Munster's backrow needs at least one world-class addition and their backline needs coaching, writes LIAM TOLAND

LAST WEEK I visited the concept of a team’s “centre of gravity” – something which, if neutralised, will massively reduce their ability. For Munster, it was their home intensity and for Ulster it was Ruan Pienaar. I was fascinated to read Edinburgh’s 33-year-old prop Allan Jacobsen give us a forward’s insight into their crucial “centre of gravity” when stating: “This team doesn’t know when it is beaten and we will go to Dublin full of confidence.” More about Edinburgh over the coming weeks (but be warned – they “never give up”) but now back to last weekend.

In nullifying Munster, Ulster attacked that famed intensity for long periods and stunned the crowd. They did this through their so-called lesser names, and with three in particular. Chris Henry was simply sensational in his attacking of Munster’s intensity and matching their “sledging”. He also made Conor Murray’s life at the breakdown horrible. Henry’s reward for his work was a yellow card but he was significant in the demolition of Munster in Thomond Park.

Right at the death he continued to push the boundaries at the breakdown where once again, while lying on the deck, he flicked the ball in an attempt to disrupt. The officials missed it and life went on.

His defence off the scrums also contributed to victory. From one touchline scrum he tackled Felix Jones on the far touchline – his hunger, Munster’s poor attack.

In his very expensive absence the pendulum swung back to Munster. In contrast, Tommy O’Donnell (Henry’s opposite man), although extremely lively, was far less effective in the overall scheme. He found himself time and again as first receiver, taking the ball static and flat, and was gobbled up by the Ulster fringe defence.

In the crucial visits to the Ulster line O’Donnell and co made very manly attempts to breach them but were rebutted. Oh how they could have done with David Wallace to convert that pressure to five points. Curiously, he was not launched until the 72nd minute.

An Ulster man in trouble this week is their crucially important tighthead John Afoa. Since his arrival I’ve been fascinated by his dancing feet. He always goes forward in traffic and does this through his feet exposing the weak shoulders of the defender. He rarely gains chunks of ground but, when he does, it is crucial to Ulster’s tempo.

Much will be made of his dangerous tackle on Munster fullback Jones and the four-week suspension.

This tackle was totally at odds with his normal “cut-down” tackles, which are typically beneficial to Ulster. Tightheads tend to be fringe tacklers and when Afoa is faced with the onrushing carrier he simply cuts him down at the ankles. There is a moment where the ball carrier is dictating terms and Afoa fixes a glance before diving at the carrier’s feet.

This tackle is miles from Sunday’s incident, where he was found to be “Lifting a player from the ground and either dropping or driving that player’s head and/or upper body into the ground while the player’s feet are off the ground”.

The cut-down is brave and very effective, as the Ulster backrow, fully aware of his style, target the ball and force the referee to the whistle. It slows the opposition’s ball down at best or concedes a penalty at worst.

To add to this he is also very comfortable in midfield, where he happened upon Jones (suspension aside, a tighthead taking on a fullback in open play was a fair achievement). It is his attitude for the duration of the tackle that impresses me. For most, particularly at lower levels, the tackle is completed when the tackled player hits the deck. Not for Afoa. As is his right under the laws of the game he then goes to phase two where he stands up in the ever-evolving ruck scenario and “grand pianos” himself. Brad Thorn, his All Black team-mate, does exactly the same thing with the exact same outcome. Coaching?

Why the term grand piano? They stand squat, very strong and very big. To the opposition arriving into the “completed tackle” it’s like negotiating a grand piano in an effort to support the ball carrier. Afoa will be missed.

Last week we discussed Paddy Wallace’s defensive role for Ulster, hinting that the man inside him was less capable. Why Munster chose to continually attack the Ulster fringe through static carries is a puzzle.

The Munster player was cut down, time was added for Ulster to realign and crucially, Ian Humphreys stood out in midfield happily watching proceedings. The cracking Simon Zebo try came from the impressive Peter O’Mahony running straight through Humphreys on the half-way line. That breached Ulster, affording a pace that Munster could build on. They did and, through Donnacha Ryan’s hands to Ronan O’Gara and especially Lifeimi Mafi’s carry in both hands fixing the Ulster outside defence, Zebo had the space and time to score; what a cracking conversion from O’Gara.

But what of Ulster’s try?

Again it was highlighted that off right-hand field scrums Ulster love to bring Andrew Trimble in off his wing to join the backline. He did this against Aironi the previous week and did it again on 15 minutes from the Ulster scrum on their 10-metre line. Unlike their attack on Aironi where Stefan Terblanche drilled it down the tram tracks, this time he popped to Craig Gilroy and off he went. Not unlike wishing for David Wallace’s presence, what would have happened had Doug Howlett been available at that point?

Last week, I asked if Ulster would target Munster’s “centre of gravity” – their home intensity. In answering it, Henry, Afoa and Gilroy contributed enormously but the cool, calm and collected Pienaar – Ulster’s “centre of gravity” – remains the most important key to their success.

So what of Munster? I’m drawn to Rudyard Kipling’s If; as stated above, if Wallace had been on for those crucial attacks on the Ulster line or if Howlett had been on for that Ulster 15th-minute scrum, the outcome could have been very different. Add to that the litany of injuries and retirements and you can feel they’re not miles off the pace. That said, their continued adherence to the one-up carry off the fringes from static and flat ball carriers has to go. It’s too easy to defend against and causes referees headaches.

Their talented backrow needs at least one world class addition and their backline needs coaching. Why, for instance, was there no move to expose Humphreys’ defence off multi-phase ball? As the Munster forwards bludgeoned in close, Zebo and co stood out in midfield, screaming and staring at the many possibilities ebbing away.

With both Munster and Ulster coaches exiting this season for very different reasons, I wonder how history will judge the winner and loser from last Sunday?

You’ve got to see Shane “Munch” Byrne cooking tonight on TV3’s Come Dine With Me. Like Homer Simpson, more stomach than man; an eating machine!