MUNSTER’S COACHING STAFF have their own unique index of what goes into winning a rugby match, and last weekend’s performance against Sale broke the mould for the wrong reasons.
Possession, territory, individual stats, video and much more evidence on a wide range of aspects feed into Munster’s analysis of their performances, as well as their forecasts of what they need to do to be successful in the future.
The performance at the AJ Bell Stadium last Saturday fell short of where Foley and his staff believe Munster need to be to win games, but Ian Keatley’s late, late drop-goal rescued the situation.
No one needs complicated metrics to tell them that a similar display from Munster against Saracens tomorrow night in Limerick simply won’t do. In blunt terms, Foley’s men need to be far better.
“We’ve analysed the Sale game and we were 5% off where we need to be to win games,” says Foley. “We were actually below where we were for the Ospreys game, which we lost. We’ve never won a game in the position we were in.
From the way we analyse the game, that’s the first time we’ve ever won at that percentage. We understand that we have to find 5% from somewhere, we understand where it needs to come from.
“We need to use that ball better, we need to get better positions and we need to restrict the opposition. We can’t allow them easy go-forward ball. Hopefully we can do that and get our percentages up where they need to be.”
Foley admits that Munster “were a small bit lethargic” in defence, particularly in the first half. Whatever about getting earlier control of possession, the southern province simply must shore up their defensive effort in midfield.
There have been calls for JJ Hanrahan to be installed at 12 after his lively cameo against Sale, although those suggestions are centred around the Kerryman’s attacking ability.
However, it looks likely that Foley will maintain faith in Denis Hurley and Andrew Smith as his centre partnership. That duo’s physical edge may be important against a powerful Sarries outfit.
Defensively, Munster have “highlighted, resolved and fixed” the problems of last weekend, according to Foley. Hurley and Smith will expect a major amount of traffic and decoy-running down their channels nonetheless.
Foley has utter faith in Hanrahan’s ability to make an impact from the bench again, from where he also covers out-half in case of injury to Keatley. His showing at 12 against Sale underlines Foley’s belief in the 22-year-old’s potential in that position.
I always believed he can play 12. Our issue is we’ve two out-halves. If we start playing both of them for 80 minutes, then suddenly one of them breaks, you suddenly run out of players very quickly.
“We’ve tried to manage the situation that we’re in. But it’s great, I thought his kick was magnificent, with about three or four minutes to go, to get us from our 22 to their 22. I thought that set us up and set up a platform to attack their line-out, which we had done throughout the game.”
Whatever way midfield selection goes this afternoon, Hanrahan will have an important part to play at Thomond Park.
Aul Pele talks a lot of shi*#e most of the time in fairness
Dementia must be setting in
Pele before the 1994 World Cup: ‘Watch Columbia’(They were on the first plane home), ‘An African Nation will win the world cup before the end of the century(Not sure he realised there was only one more world cup between 1994 and the end of the century)
Marodona is better than pele. No reason
Who did marodona play with?
Sligo rovers?
In 1994 he said Norway would win the World cup.
When we all know it was north Korea. They’ve won every one before, and every one after. Our dear leader said so.
Go Home Pele you’re drunk.
Yes he’s an icon for his playing ability but no one takes any notice of what this fella says. He never makes any sense. Neymar is becoming world class and should become a great player. But he will never even touch the levels of brilliance Messi hits on a bad day.
Ronaldo is better
Pele is a clown, he seems to think that you cannot be judged as the greatest if you don’t win the World Cup, even though it only comes around every four years and most players aren’t fortunate enough to be born German or Brazilian. The man is just clutching at straws, the greatest show on earth is the Champions League but that bitter old fool just can’t accept it because he never played club football out of the Americas.
Maradona was better than Pele anyway but surely now Messi and Ronaldo deserve their place at the very top of the greatest footballers ever.
Can’t help wondering whether the great man actually watched the World Cup. Messi had some great moments while ronaldo was a petulant child on the greatest stage. I know he was injured but his attitude was awful.
Nasser Al Shamrani well be best player this year
He also said that Emre would become one of the best players in the world.
Messi is king of football and father of penaldo
…..
That relic is still hanging around??
I don’t think it’s right to say “Ronaldo is better than Messi” or visa versa. They are both amazing players. Two of the best to ever grace the game. To say one is better than the other is nuts. They are two different types of brilliant.
Pele would want to shut the F up
He had El Hadji Diouf in his top 100 as well