GRAHAM’S REDS CAN LEAM ON ME
Denis passing on benefit of his experience before crunch European clash
DENIS LEAMY has been there and worn the famous red shirt when it comes to weeks like this.
Northampton Saints came to Thomond Park in January and left with a narrow Champions Cup pool stage victory.
Less than three months on, the Reds will be in Northampton on Sunday for a win or bust last 16 collision at Franklin’s Gardens.
It’s a difficult mission for Graham Rowntree’s men and, not surprisingly, having a coach with Leamy’s playing experience on a week like this is an advantage.
The two-time Heineken Cup winner has spoken to the players about the significance of this game.
“It’s Europe, it’s Munster in England against the Premiership leaders,” he said. “Written off. It’s Munster.”
For Leamy, the former Reds and Ireland star, this weekend’s scenario reminds him of 2008, the year Munster won their second European crown.
The province travelled to Gloucester for the quarter-finals. Like Northampton today, Gloucester were flying high in the Premiership, but Munster prevailed 16-3.
“I love coaching, it’s a great honour to be here, but it’s a tough job,” he said.
Smiling, Leamy added: “Which do I prefer? Definitely playing. I wouldn’t mind sampling that sort of atmosphere again.”
And he would love to have Northampton in his sights as a player this weekend.
“It’s exactly what Munster are about,” the 42-year-old said.
“You think about going to Gloucester in ’08. It feels a little bit like this. We defended for 20 minutes.
“Someone found Federico Pucciariello out having a burger in the car park – and he came on and wins us the game, full of chips.
“Gloucester were an incredible side at the time, I think they were the English champions. So, there certainly is that feel to it – and you certainly miss days like that when you’re retired.”
RG Snyman (inset)should be available after he had a virus last weekend and that is a massive boost to Munster’s chances, but Calvin
Nash is not likely to make it back from a leg injury in time.
There is also the boost provided by Conor Murray’s new one-year deal which was announced yesterday.
But Leamy believes that, just like that time in ‘08, the URC champions make the trip as underdogs.
“You sense it – but it’s important not to overplay that,” he said.
“That’s not what we’re about in terms of that siege mentality.
“But Northampton have earned
the right to be favourites, they’ve earned the right to be spoken about the way they play the game.
“You look at the English internationals they have. Alex Mitchell will probably return and he’s a fantastic player for them, makes them tick. “Fin Smith, he’s probably going to be a Lion or certainly an English player for a number of years.
“Lawes, Ludlam, Langdon. They’re really, really good players.
“So it’s a big task and that’s why people will make them favourites and say Munster have a difficult job.
“We’ve got to fall back on our abilities. We’ve had the ability to go on the road. We’ve won in Glasgow, Dublin, Cape Town last year. We’ve won in Toulon.
“We’re good enough to go to Northampton and put in a performance. If that’s good enough on the day, absolutely brilliant.”