Munster have set the ball rolling for Ireland

ON RUGBY:Munster's victory over Toulouse was not just about endgame tactics; they were simply the better team on the day, writes GERRY THORNLEY.

SO MUCH bitterness, so much begrudgery out there. Well, perhaps not that much in actuality, but to find any misgivings in this country about an Irish team being champions of Europe is disappointing, if less so among a small proportion of the British media and the Stade Toulousain camp.

For the most part though, be it among Irish sports supporters, the British media, and especially Toulouse, there has been either joy or, at any rate, respect for Munster's truly remarkably achievement in Cardiff last Saturday.

It's almost a pity that the criticisms of Munster's modus operandi should even be discussed, but let's get it out of the way first.

Munster's performance was a mixture of unyielding defence for the first 25 minutes or so, when Toulouse began brightly and threw everything at them, and a carefully worked-out game plan based on close-in recycling and selective use of their backs on the back of increasing superiority in the setpieces and at the breakdown.

Had Doug Howlett's try not been overruled, or Rua Tipoki or Lifeimi Mafi put away support runners after superb and creative passages of rugby, they could have pulled away more clearly and their performance would have necessarily been seen in a different light.

As it was, a three-point lead entering the endgame compelled them to keep risks to a minimum. Coupled with outstanding performances in every sector of their team, that amounts to a fairly complete, all-round display in any book.

Complaints from Jean-Baptiste Elissalde about their "pick-and-go" rugby being "meaningless" and "not rugby" can be viewed in the context of the frustration he must have felt in the immediate, emotional aftermath of the defeat, as well as his own decision to opt for a crosskick on the hour with the score 13-all when putting it through hands would have been a better option.

Likewise, Toulouse coach Guy Noves's comments about the frequency with which Nigel Owens had refereed Munster - as well as the official's refusal to tolerate any questioning of decisions despite his inability to speak anything except English - had a certain validity. And it didn't stop Noves from admitting the better team won.

Nevertheless, some of the same sources who bemoaned Munster's defence were not complaining when England won the World Cup in 2003 or reached the final four years later, or indeed when Wasps won the Heineken Cup on the Warren Gatland/Shaun Edwards mantra "defences win championships".

As Alan Quinlan yesterday observed, Munster's endgame tactics were born out of respect for Toulouse and, as he also noted, might not Toulouse have done the same in the last five minutes as Munster did, or Wales against Ireland in Cardiff?

At issue here are the laws of the game, and something the IRB think-tank did not address. Death by pick-and-go, all the more so when the clock is being run down, has become a tiresome feature of the game, but that's not Munster's fault, any more than they are to blame for inventing the tactic.

It's good when it's your team doing it, frustrating when it's the opposition. But their European Cup win, both on the day and over the campaign, was about much, much more than that. Besides, be it from Thomas Castaignède, Brian Moore or others, there was real appreciation of Munster's performance and the undoubted merit of their success.

As Castaignède, a graduate of Toulouse, also readily and generously conceded in the Guardianyesterday, the triumph will provide a true fillip for Irish rugby, which needs a lift. At a stroke, if nothing else, despite the increased animosity between some Munster and Leinster fans, it should restore much of the goodwill toward the Irish team that had been palpably lost after the World Cup, both on this summer's tour and pending Declan Kidney taking the reins this autumn.

There is nothing like the same dressing-room divide between Leinster and Munster players, besides which Kidney helped oversee a transition in the Munster organisation that has turned the so-called Limerick-Cork divide into a virtue.

Even more pertinently, Munster's success will imbue the Munster contingent who head off on various summer tours (a minimum of 82 players will head off to the Tests in New Zealand and Australia, the Churchill Cup or the Junior World Cup) with renewed self-belief. Paul O'Connell's performances in the knock-out stages and primarily on Saturday probably highlight the benefits of an enforced mid-season break.

Although their relatively healthy injury profile and durability last Saturday were a tribute to Munster's medical and fitness teams, one ventures that having been on the go since last July, they would welcome a rest.

Yet, imagine how desirable a rest would now seem had Munster failed to reach the final or lost last Saturday.

Recall how, on the back of Munster's 2006 triumph, Ireland went to New Zealand that summer and extended the All Blacks to 34-23 and 27-17 in Hamilton and Auckland.

Admittedly, Graham Henry had split his squad in two, sending Dan Carter and others to Argentina in readiness for a Test in Buenos Aires. Even so, this time Henry has talked about resting the All Blacks' sizeable Canterbury Crusaders contingent from the Wellington Test on Saturday week in light of them reaching the Super 14 final on Saturday.

Furthermore, he will have to rebuild his team in the fall-out from the post-World Cup exodus, which saw Carl Hayman, Chris Jack, Byron Kelleher, Aaron Mauger, Howlett and others move to the Northern Hemisphere.

Ditto the Wallabies, following the retirements of George Gregan and Stephen Larkham, and their players (whose Waratahs contingent have reached the Super 14 final) also have to revert to the existing laws having been on trial with a proportion of the ELVs since January.

The Munster players having thrown down their markers, the rest have their chance against the Barbarians tonight.

Competition for places has been accentuated; just look at perming three from Quinlan, David Wallace, Denis Leamy, Stephen Ferris, Jamie Heaslip and Keith Gleeson in the back row.

There remains the carrot for this Irish squad of a first win over the All Blacks and/or a first win on Southern Hemisphere soil since 1979. And, lest we forget, Ireland's Leinster contingent have been rejuvenated by their Magners League campaign.

Nah, to hell with the begrudgers. Saturday and its effects are all good.