PROVINCIAL ATTENTIONS WILL turn swiftly to the Heineken Cup in the coming days but last night, Leinster’s Matt O’Connor was simply enjoying success over Munster.
Having lost to the southern province earlier in the season, the 22-18 win in Dublin was the Australian’s first victory over Munster as head coach of Leinster.
As a means of explaining their defeat, O’Connor’s counterpart Rob Penney suggested that Munster’s players had been sidetracked by their impending Heineken Cup quarter-final against Toulouse.
An easy excuse in O’Connor’s opinion.
I don’t know how distracted Munster were in the first 25 minutes, to be honest. It is always going to be a bit of cat and mouse with that. The rivalry is the rivalry and everyone needed to win. The Pro 12 points are massive, so I wouldn’t want to comment on any of that.”
A four-point margin was unsurprising in a fixture that was always likely to be close, but it was the away team who looked the more likely winners at half time. Munster took a 12-6 lead into the break, as Leinster’s attack stuttered.
There were multiple incidents of O’Connor’s men losing the ball in contact or simply knocking-on as they attempted to give and receive ambitious offloads.
“We pushed the pass a little bit. At 6-0 down, we were chasing the game a little bit. There was a long way to go in the footy game and I was a little bit surprised by us, but that was largely due to Munster’s intensity.
“They started the game very well. They got some results early in the game that gave them a bit of a cushion on the scoreboard and we were under a little bit of pressure, but the fightback was enormous.”
Going into the interval only six points behind felt like a minor victory in O’Connor’s thinking, particularly with his players believing that their superior conditioning would be decisive in the second 40.
“We were pretty confident at half-time. Among the guys, there was a general feeling that they [Munster] wouldn’t be able to keep up that intensity off the back of errors largely from us.
“We gave them entry into the game and we were a little bit disappointed with how we did that in the first half. There are great lessons there for next week. You can’t afford to not exit your half correctly.
“You can’t afford to turn over the ball when you are in scoring opportunities because you won’t win. That becomes very clear going into a game of this magnitude in sudden-death cup rugby.”
Heading into that one-off encounter with Toulon in the south of France next Sunday, O’Connor is relieved that his front row injury worries are likely to have eased. Props Jack McGrath, Martin Moore, Cian Healy and Tadhg Furlong were all absent last night, but O’Connor is hopeful that some, if not all, of them will return.
I jolly well hope so. It was a bit of a tough one because you don’t want to put out blokes that are compromised and blokes who aren’t 100% fit in a game of that intensity because that will hurt you.
“There was a little bit of an eye on next week and certainly the scrummaging prowess that Toulon have at home. So we needed to manage that and thankfully we got away with it.
“Cian was really close to playing. As late as [yesterday] morning, we were tossing up whether he plays or whether he doesn’t. I would be very surprised if he doesn’t take the field next week.”
Good days for Irish rugby.
Have the top 3 spots in the table.
Competition in the schools cups are providing us with some great young players. Keep it coming!
First half was a boring affair. Leinster fan here but Munster deserved it IMO
This constant analysis these days where people claim a team ‘deserved it’ is ridiculous.
Aside from this, the fact Leinster scored the only try of the game gives a better reflection of what the game should be about
Yes sir, I’ll keep my opinions to myself! Was at the match and it was muted …again IMO
I too was at the match Sir. What is your point??
My point is Munster deserved it ?
Sure that’ll make them feel better this morning if they’re reading your comments.
Yeah I agree…it will.
Suppose you’re right, it’s the least that they deserve!!!
Good comeback yawn
Jaysus. Get a room the pair of ye.
Munster played no rugby in that match. They scored every point that came their way.
IDIOT
Both teams definitely had an eye on next week. Both played quite basic rugby (very little intricate moves off 1st phase etc) , presumably saving their moves for next week and not wanting to give the frenchies any clues. The players coming back and the injuries (front row for Leinster, POM for Munster) wouldn’t have helped either.
Having said all that the intensity was there. But I was surprised at the number of errors from both sides. If Leinster cough up the same amount of ball in contact next week, Toulon will kill them.
Anyone see Bod kick keatley,get up and shoulder him in the back. Happened first half.
Didn’t see this. As a Leinster fan I hope BOD gets a lengthy suspension….
Didn’t see it at the time but just saw it on the highlights. It was fairly harmless really. Looked like BOD was reacting to something but didn’t see that bit.
Ah yeh,it’s a mans game. Some people don’t realise this.
Dead right there!!
Yeah saw that alright, he kicked out at him with his studs, then ran after him and elbowed him in the process of a shoulder charge. It’s a wonder he wasn’t man of the match.
These pre H cup knockout stage games provide high intensity alternative training sessions. Both sets of players needing to avoid injuries yet stretch the match muscles. If they end up facing each other next round in Heineken and or Rabo decider, expect the real deal.
On the same day that you have an article about Mourihno threatening a ball boy. You have two ultimate warriors who would do anything for teams sharing a joke and that cracking game between Mayo and Dublin. Makes ya kinda proud of our sports guys
Great warm up for next weeks Heineken Cup – hopefully both teams get through and the objectives from last night will have been achieved
Enjoyable enough evening, great atmosphere and turnout. Disappointing that a neutral referee could not be provided; Rolland having 40 caps for Leinster… with the reffing at scrum time, some would say he got his 41st cap.