IT’S NOT JUST a feeling on the outside. Munster themselves believe something special is happening in the province.
Their sense is that the current run of six consecutive wins is a true representation of the potential they have possessed all along.
Conor Murray is back for Munster's clash with Leicester. Tommy Dickson / INPHO
Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO
“It’s a pity it’s after taking our head coach to die for us to play the way he wanted us to play. That’s the way it is,” is how Keith Earls put it last month.
Munster haven’t lost since their Guinness Pro12 clash with Leinster all the way back on 8 October, with convincing performances against Glasgow, the Ospreys, the Māori All Blacks and Treviso following since.
There have also been one-point wins against Ulster and Glasgow in that time, but it is that pair of victories that should perhaps encourage Munster and their fans most of all.
The southern province would almost certainly have lost those games last season. The overall displays were very far from flawless, but Munster showed grit and mental strength to wrestle victories from losing positions. Two late drop goals, two big wins.
These successes, combined with the events after the death of Anthony Foley, have Munster believing again.
“I think that was the thing with a lot of the young lads who came through,” said Earls in November. “They spoke about this Munster family and probably thought, ‘Jeez, this thing is a bit of a myth,’ because we had been shocking for two years.
“Just the response of all the ex-players around that week and how much together Munster actually is… some of the stuff that went on for Axel and they were like, ‘This thing is for real.’
Thomond Park has been brilliant in recent weeks. Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
“Even myself, it was mind-blowing, some of the tributes to him. People coming from Australia, John Langford and that. It was ridiculous. I think that hit home with the young lads and they’re really starting to play now, which is great.”
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The likes of Rory Scannell, Darren Sweetnam and Jack O’Donoghue continue to emerge as genuine stars for Munster, while others such as Conor Oliver and Alex Wootton are showing promise on the next tier. Right now, Munster’s future looks rosy.
More immediately, the Leicester Tigers arrive at Thomond Park and bring with them a relatively superb record at the famous Limerick stadium.
The Premiership side won there in 2007 and 2015, with Clermont, Ulster and Harlequins still the only other teams to have enjoyed a European victory against Munster at Thomond Park.
Leicester’s 13-6 win in 2007 is a particularly bitter memory in Munster, ending the province’s lengthy undefeated streak and gravely damaging their air of invincibility on home soil.
These are very different times, of course, with not a single survivor from those matchday squads involved as a player on this occasion. Geordan Murphy will be in the stands with Leicester, of course, while Jerry Flannery is part of Munster’s coaching staff.
Munster are top of the Pro12 coming into this fixture, while Leicester are only seven points off Premiership leaders Saracens in fourth position. Wins over Harlequins, Bristol and Northampton in recent weeks mean they bring form and confidence.
Manu Tuilagi is back for the Tigers. Inpho / Billy Stickland
Inpho / Billy Stickland / Billy Stickland
It’s beautifully teed up.
Munster are boosted by the returns of Ireland internationals Donnacha Ryan, CJ Stander, Simon Zebo, Earls and Conor Murray – the last on that list perhaps being the most important. Tyler Bleyendaal is also back at out-half as he looks to continue an impressive season.
For their part, Leicester have been able to recall the imposing Manu Tuilagi at outside centre, while the clever Ben Youngs is back at scrum-half and his brother, Tom, comes in at hooker to captain the side.
Munster’s beefy bench might prove the difference, with South African pair Jean Kleyn and Thomas du Toit and Kiwi hooker Rhys Marshall hungry to make their Champions Cup debuts as replacements.
Among the Tigers’ substitutes is former Ireland U20 hooker George McGuigan, who played for the England Saxons last summer.
Tactically, Munster will look to the same direct, aggressive blueprint that has brought them this streak of wins, with Murray adding some intricacies around the fringes of rucks and Bleyendaal always scanning for the right time to pounce in wide channels.
Munster will simply love being back at a full Thomond Park too, with the crowd in Limerick having covered itself in glory since Foley’s death.
It should be full-blooded and fascinating as Erasmus’ men look to continue their resurgence.
Munster:
15. Simon Zebo
14. Darren Sweetnam
13. Jaco Taute
12. Rory Scannell
11. Keith Earls
10. Tyler Bleyendaal
9. Conor Murray
1. Dave Kilcoyne
2. Niall Scannell
3. John Ryan
4. Donnacha Ryan
5. Billy Holland
6. Peter O’Mahony (captain)
7. Tommy O’Donnell
8. CJ Stander
Replacements:
16. Rhys Marshall
17. Thomas du Toit
18. Stephen Archer
19. Jean Kleyn
20. Jack O’Donoghue
21. Duncan Williams
22. Ian Keatley
23. Andrew Conway
Leicester:
15. George Worth
14. Adam Thompstone
13. Manu Tuilagi
12. Owen Williams
11. Peter Betham
10. Freddie Burns
9. Ben Youngs
1. Logovi’i Mulipola
2. Tom Youngs (captain)
3. Greg Bateman
4. Ed Slater
5. Graham Kitchener
6. Mike Fitzgerald
7. Brendon O’Connor
8. Lachlan McCaffrey
Replacements:
16. George McGuigan
17. Ellis Genge
18. Pat Cilliers
19. Luke Hamilton
20. Will Evans
21. Sam Harrison
22. Jack Roberts
23. Tom Brady
Referee: Romain Poite [FFR].
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Erasmus' Munster can call on Thomond fervour as they welcome Leicester
Munster v Leicester, Champions Cup Pool 1
Thomond Park, KO 3.15pm, BT Sport 2
IT’S NOT JUST a feeling on the outside. Munster themselves believe something special is happening in the province.
Their sense is that the current run of six consecutive wins is a true representation of the potential they have possessed all along.
“It’s a pity it’s after taking our head coach to die for us to play the way he wanted us to play. That’s the way it is,” is how Keith Earls put it last month.
Munster haven’t lost since their Guinness Pro12 clash with Leinster all the way back on 8 October, with convincing performances against Glasgow, the Ospreys, the Māori All Blacks and Treviso following since.
There have also been one-point wins against Ulster and Glasgow in that time, but it is that pair of victories that should perhaps encourage Munster and their fans most of all.
The southern province would almost certainly have lost those games last season. The overall displays were very far from flawless, but Munster showed grit and mental strength to wrestle victories from losing positions. Two late drop goals, two big wins.
These successes, combined with the events after the death of Anthony Foley, have Munster believing again.
“I think that was the thing with a lot of the young lads who came through,” said Earls in November. “They spoke about this Munster family and probably thought, ‘Jeez, this thing is a bit of a myth,’ because we had been shocking for two years.
“Just the response of all the ex-players around that week and how much together Munster actually is… some of the stuff that went on for Axel and they were like, ‘This thing is for real.’
“Even myself, it was mind-blowing, some of the tributes to him. People coming from Australia, John Langford and that. It was ridiculous. I think that hit home with the young lads and they’re really starting to play now, which is great.”
The likes of Rory Scannell, Darren Sweetnam and Jack O’Donoghue continue to emerge as genuine stars for Munster, while others such as Conor Oliver and Alex Wootton are showing promise on the next tier. Right now, Munster’s future looks rosy.
More immediately, the Leicester Tigers arrive at Thomond Park and bring with them a relatively superb record at the famous Limerick stadium.
The Premiership side won there in 2007 and 2015, with Clermont, Ulster and Harlequins still the only other teams to have enjoyed a European victory against Munster at Thomond Park.
Leicester’s 13-6 win in 2007 is a particularly bitter memory in Munster, ending the province’s lengthy undefeated streak and gravely damaging their air of invincibility on home soil.
These are very different times, of course, with not a single survivor from those matchday squads involved as a player on this occasion. Geordan Murphy will be in the stands with Leicester, of course, while Jerry Flannery is part of Munster’s coaching staff.
Munster are top of the Pro12 coming into this fixture, while Leicester are only seven points off Premiership leaders Saracens in fourth position. Wins over Harlequins, Bristol and Northampton in recent weeks mean they bring form and confidence.
It’s beautifully teed up.
Munster are boosted by the returns of Ireland internationals Donnacha Ryan, CJ Stander, Simon Zebo, Earls and Conor Murray – the last on that list perhaps being the most important. Tyler Bleyendaal is also back at out-half as he looks to continue an impressive season.
For their part, Leicester have been able to recall the imposing Manu Tuilagi at outside centre, while the clever Ben Youngs is back at scrum-half and his brother, Tom, comes in at hooker to captain the side.
Munster’s beefy bench might prove the difference, with South African pair Jean Kleyn and Thomas du Toit and Kiwi hooker Rhys Marshall hungry to make their Champions Cup debuts as replacements.
Among the Tigers’ substitutes is former Ireland U20 hooker George McGuigan, who played for the England Saxons last summer.
Tactically, Munster will look to the same direct, aggressive blueprint that has brought them this streak of wins, with Murray adding some intricacies around the fringes of rucks and Bleyendaal always scanning for the right time to pounce in wide channels.
Munster will simply love being back at a full Thomond Park too, with the crowd in Limerick having covered itself in glory since Foley’s death.
It should be full-blooded and fascinating as Erasmus’ men look to continue their resurgence.
Munster:
15. Simon Zebo
14. Darren Sweetnam
13. Jaco Taute
12. Rory Scannell
11. Keith Earls
10. Tyler Bleyendaal
9. Conor Murray
1. Dave Kilcoyne
2. Niall Scannell
3. John Ryan
4. Donnacha Ryan
5. Billy Holland
6. Peter O’Mahony (captain)
7. Tommy O’Donnell
8. CJ Stander
Replacements:
16. Rhys Marshall
17. Thomas du Toit
18. Stephen Archer
19. Jean Kleyn
20. Jack O’Donoghue
21. Duncan Williams
22. Ian Keatley
23. Andrew Conway
Leicester:
15. George Worth
14. Adam Thompstone
13. Manu Tuilagi
12. Owen Williams
11. Peter Betham
10. Freddie Burns
9. Ben Youngs
1. Logovi’i Mulipola
2. Tom Youngs (captain)
3. Greg Bateman
4. Ed Slater
5. Graham Kitchener
6. Mike Fitzgerald
7. Brendon O’Connor
8. Lachlan McCaffrey
Replacements:
16. George McGuigan
17. Ellis Genge
18. Pat Cilliers
19. Luke Hamilton
20. Will Evans
21. Sam Harrison
22. Jack Roberts
23. Tom Brady
Referee: Romain Poite [FFR].
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