ON THE RIGHT ROAD...
Another big step forward but Rowntree’s Reds in need of some heavyweight reinforcements
ANOTHER massive step forward for Munster’s next generation. Graham Rowntree’s young side were already assured of qualification to the last 16 of the Champions Cup prior to kick-off.
They needed a bonus-point win at Stade Ernest Wallon to secure a home knockout tie at Thomond Park.
That seemed like a tall order against the French heavyweights on their home turf. When Tadhg Beirne crashed over for a sublime team try to give Munster the lead with 30 minutes remaining, a famous victory looked on the cards.
The visitors had their illustrious opponents well and truly rattled at that stage. Ultimately, Toulouse’s power game and stellar bench – as
“Marx rumours
were brushed off by province”
well as Ben Healy’s late yellow card – swung the contest back in their favour.
Munster gave them an almighty fright, however. Rowntree’s troops still have some way to travel before we can start speaking about them as genuine European contenders again. They need some genuine world-class firepower in their tight five. The recent rumours about signing Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx were quickly brushed off by the province.
That’s the calibre of player they need to compete with the likes of Toulouse, going forward.
Munster’s transfer activity in a post-World Cup market will be fascinating. That’s a debate for another day anyway.
At the moment, no one can argue that Rowntree’s coaching ticket is taking this group in the right direction.
Once again, there was fresh evidence of Mike Prendergast’s impact on their attacking game. The former Munster scrum-half’s blueprint is really coming to fruition now.
The passing, lines of running and vision in the lead-up to Beirne’s second-half try was a joy to behold. It began with an offload from Malakai Fekitoa, who made a huge impact from the bench, before Gavin Coombes and Shane Daly both flicked out backdoor passes in the blink of an eye to send Craig Casey away on a solo run.
Daly was on the Munster No 9’s shoulder to take yet another offload and, after Jean Kleyn had straightened things up with a typically robust carry, the ball made its way to Joey Carbery, who launched a kick across field.
Soon, John Hodnett and Calvin Nash were combining to send a rampaging Beirne over the line.
It brought back memories of the stunning length-of-the-field effort by Munster against Toulouse during that unforgettable Heineken Cup semi-final win in Bordeaux almost 23 years ago.
A flowing team try, which finished with Ronan O’Gara tumbling over the line.
Beirne’s effort was right up there with that. Munster’s attacking game, so stagnant and predictable during the Johann van Graan era, has been revolutionised on Rowntree’s watch. They will leave Toulouse with regrets. They will also take great confidence from yet another promising display.
Whatever about the skills and cohesion on show, this team showed admirable resilience as well. A trait which will get you very far in a competition like the Champions Cup.
The manner in which this group responded after an ominous start was telling as well. When Toulouse surged into an 11-0 lead after 20 minutes, Munster looked in real trouble.
Possession was a scarce commodity and the rare times they had the ball, they were smashed by a superior physical force.
To borrow an analogy from boxing, Munster spent the first quarter on the ropes. To borrow another pugilistic term, these two teams were operation in different weight categories. Munster simply don’t have players with the size and power to match the likes of Cyril Baille, Julien Marchand and Emmanuel Meafou.
During one rare passage of Munster possession, Carbery, Coombes and Crowley were all sent hurtling back by a feral wave of Toulouse defenders. If the visitors stood any chance, they were going to have to box clever.
And the manner in which they found their way into a contest that had looked beyond them was impressive.
Fekitoa made a huge difference on that front. The former All Black centre is beginning to find his groove now. He provided some precious momentum to a Munster
team that had looked lateral in the opening exchanges.
All eyes were on Carbery after his Six Nations snub earlier this week. Did the out-of-favour Munster No 10 prove a point to Andy Farrell and Co?
Again, Carbery was solid in some aspects but sub-par in others. There were a pair of missed conversions. Both were very kickable. Every point was precious in a hard-fought contest like this and leaving four points out there was costly.
There were some nice touches by the out-half, but a lack of control at times as well. It’s not the biggest issue facing the Reds at the moment anyway.
In truth, they need some more heavyweight customers up front. Dave Kilcoyne, John Ryan – such a huge loss when he leaves for New Zealand in the coming week, and the outstanding Beirne and Coombes took the fight to Toulouse all afternoon.
Peter O’Mahony, Kleyn and Hodnett delivered typically dogged performances.
Who knows? Maybe RG Snyman might finally be fit by the time the knockout stages arrive. Tom Ahern and Edwin Edogbo will add more dynamism when they return to fitness in the coming weeks.
Saying all that, Munster are still a bit light in an area which requires heavy duty customers. It was telling when both teams began to unload their benches. Toulouse had an array of gnarly operators to bolster their tiring pack.
Munster, meanwhile, had the likes of Diamuid Barron, Josh Wycherley, Roman Salanoa and Alex Kendellen in reserve.
Honest and hard-working players to a man, but not the calibre of replacement which is going to turn the tide.
In the end, Munster came up just short. This group is on an upwards trajectory, however.
Here’s hoping the powers that be whip out the chequebook in summer to help bridge that gap.