ D’Arcy axis, was greater. Once again that celebrated international duo will have to come up with the goods in order to stifle the off loading game of a rejuvenated Yannick Jauzion. He is to Toulouse what Yachvili is to Biarritz.
The big plus Leinster have going into this contest is that their blitz defence is tailor made to frustrate and scupper the manner in which Toulouse like to play. They are slaves to the wide game and one can envisage occasions where O’Driscoll shoots out of the line to bury the likes of Clement Poitrenaud and give a huge lift to his team.
The main concern I have for Leinster is the collective injury woes that have restricted the training and preparation of so many of their backline in recent weeks. Rob Kearney, Shane Horgan, O’Driscoll, D’Arcy and Reddan have all spent time on the treatment table and you just hope that they are all in a position to perform. For Leinster to win they must not only be sharp in defence but will also have to rediscover the try scoring edge that marked that remarkable win in Toulouse in the quarter final back in 2006. That was their best ever performance on French soil. They will have to scale those heights once again in order to make it to a second successive final in three weeks time. Enjoy the games and I look forward to updating you on my visit to both venues next week.
26th April - Munster and Leinster Finally Focus
The phoney war is over. After a fortnight spent managing resources in a delicate balancing act between attempting to stay competitive in the Magners league while attending to a mini injury crisis at the same time both Munster and Leinster can finally focus on what promises to be a massive weekend for Irish rugby.
Right now the Heineken cup semi finals are the only show in town. It has been a difficult few weeks for both provinces since their quarter final successes trying to manage the demands of being involved at the business end of domestic competition and making sure that their respective teams are in the best possible shape to tackle what will be two very demanding contests against quality French opposition.
Then again it has been no different for Biarritz and Toulouse. Under the circumstances it is no coincidence that of the four semi finalists only Toulouse won in their respective league encounters over the weekend. Leinster had a very demanding week with two games within a three day period both away from home. While in the circumstances losing to Glasgow Warriors on Friday was understandable their form and execution in the defeat to Connacht at the Sportsground two days earlier must be a cause of concern for Michael Cheika.
In common with Tony McGahan, Cheika faces an anxious few days waiting on injury updates on Jonny Sexton and Rob Kearney. Sexton has become as pivotal to Leinster as Ronan O’Gara is to Munster and to lose him would be a body blow. Given the nature of his injury and with a plate inserted in his jaw, I think he will find it very difficult to be fit in time. In those circumstances it is vital that Kearney makes the starting line up as with Luke Fitzgerald gone for the season, Shane Horgan with limited game time recently and Girvan Dempsey also taking a heavy knock against Connacht, the Leinster backline has lost a bit of its spark. To win on Saturday they must rediscover their attacking edge.
Of even more importance, Leinster’s defensive blanket which has been the hallmark of their season will not function as well as it has to date if it is shorn of so many first choice personnel. Leinster have the capacity to go to Toulouse and win, just as they did in that magnificent quarter final back in 2006, but to do so Kearney and Sexton are vital. Much will be revealed on that front by the end of the week.
Munster also have a mounting injury crisis and while the return of Denis Hurley against the Ospreys on Saturday night was a welcome boost, the main concern centres on Paul O’Connell, Doug Howlett, Tony Buckley and Keith Earls. O’Connell remains extremely doubtful and the odds are against the Munster captain lining out in San Sebastian. The news on both Earls and Howlett is more promising and both should start. The only problem for Howlett is that his hamstring problems are recurring on a regular basis and it could go at any stage. Biarritz suffered a body blow of their own against Clermont Auvergne on Saturday when their outstanding centre Damien Traille who chipped in with three drop goals in their quarter final win over the Ospreys, injured his shoulder in the last three minutes of the game and is definitely out. He is an enormous loss.
While Munster rolled out the majority of their full strength side on Saturday night they appeared only half interested in playing. When Alan Quinlan goes a full eighty minutes without a hint of an altercation of some kind then you know that the Munster pack is operating on half steam. That forward unit who with the exception of James Coughlan are all in their thirties just cannot perform on full throttle week in week out. What they have shown once again this season is that they retain the capacity to deliver when the need is greatest as so ably demonstrated against Perpignan and Northampton.
There will be a lot of shadow boxing between now and the end of the week when the starting line-ups of all four sides should give us a more realistic opportunity of assessing the chances of both Munster and Leinster remaining on course for a dream final in Paris on May 22nd. I will get more into the specifics of the two games once I know who is fit and ready to do battle. I look forward to sharing my views with you at that stage. Talk soon.
18th April - Strange Times
Strange times. Who would have thought that the prospect of volcanic ash could yet play a part in Leinster’s quest to retain the Heineken cup and could scupper the prospects of Munster’s famed red army from co-ordinating another controlled invasion of a European citadel.
As we speak, the management teams from both Irish provinces are addressing the ‘what if’ scenario in relation to securing alternative modes of transport should the crisis grounding all planes in Europe remain indefinitely. The power brokers in the ERC are also monitoring the situation very closely and will issue a statement later in the week. Hopefully Mother Nature will intervene once again over the next few days and clear the airwaves.
The only certainty at present is that the respective squads from Munster and Leinster will continue to prepare and train as normal even if Leinster face the prospect of boarding the ferry in Larne to fulfil their Magners league clash against Glasgow Warriors in Firhill next Friday night. Then again even Whitney Houston had to test her sea legs this week and managed to negotiate the Irish Sea without too much difficulty.
It was a strange weekend also for fellow Heineken cup semi finalists Toulouse and Biarritz with both suffering defeat in games they might have expected to win. One week after faltering to Connacht in Galway, Bourgoin belied their lowly position in the French Top 14 by claiming the scalp of Toulouse at the Stade Pierre Rajon by 15-13. In addition French Grand Slam captain Thierry Dusautoir pulled a thigh muscle and is now considered doubtful for the Leinster clash. He would be a massive loss.
This defeat has serious ramifications for Toulouse as it now means that they will have to go and win away to near neighbours and great rivals Castres next weekend to have any chance of a home draw in the Top 14 play off’s. I am sure that their coach Guy Noves would have appreciated a more manageable fixture on the eve of the Leinster clash and will have a decision to make in respect of how best to utilise his resources.
Leinster, sitting pretty on the top of their domestic competition, have already named two separate sides to tackle Connacht and Glasgow on Wednesday and Friday respectively. Injuries apart, Michael Cheika is in a good place at present. His principal worry surrounds the availability of Jonny Sexton who looks extremely unlikely to make the semi final at present.
Munster’s opponents Biarritz suffered the ignominy of surrendering a thirteen point lead well into the second half before imploding against Racing Metro in Paris to end any chance of the play off’s. Like Toulouse they will also sweat on the availability of a grand Slam back rower after outstanding No 8 Imanol Harinordoquy broke his nose in the game. He should however recover in time.
For Biarritz, the only possibility of silverware now rests with the Heineken cup. Typical of their season as a whole, Biarritz played some scintillating rugby at times with Damien Traille as menacing as ever before losing their way and succumbing to the pressure applied by Sebastian Chabal and company up front. Munster will have taken due notice especially with the success enjoyed by the Racing Metro maul. Munster have been noted for unleashing the odd maul of their own over the years.
Tony McGahan had opted to rest the vast majority of his front line charges yesterday against Connacht instead handing responsibility to next generation of players, the majority who are currently in or recent graduates of the Academy. They did not let him down and showed that there are a number of promising youngsters waiting in the wings with a dream of some day playing in the Heineken cup. On the evidence of this display a number will fulfil that ambition at some stage in the not toO’Distant future.
In the meantime, Munster have the small matter of facing the Ospreys next Saturday at Thomond Park in a game that will see the return of the big guns. It will be interesting to see if Paul O Connell makes it. Word is, his groin injury is showing signs of improvement and things are looking up. Once that game is over, all eyes will once again focus on Europe in an attempt to somehow reproduce the drama and magic created by all eight teams in the quarter finals. More on that next Monday by which time we should know whether the next Irish invasion of Europe will be conducted on all fronts. Talk soon.
12th April - What a Weekend
In terms of excitement, passion, quality of rugby and pure drama you just couldn’t have asked for any more from what must rank as one of the greatest weekends ever in the chequered history of the Heineken cup. Then again being Irish, we would say that. The quite remarkable achievement of both Leinster and Munster in reaching the last four means that we can still dare tO’Dream of an all Irish final in Paris on May 22nd. That would be a phenomenal accomplishment.
Leinster may have ridden their luck in the RDS on Friday night against a class Clermont Auvergne outfit but I am a firm believer that you can only control the aspects of the game that are in your hands. Clermont missed six kicks at goal but it was the failure of Brock James to convert either of his twO’Drop goal opportunities in the last four minutes that sealed their destiny.
Leinster made some fundamental errors not least the substitution of CJ van der Linde at half time which necessitated the switch of Stan Wright to tight head to cater for the introduction of Cian Healy loose head. The Leinster scrum was rock solid in the opening fourty minutes with the massive Springbok having his best game since his arrival in Dublin.
With only three lineout throws in the entire game Leinster were severely compromised in the possession stakes which limited the opportunities available for their game breakers behind the scrum. When they did manufacture a semblance of possession the results were staggering. It took them a full twenty minutes to enter the Clermont twenty two but when they did Brian O’ Driscoll’s audacious offload to Jamie Heaslip created a quite spectacular opening try, one of nineteen in total from the four quarter finals.
From their only attacking line out of the half, Heaslip delivered a second try and in the space of twenty minutes Leinster turned a ten point deficit into a ten point lead. That is why you can never write off this Leinster side with their ability to score from very limited opportunities. They have alsO’Developed a steely hardness to their play over the last two seasons which has enabled them to close out tight games. Just compare the drop goal opportunity they engineered for Jonny Sexton in the dying minutes of the pool game against London Irish in Twickenham to James’ botched efforts at the death on Friday. The demise of their scrum in the second half opened a door of opportunity for Clermont to claw their way back into the game and as a consequence Leinster registered just nine points in the second fourty minutes.
Conversely down in Thomond Park, the scrum which was always going to be the first point of attack for the gargantuan Saints front row of Euan Murray, Dylan Hartley and Soane Tongauiha, proved the rock on which Munster launched their initiative in delivering a ninth semi final appearance. Marcus Horan produced an inspired performance in subduing Murray and the sight of him being withdrawn from the fight with twenty five minutes left on the clock offered a huge lift to the Munster forwards.
In addition Ronan O’ Gara had one of those days when everything he did turned to gold. While his game management was once again top drawer, he will derive immense satisfaction from the fact that the Munster backline delivered four tries at a time when people were suggesting that they had lost their scoring touch. A key element in this was the return to the midfield of Keith Earls. His partnership with Jean de Villiers, who was also outstanding, was beginning to flourish prior to the six nations but lost its impetus because of the break. On Saturday the chemistry between them was electric.
With just over two weeks to go to what promises to be another seismic weekend for Irish rugby, the medical teams of both provinces will once again have to go flat out to address a very worrying sequence of injuries sustained to key backs on both sides. Jonny Sexton faces a real fight to be ready in time if he has had a plate inserted in his jaw - he must be extremely doubtful. In addition the injury to Rob Kearney and the fact that O’ Driscoll seemed to take a knock on the same knee that he damaged against Scotland must also be a concern.
Munster too have their problems with Doug Howlett, back to his best on Saturday, tweaking his hamstring while Earls aggravated his troublesome groin in the last play of the game. Ian Dowling and Lifeimi Mafi are also on the treatment table and with Denis Hurley also out with a hamstring at present Munster are fast running out of backs.
Anxious moments therefore for several key players from both squads but once the adrenalin starts pumping in the build up to the opening weekend of May, I am sure that most of the key protagonists will be back in harness. On the evidence of what we saw from Toulouse and Biarritz over the weekend they will be badly needed. Talk soon.
9th April - Fighting Fit
Once again the medicine men have worked the miracle with the news today that both Keith Earls and Paul O’ Connell have been passed fit to start against Northampton tomorrow. In the professional game the team of doctors and physio’s that support a side have become every bit as important as the coaching staff. Just consider the boost Leinster got yesterday when it was announced that Brian O’ Driscoll, Shane Horgan, Kevin McLaughlin and Gordon D’Arcy were all passed fit to start tonight.
O’ Connell’s return for a first game in Munster colours since prior to the six nations championship will be a massive boost but he must still survive the warm up when he will test his groin for the last time. Somehow, despite the strength in depth and experience of the Munster pack, they never seem as comfortable or formidable without the Lions captain.
Of equal importance however is the return of Earls who was just beginning to build a very productive midfield partnership with Jean De Villiers prior to the six nations. For whatever reason the De Villiers - Lifeimi Mafi centre pairing has failed to function with the creativity and fluidity that one would have expected. Munster have struggled as a result when Earls has been out of the side.
For a variety of reasons I cannot recall a more nervous and uncertain feeling surrounding a home quarter final of a Heineken cup from a Munster perspective. Much of this has tO’Do with the form of Northampton as much as the short comings in Munster’s recent performances.
Northampton are on the crest of a wave at present and have travelled a long road since their relegation from the Guinness Premiership only a few short seasons ago. Already this season they have won the LV Anglo Welsh cup which has guaranteed their participation in the Heineken cup next season and relieved a lot of pressure from that point of view.
That seems evident from the vibes emanating from their camp this week. In contrast to their visit last January they seem more relaxed, confident in the knowledge that they are now familiar with the Thomond Park factor and comfortable with it. Many sides in the past made similar assertions and left with their tails between their legs.
Given the nature of this game you can be sure that the level of intensity will be lifted appreciably on the field and on the terraces tomorrow. Munster have their backs to the wall and history has shown that in such circumstances, as we saw in that incredible performance at the Stade Aime Giral against Perpignan before Christmas, this team have the capacity to produce big performances.
The biggest question surrounds the grizzled performers up front who have given so much to Munster, Ireland and the Lions for close on ten years. How much is left in the tank? There is nO’Doubt that stalwarts like John Hayes, David Wallace and Alan Quinlan can’t go on for too much longer at this level. What they do have however is an understanding of how to win tight games like this one promises to be.
By moving Wallace back to the flank and starting a natural No 8 in James Coughlan at the base of the scrum Munster look better equipped to cope with the examination that is sure to come from a massive Northampton front row of Euan Murray, Dylan Hartley and Soane Tongauiha.
The one thing that will have hurt Munster in that defeat to Leinster last week was that Leo Cullen’s side played smarter rugby. Over the years Munster would have thought that they had the franchise on that commodity. To win tomorrow they will have to rediscover that quality quickly. In those circumstances who better that Ronan O’ Gara tO’Direct traffic. Judging from his comments this week he is hurting big time from losing his international slot to Jonny Sexton and articulated his anguish in a British news paper. That is good news for the Munster faithful. When O’ Gara has something to prove he usually delivers.
Interestingly Northampton have opted for Stephen Myler opposite O’ Gara in the pivotal out half role in preference to Shane Geraghty who started there in the pool game last January. Myler is a steadier tactical kicker than Geraghty who seemed caught in two minds last time out and kicked poorly. It will be interesting to see if Myler copes any better.
If experience counts for anything at this stage of the tournament then Munster should prevail but they have a lot of work tO’Do in stifling a side packed with youthful exuberance and ambition. Lets hope Munster teach them a few harsh lessons and provide them with some further education to aid their development. Munster to prevail…just about. Talk soon.
8th April - The Beginning
What a week to start my Heineken blog; four mouth watering quarter finals of the Heineken Cup, the pick of which could well be the opening clash tomorrow night between holders Leinster and Clermont Auvergne.
Leinster have been dealt a cruel hand in their quest to become only the second side to ever retain their title as they seek to emulate the deeds of Leicester Tigers who won back to back cups in 2001 and 2002. When you consider that the likes of Toulouse, Munster and London Wasps have never achieved that feat you begin to appreciate the task that Leinster face. It hasn’t helped either that they have the more difficult looking path to the final in Paris on May 22nd with a semi final away to either Toulouse or Stade Francais the reward if they manage to negotiate their way past another quality French outfit in Clermont.
Leinster’s hopes have been boosted considerably with the news today that all four of their injury doubts have been cleared to start. The inclusion of Brian O’ Driscoll alongside Gordon D’Arcy in midfield and the return of Shane Horgan to the right wing bring even more solidity to a backline that impressed against Munster last Friday. Of even more significance in my opinion is the return of Kevin McLaughlin to the back row which enables Nathan Hines to revert to a more familiar role in the second row.
Clermont have also strengthened their side with the return of Marius Joubert to their midfield thus releasing their captain Aurelien Rougerie to a more familiar role on the wing. That is bad news for Leinster as I felt that Rougerie looked vulnerable defensively in his unfamiliar midfield role and was an area that O’ Driscoll could exploit. Clermont coach Vern Cotter obviously felt the same and has opted for the greater solidity of the Springbok Joubert.
Despite the presence of so many class operators behind the scrum on both sides the ground rules for this contest will be set up front. Clermont have a massive pack, an amalgamation of four forwards who featured for France in their recent Grand Slam success spearheaded from the middle of the front row by the outstanding Argentine hooker Mario Ledesma. In French loose head prop Thomas Domingo they possess not only a highly destructive scrummager but also a little pocket rocket when it comes to ball carrying. It is a measure of just how strong their pack is that Julien Pierre who featured in the second row for France in the six nations can only get a place on the Clermont bench.
As Munster will testify from their four meetings against this French outfit in recent seasons, Clermont will seek to scatter you up front before launching a very effective off loading game to compliment the skills of a very fine backline. On a trip to Clermont for one of those Munster games I asked a local if their captain Aurelien Rougerie is the best winger in France, to which his reply was “he is not even the best winger in Clermont”. In his opinion that honour fell to the flying Fijian Napolini Nalaga, who strangely has been omitted from the Clermont side for this game, followed by another Grand Slammer Julien Malzieu who occupies the opposite wing.
The one aspect that sets Leinster apart at the moment is the magnificence of their defence. Defence wins trophies and against Munster in Thomond Park, even without O’Driscoll, their communication and organisation in defence was immense. The key against Clermont is to frustrate their free flowing style and minimise the space available to them. In this respect special attention must be reserved for their excellent half back pairing of Morgan Parra and Australian Brock James.
At just 21 years old Parra was the driving force behind the French national success this season and he must be pressurised. Outside him James varies his game well but has shown frailties on the big occasion, none bigger than the last two French championship finals.
The other imperative for Leinster is that Jonny Sexton must rediscover his place kicking rhythm. In a game as tight as this one is likely to be every point on offer must be taken. Sexton has struggled in that department for a few months now and Leinster’s ability to advance to the semi final could well depend on him rediscovering his touch. It will be that close.
Tomorrow, once the teams have been announced, I will give my views on the likely outcome of Northampton’s second visit this year to Thomond Park.
Cheers for now.