In youth we learn, in age we understand

RUGBY ANALYST:You can learn much about a team, and its prospects, by focusing on a few of the side's talented young players

I COULDN’T but admire the outstanding spring from Donncha O’Callaghan early in the first half against Edinburgh last week. The Scots had a defensive line-out on their 22-metre line. As hooker Steven Lawrie stood on the touchline he faced two and a half Munster pods. O’Callaghan was aided by a single lift in front from Marcus Horan, affording Munster a double pod at the tail, forcing an Edinburgh turnover and a scoring chance for the home side.

Traditionally, this is a token effort from the half pod, but with the combination of serious athleticism from O’Callaghan and powerful lift from Horan, it put real pressure on Lawrie. The lifter being in front of the jumper, as Horan was, makes it even more difficult as the momentum of 112kg in the jump is coming on to the lifter. Not to mention there’s a large posterior from the lift behind whilst pushing the jumper with his forward momentum.

Much can be learned from the old timers!

I went to Thomond Park last Saturday when Munster entertained Edinburgh not to learn from the old boys but the young fellas.

Embarrassingly, Munster had a completely changed side out and still cantered home against the Scots. With so many new faces I had to discipline myself into people watching, otherwise there would be information overload, hence no doubt I missed much of the overall activity. Happy in the knowledge that Peter O’Mahony has much to offer I circled on the all new back row and soon drifted out to Munster’s midfield and outside backs.

I was sitting my mock Leaving Cert when Simon Zebo was born and it must have been a very fast arrival. This guy is seriously quick and, man, does he love to take off. With the slightest of space he glides through with a hunger for yards akin to Fionn Carr. And like Carr, Zebo’s team-mates react accordingly.

Zebo’s instinct is to take off, but it appears that he doesn’t observe the ever-changing environment as he gobbles up field position.

Is he conscious of his role in creating an opportunity for those around him or simply happy to make yards? Isa Nacewa is the best in the business at knowing when to offload. He does this by carrying in both hands attacking space and, as the killer bees arrive, he offloads to a player in a better position.

The ball receiver may not always make yards, but plenty of times the movement ends in a score or at least much further down the track. Zebo, unfortunately, dies with the ball every time he carries and his attack is nullified accordingly. If he could offload earlier – satisfied he’s contributed very well to the move – and stay alive for more work he could be very good indeed.

The man just inside him at outside centre Will Chambers is not much older than Zebo and is fighting for a long-term contract. In contrast to Zebo, when on the ball he looks and examines all options around him, very comfortable in the ever-changing environment. His situational awareness is superior to Zebo’s, but he’s surprisingly sloppy when executing on his well-made decisions.

With very little rugby under his belt in the past 12 months, and the obvious bedding-in process that must accompany a move around the world, it is a tad too early to fully analyse his recent performances, but he will need to tidy up his offloads in traffic if he is to trouble McGahan with long-term prospects.

Four times Chambers carried into mediocre Edinburgh traffic and made four excellent decisions, but, on each occasion, he messed them up, turning over possession with over ambitious offloads (including a chip kick) that may work later in the season, but not yet.

Castres Olympique will rue how easily they turned over the ball for Chambers’ crucial 66th-minute try in France. McGahan is unlikely to risk a reversal of same.

Ian Keatley must have got a rare insight into what Colin Slade and Aaron Cruden went through as replacement All Black outhalf to Dan Carter when he took over from the ridiculousness of Ronan O’Gara’s previous two weeks.

Keatley acquitted himself well, having in the past been satisfied to sit back in the pocket and rely on a kicking game. He punched holes and backed himself to create an early try for Danny Barnes by spotting space on the Edinburgh outside. His deft chip into the dead-ball area for Luke O’Dea’s try was another snap shot of Keatley’s observation of the master.

At times, Munster reverted to one up rugby where forwards in particular found themselves at first receiver and trucked it up. Keatley’s presence in these situations is crucial to manage their ambition on the ball. Certain times against Edinburgh the fatties had no option but to carry it up, but at other times it was down to a hunger to get on the ball and do it for the team. Although they appear powerful, these carries can stunt a flowing attack by slowing down proceedings, affording the defending team a chance to fill the defensive line. If Keatley can find the balance in totally organising them and insisting on how they carry, when they carry and, more importantly, when they run decoy lines for the quicker backs to expose an attacking opportunity, then he will add real value to the ball and his team.

Hardly a young fella, but Denis Hurley looked much more comfortable at fullback than wing last Saturday. Although the PRO 12 level is that bit lower and slower than Heineken Cup, maybe there’s an argument for a switch of numbers out wide for the visit to Scarlets.

So to the Munster backrow, where there’s clearly plenty of talent floating around the six, seven and eight jerseys and the trio last week did very well, but will not threaten Heineken Cup selection at this stage. To become even more effective around the ball, all three of them should sprint for the first five metres. In many cases, it doesn’t matter in what direction, but especially when occupying the number seven slot off scrum, lineout or breakdown the first five metres are crucial.

Finally, with the middle matches so crucial to any Heineken Cup campaign there’s plenty of homework this weekend. Starting tonight where Ulster entertain Scarlets a week out from Munster’s double header with the Welsh. Connacht’s opponents next week Gloucester play Newcastle away tonight with Leinster’s Bath playing Sale tomorrow. Ulster have a massive opportunity playing Aironi in the crucial Heineken Cup turnaround games.