If battered Munster can down Saints, it will be truly special
DENIS LEAMY spoke for the entire organisation, past and present, when he was asked about Munster’s looming encounter with Northampton on their home turf earlier this week.
‘It’s Europe, it’s Munster in England against the Premiership leaders. Written off. It’s Munster,’ the province’s defence coach and former Heineken Cup-winning backrower stated bluntly.
We’ve seen this play out many times in the past. This tournament’s history is laced with tales of Munster delivering backs-to-the-wall displays on foreign soil.
A lot has changed around Thomond Park as the years have drifted by, but a bit of siege mentality remains a powerful motivator.
And the odds are well and truly stacked against them this afternoon. Graham Rowntree is well accustomed with rolling with the punches at this stage. Munster are down to the bare bones at tighthead prop for this clash with the English Premiership’s form team, the Saints sitting atop the league standings with 10 wins from 14 thus far.
Once again, they will lean heavily on Stephen Archer. Oli Jager is injured. Keynan Knox and Roman Salanoa, too. John Ryan remains suspended after an unsuccessful 11th-hour appeal.
So, the Reds will rock up at Franklin’s Gardens with a 36-year-old Archer, with Mark Donnelly, a greenhorn at this level, backing him up from the bench.
In another big injury blow, Calvin Nash, one of the big success stories in the recent Six Nations, had already been ruled out. RG Snyman and Shane Daly were both withdrawn from the starting line-up yesterday due to illness and injury respectively.
Not an ideal week of prep. There is an odd vibe around Munster at the moment. Joey Carbery is seeking pastures new next season. Snyman’s transfer to Leinster can’t have gone down well behind closed doors while it remains to be seen if Peter O’Mahony or Antoine Frisch will be on board next term.
Is that enough adversity? Munster have been having a curious season as well. Consistency has been a recurring issue. They are travelling well in the URC, sitting fourth with five rounds remaining, but their Champions Cup pool campaign has been all over the shop.
A 17-all draw with a Bayonne side who sent their reserves to Limerick set the tone. Munster seemingly bounced back with a superb attacking display at Exeter Chiefs before a final-quarter implosion. Next up was a brilliant away win at Toulon before another middling performance at home to today’s opponents in January. Munster seemingly held all the cards on the evening in question – especially when Northampton hooker Curtin Langdon was sent off in the first half – but the 14-man visitors squeezed out an impressive 26-23 win at Munster HQ.
The hosts rightfully go into this afternoon’s match as favourites. Yes, they are without their brilliant full-back George Furbank, while another one of their England stars Alex Mitchell is on the bench.
But they are brimming with confidence and quality across the board. From teak-tough blindside flanker Courtney Lawes to Fin Smith, their outrageously talented out-half.
On paper, they should have too much for an out-of-sorts Munster and seal their passage into the quarter-finals next weekend.
We’ve seen this script before, however. It would be typical of this group to deliver a resounding display on the road.
Despite a sizeable injury list, Rowntree can still field a potent matchday squad. The likes of Tom Ahern, Tadhg Beirne and John Hodnett have been having brilliant seasons while Alex Nankivell, Frisch and Simon Zebo have the game-breaking ability out wide. Jack Crowley and Craig Casey is a handy half-back combo too.
Write them off at your peril.