David Corkery on rugby: Munster can take positives as young players start to shine
Jack Crowley grabs a pass. Picture: Matt Impey/Sportsfile
A narrow loss, but a performance that screams positivity and much-needed evolution.
Apart from the players, I doubt anyone would disagree with me when I say that the odds of Munster winning this year’s European Cup would be pretty modest.
They are still missing four or five more players who when the pressure comes on, are robust and experienced enough to make the right calls at the right time and in the right areas of the field.
Munster’s performances have been riddled with unforced errors up to now to challenge. However, what we’ve seen in the last few weeks has painted a picture of optimism and progression.
A good Saracens side were sent packing last weekend and on Saturday, Ian Costello and his players, despite losing, performed like a side that had a clear and precise game plan.
There is still a considerable hill to climb for the men in the red jerseys, or the faded pink that they wear these days, but there is an intense flicker of light at the end of what has been a very dark tunnel.
Yes, I am fully cognisant that there have been many false dawns with Munster over the last 15 years, but what gives me so much hope this time is the quality of the youth starting to stand up and be counted.
It's so refreshing to see the likes of Tom Ahern, Paddy Patterson, Tony Butler, Brian Gleeson, Calvin Nash, Diarmuid Kilgallen, Jack Crowley, Shane Daly, Craig Casey and the explosive John Hodnett look so settled on the pitch.
Long gone are the days of these players waiting to be told what they need to do by the likes of Conor Murray and Peter O’Mahony. Yes, they will always need leadership and guidance, but the professional game doesn't allow time for players to evolve.
What’s missing amongst the names mentioned above is a core of front-row players who are capable of giving the likes of Crowley and Patterson a solid supply of clean first-phase ball.
Stephen Archer (36), Niall Scannell (32) and John Ryan (36) have been incredible servants of the game and can still do a solid job, but there is only so many oil changes a front-row player can receive before the engine starts to seize and spits out the fatal black smoke.
The margins for error in the modern game are so small now that all it takes is for two or three microscopic mistakes to occur and the opposition will ruthlessly expose you as a result and that is exactly what happened here.
The turning point in this titanic contest was when Gavin Coombes was yellow-carded on the stroke of half-time.
During this 10-minute period Northampton managed to cross Munster’s whitewash on two occasions. This led to their very passionate 16th man become a major factor. One of the most important things you must do when you are playing away from home is to silence the home support.
Again what was very pleasing was the way Munster never stopped and in the end, all that separated the two sides was a measly two points.
In what you could only call a mini bomb-squad Munster introduced four subs, including a new front row, in the 50th minute. It didn’t have the kind of impact expected but what did was the introduction of Northampton flanker Henry Pollock.
Like a coiled-spring Pollock, who just turned 20 four days before the game, was incredible. A name to watch out fore.
I was delighted for Munster’s debutant winger Diarmuid Kilgallen who managed to score two tries. Jack Crowley also had a great day in the office and I would like to think that one day very soon he will wear the captain's armband for both province and country.
Because of the loss Munster will now be on the road for their last 16 tie for the third year on the bounce. It’s not the end of the world, but a home tie on the first weekend in April would have been something to really look forward to.
Next up for Munster is a return to the URC and it is imperative that they continue to learn from their mistakes and evolve as they have in recent weeks.
At long last something positive to report on.
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