BIG TWO POINT THE WAY
The Ulster players had little appetite for the contest Joey Carbery is the most exciting player on the scene
IT was hard to compete with the Ryder Cup over the weekend; the Europe-USA showdown makes for compelling television, particularly when it showcases American failure.
However, the fist-pumping jingoism to fire up our sense of Europeanness never really convinces (if it did, we would all be off to Brussels for a homecoming tomorrow).
Whereas the ‘Go Europe’ cause is transparently an artificial TV friendly construct (particularly in the era of Brexit), there was thankfully no questioning the validity of motivation in Saturday’s interprovincial rugby showdowns.
Tribal rivalry makes for intriguing and instructive viewing and, although there was a great deal to be encouraged about in the Sportsground and Thomond Park, when you pore over the findings there were some reasons to be disquieted also — particularly from an Ulster perspective.
IT’S STILL ALL ABOUT THE ‘BIG TWO’
Irish rugby in the professional era has largely been a story of Munster and Leinster. In the 23 years since amateurism was abandoned, those two provinces have been driving the narrative and Saturday showed how they will continue to be the dominant influencers on the national team.
Leinster put a lively Connacht firmly back in their box to quieten a raucous Sportsground while Munster’s dismissal of Ulster in Limerick was ridiculously facile.
With Rory Best and Jacob Stockdale yet to feature and Iain Henderson fighting for fitness and consistency, Ulster will struggle for representation on the first-choice Ireland team this November. As will Connacht, with only Bundee Aki a live frontline contender, but likely to lose out to Leinster’s Robbie Henshaw at inside centre.
Scrum-halves John Cooney (Ulster) and Kieran Marmion (Connacht) may come into the equation if Conor Murray’s injury does not clear up quickly but the evidence is that, heading to the World Cup, Ireland are very much a Munster Leinster fuelled operation. It was ever thus.
ULSTER FLATTERING TO DECEIVE
Even allowing for the absence of a significant group of their main men, and the loss of Cooney and Henderson early on, Ulster’s record 64-7 loss in Limerick was beyond embarrassing.
Dan McFarland has overseen a notable upturn in doggedness and points-gathering resolve since taking over but it all went out the window against Munster.
Even allowing for the home side’s excellence, it was a pitiful showing by Ulster, with established players and youngsters alike showing little appetite for the contest.
They may have never thought they would win but a hammering of that size is truly demoralising and McFarland needs to swiftly prove that their early season progress was not false advertising for the same old, unfulfilling story.
MUNSTER CAN THROW SERIOUS SHAPES
Ulster’s compliance spurred them on but Munster’s reaction to their unsettling loss in Cardiff was far better than expected. The willingness to attack and inventiveness in execution was hugely impressive and the increase in skill levels shone out. Crucially, it was founded in a return of the forward abrasion and aggressive defence that has always underscored the best Munster sides through time.
After three convincing home performances and two poor displays on the road, Munster now need to replicate Saturday’s all-round excellence against Leinster in Dublin.
After their impressive show of strength in Galway, the Pro14 and European champions will now provide a proper test of Munster’s trophy-chasing credentials.
CARBERY PROJECT BACK ON TRACK
Joey Carbery is a special talent and his Man of the Match display in Limerick reinforced his status as the most exciting player on the Irish scene. The way the out-half mesmerises defenders with his trademark shimmies, before opening them up with an exquisite range of passing, is breathtaking to behold and fully appreciated by colleagues and supporters, as was his brilliant breakaway try. There was a great moment after his glorious cut-out pass sent Peter O’Mahony over in the corner. As he walked back to the halfway line, the grizzled Munster captain, not known for doling out easy platitudes, cuffed his out-half about the head in appreciation.
The caveats are Ulster failing to put the out-half under any real pressure and some kicks from hand that went straight into the baskets of opponents. But Carbery at 10 is a work in progress and, though there are tougher examinations to come, Saturday moved it along considerably.
LEAVE IT TO MR O’BRIEN
There is no country in world rugby as well served as Ireland when it comes to quality opensides.
Sean O’Brien was supposed to have a reassuring cameo off the bench in Galway after his extended injury break. Instead, the Carlow man came on after 26 minutes for Rhys Ruddock and was immense against a fired-up Connacht pack.
Meanwhile, Josh van der Flier was ripping it up in the No7 shirt while later in Limerick, Tommy O’Donnell produced a performance that delivered far more than the headline-grabbing two tries.
With Dan Leavy to come back into the equation, there is incredible competition for the openside slot for November. However, if O’Brien carries on in this vein, his claims will be impossible to ignore — particularly when you consider the All Blacks dread the sight of him.
ALBY’S NOD TO THE FUTURE
The energetic offering of Alby Mathewson, the All Black scrumhalf signed as cover for Murray, will have soothed a lot of Munster nerves. His zippy passing and allround assurance bodes well for the next few, crucial, weeks.
But, on a broader scale, Mathewson’s American Football style pass to put Niall Scannell away could have implications for the game as a whole. It is an issue raised here before — why don’t teams employ the NFL pass to put players away rather than always rely on less accurate crossfield kicks?
Mathewson’s clever play could spark a mindset change.