R UGBY ANALYST:But it's the competition within the squads that intrigues most: like Luke Fitzgerald versus the wonderful Isa Nacewa and Peter Stringer and new kid Conor Murray
I WAS in the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick in 1996 when I witnessed Ciarán Carey powering across the 40 on his way to a sensational point that knocked Clare out of the championship. The following season I was in Croke Park when Clare won their second All-Ireland in three years. But for Limerick and Carey, Clare could have had three in a row which would have copperfastened their dominance of the 90s. But Carey did slot the killer blow and Clare found themselves sharing the rights with Kilkenny, Cork and Offaly.
Tomorrow Leinster push on for yet another win over Munster but it is Munster who have the European rights. Leinster want a second Heineken Cup, Munster want another but, for now, can only hold up Leinster’s advance in the Magners League.
The obvious benchmarking will take place: Leo Cullen versus Donncha O’Callaghan, Jonny Sexton and Ronan O’Gara, the contesting backrows and many more.
Tomorrow I shall, however, be looking at (or benchmarking) the players within the individual squads. Stan Wright is back. From first clasping eyes on him some seasons back, training and Stan looked uncomfortable bedfellows. Don’t let that fool you as he’s a bloody good rugby player.
His immediate Leinster competition, international Mike Ross, is still behind. He has flaws; his desperate need for matches over training ratio is poorly balanced at present.
No amount of hill runs will get him into his natural game. In Newport last week he flirted with it in carrying ball and powering into contact, forcing a double tackle every time. He’s the best Leinster forward to carry crap ball forward, a crucial go to man if you like; when in doubt lorry it to him. But he’s not quite there yet, as was seen on his bind at scrum time, which was weak in Newport, and he was fortunate to survive a few decisions. Wright is the far better rugby player but needs matches and time is against him.
A fulcrum is the pivot about which a lever turns. The most intriguing internal contrast is that between the Ireland fullback/wing Luke Fitzgerald and Isa Nacewa. I was asked some weeks back to explain why I adore watching him play. Nacewa is the fulcrum around which Leinster turn. Last week in Newport Leinster won by 26 points to 16 and all but three of those Leinster points can be traced back to Nacewa.
His very first touch of the ball came when Eoin O’Malley drifted open in midfield before Nacewa powered on to the ball, fixing two defenders and popping off to Fitzgerald before contact, therefore staying alive and receiving an immediate return pass before being illegally played on the deck; three points.
Fitzgerald was to learn later the value of passing before contact when crashing into Newport wing Aled Brew. After several counter-attacks Nacewa, again countering, stopped dead and spiralled the ball five metres from the Dragons’ line. Moments later Isaac Boss scores a try. Next came a quick lineout from Boss to Nacewa, who reacted first and was tripped by Brew; yellow card and another three points. Shane Horgan’s try that wasn’t had Nacewa once again powering on to a great line that stole 20 metres into the 22. Some scrums later a penalty try. I can go on and on so watch him tomorrow and see how players play off him and then examine his technique in contact, in the tackle and even stealing the ball, as he did beautifully in Newport last week.
Munster have their internal battle too. At scrumhalf, Conor Murray is edging towards full status. Last week in Cardiff he played very well. He’s a big boy and can take contact. At times his pass had too much air in it, putting pressure on O’Gara to make clearances. His team-mates didn’t feed off him as they did when Peter Stringer (my choice) came on, which is understandable (time in the seat needed). Interestingly, he consistently joined the line in defence. There’s no hard and fast rule here but most scrumhalves stay in the neutral zone behind the breakdown, marshalling the defence and plugging holes when required. He automatically filled in the line; is this Munster defensive policy and who is in charge behind the breakdown and covering for a little chip kick?
Felix Jones is another worth benchmarking within the squad. What a comeback, yet again injury-dictated. He displayed real pace in Cardiff but in a meandering, Maxime Medard style, that’s difficult to track, threatening for defences and difficult to manage for supporters. There is a hint of Nacewa about his running style.
Looking at the teams, Dragons in Newport are no Munster in Thomond Park so the intensity will crank up for Leinster. Munster will have to slow down Leinster and speed up when it suits. Altering the pace/tempo is a difficult skill but can be achieved through O’Gara’s kicking. Doug Howlett, Keith Earls and Felix Jones must pop up to keep pace on the ball. Newport stretched Leinster with reasonable ease but failed to hammer home.
Leinster have many options in the lineout but with Kevin McLaughlin back they have a go to man, especially in Munster’s 22. Leinster will shorten the line, with McLaughlin in the Cullen pod. Cullen will move to attract the defensive pod and McLaughlin will be fired up in the back third of the lineout. Considering their height they don’t compete in the air that often, electing to stay on the deck, especially in their own 22, so a slight advantage Munster?
Munster could win tomorrow, not because they are the better team but because in beating England in the Aviva Stadium the Munster players will have learned a massive lesson. But in doing so they must avoid kicking to the Nacewa “fulcrum”. They must get their powerful back carriers on the ball and they must slow Leinster down. I expect a Munster intensity we’ve not seen in this fixture for some time, with Munster very direct in hand and foot. Old school Munster have been very patient, aiming to force Leinster turnovers to the maximum advantage.
Leinster have made some key signings this week but as extraordinary as any of them was the one from Lansdowne and Boyne that rocked up in the Ciarán Carey era of 1998 (thanks Jim Glennon). It’s hard to believe that try in Twickenham was in 2006 and the Lions tour to New Zealand is now six years’ past. He was magnificent in the Lions Test series without ever starting and so many times for both Leinster and Ireland, battling form and always bouncing back.
Although a world class winger, it is Shane Horgan’s early days as a centre that bring a smile, such as that try against Munster in the Celtic League final 10 years ago. It took me a while but I soon figured out that if I slipped in behind him (trying to keep up) his ability to get his hands free was the best in the game. Two hundred caps for Leinster is a remarkable feat of longevity, loyalty and love of the blue jersey. Well done; enjoy the day . . . and many more.
liamtoland@yahoo.com
