HISTORY STILL DRIVING REDS

Munster’s latest crop can match class of ’06

HISTORY was once used to mock teams like Munster. Their quest for a European Cup lasted 11 seasons, from their first involvement in the tournament in a match against Swansea back in November 1995, until they won the competition in Cardiff in May 2006.

Compared to the rich, deep histories of other sports, Munster’s European story was little more than a whisper, 140 characters compared to the Book of Kells.

The taunt about the brief history of the new-fangled European Cup couldn’t stop the Munster story enchanting tens of thousands. It mightn’t have lasted more than a decade, but their struggle to become the best team in Europe drew in supporters from far beyond the province.

History doesn’t have to be dusty and monochrome to move people. The story of Munster’s European glories in 2006 and 2008 is remembered at their high performance centre in the University of Limerick. It isn’t a shrine to the heroes of the past, but their deeds are celebrated. The entire building, officially opened only a fortnight ago and costing a reported €15 million, is itself a testament to the success of the past.

And in the past the glory remains. It was interesting yesterday to hear head coach Johann van Graan talk about their motivation for Sunday’s imposing trip to France, where they play Racing 92 in a European Cup semi-final in Bordeaux.

It’s over a decade since the second of their European wins; Keith Earls is the only playing link to that side. In modern sporting terms, that is ancient history. Instead, inspiration is being sought in last year’s resounding defeat to Saracens at the same stage of the competition.

The pain they suffered in losing to the defending champions at Lansdowne Road is where van Graan and his men are sourcing their motivation.

And in that regard, they are like that first generation of Munster campaigners. Those teams didn’t know success, and instead relied on the memories of close defeats to inspire them. Eventually, it pushed them to the winners’ rostrum. When van Graan is asked about scar tissue from last year’s loss, then, his reply is emphatic.

‘No not at all, it’s a massive positive. A lot of the guys on the team would have played last year, and individuals learn lessons, I think that is what experience is all about.

‘You’re going to your second semi-final in two years now; you’ve been there. Obviously this is going to be in France and not Ireland but you try to learn out of your mistakes. I wasn’t involved last year. It’s a total different team. They played against a quality side who turned out to be champions again but I think if you’ve got to learn, every single day, we’ll take the lessons from that.’

His attitude fits with phlegmatic, mend-and-make-do instincts that informed the management of Declan Kidney and the playing attitudes of Anthony Foley, Paul O’Connell, John Hayes and Ronan O’Gara.

It is merely one way in which van Graan has impressed since replacing Rassie Erasmus.

Adversity was always a familiar feature of Munster’s dramas, and it is shaping anticipation of Sunday’s match, too.

Racing drip money, and their squad is adorned with glittering names lured from the southern hemisphere by some of the largest salaries in the game.

But Munster know they can compete with the Parisians; they beat them in Limerick in a pool match last October, before losing an enthralling return in Paris by four points, 30-34.

The latter effort came early in van Graan’s reign and would have helped to convince him this group have the right stuff, attitude-wise.

Whether they have it in quality will become clear at the weekend, particularly if Earls struggles to be fit.

But the coach is satisfied that his team will have the courage to compete. Their spirit is apparent.

‘It’s firstly in your DNA,’ says van Graan. ‘It’s in the way that you operate from day to day.

‘I said to the guys way back in November, “You don’t become a champion when you get a trophy, you become a champion every single day of your life”.

‘So, to us, it’s all about habits. Hopefully our habits will pull us through. It’s no use in a quarter or semi-final week to try and do things differently or then to do the right thing.

‘That’s what gives you confidence, it’s your systems; the fact that you’ve been doing it week in, week out for 42 or 43 weeks, that needs to pull you through.

‘Like I said before this is a special place, a special club with special people and I can’t stress

enough the players and management really want to do it and I believe we can.’

Van Graan is a different character to his predecessor. Erasmus was an extrovert, a big man with an enormous character who could consume a room. The new man is quieter. He is younger and less experienced, of course, but a more introverted nature is not to be mistaken for weakness.

He has impressed greatly since taking over, and better again, he speaks the language in which Munster are fluent: defiance.

‘When you can bring on players like Dan Carter and Joe Rokocoko, you know that you’ve got depth in your squad,’ he says of Racing.

‘It’s a massive challenge for Munster going to France on a Sunday afternoon and trying to beat them there. It’s one that we’re looking forward to.’

History demands nothing less.