Murray Kinsella reports from Scotstoun
HAVING SECURED THEIR place in the Champions Cup quarter-finals with a gutsy 14-12 win away to Glasgow, Munster celebrated in style in the changing rooms.
Peter O’Mahony and CJ Stander were pushed into the centre of the huddle under the stands at Scotstoun, where they embraced for a quick kiss that was broadcast to everyone watching on Sky Sports.
A new tradition for the province?
“I saw that it was on live TV!” said Stander with post-match, laughing and shaking his head. “No, we had a few words. I think I gave two penalties away, so Pete tried to calm me down and we had a few words.
“We do this thing in training where we kiss and make up, so we kissed and made up. That’s about it, I can’t really speak out of the changing room!”
It was a moment of fun among a team whose spirit continues to grow with each victory this season, their work rate being the most obvious demonstration of the collective bond out on the pitch.
Munster are enjoying playing for each other, but asked about their mood after ensuring a first European quarter-final in three seasons, Stander slipped instantly back into the focused mindset.
“I think there’s a lot to improve on in that game,” said Stander. “I think our breakdown let us down. But on the other side, to qualify is a good note. To win two games away from home, it’s massive for us.
“I think we let ourselves down against Leicester in the last few minutes and I think that was in our heads in the last few minutes [against Glasgow]. As a group, everyone stepped up. I mean, a guy like Jack O’Donoghue coming into the team and stepping up to the plate, it’s unbelievable.”
Munster now face a final Pool 1 fixture at home to Racing 92 at Thomond Park next weekend, when they will hope that a convincing win will secure them the all-important home draw for the quarter-finals.
Racing clearly turned up with intent in Leicester this evening, although they are expected to send their second string to Thomond Park. Nonetheless, this Munster set-up is taking nothing for granted.
“You never know how they’re going to pitch up, so it’s going to be a big game again,” said Stander. “It’s in Thomond Park. For us, a full Thomond Park is always a great place to be. Everyone is already looking forward to it, but we need to work hard.
“We can’t let ourselves down now, we’ve still got one game to go in the group. We have came a long way now and the big thing is not to let ourselves down.”
Whatever about the realism and focus from Munster’s point of view, to win in this manner again tonight highlights the potential of the team. Rassie Erasmus’ men were not at their best in Scotstoun, and it seems certain that there is more to come.
The manner in which they learned from that late defeat to Leicester in Welford Road in December, and put the lessons into practice this evening as Glasgow desperately searched for a winning score late on, underlines that Munster are growing rapidly.
“There’s always a learning curve and Rassie always tells us to learn from our mistakes and work on it,” said Stander. “If you go full on to improve it, he’s happy with it. If you just go half-arsed at it, you’re going to get a bit of a kick.
“Everyone stepped up and learned from that Leicester experience and stepped up. In the last few minutes [tonight], we were two points up and kept them out. That’s going to help us going forward in this competition.”
A convincing win over Racing means Munster will almost certainly have their home quarter-final, three seasons after the last one – when they dismantled Toulouse in front of a vocal crowd at Thomond Park.
Another day like that would be special, but there’s work still to be done.
“Not getting to the final stages was disappointing [in the last two seasons] and I think there was a lot of boys that wanted to get there and didn’t get there,” said Stander. “We talk a lot about it, and you miss that feeling of going into the quarters and the semis, hopefully.
“But we worked hard. We’re a tight group, as you could see with the kiss between me and Pete! So we work for each other and work for the team. There’s still a lot to improve on from this game, but that comes down to Monday’s training.”
dunnes have runners with four stripes and 4 is more than 3 so they must be better….
@Liam Meade: well definitely make you go faster anyway. 33% faster
@Seaniecp: ahh, but only if they are go faster stripes Seanie….
@Seaniecp: or would addidas be 25% slower ?
@Liam Meade: yeah Striders man pee all over adidas any day
@Liam Meade: mine are faster because there Red.
O’Neill’s have had three stripes for donkeys years now!
@Darren Bates: only in Ireland though
@Noel Kelly: not in the north of Ireland tho… Just the 26.
You’ll see most northern county jerseys and gear for sale to the public has only 2 stripes
@Aidan Mitchell: I have multiple jerseys from northern counties with 3 stripes so that can’t be true
@Aidan Mitchell: where did you just pull that from?
@Aidan Mitchell: Any O’Neill’s jerseys sent out to Australia only have 2 stripes also
@John Black: Sorry not jerseys shorts or socks. But tracksuits, hoodie, zippys, tshirts, , polo’s…. Go to oneills.com and compare the 6 counties to the 26. No 3 stripes for sale in the 6.
And also look at club gear for international teams in USA, Canada, Australia. Mostly all 2 stripes. Ways around it tho..
@Darren Bates: oneills got away with it by claiming it was a white block with 2 stripes of colour on it istead of it being three stand alone white stripes. However they cant do it outside or roi
O’Neill’s can continue replicating their jerseys now
It seems a strange decision. I know 3 stripes is not that original. But that at the angle and going from short to long, there’s no mistaken them for anything else. It’s as recognizable as the Nike logo in my opinion.
@Thefallguy: It’s not really that logo in the photo that’s in question, rather the general practice of 3 parallel stripes denoting Adidas, eg running down a sleeve
@Squiddley Diddley: ahh I got you now. Cheers
My stripes were taken off me by the Mrs
Sweat shops for fakes are in overdrive everywhere now
I remember Kerry had a Adidas kit in 80′s classic for one year though as there was outrage about it
@Ossi Fritsche: gaa jerseys had a rule they had to be manufactured in Ireland, keeping jobs at home etc.
So kerry were effectively breaking the rules
@Aidan Mitchell: think because of that they had to be made under licence in Cork at the time
@Ossi Fritsche: especially when they washed it in a BENDIX !
@Valthebear: correct, so no sweatshop, no profit. Adidas lost money on them
Three strikes and you’re out!
Sergeants everywhere breathe a sigh of relief.
A Dream I Dreamt About Stripes
Can only get Bulmers jungle juice in Ireland …
Everywhere else it’s Bleedin Magners
@Rodney Williams: on account of there being a different, unrelated, cider company in the UK called Bulmers. The chances!
@RhinoDino: Not actually unrelated, the Bulmers UK once owned 50% of the Irish company and increased production. Later on they sold their share back to the original Irish company. As Magner was the founder they went with that name when launching in the UK and internationally.
Why don’t you show an image of the relevant logo???? Misleading article
@Arya: Whether or not one wishes to comment upon the weather, it is hardly acceptable to replicate the very mentality that you so negatively allude to.
@Vocal Outrage: I am not replicating it. It was the irony in the comment. It was really hilarious.
ALDIdas will be thrilled. What a F#*k EU to anyone with a reputable brand. That Rloex crown is not distinctive enough either, come to think of it. Not sure if I’m telling the time or sending a Hallmark card. FFS, Alfa Romeo are about the only ones safe from EU approved brand piracy. Being ruled by Belgium is awesome!
Those 3 Stripes are my Intellectual Property The have been on an old UNDERPANTS of Mine
3 Stripes and your out