It had to happen, didn’t it? Anytime they have been required to deliver big when it mattered most, Munster have answered the call. Against the All Blacks, 1978, The Miracle Match, then defeating Glasgow days after Axel Foley was laid to rest. And again on Sunday.
Yet, in ways, for this observer at least, Sunday’s clinical deconstruction of Wasps must rank up there with the best of them. For several reasons. It was the team’s best performance in a long time, it was, in many ways, Simon Zebo’s proper homecoming. And lastly, because the day in question marked the return of whatever passes for normality now.
Of course, obviously the most rudimentry part of that was their conclusion of business in a prompt and efficient manner. Sparked by Zebo driving over for the home side’s second ‘major’ set the old ground rocking.
That made him the province’s all time leading try scorer in a competition into the quilt of which they had woven so many immovable patches. Conor Murray had got the scoreboard moving for the day in the ninth minute.
The visitors then mustered their one and only reply of the day but whatever faint hope Wasps had of qualifying were obliterated when the hard working Jack O’Donoghue went under the posts and the imperious Ben Healy split them for the extras on the blow of half time.
Three tries in the bag and a whole 40 minutes to get one more and secure a bonus point. They took the sum total of four. Jeremy Loughman – who like Zebo was a late change to the starting 15 – going over.
***
Elsewhere, Leinster also put on an awesome show in their absolute dismantling of a pitiful Bath side. It’s hard to know which aspect will please coach Leo Cullen the most – the continued, science and logic-defying excellence of Johnny Sexton, or the emergence of yet another game changer in Jimmy O’Brien.
In terms of announcing yourself to the wider rugby public, going over for four tries in a European Cup encounter certainly isn’t the worst way to go about it. What the emergence of the latter also did was highlight the fine conveyor belt of ovall ball talent there exists in Lilywhite territory. From Trevor Brennan to Jamie Heaslip to Joey Carbery to Tadhg Beirne, Jeremy Loughman and now O’Brien.
Since Covid-19 imposed its vile will on the entire world, concepts of time and many other things have become blurred at best. In researching for this piece, Dr Google had to be consulted to see who won the European Cup last season (Toulouse). While on the scavenger hunt for material. it never occurred to me to see when last the great trophy was tangled up in blue ribbons of Leinster. It’s probably nowhere near as long as it seems.
Regardless of when it was, methinks it may not be too long until it is so again. To be fair to them, it hasn’t been a case that their output had discernibly dissipated, rather, that they have brought it back to levels which at least leave them looking as near to being unbeatable as a team can be to that notion.
Something underscored by the manner in which they not so much carved out as land mined a 33-11 half time lead for themselves courtesy O’Brien’s second try and others from a rejuvenated Josh van der Flier, Jordan Larmour and replacement Ciaran Frawley, Bolstered still further by Sexton’s accuracy from dead balls.
Leinster’s first half tally would be enough to win most games but if Bath thought there was going to be any easing up on the throttle, they were nowhere near as lucky, as Cullen’s try scoring machine continues to pummel those soon to be under the direction of Johann Van Graan, God love them.
O’Brien bagged another brace for himself while Hugo Keenan and Andrew Porter and Dan Sheehan registered further five-pointers to put the seal on a 64-7 win which leaves them with a points difference of +128.
***
Spare a thought for Connacht. It’s not all that long ago the hideous, heinous idea of disbanding them as a rugby entity was being bandied about. Worse still, some within the Brains Trust of the sport were actively considering acting upon the asinine idea. Thankfully, however, through courage, determination and no little class, they not only survived, but prospered.
To the extent that, guided by people like Michael Bradley, Eric Elwood, Pat Lam and Johnny Muldoon, they not only won what is now called the United Rugby Championship – having had more name changes than Selma Bouveir in The Simpsons – but also jumped from the European Challenge Cup to the main event.
Now, on the first occasion they qualify for the knockout stages of the big one, their ‘reward’ for doing so is the dubious pleasure of a showdown against Leo Cullen’s charges.
Mind you, whilst in no way understating the gargantuan nature of the task facing Andy Friend and his staff, it is only right and fair to acknowledge the exponential growth the western province have made in recent seasons.
Yes aided by the infusion of players such as Conor Oliver and Alex Wooton, but also rightly, it has now been rewarded at the highest level with the selection of Tiarnan O’Halloran, Ultan Dillane, Bundy Aki, Finlay Bealham, Caoilin Blade and Jack Carty.
Regardless of how the match against Leinster, Connacht have not only justified their presence in elite competition, they have enhanced both themselves and it.
***
And so to Ulster. The following is meant to be in no disrespect, but, their progress this term has been somewhat under the radar. Purely because of the seemingly unending off-field distractions which have beset the northern province.
From a certain incident which is not about to be ploughed up again, to the departures of Ruan Pienaar and Jared Payne and Rory Best. Yet they have also managed to remain competitive and enable some of their players enter the conversation for Irish coach Andy Farrell.
Iain Henderson, obviously, but also the likes of scrum half John Cooney, full back Michael Lowry and others are sure to have done their future prospects no harm. The same sentiment can be applied to their team.
Leave a Reply