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.

Bright lights offer hope

Munster paraded the Heineken Cup through the streets of Cork City last night when more than 30,000 fans turned out to welcome their rugby heroes. At the same time Ireland were playing a one-sided game against The Barbarians.

While the Baa-baa’s match could be labelled a largely meaningless game, and the team facing Ireland lacked the cavalier skills to rightly carry off the illustrious team name, there are a number of positives that can be taken from the game. Most notably the continuing form of some young lights, which could show that the future of Irish rugby is not as bleak as many had expected.

For such a game, the choice of Luke Fitzgerald at centre allowed the young Leinster player to get his hands on the ball and demonstrate his undoubted talent. And now with two years of professional rugby under his belt, his confidence in both attack and defence bodes well for the Irish midfield in years to come. While he has the potential to be heir apparent to his cousin, Brian O’Driscoll, centre might not be the position to unleash his pace, step and aggression.

While full-back may provide another outlet for Fitzgerald’s talents, there is quite a queue building up to take over from Girvan Dempsey. Geordan Murphy still has a year or two, but the emergence of Rob Kearney during the Six Nations and the more recent form of Munster’s Denis Hurley have provided, initially Michael Bradley and then Declan Kidney with a bit of a selection conundrum.

Another area of over-supply is in the back-row. Jamie Heaslip, for one, again demonstrated his excellent footballing ability and with the Munster back-row joining up with the squad in the next 48 hours, Bradley will again have some tough decisions to make down under. The enthusiasm of the squad will come as welcome relief to all following the dismal World Cup and Six Nations endured in the last year.

Indeed Ireland’s ‘blip’ lasted a bit more than the IRFU and the rugby supporting public expected, and O’Sullivan, correctly, paid for the blip with his job. But he did not leave the squad in good shape, mentally or physically.

However, following Munster and Leinster’s wins in the Heineken Cup and Magners League respectively, and the continued emergence of a group of bright young prospects, the squad Kidney inherits might not be in as bad a shape as expected.

Munster abu!

It has been a long road for Munster rugby. They have knocked on the door a number of times, but they have finally been allowed to take their rightful place at the top table of European Rugby.

Having learnt how to win in 2006, the pressure was not the same going into Saturday’s final.

Previously, I said that if Tomas O’Leary started Toulouse would win. I was wrong (obviously), and while the service to Ronan O’Gara was not as slick as the outhalf is accustomed to, O’Leary marshalled his pack well and remained calm under pressure when clearing his lines on a number of important occasions. And he cannot be to blame for the Toulouse try, despite it being he who kicked the ball into touch.

Having soaked up so much Munster pressure and scored a try while captain Fabian Pelous was in the sin-bin, many would have expected the French team to step it up another gear and put increased pressure on the Munster line. But it wasn’t to be.

While many a Munster fan would not have been so positive after the first 20 minutes of the game, having endured a ferocious Toulouse onslaught and only down three points, a lot of heart was taken from it.

The French side would not have been happy with such a small lead from three attempted drops at goal. Not a good return on investment.

It was a game for the purists, while it ebbed and flowed, the final 20 minutes of warfare were the most intense this Heineken Cup Final has ever seen. The manner in which the Munster pack doggedly attacked the fringes time and again was a joy to behold. Not once did you see a player in navy lie prostrate waiting for the next play. Immediately back on their feet, ready to go over the top once more. Twice they gave away penalties. Twice they quickly retrieved possession from Toulouse with some almighty line-out and midfield defence. Where the strength was found to physically rip the ball from the French players is anyone’s guess. A 16th player always welcome and boy did the supporters play their part.

But to hold possession for the guts of 15 minutes at the end of such a battle truly showed this team’s physical and mental mettle. Quite how Alan Quinlan has been overlooked for selection on the Irish team is anyone’s guess.

So Declan Kidney leaves Munster a much happier man than his last exit in 2002 after the loss to Leicester Tigers. And he can attack his new Irish role with a renewed vigour, and as one of Europe’s most successful coaches.

Last one out turn off the lights

Once again, the mass exodus from Munster begins as all roads lead to Cardiff. Any train, plane, automobile, ferry, helicopter or speed boat leaving these shores this week will be full to the brim of red jerseys. The most circuitous routes will be taken to ensure arrival in the Welsh capital in time for Saturday’s 5pm kick-off.

Munster have almost made the Millenium Stadium a home-from-home as they challenge for the Heineken European Rugby Cup (to give it its full and correct name) in Wales for the third time in seven years. It is their fourth final in nine.

As a twice previous pilgrim, the search for transport, let alone accommodation only adds to the adventure. Do not be surprised to see Munster jerseys on any flight out of Ireland this week, regardless if you are heading to Newcastle, East Midlands, Southampton or even Glasgow.

Those flights are not restricted to Friday and Saturday, fully expect some people to begin travelling from Wednesday. Indeed it was reported that it is now even hard to avail of the use of a camper van to travel across, such has been the demand. And with so many hotels, inns, hostels, B&Bs full from Cardiff to Bristol and beyond, the camper van is an inspired decision. Let’s just hope the ferries travel. And on time.

Having battled through arguably the toughest-ever group in European Cup history, beaten Gloucester in Kingholm and then seen off a dogged Saracens team, Munster must be wondering what they have to do to get their hands on the trophy.

And the final doesn’t get any easier. Playing against the Kings of Europe, Stade Toulousain, there is no room for error, as the three times Champions will take full advantage. However, with their ace finisher Vincent Clerc out injured, a respite has been afforded the Munster men.

Playing against the European Royalty, Munster will have to be at the top of their game and have their best 15 players on the pitch. That should include Peter Stringer. The Irish scrum-half was dropped for the quarter-final and Tomas O’Leary had a storming game against Gloucester. But the same cannot be said for his semi-final performance. That he was not taken off at any stage in the second-half, let alone at half-time, beggared belief as O’Leary failed to provide the required calm and leadership sought by the pack.

If the same number of mistakes are made and the ball kicked away so aimlessly in the final by either O’Leary or Stringer, the European Cup will be returning to the South West of France. This match is too important to not start Stringer who is pivotal to the marshalling of the Munster pack, as well as the vital extra time he allows Ronan O’Gara on the ball.

This game is too close to call. The bookies only have the handicap at two points in Munster’s favour. If Stringer starts, Munster will win. But that is far from guaranteed.

The clash between these two teams will of biblical proportions. Let the pilgrimage begin. Last one out, turn off the lights.