CLEAN SWEEP
This weekend’s action proves Ireland will be winners from provinces’ Euro adventures
AS IRISH rugby weekends go, that was none too shabby. The fact the clean sweep of wins came against English and French opponents made it all the more enjoyable to consume for it was the English and French who tried to suppress the Irish when wresting control of the European competitions a few years ago.
Miffed at seeing Irish provinces hoover up five European Cups between 2006 and 2012, despite being markedly less well resourced than their English Premiership and Top 14 rivals, an Anglo-Gallic alliance of money men streamlined the new Champions Cup to their own designs.
It paid off initially with the successes of Toulon and Saracens, but the provinces have regathered with the Pro14 — oft-derided in England and France — showing its value as the weekend’s Irish successes were backed up by comprehensive wins for Scarlets at home to Leicester and Edinburgh in Toulon.
Derision has morphed into jealousy as the greater capacity for Pro14 sides to manage their players undoubtedly aids in peaking for Europe, but that is for the English and French, with all their millions, to sort out.
From an Irish perspective, the situation is looking rosy in the build-up to the Six Nations and World Cup. However, the caveat of fresh injuries to the likes of Peter O’Mahony, John Cooney and Luke McGrath clouds the picture.
Hopefully these will not affect provincial and national aspirations down the road and can even be turned into a positive. A break is not the worst thing given the big year ahead. But for now, let’s focus on the provinces...
LEINSTER
How are they fixed? Extremely well. The 29-13 win over Toulouse at the RDS sets Leinster up for a home quarter-final on the assumption that they see off Wasps in Coventry next weekend.
Although Toulouse, with all their stars, were disappointing, a large part of that was Leinster refusing to allow them into the game through superb tactical awareness in tricky conditions.
In the first half, playing into a strong wind, Leinster stuck to a keep-ball strategy, sucking the energy out of their French opponents, and then pulled away in the second via some excellent kicking and knowing when to ramp it up as the exertions of the first half told in tired Toulouse legs.
The most encouraging aspect to this comprehensive triumph was that it arrived minus a clutch of Leinster’s proven frontliners. The absence of Johnny Sexton, Devin Toner, Rob Kearney, Robbie Henshaw and, to a lesser extent given the options available, Dan Leavy, created a nervous build-up but the understudy contingent, particularly in a youthful backline, all stood up.
It was testament to the management of Leo Cullen and Stuart Lancaster who knew that Ross Byrne, Rory O’Loughlin, Adam Byrne and Jordan Larmour could be trusted on the big stage, having ensured plenty of exposure over recent seasons.
Backed up by excellent performances from the more established crew, it added up to a compelling statement of intent towards building on the remarkable success of last season.
The knowledge there is so much strength to return (including Sean O’Brien) makes Leinster a daunting prospect as the season heads towards trophy time.
STAR MAN: ROSS BYRNE Garry Ringrose got the man-of-the-match award for a superb display; James Ryan was as good as ever and there were big games from veterans Sean Cronin at hooker and Scott Fardy in the second row. However, given the pressure he carried into the game, the assurance of Ross Byrne at 10 stood out.
Filling in for the World Player of the Year is a rough gig, especially when it comes less than 24 hours after a Roy of the Rovers display from your chief rival for the backup Ireland out-half slot.
But, rather than be cowed by Joey Carbery’s heroics for Munster the night before, Byrne went out and produced a wonderfully poised and controlled display highlighted by his crossfield kick for Dave Kearney’s try that was stunningly precise in those conditions. UNSUNG HERO: RHYS RUDDOCK Captain in Sexton’s absence, the blindside flanker was immense in his typically unfussy, industrious fashion.
Ruddock has been somewhat marginalised in recent years as a result of injury and the volume of quality Irish backrows available but if he was called into frontline action for the Six Nations or World Cup you would have no fears.
MUNSTER
How are they fixed? Okay, in terms of making the knockout stages, following their excellent 41-15 dismantling of Gloucester in Kingsholm on Friday night but they are up against it when it comes to securing the vital home quarter-final.
That can be traced back to Munster’s loss in Castres, when they were caught out by extremely dubious officiating and rattled by the ferocity of the home forwards. However, the gritty victory over Leinster (albeit against 14 men for a large chunk of proceedings) has been the spark they needed.
They followed that up with a thoroughly convincing display in Galway against an accomplished Connacht outfit and then kicked on again in Kingsholm, obliterating a Gloucester side who had made plenty of noise in the buildup about making a statement in front of expectant home supporters.
They barely landed a blow but, like Toulouse against Leinster, a great deal of that was down to Munster putting the squeeze on from the start and then cranking it up to get the bonus.
After months of justified debate over where exactly Munster were at under Johann van Graan in terms of identity and gameplan, there is now the sense that this squad is the best equipped to emulate the achievements of the great side of the mid-2000s.
In fact, it could be argued Munster 2018/19 are a more complete package when it comes to the ability to mix forward abrasion with backline invention. The pack, spearheaded by a revitalised CJ Stander, now look capable of mixing it with the meanest around and, with Joey Carbery settling in superbly to the role of chief orchestrator alongside the control of Conor Murray, the backs are a multi-faceted unit capable of combining the directness of Chris Farrell in the centre with the invention of Rory Scannell and a pacy back three.
There is a unity to Munster that bodes very well for the prospects of ending a trophy drought extending back to 2011 and, even if beating Exeter in Limerick next weekend is not enough for home advantage in the last eight, nobody will fancy facing Van Graan’s men.
STAR MAN: JOEY CARBERY Given the hype that surrounded his switch south from Leinster, Carbery was under enormous pressure to light up the province from the off.
The out-half showed sparks
before Christmas but his struggles in Castres saw question marks hover over Carbery’s game management.
Kingsholm answered a lot of those questions and Carbery is now banging over his placed kicks as well as showcasing the running skills that landed him two tries against Gloucester.
There are also slices of genius such as the shimmy and grubber that sent Andrew Conway scooting over. Munster now have a 10 capable of steering the province back to the summit of the game. UNSUNG HERO: JEAN KLEYN When a player is 6ft 8in and 19 stone, it seems strange to talk about them operating under the radar but that is the case with the South African second row.
Kleyn is not hoovering up man-of-the-match awards or producing amazing stats (five carries for five yards and 14 tackles last Friday) but he gives the pack a snarling gravitas that is crucial to where this team wants to get to.
ULSTER
How are they fixed? Given the crises swirling around Ulster last season across the board, the euphoric 26-22 win over Racing 92 in Ravenhill emphasises the work done by Dan McFarland putting real positivity into the province since taking over this season.
Racing, last year’s beaten finalists, are a serious outfit and arrived in Belfast ready to nail down their home quarter-final. They will, almost certainly, still get there but it was up to Ulster to unsettle Racing to the point where their minds would stray towards next weekend’s hosting of Scarlets.
Home advantage was essential and, even though Leicester ran out the gate against Scarlets in Llanelli, the trip to face the Tigers next weekend still carries away-day danger.
Doubts about Ulster on the road are well established but, with Leicester out of the running, it would be demoralising if McFarland’s men undid all Saturday’s work by losing in Welford Road.
Victory should claim their first quarter-final berth since 2014 and, although Ulster do not have the squad strength to be seriously considered as potential winners, their frontline team (carefully protected by McFarland over Christmas) is capable of doing damage to anyone on their day, with a newfound doggedness in tight games this biggest change.
STAR MAN: WILL ADDISON Jacob Stockdale is a phenomenal finisher and his two-try contribution was the difference between the teams on Saturday.
However, Addison has been the biggest individual contributor to Ulster’s revival this season and, against Racing, he was consistently influential. The fact he successfully took on the place-kicking duties from John Cooney (a late withdrawal with a back problem) emphasises the extent to which Addison has become a figurehead for this side. Expect the Irishqualified Englishman to feature in the Six Nations. UNSUNG HERO: JORDI MURPHY Many observers, including Brian O’Driscoll, questioned why the Leinster man would willingly locate to a ‘basket case’ province before the start of the season. But Murphy was excited about the challenge of helping to turn Ulster around and the flanker is doing his bit, and then some. Marcell Coetzee is grabbing the big backrow headlines but Murphy has been superb next to the forceful Springbok and, against Racing, his 18 tackles and one crucial turnover summed up the latest in a string of quality performances.
CONNACHT
How are they fixed? Like Ulster, Connacht needed a big response to last season’s trauma under Kieran Keane and Saturday’s 2018 win over Sale at The Sportsground in the Challenge Cup was a big declaration.
Andy Friend rotated his side for this one, suggesting the Australian may be prioritising the Pro14, but being able to see off a Sale side buzzing on the back of three successive English Premiership wins (including the downing of Saracens) and laced with quality was a notable achievement.
Even though the running threats of Chris Ashton and Denny Solomona caused them difficulty, Connacht found a way to fashion the win and are now primed for the knockout stages if they can negotiate a way past Bordeaux in the south of France next weekend. STAR MAN: ULTAN DILLANE Dillane’s man-of-the-match offering was great to see. After a breakthrough season in 2015/16 brought Dillane into Ireland’s Six Nations team, he has fallen down the second-row pecking order after the emergence of James Ryan and repatriation of Tadhg Beirne. But Dillane is looking sharp again. That is hugely encouraging for Connacht and Ireland. UNSUNG HERO: JARRAD BUTLER
The Aussie/Kiwi backrow took on the daunting task of replacing the revered John Muldoon as Connacht captain with the minimum of fuss. A leader who excels more through action than oratory, Butler has forged an excellent relationship with Friend and his brand of intelligent industry is at the heart of where Connacht have got to — and are capable of going.