RUGBY MAGNERS LEAGUE:FOR ONCE the old cliché truly applies, namely that all roads lead to Limerick; albeit not necessarily for the rugby. Whatever about shifting the goalposts, the Irish standard-bearers of Munster and Leinster have become so big they've influenced Good Friday licensing laws. From being a drain on the local economy, the controversial scheduling of this fixture could now be the mother of all boons.
All we need now is a decent match to fit the sell-out occasion and these protagonists rarely disappoint, for the expectations are usually fulfilled when these two tribes go to war. Munster and Leinster don’t do dull. Each have marginally bigger priorities, ie next week’s home Heineken Cup quarter-finals. So it is Paul O’Connell and Keith Earls joined the likes of Brian O’Driscoll on the sidelines.
All three have the look of precautionary rests about them and ought, hopefully, to be back next week for those home quarters with Clermont Auvergne and Northampton. While Gordon D’Arcy has recovered sufficiently from his groin strain against Scotland to make a welcome return, more worrying for Michael Cheika is the continuing absence of Kevin McLaughlin and Shane Horgan (compounding the loss of Seán O’Brien and Luke Fitzgerald).
Cheika has opted for recalling Nathan Hines to the backrow, and Devin Toner in the secondrow, which is obviously an option for next week. Somewhat more surprisingly, Rob Kearney has been named at fullback with Girvan Dempsey remaining on the right-wing, although whether they line out like that remains to be seen.
Rumours that O’Connell was withdrawn when it was confirmed Romain Poite would be in charge can be dismissed, though O’Connell is probably better off not playing for his own peace of mind as much as his body.
Much like Arsenal and Barcelona, the hype can even be justified despite a referee. Indeed, the groans amongst Munster fans when news filtered through yesterday that their bete noire, Poite, has replaced England’s Andrew Small would probably have echoed around the province given the memory of his, eh, handling of their games against the All Blacks and Northampton.
That said, Leinster fans may have felt the need for a stiff drink, too, given their recollections of his refereeing performance in their 12-9 defeat to London Irish a week after demolishing Munster last October. There was also Poite’s refereeing of the interminably drab Ireland-Italy game. Monsieur Poite tends not to do low-key, but given his at times laissez-faire attitude to players going off their feet and the offside line, whatever about his fastidiousness for other things, nor do his matches tend to flow like honey either.
There is added confusion this weekend given the mixed messages regarding the way the IRB’s edict at the tackle will be adhered to, and seemingly it will depend on what referee turns up on a given day. Whether it’s a yardstick, Jerome Garces certainly applied it at the RDS last Saturday, and whether we get a break-down stand-off a la Cardiff-Ulster or any of the Super 14’s staple diet of quasi-rugby league and two teams strung out across the pitch, albeit with quicker ball, remains to be seen. For such a chaotic state of affairs, the IRB continue to stand indicted. We wait and see, with bated breath.
While both sides have retained reasonably good form despite the Six Nations hiatus – Munster have won eight of their last 10 in all competitions, and are unbeaten in all 10 home games this season, while Leinster are unbeaten in their last nine – both are also looking for significant improvements on last week’s displays.
McGahan has highlighted Munster’s kick-chase game, their finishing, and their set-pieces. Although O’Connell is their primary ball-winner, Mick O’Driscoll should slot in seamlessly to an otherwise strong-looking pack. Their scrum remains a greater ongoing source of concern, though both departments ought to be enhanced by the return of Jerry Flannery. In a season truncated by injury and suspension, this will be only his third appearance for Munster and only his second competitive start – compared to five games for Ireland. Despite all those interruptions, his form has actually been very impressive.
The weather is, alas, set to come into it, with the forecast for pre-match heavy rains giving way to showers during the game and some slack winds. In other words: borderline miserable.
Cheika is looking for a significant upping of intensity in the contact and at the breakdown, as well as sharper line speed and more alert fringe defence. Given the opposition is Munster, and the return of Hines, that ought to apply. Amid the host of intriguing match-ups, that between Ronan O’Gara and Jonathan Sexton has invariably been the main focus of attention.
Presuming the Thomond Park crowd are on their best behaviour and maintain the customary silence afforded kickers, then Sexton’s shots at goal especially will be highly significant moments – all the more so recalling Felipe Contepomi’s travail here in the corresponding fixture last season.
Leinster have won the intervening two, and while it’s a bit disingenuous to point out that they haven’t won here since 1995 given their only two visits since were three seasons ago and last season, it’s also true to say that in the league this fixture has gone to the home side on 11 out of 14 occasions. The stakes are also higher for Munster, but their need is also the greater.
Betting(Paddy Powers): 4/11 Munster, 20/1 Draw, 2/1 Leinster. Handicap odds: 10/11 Munster (-6pts), 20/1 Draw, 10/11 Leinster (+ 6pts).
Forecast: Munster to win.
