TONY WARD:

Bleyendaal must cast off the shackles to become the next ROG

B ACK in 2006 when putting together my thoughts on the role of the outhalf for the book

Life at No 10 I described it thus: “The out-half… is the on-field maestro; the playmaker in chief.

“He remains the oval ball version of soccer’s midfield general or the quarterback from American football.

“By and large he continues to be the main goal-kicking marksman.

“For these and a myriad of reasons it continues still the glamour position on a rugby field.”

Munster have had some pretty decent operators in the position down through the years, from Micky English and Barry McGann through Paul Warwick and Ronan O’Gara.

The unfairly maligned Ian Keatley too has contributed much to Munster since his arrival from Connacht, and I am delighted that Rassie Erasmus has acknowledged the Dubliner’s efforts with a well deserved contract extension.

MAINMAN

But as of now Tyler Bleyendaal is the main man.

He has been most unfortunate with injury since arriving from the Crusaders two years ago.

But on the back of a relatively injury-free run he has staked his claim over Keatley to the No 10 shirt this season and has been consistently efficient.

So much so that he was recently named by those who matter most – the players – as Munster Player of the Year (although my preference would have been for CJ Stander, yet again and by a distance).

If I was to pick out Bleyendaal’s most complete performance, it would have to be that man of the match display when steering Munster to victory over Glasgow in the Champions Cup on the day after Anthony Foley had been laid to rest.

In extremely trying circumstances, Munster delivered a collective performance for the ages, with Bleyendaal central to it. On that day, he came of age in a Munster shirt.

And while there is no prototype build for the position, it certainly doesn’t hinder Bleyendaal (pictured) that he is over 6ft tall and 15st – I was a rotund midget by comparison. He is much more Henry Honiball than Dan Carter.

What he brings to the position is presence – the most important criterion of all. That said, prior to the Champions Cup semifinal against Saracens, I expressed the view that it was early days, with the jury still out on Bleyendaal.

There are times when his attention seems to lapse and a robotic element creeps in. I find it frustrating, because when he is forced into a corner, he has the wherewithal to get out. That is innate and cannot be coached.

I would like to see him trust in that ability and play the moment rather than the pre-determined game-plan a little bit more.

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen made the point in relation to his own side’s Guinness PRO12 semi-final disappointment that “it is how you perform in the big games that you are most remembered”.

That applies to the individual every bit as much as the collective, and while Munster were outplayed in most every sector against Saracens in that European semi, the lack of direction, variation and improvisation at halfback in particular was notable.

To have the opportunity to go back to the Aviva before the same passionate support a month on in search of the biggest domestic prize is heaven-sent.

I like what I see in Bleyendaal thus far but I suspect he is capable of more. So he must trust in himself and trust in others, particularly the in-form back three of Simon Zebo, Andrew Conway and Keith Earls.

As they say there are many ways to skin a cat beyond that tedious and brain-dead repetitive use of the boot.

Conway is performing minor miracles in aerial combat but like Zebo and Earls he is foremost a freerunning, counter-attacking spirit.

The Scarlets threw off all shackles against Leinster and despite the disappointment in losing out on a Munster/Leinster finale as a consequence, it was a joy to behold.

I love how Wayne Pivac and Stephen Jones set out their stall, and I urge Munster play the opposition and not the occasion or indeed the plan.

Bleyendaal and Conor Murray are central. Of course clever use of the boot, whether cross-field or box-kicking, still has a massive part to play but, as Llanelli have illustrated forcibly, just one ingredient in the mix.

The Davies factor is massive, particularly James at the breakdown and Jonathan in reading the opposition play-book. Whether the Scarlets centre is shooting out of the defensive line or squeezing tight in midfield, it is essential Bleyendaal outsmarts him with much more clever use of possession.

It is a big challenge and a chance to be at the nub of the type of winning performance Munster folk crave.

Indeed given the circumstances – this is the Axel Final – I would imagine that beyond the core Scarlets support, few would begrudge Munster victory. But of course it doesn’t work like that.

REJOICES

And doesn’t it speak volumes for the quality and ability of Nigel Owens that with a Welsh team in the final against an Irish team on Irish soil in what is sure to be a highly charged, emotional occasion, the rugby world rejoices at the appointment of a proud Taffy as referee. The two best teams in the two semi-finals have made it through to this eagerly awaited Grand Final. It has the makings of an intriguing contest that could well swing either way. Munster don’t have to match the Scarlets in aesthetics, but in substance and nous it is essential. The role of the man in the blue 10 shirt is critical. For Player of the Year Bleyendaal this is judgement day. Heart and head suggest that the new ROG will arrive and Munster to deliver. Either way, this one’s for Axel.