AS MUNSTER PREPARE to embark on another European odyssey, Felix Jones believes there is a fitful mentality amongst the Irish rugby fraternity when it comes to making hasty conjectures.
Consecutive victories in the Pro12 – including a first win in Dublin in four years – has kick-started Anthony Foley’s side’s season but ahead of their trip to Sale for the opening game of their European Champions Cup campaign, Jones feels too much emphasis was placed on their faltering start.
“I don’t know if this is an Irish thing but results get sensationalised sometimes. Had we won the Edinburgh game on the opening weekend we would be sitting here four from five in the Pro12. The same could be said about the Leinster game. Had we lost that game people would have be saying it was a crisis,” the full-back said.
Only we know what shape we’re in and it’s never as bad as it’s made out to be and vice versa.
As it is, Munster head into the weekend infused with the confidence that comes on the back of a string of positive results. The newly-restructured competition will, however, be a firm appraisal of their European pedigree as they look to become one of the continent’s domestic protagonists once more.
“It’s a big week again,” Jones continued. “It’s a slightly new competition and the quality of the teams has increased but any European competition for Munster is big. We’re happy we’ve been able to get a small bit of momentum going into this weekend which we need because it’s going to be a massive test going over there.”
Sale return to the top-tier of European domestic rugby after a one-year absence and although tagged as Pool One’s underdogs, Jones knows they’ll relish that label on front of their home fans.
“I don’t think you can read too much into domestic form when it comes to Europe because teams raise the bar. We’re not reading into Sale’s previous results because we know they have some good players.
“Danny Cipriani is their dangerman as he can turn a game in one play. His kicking is very impressive, off both feet, and he’s in good form. Every point in this group is going to be massive whether that’s a winning or losing bonus point.”
The Aviva Premiership club, who have former Leinster lock Nathan Hines in their ranks, have been on the receiving end of a couple of hefty defeats already this term but Jones is adamant complacency will play no part when the two sides meet for the fifth time in European competition.
“We’re going over there to come away with the win and nothing else. No team has ever gone into a game without the intention to win but on the flip side, history has shown we are often slow starters. It’s going to be tough and we’re certainly not taking anything for granted.”
