Munster rugby talking points: Reds need to put a winning streak together
Réalta Technologies, a leading Global Automation, Digital Systems & Data Solutions company, is the new Official Data Solutions Partner for Munster Rugby. Picture: Brian Lougheed
MUNSTER make the trip to the Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli this evening to face the Scarlets for their first URC fixture in almost seven weeks knowing that they need to start picking up league wins quickly if they are to have any chance of retaining their hard-won title.
This Friday’s fixture is the first of four in a block of games that look, at least on paper, as very winnable for the reigning URC champions.
The trip to Wales will be followed by the visit of Zebre in two weeks, and a fortnight later will see Graham Rowntree’s side returning to the Principality to face the Ospreys in Swansea, with the block being completed with the visit of Cardiff to Thomond Park at the end of March.
Given that Munster currently lie in 11th place in the table they need to get a move on if they are to be involved in the end-of-season play-offs. With only five games remaining after the completion of this important block, and the first two of those being difficult away ties in South Africa, you could well argue that all four of these matches are starting to have the appearance of must-wins.
The Scarlets have lost each of their last six games in all competitions, including when losing 7-23 at home to Georgian side Black Lion in the Challenge Cup in December, so Munster need to capitalise on their brittle confidence and get on top from the outset.
Given that Munster’s victory away to Toulon on 13 January was Munster’s only win in six competitive fixtures themselves then the confidence cannot be too high for Graham Rowntree’s side right now either, although they did secure a morale-boosting win over the Crusaders in a packed SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh two weeks ago.
Whisper it softly, but Munster’s second-row injury crisis might just be showing signs of dissipating as the trio of RG Snyman, Tom Ahern and Cian Hurley all have been declared fit and rearing to go for the weekend’s trip to Wales.
We can expect the game time of Snyman and Hurley, in particular, to be managed initially, given the length of time they have been out, but it is a huge positive to have them available for selection again, with just Jean Kleyn and Edwin Edogbo out now, although they are not expected back this season.
A lot of Munster’s major issues this season have stemmed from their lack of power at scrum time and in mauls, on both sides of the ball, and you would expect this to improve drastically with the return of their locks, and their dual World Cup winner Snyman in particular, as he returns to add his considerable ballast to the cause.
The Springbok may be Leinster-bound at season’s end, but Munster fans will be hoping for a big contribution from their giant second row before he heads up the M7 at the end of May.
The Munster squad for the weekend has been boosted by the release of scrum-half Conor Murray and props Jeremy Loughman and Oli Jager from Ireland camp, as their experience and know-how could well be required in a ground that has been a tricky venue for Munster down the years.
Only Loughman of that three got any minutes in last Sunday’s 36-0 win over Italy, with them all likely to be eager to get on-pitch minutes into the legs this weekend.
Jack Crowley scored his first international try last Sunday and was instrumental in most of Ireland’s excellent attacking play, while on the wing Calvin Nash crashed over for his second try in two games, while Craig Casey had another decent outing in the no. 9 shirt.
Graham Rowntree will certainly be hoping that his returning Irish players will be able to carry some of that Ireland positivity into the Munster camp for this Friday, which would help secure an important win in Munster’s season.
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