Rugby

Van Graan praises Munster resilience against Stormers

Jack O’Donoghue and Gavin Coombes particularly impressed in comeback win

Munster’s Jack O’Donoghue celebrates scoring a try with Mike Haley during the win over Stormers. Photo: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho

Gerry Thornley's face
Gerry Thornley at Thomond Park
Mon Oct 4 2021 - 05:30

For Gavin Coombes another try, his third try in two outings this season to augment a faintly ridiculous 15 tries in 22 games last season, and another man of the match gong.

Coombes came vibrantly to life in the second-half, showcasing his all-round game, be it the 23-year-old’s strength in close quarters and in the jackal, eye for the try line and Anthony Foley-like handling and appreciation of those around him.

Yet in the first half, when the going was toughest for Munster, no-one got going more than his fellow back-rowers Jack O’Donoghue or Peter O’Mahony. The Munster captain was imperious in the air and came up with some big plays, when winning turnover penalties and most notably when defending the Munster line alertly enough to deny Manie Libbok a try which would have seen the Stormers build a lead into the 20s.

O’Mahony, who looks as fit, sharp and hungry as ever, continued to have a profound influence on the game in both his performance and leadership - perhaps in a way that is almost taken for granted.

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Meantime, O’Donoghue has seemingly taken his game to another level this season, perhaps in part as a consequence of nailing down the 7 jersey after years suffering for his versatility across the back-row.

In an all-action display, he won turnovers in the lineout and in the jackal, made his tackles and carried strongly, while also demonstrating his handling skills, not least with the one-handed offload to O’Mahony which he moved on to Shane Daly in finally setting home team and crowd alike.

Given he also plundered two of Munster’s five tries, it’s a wonder he didn’t win a man of the match award, and Johann van Graan evidently agreed.

“I said to him in the changing room I thought that was his best game in a long time. I thought he was excellent, he’s come on leaps and bounds, his contesting was very good. I thought he carried well, he complements how we play.

“I thought Pete and Coombsey played really well. He (O’Donoghue) is comfortable in 6, 7 and 8 and I thought it was one of his best games in a long time. I felt that man of the match was a pretty close call in terms of himself and Coombsey,” admitted van Graan with a wry smile.

It was the performances of O’Donoghue and O’Mahony which, as much as anything, added to the belief that even when they were struggling to contain the Stormers and establish a foothold in the game, Munster would ultimately find a way.

Settled nature

That composure in a time of difficulty has been in evidence before, most obviously in that comeback win away to Clermont last season, which van Graan in part attributes to the settled nature of their coaching ticket.

“It definitely comes from continuity. We, as a coaching group, spoke about that after about 30 minutes. Everybody was pretty calm. It was 15-0 at that point; we always knew we could come back. We had been here before.”

Even though they were initially denied an opening score when penalised for pre-latching, correctly in van Graan’s view, prior to kick-starting their comeback with O’Donoghue’s try in the last play of the half, that showed them the way.

“That showed us that once we got into that area we believed that we could make some significant inroads.

“That’s why we spoke about changing our plan a little bit at half-time which worked pretty well. That gave us multiple entries. I’d much prefer 15-0 up rather than 15-0 down but that is what makes rugby beautiful, you cannot script every game. It takes its own momentum and character.

“That is what helps when you play at home, the crowd got behind us, and that is what is special about Munster rugby.”