Crunch time
Munster have the most to do heading into a critical period for provinces
FOUR weeks down, two rounds of interprovincial clashes about to kick in and Europe just around the corner — it’s a good time to take stock.
Of course, now that we are inside the 12-month countdown to the World Cup, the national perspective trumps all and Joe Schmidt will be relatively satisfied with how things are going.
His frontline players are being carefully managed and though it would be helpful to see Conor Murray and Sean O’Brien back from injuries as soon as possible, Ireland are looking well set for their November Tests, and beyond.
As for the provinces, it has been a largely positive story, although they all have appeared far more effective at home than on the road — particularly Munster, whose two disconcerting away defeats leave Johann van Graan’s men with the most to work on.
All in all, it has been an intriguing four weeks of Pro14 action and with the World Cup auditions in full swing, the next two weeks of internal showdowns should be equally fascinating. LEINSTER 8/10 RECORD SO FAR: Played 4 Won 3 Lost 1 POSITION: Top of Conference B AN excellent start to the campaign for Leo Cullen’s men, who have served notice they can mount a meaningful challenge to repeat the remarkable achievements of last season’s Pro14-Champions Cup double.
The big guns have looked assured as they have been filtered back in and there has been some enticing backline play, with Felipe Contepomi seemingly slotting in seamlessly to Girvan Dempsey’s backs coach role.
The loss away to Scarlets rankled, a game Leinster had within their grasp, but then the victory in Cardiff first up with a weakened team was superbly executed.
The two comfortable home wins over Dragons and Edinburgh followed a pattern of gradually wearing down their opponents and then cranking it up in the second half and the overall impression is that there is plenty more to come.
Wallaby centre Joe Tomane has struggled but there is enough time for him to come good and more than enough depth to cope if he doesn’t. A big bonus has been the superb form of Kiwi scrum-half Jamison GibsonPark while youngsters like Jordan Larmour and Max Deegan are looking more mature with each outing.
Connacht will provide a typically stern test in Galway but Leinster are building momentum nicely and they have the strength to handle all opposition again this season. Gibson-Park JURY’S OUT: Joe Tomane
SUMMARY: Looking as good as last season, possibly better. ULSTER 7.5/10 RECORD SO FAR: Played 4 Won 3 Drawn 1 POSITION: Second in Conference B FOLLOWING last season’s anguish, a good start was essential for Ulster under Dan McFarland (left) and he has got it. The performances have not been totally convincing but three wins and a bonus-point draw is an excellent return given their inconsistent history and the growth in confidence is tangible.
Scrum-half John Cooney dragged them to narrow home wins over Scarlets and Edinburgh to settle nerves before an especially timely mini-tour to South Africa.
Ulster left a four-try bonus point behind them against the Kings (who have since stunned Glasgow) but the win was paramount and, after a five-day turnaround and altitude adjustment in Bloemfontein, they were surprised by the unexpected potency of the Cheetahs last Friday night.
That said, the way Ulster were able to snatch the draw and fourtry bonus through Henry Speight in injury time was another example of their strengthening belief — although new defence coach Jared Payne needs to get his house in order.
Because now it gets real, first a trip to Limerick to face a smarting Munster followed by a home clash with a buoyant Connacht before entering into their perilous Champions Cup pool containing Leicester, Racing 92 and Scarlets.
Tough by any measure but Ulster are showing more backbone under McFarland, maybe not enough to make them trophy contenders but sufficient for an encouraging break with their difficult past. GO-TO GUYS: John Cooney and Marcell Coetzee HOLDING HIS HAND UP: Stuart McCloskey JURY’S OUT: Billy Burns SUMMARY: Ulster are getting results where they would previously have flopped. CONNACHT 7/10 RECORD SO FAR: Played 4 Won 2 Lost 2 POSITION: Third in Conference A SATURDAY’S brilliant win over a Scarlets side loaded with Welsh internationals copper-fastened the sense of a restored feelgood factor around the Sportsground.
Andy Friend has adopted the Pat Lam-style approach to banish the memories of Kieran Keane’s illfated season out west and the players, and supporters, are responding.
After coming within a terrible refereeing decision of beating a powerful Glasgow in Galway, there was a solid home win over an improving Zebre and then a dogged losing bonus point away to Edinburgh before the Scarlets came calling.
That victory officially has Connacht buzzing again and they will relish the chance to have a crack off double champions Leinster in the Sportsground next weekend.
A big plus has been the form of out-half Jack Carty, a player who never features in international discussions but has looked very assured, as has new captain Jarrad Butler in the backrow where young Paul Boyle has been sensational.
Fellow Aussie Kyle Godwin has started well in the centre while the wide players — Tiernan O’Halloran, Matt Healy, Cian Kelleher and Niyi Adeolokun — have been electric.
There are some concerns about the second row — Quinn Roux and James Cannon have been a mixed bag and Ultan Dillane is yet to get back to his best form — but, with Bundee Aki inspirational, and a
coach who knows how to get the best out of his squad, Connacht are going places. GO-TO GUY: Jack Carty HOLDING HIS HAND UP: Paul Boyle JURY’S OUT: Second rows SUMMARY: Andy Friend ‘gets’ Connacht and has them on the right track. MUNSTER 5.5/10 RECORD SO FAR: Played 4 Won 2 Lost 2 POSITION: Fourth in Conference A GETTING thumped 25-10 in Glasgow was treated as a blip. However, getting hammered 37-13 way to a previously winless Cardiff last weekend suggests there might be a serious problem.
Both defeats arrived on artificial surfaces but that cannot be used as an explanation given that Munster looked superb when dismissing the Ospreys on their own artificial surface in Cork in between those unsettling reverses.
Having opened with a thumping win over an understrength Cheetahs in Limerick, the more relevant issue is Munster pulling out big performances on the road.
There is no doubt Johann van Graan has plenty of talent at his disposal, the arrival of Joey Carbery, Tadhg Beirne and Arno Botha and return to fitness of Jaco Taute has given the head coach proper depth and there have been encouraging signs of a more successful attacking policy bearing fruit — Andrew Conway’s two-try haul in Cardiff a case in point.
New full back Mike Haley has mixed good and bad but Botha has been excellent while Carbery and Beirne were hugely influential in Cork but then it all fell apart again in the second half against Cardiff.
It is still early days, and Ulster’s visit to Thomond Park this weekend is the perfect opportunity to make a statement, but the following two weekends see Munster take on Leinster in the RDS and then travel to Exeter for their European opener.
No hiding places there. GO-TO GUY: Arno Botha HOLDING HIS HAND UP: Darren Sweetman JURY’S OUT: Mike Haley SUMMARY: This season could quickly get away from Munster if they do not improve on the road.