Gerry Thornleyon how Munster's heroics on Tuesday night served to remind us that rugby is a fight, and Irish teams must never lose sight of that
AS A MATCH and as an occasion, both the Munster players and the Munster Branch can take a bow. They did history, New Zealand rugby, Thomond Park and the jersey proud. It may well be the only Munster game we'll see this season which won't have some kind of points or cup at stake, yet it will take some beating.
The ramifications and feel-good factor arising out of this defeat are exceptional and almost impossible to quantify. Presumably Munster's 10 Ireland squad members who watched from the stands will have been suitably inspired and it wouldn't have done the rest of the squad any harm to have been there either. But on the eve of a massive match against Argentina, it ought to serve as a as a tacit reminder that first off, a game of rugby is a fight, and Irish teams can never lose sight of that.
It may also kick-start some careers - those of Timmy Ryan and James Coughlan - and reignite others, from the gifted Niall Ronan to the rejuvenated Peter Stringer, back to his feisty, try-saving, rapid-fire best. And, however futile, the IRFU have to make pleas to the IRB about the eligibility of Paul Warwick and Lifeimi Mafi.
Perhaps most significantly of all, fears that Thomond Park's atmosphere had been sacrificed with its redevelopment and expansion to a 26,000 stadium were dispelled. The games against Glasgow and Montauban had been low-key affairs, and the Ireland-Canada game was almost funereal. But Tuesday night revived the old Thomond roar and it should be the template when Clermont Auvergne visit in December.
"When we set out to have this event to officially open the stadium there were two priorities," explained Munster CEO Garrett Fitzgerald yesterday: "We wanted to profile the stadium as a rugby venue and an event centre, and the other thing was we wanted people to go away from the event saying they really enjoyed it and, yes, they'd definitely come back. So I think we achieved that.
"What happened on the field after that was a fantastic bonus and what ultimately everybody will remember from it is the performance by the team on the field."
While sport was the winner, it also made money all round; an estimated €750,000 for the NZRFU, a six-figure sum for Munster and €6 million for the local economy.
"My view on it is there's a very limited window in the calendar for such an event but I do believe there's a future in looking at similar events or similar type opposition in the future in the November window," added Fitzgerald.
"I think the people want to see it and if the southern opposition is available I think we should look to avail of it if the opportunity arises. I think it's good for the game too."
The heroes of '78 were, almost to a man, honoured to be there, according to Donal Spring.
"The '78 team were over the moon with the whole event and we were particularly chuffed with the meal Pa Whelan had organised the night before and with the Munster Branch to be asked to the lunch with the players on the day of the game. It was an extraordinary, generous thing to do, to have a bunch of old fellas involved in the preparation for such a game.
"I found it hugely emotional. It was 30 years ago, after all. The whole thing was just phenomenal and what a game. You couldn't have scripted it better, the whole choreography of the night, the brilliant stadium, the weather was perfect, and the match was one of the greatest games I'd say will ever be played in Thomond Park.
"And the haka. Oh Lord, the haka. Wow! I think I finally began to understand what the haka is all about," admitted Spring, "because the All Blacks respected Munster performing the haka, Munster respected the All Blacks performing the haka. The challenge was put down by both teams, both sides rose to the challenge and when it was over they embraced each other. It was all the true qualities of what great sport is about."
Where did the performance come from, and the attitude and no-tomorrow fearlessness that inspired it? A bit like Buster Douglas stepping into the ring with the force of nature that was Mike Tyson at the time, fear is a powerful spur.
"To be honest, we knew it could be 40 or 50 if we didn't front up," admitted Frankie Sheahan, and recalling a friendly with UL Bohemians the week before when they were nearly beaten.
"Speaking to the heroes of '78, they told us that they just played in their faces and got in amongst them, and I'd talked to Paulie (Paul O'Connell) and Wally (David Wallace) and a few of the boys in the days before the game and they said the same thing. And that's what we set about doing."
All of Munster's starting pack had played two or more AIB League games this season, as did their replacements. The performance wouldn't have been possible were it not for the AIL.
"I played (for Con) in the game against Shannon, and it was far quicker and more physical than the Munster game against the Dragons a week later," said Sheahan.
"James Coughlan was getting man of the match and scoring tries every week last year.
"It's tough on us players going back there sometimes because if you have a great game they say 'ah, it's only AIL'. But I can tell you something, if you put Rog (Ronan O'Gara) back to the AIL next week, he would have a tough day at the office. You think he'd breeze through people? He would not. Not a hope."
The feedback from the New Zealand camp to the Munster Branch, according to Fitzgerald, was that Tuesday constituted the highlight of their tour and New Zealand fans said they were simply blown away by the occasion. "I think you've just got to respect the occasion," said All Blacks coach Graham Henry. "They (Munster) play with huge passion. Everybody gave 150 per cent. I assume they do that all the time.
"I spoke to Doug (Howlett) afterwards and he said it's a huge honour to play with Munster. Their performance epitomises what this country is about and we were just privileged to be a part of it."
