Their manhood is on the line

RUGBY ANALYST:TOMORROW WILL be my second visit this week to Thomond Park. This time I'll be in the terraces to watch the skin and hair flying for the domestic fixture of the season. I was there for the Ulster victory, and I can only imagine how that'll be a motivation in itself, for both sides.

But my first visit this week was last Tuesday evening when myself and 470 others packed into the conference room and were treated to Brad Sugar’s vision of the future and how we can all play a part. He’s an Australian with serious pedigree behind him, declaring his suit cost Aus$8,000.

But what a refreshing outlook on life he brought to a packed room in the East Stand. And, as if it were at the end of another famous Munster victory, all 470 departed three hours later with heads held high, full of optimism for the spring that’s just around the corner.

After all, we’re in the depths of winter after a long, long summer of growing fat and lazy. Most of us failed to save the hay of the Celtic Summer for the long winter upon us. That’s our fault? But in all this time our sports men have striven for those ruthless improvements that have returned so much to both province and country.

The Grand Slammers return as matured adults with a whole new outlook on life. The monkey is finally off their back and now they can relax for a while. Will that matter tomorrow? Unlikely!

Tomorrow all bets are off for what has become the most personal battle of the season.

Furthermore, it may be Felipe Contepomi’s last joust with Munster, and more’s the pity, as he’s illuminated it every time, even at this high-octane level. What a journey he’s had. Irish rugby will truly miss him.

As this season moves towards an end, preparation for next year has begun. Will Peter Stringer end up in Dublin 4 next season? Who’ll replace Contepomi and will he be Irish? Will Rua Tipoki survive the cull? I still maintain that Tipoki’s absence through injury is felt hard by Munster.

That Keith Earls is the undisputed heir apparent to the 13 jersey at both Munster and Ireland doesn’t take from Tipoki’s potential influence on any fixture for Munster. He gives leadership, direction and has an ability to run hard and straight, testing drift defences. That will be important.

But I fancy this will not be the last clash between Munster and Leinster this season. The Heineken Cup has many twists remaining.

So what’s the difference between them? One old coach of mine used the analogy of the racing car. To him Leinster are the Formula One car with Munster the World Rally car. This will no doubt raise stern opposition from one reader or another.

But you must remember that rugby is not played in a laboratory and conditions vary, be it the weather, the pitch, the referee or indeed the pressure. Both cars are full of power and both get around their respective courses at great speed. But put the Formula One car into the back roads of Clare and it’ll struggle, likewise the World Rally car at Monza.

My first live experience of the fixture was in 1995 when I played the Interprovincial in Thomond Park. I’ll never forget the build-up, when Colm Tucker went patiently through both teams highlighting the strengths of each opposition player before asking the question. Is he better than you? His point was obvious. This was no time for backward steps.

The senior players that day then took over, and it was clear there was far more at stake than a victory. Your very manhood was on the line.

Suffice to say, when given the chance to play against either team the building blocks were always the same. Dominate physically through whatever means and then use the advantage to win. Let there be no confusion. Both cars are fast and both can mix it.

In Rocky Elsom, Leinster have a giant. He was exceptional in the physicality of his approach last week against Ulster. But he also breaks with the ball, covers ground and offloads. He is but one of the many sub-plots.

Recent fixtures and results are an obvious sub-plot. Most immediately, last September’s fixture in the RDS when Munster won 18-0. Further back is the double victories of last season for Leinster. Farther back still is the Heineken Cup semi-final.

Tomorrow, however, is the final Ireland trial (even though the Six Nations is over). Take the Ireland backrow battle between Denis Leamy, Jamie Heaslip, David Wallace and Shane Jennings. I expect the fixture to come down between the secondrows, where the first to flinch will lose. French referee Christophe Berdos will have his hands full.

For those interested, 1995 was the last time Munster were defeated by Leinster in Thomond Park. Times have changed, and there will be more Leinster supporters (5,500) in Thomond than the combined total in 1995. But as you may have guessed, I was on the losing team!

Finally there were several times last Tuesday during Sugar’s speech I thought it was Matt Williams. For he, too, has the ability to stir up positivity like few can. He too can focus a group on one common goal where the sky’s the limit. Williams has been an excellent contributor to Irish rugby over the years, and many players flourished under his gaze. From Victor Costello to Brian O’Driscoll in Leinster all benefited, not to mention Stephen Ferris, Simon Danielli and co.

His Ulster side have slipped over the weeks, but in areas that are eminently fixable. I expect a much faster and more aggressive defensive line speed from Ulster tonight, which will give them victory. But their lineout must remember that speed of ball allied to Ryan Caldwell will always win out. The Ospreys will be very different from next week’s Heineken Cup clash with Munster. But keep one eye on them tonight.

How will Ronan O’Gara welcome Contepomi for his last visit to Thomond Park?

“In Rocky Elsom, Leinster have a giant. He was exceptional in the physicality of his approach against Ulster. But he also breaks with the ball, covers ground and offloads. He is but one of the sub-plots