Racing may have the stars, but Munster can defy all the odds

THERE is a definite aroma of the glory years about Munster’s odyssey to Bordeaux to take on Racing 92 in the Champions Cup semi-final today.

It has been a week of fond reminiscing about the thrilling Bordeaux victory over Toulouse generally regarded as the launch-pad for the Munster story that dominated Irish rugby for much of the 2000s.

However, while always willing to acknowledge what has gone before, there is a definite sense of the current Munster crop wanting to emerge from the province’s fabled past and make their own history.

And they look psychologically primed to do exactly that. The Munster team that finally claimed their ‘holy grail’ in 2006 were fuelled by the pain of disappointment and Johann van Graan’s side can tap into similar motivation today.

The semi-final losses to Clermont in 2013, Toulon in 2014 and Saracens last year provide the backdrop for a side that has not reached a European Cup final since they last won it in 2008.

Only Keith Earls offers a link to those heroes and has since admitted that he didn’t feel part of that triumph, having been an unused substitute in the final.

Earls and experienced colleagues like Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Billy Holland, CJ Stander and Dave Kilcoyne are the lynchpins of a team that has had its fill of near-misses.

In keeping with their traditions, Munster arrive as underdogs and looking through the Racing team-sheet, it is easy to see why.

However, while their squad may not be as replete with marquee names, when you go through the match-ups, the intimidation factor is diluted. Andrew Conway, Earls and Alex Wootton are not lacking for speed and potency, centres Rory Scannell and Sam Arnold have been performing to international standard and scrum-half Murray is, arguably, the most influential player in world rugby at present.

O’Mahony (below) and Stander would push for inclusion in any pack, Jean Kleyn can match Donnacha Ryan’s grunt and, while Holland is a vastly different type of player to the off-loading genius of Nakarawa, his relentless industry can be just as influential.

Much hinges on the performance of out-half Ian Keatley and in the front row matching of what is certain to be a furious physical assault.

Keatley is playing with great confidence this season and needs to make the most of his possession.

That possession depends on Holland orchestrating the lineout to the same standards that were achieved in the quarter-final win over Toulon and on Stander, O’Mahony and an in-form Jack O’Donoghue matching the Racing backrow on the ground.

Challenges that are all achievable and, perhaps the most compelling argument in favour of Munster is the vibrancy of their bench.

It is laced with impact and, while Simon Zebo will be miffed not to start, he can emphasise why his future employers were so keen to sign him.

Van Graan’s subtle promptings are an essential component to Munster’s aspirations. The South African has been an unqualified success by not trying to revolutionise the operation and having the intelligence to focus on strengths.

It all adds up to a tangible feeling that Munster are not about to log another entry in the ‘semi-final regrets’ category.

The glory days are not back, yet, but they look closer than at any stage in the last 10 years.