Cloete plays like Neil Back and that’s good for Munster

Reds’ new generation have chance to write stirring first chapter in tricky rematch against Leicester

LAST weekend was special. It wasn’t just that the three Champions Cup teams won (and no we’re not forgetting Connacht, albeit in a competition with a different level of intensity) but it was the quality and the manner of those wins. We have had ‘clean sweeps’ before but I can’t recall anything of this magnitude.

It was a great weekend for Irish rugby in Europe and let’s not hide from that. But from those performances comes pressure, pressure to reproduce against the same opposition whether it is six, seven or eight days on.

As we see right across both competitions from the Sportsground in Galway to the Krasny Yar Stadium in deepest Siberia, a week can make for a hell of a turnaround in these fascinating back-to-back December fixtures. I was in Franklin’s Gardens in 2013 when I watched Leinster put 40 points on Northampton in the most complete performance I had seen to that point by any Irish team on the road and that includes Munster’s ground-breaking win over Toulouse in Bordeaux in 2000.

A week on in the Aviva and the final scoreline read Leinster 9, Northampton 18. Little elaboration necessary other than to say return fixtures back-to-back are fraught with danger.

And that’s the challenge this weekend, particularly for Leinster and Munster as Ulster, despite last week’s gutsy win at the Stoop, still look somewhat undercooked in terms of winning potential. By contrast, and even if they were on their home patch, Munster delivered the type of collective display that could and should have ‘the brave and faithful’ dreaming of greater things.

Leinster delivered a performance lacking the pizzazz of Franklin’s Gardens but given the context, the stage in the competition as well as the champion opposition, this could in time be looked upon as a critical turning point in the road to challenging Saracens, Toulon, Clermont and new kids on the block La Rochelle for the ultimate prize. Such was the substance to last week’s winning performance that Leo Cullen’s ever-improving squad got what they deserved at Sandy Park.

But with all that comes pressure. The bar has been set at a new level for Leinster, Munster and Ulster in that order. In all of this I am attempting to hold back on the Johann van Graan arrival at UL. It is much too early to formulate any sort of rational judgement. That said, I like what I am seeing and hearing. There is a very definite sense of trust filtering through between the new head coach and his assistants – specifically Jerry Flannery and Felix Jones.

Jacques Nienaber was a very good link and conduit for Rassie Erasmus to be fair, but minus Nienaber (as effectively chief assistant) it makes for precious little getting lost in translation between head coach and his assistants under the new arrangement.

VISION

No cup was won in Thomond, no late January last round miracle achieved but what was clearly in evidence was a Munster family with a vision and a very definite plan against top-quality opposition. They may not be at the ‘hand of Back’ level but they are still a significant Premiership force with a very proud tradition in European rugby. The Munster/Leicester rivalry compares with any other in terms of history and expectation.

But there is a very definite Welford Road storm coming Munster’s way. Take that as read. Matt O’Connor was clearly hurt by last week’s Limerick performance but, as one who supported him through a torrid time at Leinster, his post-match comments criticising the referee under the guise of “Munster cynicism” smacked of bitterness and a distorted take of the Premier League football coach variety.

By Munster cynicism what he was actually implying was cheating and at that point he loses all credibility. Jerome Garces refereed as impartially as he saw it and not through O’Connor’s blinkered eyes.

It really bugs me when rugby coaches cite a penalty count in the red for a defeat. It is an attempt at shifting the blame to the match official when invariably the real truth centres around pressure, specifically at the breakdown, forcing the concession of penalties.

O’Connor’s comment on Munster cynicism is taking blind judgement to an extreme. It is also heaping added pressure on tomorrow’s match official Mathieu Raynal.

Every team does video analysis on the opposition and referee to the nth degree. Suffice to say, Van Graan won that preparatory battle hands down. Again it is still early days but having Jean Kleyn back on board as the uncompromising forward enforcer a la Paul O’Connell is huge, while Chris Cloete (pictured) looks special already. He could be a Munster Neil Back.

Tommy O’Donnell is going to have one hell of a job shifting this brickhouse battleship from the openside position. With respect to David Wallace, Alan Quinlan, Jim Williams and a myriad of great Munster flankers who went before, this guy is different. If he can avoid injury then the newly-installed former Southern King could prove the single biggest key to Munster challenging again for top honours.

But there are others too with Rhys Marshall at the top of a strong hooking line. Ian Keatley continues to be the most complete playmaking option at out-half, irrespective of Tyler Bleyendaal’s availability or JJ Hanrahan’s potential. Keatley is a confidence player and with the proper support can steer this group of players down the ROG route.

I like too what I am seeing through Rory Scannell, Sam Arnold and, although injured, Chris Farrell in midfield with Jaco Taute, though a different type of player, in rehab.

The essential hard edge is still there but equally so is a hint of subtlety in handling and greater attention to detail in terms of lines of running. Scannell’s left boot too is a marvellous weapon to have alongside Keatley’s well-loaded right.

And a word for Simon Zebo who, despite the disappointment of being discarded (wrongly in my view) at national level (before he moves), continues to deliver to Test standard. Psychologically and practically, tomorrow’s return is massive. It’s an opportunity for this generation to begin a new chapter.