After second row success, Munster now have trouble in the engine room

From Moss Keane to Paul O’Connell, Munster could rely on their second row production line, but as we saw last weekend, there’s...

‘Trophy hunt heads towards ten years’

IN the considerable fallout from Munster’s loss to Racing 92 last weekend, the composition of Johann van Graan’s bench in Paris has gone somewhat under the radar.

For a contest of this magnitude, it was significant that the South African went without any second row cover for Jean Kleyn and Billy Holland at La Defense Arena.

Injuries to Tadhg Beirne and Fineen Wycherley did not help but opting to go with two backrows (Arno Botha and Chris Cloete), and no second row cover, against a pack the size of Racing’s was far from ideal.

Indeed, the area of second row has now become a consistent source of concern for a province that once produced players in the No.4 and No.5 jerseys that would bear comparison with any side in the world.

From late 1999 through to 2017, second row was not an issue and it was remarkable that the province could rely on, essentially, just six players over that extended period.

At the start, it was Mick Galwey and John Langford, before their jerseys were inherited by Paul O’Connell and Donncha O’Callaghan – and, when that Ireland and Lions pairing were unavailable, Munster could call on top-level international back-up in the form of Mick O’Driscoll and Donnacha Ryan.

Of course, other second rows came and went in that time (see panel) but Munster were well served by that quality core, with a clutch of home-produced alternatives (Ian Nagle, Dave Foley, Shane O’Connor, Mark Melbourne) moving on after failing to break through.

Since O’Connell retired in 2015 and Ryan relocated to France two years later, second-row has become a major issue, with a notable lack of options coming through the system.

This led to Munster looking outside for second row ballast, acquiring Kleyn from South Africa and Tadhg Beirne from Leinster, via Scarlets.

But there has still been a consistent lack of depth in the position, meaning that Billy Holland has stepped into the breach, making a mammoth 224 appearances (and counting) in the process.

On the last lap of a distinguished career, Holland has been a wonderful servant – a quality player who typifies the best qualities associated with the red jersey over the years.

However, the Corkman is, essentially, a converted backrow doing an excellent job in a needs-must situation.

At 6ft3in and 17st, Holland is the perfect build for a blindside flanker but undersized for second row and that has held him back from kicking on into international rugby (he has one cap, against Canada in 2016).

Such is the quality of Holland’s game, if he were three inches taller and two stone heavier, he could be an Ireland regular and even pushing for Lions inclusion but, as it stands, Holland at second row is a microcosm of a team that is falling short of the level required against the behemoths of the game.

There are high hopes for

Wycherley but, like Holland, while the youngster has all the playing tools required, he is similarly compromised by a relative lack of height and bulk.

Also on the books is Darren O’Shea, who has the size at 6ft8in but has yet to properly convince – he had a rough night in Ravenhill a couple of weeks ago and was overlooked for Paris. This all provides the backdrop for Munster’s pursuit of giant Springbok RG Snyman for next season.

Snyman played a key, snarling role in South Africa’s march to World Cup glory last year and, at 6ft9in and 19stone with excellent handling skills, the 24-year-old is exactly what Munster are looking for.

That said, if Snyman arrives, the frontline second rows next year will comprise two South Africans (Kleyn and Snyman) and a Leinster cast-off (Beirne) — a notable departure from the homeproduced excellence of the O’Connell, O’Callaghan, O’Driscoll and Ryan era.

Thomas Ahern (see panel) is the big hope in the Academy but in the short term, Munster are reliant on imported talent while Leinster are bringing through highly promising youngsters like Ryan Baird and Charlie Ryan to go with established local locks in James Ryan, Devin Toner and Ross Molony. Moreover, this week brought the news that Colm McMahon is taking over from Ultan O’Callaghan as head of rugby development. McMahon was a superb backrow forward in his day for Shannon and Munster, a quality athlete versatile enough to be relocated to the centre when his backrow path was blocked by the likes of David Wallace, Denis Leamy and Alan Quinlan.

There is no shortage of backrow talent in the province to work with but, while it is not his area of expertise, second row should be priority for McMahon as he starts into his new role.

He needs to scour the six counties for big, aggressive youngsters who can provide solutions in a key area as Munster’s trophy quest rumbles towards 10 barren years.

Kleyn’s injury heading into Sunday’s clash with the Ospreys should focus the minds as to the urgency required — as should video footage from Paris last weekend.

For a side with Munster’s history in the position, going into a crucial match with no second row cover is unacceptable.