Tony Ward: Munster’s Hail Marys go unanswered in defeat

SO what did we, or more pertinently Andy Farrell and his inner circle, learn from this so-called Final Irish Trial? Quite a lot actually. Even minus a crowd, this fixture still reaches places for players that other teams and other matches fail to come near. It wasn’t up there in terms of intensity but the competitiveness and inner desire of every player cannot be questioned. It is a rivalry apart in rugby terms and those involved in a sadly soulless Thomond Park certainly didn’t disappoint.

That Leinster deserved to win is debatable. On balance, they probably just about shaded it. But let me clarify that. Munster will seldom have a better opportunity. They hit the ground running and with a 10-point lead in challenging conditions just 12 minutes in, it was the perfect start.

However, that they failed to add another point for the next 68 minutes is a telling indictment of the home side’s lack of ambition. As currently constituted, Munster represent a one-trick pony.

Johann van Graan described the post-match feeling in the dressing-room as one of “incredible frustration”. The head coach is doing a reasonable job but he is the one who needs to address this failing.

Against the same opposition but in the Aviva back in August, Munster delivered an identical game-plan (almost a misnomer in itself ) based entirely upon the Hail Mary kick-up-in-the-air-and-at-them. It backfired badly with Conor Murray (right) off cue and the Leinster blindside tramline defence gobbled almost every mindless transfer of possession. Or, in Leo Cullen speak, “they failed to get access”.

I think this an even more appropriate time to address the blight on the modern game and most particularly our interpretation of it. When he is on song, Murray is the undisputed master of the art of box-kicking and credit to him for that. And because it ‘almost’ worked many commentators will gloss over its excessive use again now

Sadly, a number of wannabe scrumhalves currently making their way look to ape what they witness from our number one exponent, whether for Munster or Ireland.

Rugby boasts of William Webb Ellis picking up the ball and running all those years ago and certainly it was that aspect more than any other that attracted me to this great game.

Of course the box-kick has its place but, as used in this country, it is murdering what should still be the most appealing skill-set – that is, running the ball through quick hands and clever lines of attack.

Jordan Larmour has been criticised following Saturday’s match given that he was the unfortunate prime target for a right-footed scrum-half. Factor in just three moments of constructive attacking rugby in the entire game with Larmour central to all three (30 minutes, 53 minutes and 70 minutes) and yet the talk is of his inability to deal with the festering boil that is the box-kick.

As one who was hugely excited at Stephen Larkham’s arrival on Shannonside, I have to wonder what exactly he is doing as Munster have

unashamedly moved from 10-man rugby to a nine-man edition. And that coming from a former 10 who put more than a few up in the air in the same ground in his time.

On a much more positive note, there were big performances from Tadhg Beirne, Gavin Coombes, Murray and Mike Haley for the home team, while Dave Kilcoyne’s return will be welcomed further up the chain.

Beirne has to be nailed-on for the Ireland match-day 23, while Coombes, much like Caelan Doris and his rapid ascent, really does look the business.

As for Murray, he is by some way back in pole position as our leading scrum-half. I despise his overreliance on Hail Mary kicking but unfortunately players do what players have to do when coaches decide.

Kieran Marmion is now joined by Luke McGrath, who, much like Craig Casey for Munster, injects a different type of tempo entirely to Murray’s more tactical all-round game.

McGrath alongside Andrew Porter, James Ryan (looking refreshed and still the Irish captain-in-waiting), Robbie Henshaw, Hugo Keenan and, yes, Larmour too represented the best of the rest in ‘Trial’ terms.

One final point. It is all too easy to be critical but when the game we love is being butchered (primarily through time-wasting scrums and mindless kicking) then there has to be another way.

Week in, week out, New Zealand rugby at every level finds that way. Pat Lam did so at Connacht with a style of winning rugby that will endure forever and a day.

If the will is there to shift the point of attack through soft hands and quick feet then so too is the way.

Beirne is nailed-on for the match-day 23, while Coombes looks the business