LAST Friday night, Munster rugby supporters were treated to yet another unforgettable sporting occasion at Thomond Park. The Heineken Cup Pool 1 game against the Northampton Saints will live long in the memory of those that were there and also those who looked on through the medium of television.
From early in the week the build up to the game reminded many of the “old days”.
Meaning the game was touch and go and Munster would have to dig deep to win. Feelings in the gut reminded everyone of classic clashes such as the visits of Wasps, Stade Francais and Sale.
From before the kick off the stadium rocked with the chorus of Munster, Munster, Munster. Throw in Stand up and fight and the ‘Fields’ and you wonder how players even hear themselves think out there in the arena.
The game itself was not a rugby spectacle for the ages. A 12-9 scoreline will do that to a game. The atmosphere however was up there with the hair raising, goose bump inducing night that was the visit of the All Blacks.
A series of events in the second half ended in a crescendo of noise that would have blown the roof off of the stadium should Munster have decided to put one on it. I often wonder what the noise must be like outside of the stadium. The almost deafening levels in the stadium were brought about by a series of plays that epitomises Munster rugby. With captain Paul O Connell sin binned, the Munster pack faced a series of scrums which looked to be leading to a penalty try for the visitors.
Somehow, Tomas O Leary emerged from the back of the maul of bodies with the prized possession – the ball. A kick ahead brought a roar, only bettered by the roar which greeted Doug Howlett’s block-down of the attempted Saints clearance. Just when the ringing had stopped in your ears, as if it was a stage play and Munster were building to an end, Marcus Horan was released onto the field. This was getting ridiculous. People in seats right next to each other could not even hear what the other one was saying.
At this point I thought I had heard it all. Nope. I was wrong. Just as the game was about to delve back into relative silence, Munster’s exiled captain returned to the field, just as Munster were awarded a go ahead penalty.
For all those that were jammed into the stadium, I feel that period of play summed up all that is good about Munster and their supporters. Paul O Connell summed it up best post game when he said, “The difference with Munster fans is that they know the game so well, that they know when the team needs them. When we were a man down, the fans came up with the trump card. The noise was incredible and there is no doubt it had to affect the Saints”.
A night so special might never be replicated but the opportunity has arisen quicker that we may have expected. The draw for the quarter finals has seen Munster pitted once more against Northampton. Munster coach Tony Mc Gahan believes they are “the real deal”. The tie is set for the 17.30 on April 10, looks like we have just enough time to get our voices back before they are needed again. A small price I think you will agree. We would all take sore throats and lighter wallets even, to have such World class spectacles out the road.
In other rugby news, Ireland ‘A’ will face the England Saxons this Sunday in Bath. The squad was announced this week in Limerick with seven Munster men named in the 22. The squad in full is, Rory Best, Isaac Boss,Tony Buckley, Darren Cave, Ryan Caldwell, Ian Dowling, John Fogarty, Marcus Horan, Ian Humphreys, Denis Hurley, Shane Jennings, Keith Matthews, John Muldoon, Fergus McFadden, Johne Murphy, Mick O’Driscoll, Sean O’Brien, Niall Ronan, Mike Ross, Peter Stringer, Devin Toner,Paddy Wallace.
There is another ‘A’ game next week also before Ireland kick off their Grand Slam defence against Italy, in Croke Park on Saturday week.
