MUNSTER face Northampton Saints this Saturday at 6pm in Thomond Park in week one of the Heineken Cup.
The two time champions failed to emerge from their Pool last season, so the pressure is beginning to pile up on the players and coaches ahead of the 2011/12 Heineken Cup season.
Munster will face Northampton, Castres and the Scarlets in a tough pool. Munster’s preparations for the game have not been ideal. The Red Army were well beaten by their near rivals Leinster last weekend at the Aviva in the Rabodirect Pro12. Indeed, the 24-19 score line flattered Munster, who, at one point, were 24-12 behind.
Restoring Faith
The challenge for Munster this weekend is not to win a game against last season’s beaten finalists, but also to restore some European form to a club which is on the brink of falling from grace in terms of European dominance. If last weekend taught Munster fans anything, it is that ‘Modern’ rugby has left Munster behind. Such was the gulf in class between Heineken Cup champions Leinster and Magners League Champions Munster it may be a long time before the glory days of 2006 and 2008 return.
Aging Warriors
This analysis is not based purely on one game. It will not be fixed in one game either. It appears that Munster’s miles on the clock are beginning to show. The replacements for the front line soldiers are not getting their chance to shine quickly enough.
This lack of true depth is not solely the fault of the current Munster set up. After all, Tony Mc Gahan and co. can not just buy who they like. That luxury is reserved for clubs outside of Ireland.
IRFU
Munster Rugby, in it’s professional format, was created to develop players for Ireland. Some squad selections in recent weeks can only be put down to outside influence from the IRFU. There are too many to mention here, but just look at some of the old guard’s form and then you realise it appears harder to get out of the Munster team in some cases, than get into it.
If you think this is an X Files type conspiracy theory, then just look at this weeks events. Brian O’Driscoll, dead shoulder et al, was allowed travel to the World Cup. The IRFU seems to be able to dictate who plays, where they play and when they more than we think. New Zealand were able to play out without Carter, why could Ireland not play on without BOD? The glaring truth might just be that bums on seats, corporate advertising and the lack of a tried and trusted replacement meant that Ireland’s best ever player had to play with one shoulder.
Change is needed
The mixed messages do not stop there. Munster will tell you ‘officially’ that they are happy with their back line. We are told that the addition of Will Chambers will make the difference in terms of better penetration and more tries. This will not be the case. Munster teams of old were never blessed with World class back lines but they could always count on their pack to win enough ball to help out. This is no longer a given either.
Backrow to the future
Leinster bossed Munster last weekend. This weekend’s visitors have battered Munster in the forwards too. Modern rugby, the World Cup showed, is all about the backrow. Munster’s backrow were anonymous last weekend. Ryan, Leamy and Ronan were out classed by Heaslip, O’Brien and Jennings. In all facets of the game.
The worrying thing now is that Munster have not given enough big game experience to their replacements. O’Mahony, O’Donnell and O’Callaghan. James Coughlan was Munster player of the year last season. Why is he not starting? When your side is missing a 35 year old back row, (no offence to David Wallace) then you are in serious trouble.
Sympathy & Admiration
This ranting hack has sympathy for the tough position the Munster coaches are in. It is hard to pick your team around players that HAVE to play. So, how do Leinster do it? The difference appears to be attitude. Something Tony Mc Gahan and Anthony Foley have gone on record in recent weeks about. Ask yourself this question. In your opinion, are the Munster team playing to their full potential? Do they have the look in their eyes of seasons past? Is this attitude right? Saturday and beyond will answer these conundrums.
This weekend?
Munster will raise their game this weekend enough to win. The question will still remain. Can Munster win all of their home games and win two of the three away? That is what is required.
This piece might seem like a long winded tirade, but the tank appears to be emptying. It’s time to trade in some of the old and test drive the new. After all, we asked years ago,
Who is ever going to replace Mick Galway?
We all know what happened with the red haired fella got a go.
