THERE is no other word for it. Last Sunday’s performance from Munster was arguably the greatest in recent years. I cannot think of a, as close to perfect, performance from a rugby side as last week’s demolition of the Ospreys.
The scoreline of 43-9 didn’t even tell the whole story. Munster were so dominant, especially in the second half, that 50 points plus was not beyond them.
Munster’s conductor, Ronan O Gara commented after the game that it felt different than other Heineken Cup game. “It was a weird one for us. Whatever Tony (Mc Gahan) has put in our heads has us taking every game as serious as the next. He is operating a very smooth machine and he is only interested in winning results. In the past, Heineken Cup games were extra pressure for us, but that seems to be gone now. It was just another game”.
For those that were there, this was no normal game. The weather was akin to the south of France and some of the rugby played would not have looked out of place in that champagne region either. I’m not even going to mention that drop goal which Paul Warwick scored from somewhere near the mouth of the Shannon. The atmosphere was electric. Dare I say, the best yet at the new venue. In Keith Earls we have unearthed a raw local talent that gets even the most calm off of their seats every time he comes near the ball. The forward domination was brutal, the set pieces were clinical, but the main reason for the victory was the following.
Mr’s Dowling, Quinlan, Earls, Howlett Mafi and Warwick were the difference. Why so? Well, these lads have been ploughing away as Ireland made rugby history. Dowling, for one, spent the last eight weeks on a masseur’s table. Mafi and Earls are quickly forming a centre partnership for the World to envy. For these players to be at this level of performance when needed is testament to their professionalism and mental toughness. I am not taking away from the performances of the Irish internationals, but I think last Sunday the performance of those mentioned out shone their more capped friends. That is the reason Munster are now without doubt the best rugby team in Europe. In fact, they are now without doubt the most complete Munster team we have had the joy to watch and call our own. We are truly being spoiled.
Speaking of spoiled, what better way to round off a great day than to see Leinster get through to the semi final. The All Ireland Heineken Cup semi final at Croke Park on May 2 is a fitting fixture for this year of year’s for Irish rugby. What better than to see the two best teams in this country go head to head in this country’s greatest sporting arena. The prospect of facing our old foes is a great draw in my opinion. For fans and players alike, it will focus the mind. If we had drawn Harlequins, some might have been more interested in accomodation in Edinburgh than the result in Dublin.
Yes we have beaten them twice this year in an aggregate score of 40-5, however, the semi final is going to be a different prospect. The Grand Slammers will meet head to head and all hell might just break loose, but one thing is for sure, the ‘Lonster’ boys owe us one for 2006 and they will not lack motivation.
However, Munster have more weapons in their arsenal since then and we have more silverware in the cabinet too. When you pair off O Connell and O Callaghan against O Kelly and Cullen you can see only one result. That and Dr Felipe might forget his kicking boots once more and we can all go home happy once more.
There is plenty of column inches to come on that fixture, as Tony Mc Gahan would say, “look, we are battling on two fronts so the Magners League is as important as the Heineken Cup” so we need to focus on Connacht this Saturday night at 7.30pm.
With Munster having beaten Leinster in the last Magners League home game, the title is Munster’s to lose. The Red Army are seven points clear and should have enough in the squad to secure a bonus point against the men from the west this week. The loss to Connacht over the Christmas period will not be forgotten by those who played and if I know Mc Gahan he might just give the lions share of those players a chance to redeem themselves. What a time to be a Red. . . .
