Dare to Believe

The air buzzed with electricity, anticipation and expectation. The Munster supporters had waited a long time to have another go at the much vaunted All Blacks. Even the dogs on the street knew about the game in 1978, such was the coverage given to last night’s game over the past month. And last night gave us a reminder of just what it is that Munster rugby stands for. Dare to believe.

The famed Limerick ground could not have been officially opened by a more exciting edge-of-your-seat thriller. This was pure Munster.

For everything that has been said about Ireland last Saturday – lack of pressure on the opposition, lack of control, poor kicking, poor first up tackling, lack of ambition from deep, poor execution of chances – read the opposite for Munster last night.

This was old school. Pull on the red of Munster and play for yourself, your team members, the squad and for all who were there to watch you play. This game could easily have been played in the amateur era; such was the pride and veracity with which every tackle was made by each and every Munster player.

It might not have been the most experienced team, but this Munster team did not let the emotion of the occasion get to them. Even when the four kiwi squad members – Doug Howlett, Rua Tipoki, Lifemi Mafi and Jeremy Manning – performed the Haka before the All Blacks. Not just any team is allowed to do that.


In the first half, Niall Ronan, captain Mick O’Driscoll and Frankie O’Driscoll appeared everywhere on the pitch, wilfully taking the ball into contact – importantly retaining it – as well as in defence where they were asked to tackle their noticeably larger opposition time and again. Each time they dusted themselves down and threw their bodies on the line

Such was the pride and raw aggression shown in the first half by Munster that the debate at half-time was how long could it last.

The All Blacks had an inexperienced line-up and that showed when none of their key players took full control of the game or their possession. They sought to finish off the game before they had even managed to score.

Munster took the lead in the first half through a Paul Warwick penalty, followed by a sublime opportunist drop-goal from outside the 10 yard line. The lead did not last long. Stephen Donald, who had a poor overall game on the night, kicked a successful penalty once the All Blacks returned immediately up the pitch. But Munster still believed.

However, they began to take too much out of the ball and ran from too deep. And they were punished. Three minutes after his penalty, Donald, taking one of his team’s first chances, broke through the Munster defence to score under the posts. But the All Blacks could still not properly wrest control of the game away from the inspired Irish province and only looked likely to score on the break.

Munster persevered and from a five yard scrum, Peter Stringer broke to the blind side to find himself inexplicably with a two-on-one and he successfully put Barry Murphy away, while shipping a heavy challenge, for their first try.

13-10 at half-time. But with so many of their players apparently out on their feet, the test of nerves in the second half was sure to test even the hardiest of supporters. But then this is Munster we are talking about. Expect the unexpected. Dare to believe. As their sponsors so often say, Impossible is Nothing.

And for thirty four minutes of the second half, every Munster supporter in the sold out crowd dared to believe. Munster repelled attack after attack. Then with the ball in hand ran directly at the All Blacks with a conviction that was sorely missed in Croke Park last Saturday.

All Blacks coach started to make changes after only ten minutes of the second half, but he only sent on the less experienced substitutes. But the sign that world’s best team was worried came on seventy minutes when Mils Muliana and Brad Thorn were sent on to add some experience to the team.

Earlier, Warwick was successful with another penalty, which was cancelled out by Donald. However, it only took Muliana four minutes to make an impact. The sign of the world’s top teams is that they can control enough of the game to create the chance to win.

The All Blacks rarely created cohesive attacks, possibly only two in each half. But most importantly they scored from one in each half. Stringing a number of powerful runners from the base of rucks, Number eight Liam Messam one of the few shining lights, Muliana received a pass which took out one too many Munster defenders and he was able to release Joe Rokocoko who beat Howlett on his inside shoulder. Donald failed with the conversion and with only four minutes on the clock Munster still believed. But this time is wasn’t to be.

When the final whistle went, almost all the Munster team were frozen to the spot, with barely an ounce of energy to move. Many were tears. This game meant that much to them.

The All Blacks only beat the European Champions by two points. It should never have been that close. All logical pointed to a facile victory to the World’s number one team having sustained an initial spirited front up attack. But then again this is Munster we’re talking about. They don’t believe in logic. They dare to believe.

Another Kidney twist

And so how much Irish coach Declan Kidney actually learn from the drubbing given to Canada by his first selection last weekend?

Judging by his selection for this Saturday’s not too much but only a few players managing to make that lasting impression. Much has been made of the fact that of last weekend’s starting line-up, only four finished in the same position. And while the coaching staff may have been trying out different options, in the end it did not appear to sway the selection strategy for this weekend’s game against Ireland’s bogey team, New Zealand.

The two changes made in the back-line, Girvan Dempsey starting at full-back and Tómas O’Leary at scrum-half, are the only two of this weekend’s team who took no part in Thomond Park against Canada. These two are also selections, along with the selection of the back row that would have most caused Kidney selection issues.

While Keith Earls immediately impressing on his international debut, New Zealand is not the team to throw him in against for his second start, and his demotion to the bench was always likely. However that did not clearly identify Kidney’s preferred full back. Rob Kearney, selected on the wing, has continued to impress both for Ireland and Leinster but has had limited exposure this season at Number 15. Geordan Murphy and Kearney’s Leinster colleague Girvan Dempsey were the other options available. The Leinster man won out and despite turning 33 this year, Dempsey’s continued sublime reading of a game has seen him excel in this era of the ELVs.

O’Leary’s swift elevation to Ireland’s starting scrum half has only been usurped by the progress of Earls. Kidney made the tough decision of starting O’Leary ahead of Peter Stringer during last year’s Heineken Cup and while the new man has not started yet for Ireland, the coach has again shown the confidence in the player to start him against the All Blacks. His defensive abilities and physical presence deemed more suitable, giving him the edge over incumbent Eoin Reddan, who reverts to the bench. Stringer who impressed as a substitute against Canada is not included in the match 22.



The man, so long the playing partner of O’Gara, must not lose heart for his exclusion just yet. The same must be said for Murphy. Malcolm O’Kelly was one of the first culled from the training squad two weeks ago however he was recalled to the squad this week. Kidney picks on form, so all three should not fear their international careers are over just yet.

Stephen Ferris and Shane Jennings were two players who had most to gain against Canada last weekend. Ferris won the man of the match award but is unlucky not to make this weekend’s starting line-up. Jennings had the chance to pit himself against the world’s best number seven this weekend, but his performance last weekend was not enough to remove Ireland’s regular number seven, David Wallace. Ferris, who has had limited game time this year, loses his place to the outstanding blindside of this season, Alan Quinlan but provides Kidney with plenty of options if plan A does not work. Rory Best starts ahead of Jerry Flannery at hooker.

So for those selected must perform as they have not done for more than a year. Croke Park February 2007 against England is a long time ago. And then they must beat the only team that they have never beaten. Played 21. Lost 20. Drawn 1. O’Driscoll’s 50th time as captain could not be marked better than with that elusive victory.

Last weekend’s selection provided much cause for thought. However, such was the paucity of the opposition, Kidney was not in a position to learn too much from the victory. However, those selected against the All Blacks are well aware that the coach will cull as required.

In the end it may have been the players who were given more to think about after last weekend’s match than the coach. And maybe that was always the aim. Let’s hope Kidney’s aims are reached on Saturday.

Chariots have reached a new low

It is often said that rugby is a thugs game played by gentlemen and football a gentlemen’s game played by thugs. And yet over the years it has oft been the footballers who have had the most scandalous of stories sprayed across the red tops. But oh how the mighty have fallen. Almost five years since winning the Rugby World Cup, and with four members of their squad being investigated for an alleged sexual assault on tour, the England team has reached a new low.

In New Zealand, a country where the rugby stars are followed and reported on as if they were Premiership footballers, a group of English players have landed themselves rightly in the mire. The line between professional rugby players and professional footballers could officially be muddied.

With their team not playing to anywhere near their potential, their new management not yet in place (I don’t pity Martin Johnson), this ship is truly rudderless. Clive Woodward ran a tight ship, but equally his players were given much responsibility and they reciprocated with respect for the manager, fellow players and most importantly the team. The shenanigans in New Zealand would not have happened under Woodward.

When Brian Ashton was not replaced following last year’s World Cup, it caused a number of difficulties for the team. Many of the senior players distancing themselves from the manager in the aftermath and it did not allow the team the opportunity to turn a new leaf. So the team made it through the Six Nations without any real conviction, despite finishing second.

The RFU have a lot to answer for. They hummed and hawed about Ashton’s position rather than simply ending his contract after the World Cup and starting anew. And so Director of Rugby, Rob Andrew, took charge of the tour to New Zealand.

For the players, the tour (as it was for all the home nations, probably two games too many at the end of a very long season) was probably not seen as a chance to impress the new management, but more a means to and end – finishing the season.

The team failed to impress during either test against the All Blacks but without proper leadership off the pitch, and not enough leaders on it (not like 2003), what more was to be expected. And so after the first test, instead of relaxing a few of the players decided to blow off a bit of steam, naively unaware of the hype that would surround their midnight escapades.

Johnson now has a job on his hands to re-build the team, re-build the public’s confidence in the team and re-build respect for his team in the international rugby arena.

The former England captain must now hope for two things. Firstly, that this is as low as they can go. And secondly, there are more gentlemen than thugs in the squad.