THEY WERE INCREDIBLE
Lancaster believes Munster European heroics eclipsed his Blues’ efforts
STUART LANCASTER believes Munster’s European heroics this month were even more impressive than Leinster’s.
But the Englishman feels it is too early to say what is different about the Reds under new coach Johann van Graan ahead of today’s big derby.
Leinster travel to Thomond Park to face Munster in a mouth-watering Pro14 clash that ignites the festive inter-provincial series.
Indeed, Lancaster has described this particular rivalry as ‘one of the biggest games in the world’.
Leinster land in Limerick after back-to-back Champions Cup wins over Premiership champions and current leaders Exeter Chiefs (below).
And Leo Cullen’s Blues have since been installed as clear favourites to lift the European crown this season.
But Munster are bang in form too having seen off Leicester Tigers home and away – and all while Van Graan is still getting his feet under the table.
Blues coach Lancaster – the former England boss – said: “That was equally impressive, if not more so because the second game was away from home.
“In these back-to-back games you have the emotional reaction of the team that gets beaten in the first game. The level of preparation, attention to detail and motivation from the opposition clearly goes up and that’s why you get very few teams who win both games.
“The psychology of losing a game has a huge impact on the emotion of a player. “You could clearly see how much it meant to Leicester playing at home. There was a lot of emotion in the crowd, you could see it in the players.
“But I thought Munster kept their composure and discipline in that intensity, which ultimately gave them the win – a fantastic win.”
Van Graan started his Munster reign with a debut victory at the start of this month but has continued to hit the ground running.
“He’s coming into an established system and a successful one,” added Lancaster. “He’ll bring his own identity but, ultimately, I think it’ll be more of the same.
“Why change? When you come in as a new coach, you can’t just wave a magic wand and change everything over night. It takes time.
“I’m sure he’ll put his own stamp on things as he goes. They’re very good defensively, very good at the breakdown – all the bedrocks of the game.
“After we beat Exeter, your mind very quickly turns to the next challenge and it’s one of the biggest really. It’s one of the biggest games in the world.”
But while he doffs his cap to Munster’s recent form, Lancaster knows Leinster have not been too shabby as they shift through the gears with such confidence that they look like the ones to catch in Europe.
He added: “We’re definitely on the right track and we now have the ability to be adaptable in games. Exeter are a very difficult team to beat so to do it twice was very pleasing.”
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