Munster need a big improvement to beat Leinster
Quentin Walcker of Castres Olympique tackles Brian Gleeson of Munster. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Munster face Leinster at Thomond Park in a vital URC Christmas clash on Friday evening boosted by their last-minute win over Ulster last Friday, but they will also be fully aware that huge improvements are required if they are to nab another interprovincial scalp.
The win in Belfast was achieved with an extra man for 50 minutes, thanks to Tom O’Toole’s first-half red card, although Rory Scannell did have a 10-minute break for receiving a yellow in the 59th minute. Despite the numerical advantage, Ulster enjoyed dominance in terms of possession and territory, with them having an over 70% advantage in both, which would normally guarantee that you win a game of rugby union.
And while the effort has to be commended, it is not sustainable. You cannot imagine Leinster letting Munster off the hook on Friday night should they have that kind of ball.
One of the areas where Ulster failed to capitalise on their domination was the bluntness of their maul, as Munster were able to repel them time and again when Richie Murphy’s men went down the line. However, we all know what a well-oiled machine the Leinster maul is, as they have a very high conversion rate when it comes to turning 5m lineouts into tries.
Having four fit experienced props was extremely important in terms of Munster being able to hold out for the win, as last Friday was one of the few times this year where Munster had four international props at their disposal. Such know-how is invaluable when a side is in the trenches, like it was in Ravenhill.
It was not just the old-timers who helped Munster get over the line, as there were notable contributions off the bench from Evan O’Connell and Brian Gleeson.
O’Connell stole a crucial lineout near his own tryline late on, and made some dominant tackles. Gleeson displayed his amazing ball-carrying ability to skittle a few defenders and make some crucial hard yards.
Munster must trust these emerging players in big games if they are to progress.
A lot is being made of the poor kicking display from Jack Crowley. It is certainly an area of his game that needs a few tweaks and adjustments, but his overall game looks in good nick.
Munster’s four tries on Friday night were all brilliantly taken, which illustrated just what a dangerous side they can be when everything clicks. The error count still remains too high, however, and it is hard to see Ian Costello’s side getting a positive result against Leinster unless that drops significantly.
Tom Farrell grabbed all the headlines with his brilliant hat-trick proving the difference between defeat and victory from a Munster perspective. He has now scored six tries in 11 appearances for Munster.
He was signed to replace Antoine Frisch, who the IRFU inexplicably let slip through the net, and to compare how much a success Farrell has been since he has signed from Connacht, it is worth noting that Frisch scored 10 tries in 40 Munster appearances. Farrell looks set to eclipse that total.
The one negative aspect of Friday night’s win was the worrying injury picked up by Farrell’s centre partner Alex Nankivell in the dangerous incident that led to Tom O’Toole’s red card. Munster are really short of resources at centre this season, so need a clean bill of health here if they are to remain competitive.
Peter O’Mahony and Tadhg Beirne both sat out the Ulster game, and both are expected to return to the side for the anticipated visit of Leo Cullen’s high-flying side.
Leinster’s ridiculously resourced squad remains unbeaten this season, with them having taken 38 points out of a possible 40 from their eight league games to date.
They will lose at some stage though, and what better time and place than Christmas time at a hostile Thomond Park?
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