BREAK THE CEILING
Munster out to smash semi-final hoodoo
THESE are the weekends that Munster live for. Saturday’s assignment at the Ricoh Arena will be their 14th semi-final appearance in the competition’s 24-year history. They have serious pedigree when it comes to the knockout stages.
Well, until they get to this stage in the process. Since their last Heineken Cup triumph over Toulouse in 2008, Munster have failed to progress beyond the semi-finals on six occasions. Saturday’s clash with Saracens will be their seventh attempt to break the glass ceiling and reach the finale of Europe’s premier tournament. It has become something of a mental block and a major source of frustration within the halls of Munster HQ.
They are fed up of being reminded of that stat. It began with that ambush by Leinster at Croke Park in 2009. It would be a similar story against Biarritz the following season. There were back-to-back defeats at the hands of Clermont and Toulon in 2013 and 2014 during the Rob Penney regime. Rassie Erasmus would fail to guide Munster past Saracens in 2017 while his successor Johann van Graan would also see his side crash out at the same juncture last season.
That loss to Racing 92 was particularly galling. Munster weren’t at the races during that first half at Stade Chaban Delmas, trailing 24-3 at the break.
They clawed back some semblance of respect with a final-quarter rally but the gulf in class was glaringly apparent.
The sight of a shattered Peter O’Mahony in the post-match press briefing told its own story. The Munster skipper looked emotionally and physically battered. Another reality check for the province. More lessons learned. O’Mahony was having none of it as the inquest began.
‘I’m getting tired of learning lessons,’ he admitted that afternoon.
‘They all hurt these ones. I’m just tired of losing semi-finals.’
It wasn’t always like this. Munster made it to four finals during Declan Kidney’s time in charge during the glory days of the 2000s, winning the title in 2006 and 2008.
Munster were the darlings of Sky Sports, when the British broadcaster had sole rights to the competition under its old guise of the Heineken Cup. Saturday nights at Thomond Park were box office back then and Munster’s quest for the ‘Holy Grail’ become the major narrative of the tournament.
Even when the cash-hungry cartel of English and French clubs forced through an overhaul of the competition in 2014, Munster continued to turn up at the business end of Europe. But they would inevitably come unstuck at this point.
Interestingly, Munster met Saracens in a European semi-final in Coventry the last time they managed to reach a final back in 2008. Jerry Flannery, a key member of the backroom team as forwards coach, was starting at hooker that day. Flannery was part of a squad that backed themselves against any team at any venue in Europe at any time. Along with the likes of Paul O’Connell, David Wallace and Ronan O’Gara, he formed a team that was imbued with self confidence and tenacity to edge the big games.
Slowly, but surely, there are signs that this squad are regaining that swagger and self belief that was the hallmark of the great Munster sides of the past.
A winning mindset can only take you so far in the modern game, however. Munster’s evolution has been on a steady upward curve in recent seasons.
Two years ago, they welcomed Saracens to the capital for a European semi-final. Under Erasmus, they had developed into an efficient and physical outfit. Built in the image of their head coach, they employed a South African blueprint to their game plan.
They had reached the semi-final stage in 2017 on the back of a strong set piece, an accurate kicking game and an attacking game plan built on sending their big units around the corner of every ruck. Saracens were ready for it and the English giants soaked it up all afternoon.
When the opportunity arose, they struck on the counter. Munster spent all day swinging and failed to land a single blow. From that day on, they knew they had to bring more variety and endeavour to their attacking game.
Last season, it was the same result but a different story. Munster had become a far more rounded side but their defence remained a worry. It was ruthlessly exposed by Racing’s stellar case of outside backs.
They have tightened up their defence and their attack has markedly improved.
Will it be seventh time lucky in Coventry? Time will tell.