Scannell’s out to prove Munster are not second fiddle to Blues
Scannell aiming to prove Munster are still Leinster’s equals
MUNSTER centre Rory Scannell insists there is not much of a gap between them and Leinster. And while the Blues, who have beaten Munster twice this season in the PRO14, last weekend became only the second side to win all nine games on their way to capturing Europe’s premier title, Scannell says the Reds are not far behind.
‘No, I don’t think there is a massive margin. It is those small margins. In that period where Leinster have won four European Cups, we have reached six semi-finals, so we are not that far away.
‘I think if you look back to two seasons ago we weren’t in the semi-finals of the league nor did we get out of the group stages of Europe, so we have made massive strides since then, two semi-finals last few years (Europe), another semi-final and final of the Pro14 last year as well.
‘It is those small margins, I think, but we are going to have to cut them down if we want to have a chance of getting a win at the weekend.’
Munster will look to bring the Champions Cup holders crashing back to earth when they take them on in the semi-finals of the Pro14 at the RDS on Saturday.
Scannell, who has chalked up 26 appearances already this season to bring his Munster haul to 80, said that a win over the new European champions would be a huge boost.
‘Massive. I think if you look at lads like Earlsie (Keith Earls), Pete (O’Mahony), Billy (Holland) and these guys, they haven’t got their hands on silverware since 2011 and some of them weren’t even involved back then.
‘So we don’t want those guys going their whole Munster careers without getting their hands on a trophy.
‘That was the aim at the start of the season, to get our hands on silverware. We have a great opportunity to do it now,’ Scannell admitted.
The Cork native added that Munster’s failure to win a trophy in seven years is not dwelled upon but they do know they need to bridge the gap sooner rather than later. ‘You are probably thinking about it a bit more, but we know we are close as well at the same time, we know we have that capability of getting there.
‘We got there last year and we didn’t show up on the day (final v Scarlets), so now we are going to have to show up this Saturday and if we get a win, we are going to have to show up again the week after and that is just the way it is.’
Surely, coming so close to winning silverware but not doing it can get frustrating?
‘Yeah, there probably is an element of frustration there. Last year, it was my first year involved in knockout rugby and you think, oh look, we have next year again, but for some guys there isn’t a next year.
‘We have to bear that in mind as well as younger lads in the squad that it is some guys last opportunity, other guys’ might only have one more opportunity.
‘It is frustrating for guys, so I just don’t think we can keep let these keep slipping by and we have another great opportunity as I said, but we are hoping to get a win this weekend.
‘It is turning that frustration into motivation that you are still in the mix and you still have a chance to win a trophy this year. As I said that is what our aim was at the start of the year, so we still have a great opportunity and we are looking forward to Saturday.’