MUNSTER HEAD COACH Anthony Foley says Munster must impose themselves on Clermont’s “home patch” tomorrow, after the Top 14 outfit did exactly that in Thomond Park last weekend.
The province face a crucial Pool 1 Champions Cup tie at the impressive Stade Marel-Michelin, which will host a sell-out 18,030 crowd for the 15.15 [Irish time] kick-off.
Defeat tomorrow would leave Munster facing the prospect of having to win away to Saracens in round five of the European group stages, but that January fixture was likely to be vital anyway, according to Foley.
Indeed, a losing bonus point tomorrow keeps Munster in the hunt, even if victory against Clermont is the only prospect on their minds right now.
Former number eight Foley insists he always believed this particular pool would go down to the wire, and refuses to accept that losing in Clermont would end Munster’s interest.
I think this is going into round five and six anyway, regardless. I think before a ball was even kicked in this competition, this group was always one of highest quality. It’s hard and we appreciate that.
“We do understand that we’re at half time in this fixture [Clermont] and that we need to go after them in their home patch, because they came after us on ours.”
A dramatic win away to Sale and an excellent victory at home to Saracens in Limerick had left Munster in a strong position in the group before last weekend, but a 16-9 failure to Franck Azéma’s Clermont was not part of the plan.
“Some of the things we did against Saracens, we didn’t do against Clermont and you don’t expect to win games if you’re not on top of them,” admits Foley.
“This is a high-end competition so we need to push for the standards we know we have. We’ve done it in more recent times, so we need to find that and go after that.”
Foley says he was never anything less than fully aware of the quality of Clermont, who operate with a budget of almost €29million and possess a squad that has a genuine depth of international-quality players.
The Munster head coach says ASM’s performance in Limerick last weekend was little surprise to him. Rather than any awakening, it underlined to him exactly where his side will need to be to pull off the unlikely in Clermont-Ferrand tomorrow.
I did say last week that they’re a very good side, and that they were coming here differently to any other French side.
“They’re very threatening, so probably everybody else has seen how good they are and how well equipped they are to have a crack at the European Cup.
“We understand that and we understand the level of performance we need to get to. What we did on Saturday wasn’t good enough and you end up losing against a side like that when it’s not good enough.”
Take the field. Look over the heads of your opposition. Focus on the uprights, this is your goal. Breathe. Rember you are not representing Ireland, for 80 minutes you are Ireland. Breathe. 80 minutes may seem long when you are camped on your 22, and defending you line. It is not. Time is short. Live every minute as if it is your last time in a green shirt, sooner than you expect it will be. Breathe. Look beyond the opposition who stand between you and your goal. Move forward, always forward and remember today for a short 80 minutes, you are Ireland.
So … Don’t forget to breathe !!!
Andrew, thats excellent.
Craig, sounds like you have never played rugby
Doloris, what a petty comment to make on the eve of the world cup. Petty provincial rivalry right now is pathetic. BOD is our best player.
I am a munster man (living in Dublin) by the way
Anybody with a double name is a tit.
good luck to our gang in the land of the long white cloud,its time to stand up and fight.
A lot done, more to do…
Best of luck men! This is the start of a journey!!
best of luck we are hoping for good game plenty tries no ingeries moss connell
Ronan don’t forget the last 15 mins
Go on boys do the bizz. I have great trust in the munster lads —— let BOD in the dug out!!!!
Good woman! Leave sexton longside him too!
Think sticky hands, fast feet, and cricket scores.. Come on lads give us a great start.. Good luck to you all..
Do your best, and remember it’s the taking part that counts! :-\
in it too win it mr dirt , why else bother ?
Sexton will choke again and miss a shed load of kicks.
Prophetic. Do the lotto man with foresight like that!
Your on the ball lad. Bet the young lad in that O2 ad wouldn’t waste his first pick on him after that!!!
Good luck, give it all you’ve got and there will be no regrets.
Walk into them!
What a great game keep it up boys x