FOR Munster rugby, the last two weekends Heineken Cup fixtures were billed as season defining. How true it turned out to be. The loss at the Liberty Stadium last weekend showed cracks in Munster’s armour which were never really seen before. There have been weaknesses in the past, but this time, the Ospreys targeted the weakness and showed no mercy in their quest to defeat the two times champions.
First up, the scrum was a massive achilles heel. The lack of experience in the sqaud at both tight and loosehead is now being highlighted more than ever. Granted Munster can field three Irish international props at any time, once fit, but the cover being bought and the cover being brought through are not up to scratch or in some cases, have not even been given a chance.
Munster have now reached a point in their professional life, that they are caught between two stools. Mc Gahan has the pressure of needing to win every season. Win and fill the stadium. The problem for Munster is that, to be competitive, like French teams for example, it means large squads.
The Irish and the French are similar in squad sizes, however the Irish squads are meant to be breeding grounds for future Irish teams.
The top down structure of the IRFU is failing the players at present. As it stands, the biggest and the fastest are skills and technique trained in academies and schools. What needs to be done is that the most skillful and technical, (particularily front rowers) need to be made bigger and faster.
Without picking out one person, you will often hear that an Irish prop needs more game time to help his scrummaging. In the southern hemisphere, you will here, that players are great front rowers, but they need to be better around the paddock.
After last weekend’s defeat for Munster and the lack of props coming through, the Red Army need to re-evaluate. This hack felt that they were under pressure to qualify from this group from day one. It appears now, after day four, things are getting harder.
I know Munster rugby have been written off before. This time however it might be time to become more realistic.
The ghosts of scrums past are returning and with Paul Warwick leaving this week and a World Cup to come, this season and next season may just be as bleak as the weather.
