PAUL O’CONNELL SETS the highest of standards.
Two Heineken Cups, three Celtic Leagues, a Grand Slam, a Six Nations trophy, four Triple Crowns and a victorious Lions tour are products and feeders of the 34-year-old’s lofty demands on himself and his teammates.
Two days out from Munster’s most important game of the season so far, and five days after “a really poor performance” against Leinster, O’Connell is the man questioning what his province have achieved on the pitch during this campaign.
There has been plenty of positivity around the apparent progress of Rob Penney’s team in recent months, but ahead of the visit of Toulouse to Limerick on Saturday, O’Connell is wary of believing those opinions.
“I don’t think we’ve played particularly well in a long time. We defended really well against Gloucester away from home [in December] and we played well against Leinster at home when we beat them at Thomond Park [in October].
But I’d find it hard to put my hands on any big performances from us in recent months. You look at the squad Toulouse have, the quality of player they have, the size of men they have, it’s an absolutely mammoth task for us.
“It’s great to be at home and everything, but this is an incredible team, with incredible players and an incredible talent. It’s just a massive uphill task for us.”
As well as setting high standards, O’Connell is a master of sending out the right message, both to media and his fellow players. Talking down Munster’s chances, particularly when the bookies have them as favourites, comes as no real surprise.
His fear against Toulouse is that the Top 14′s side unpredictability makes it so difficult to build an expectation of what Saturday’s game will look like.
“I don’t think you ever know what’s coming against Toulouse. They’ve so many flair players, so many players that can play off the cuff. We certainly looked at a lot of them, they certainly still play an incredible offloading game.
“As the weather gets drier and drier and the pitches get harder and harder, that’s going to suit them. The talent they have allows them to play the game in such an unpredictable way.”
O’Connell name checks Yoann Huget, Yoann Maestri, Louis Picamoles and Yannick Nyanga as particularly threatening influences for Toulouse, while highlighting their entire squad’s sheer size.
They’re incredibly big men and incredibly talented players. There’s talent all over the pitch and they’re not a team you can really analyse. There are certain teams you can analyse and plan to try and stop what they’re going to do.
“The thing with Toulouse is the way they play and the style of rugby they have, it’s very hard to predict what they’re going to do. That makes it very difficult.”
Les Toulousains made a remarkable 104 offloads during the pool stages of this season’s Heineken Cup, an average of 17.3 per game. Munster’s average of 8.83 over their six games so far gives us an indication of how much Toulouse look to keep the ball alive.
Oftentimes, a strong concentration on offloading is linked with a looseness of possession; that is, teams who offload a lot also spill plenty of ball and therefore provide the opposition with chances to counter-attack.
O’Connell says there is a real difference with Toulouse, alluding to the fact that they have also beaten more defenders [164] than any other team in the tournament so far.
“I think if you’re forcing an offload game, it can be very dangerous, but they’ve such skilful players with such good feet, such speed and such size that it isn’t something they force and it’s something that comes naturally to them.
“It’s probably something that’s bred into them since they’re very young. It is a really tough game to defend. If it leads to us getting one or two balls off them and we get to counter-attack them, that’s well and good.
But I think defending that game and trying to stop that game is going to be a big part of our game plan for the weekend.”
It’s beautifully poised for Saturday, with Toulouse’s offloading and sidestepping Gallic unpredictability juxtaposed with Munster’s set-piece and breakdown focus. This is what European club rugby is all about.
“I think it probably makes it a brilliant occasion for Munster supporters and for the Heineken Cup itself; to have Munster and Toulouse playing a game in Thomond Park in Limerick is a massive occasion.”
Time for Munster to provide O’Connell with a performance that satisfies his high standards and his thirst for success.
I think he’s right! But the stable door has long since closed on that one.
I look forward to hearing what Gary Neville has to say about the Catholic church’s position on marriage. It will be approximately as relevant.
I thought that would have been in the running for comment of the week. Just goes to show.
Quality comment!
About as relevant as yours
Pope warns against money in football from his gold throne.
So true. the man lives in a palace and I imagine it costs a fortune to send him around the world to wave
Actually, this Pope doesn’t. He has moved to an apartment which was previously used by staff. I’m no fan of the Catholic church but at least blame them for what they are guilty of.
Grand so, Padraig McHale
Their are guilty of:
- covering up sex abuse of children for decades
- Fast tracking John Paul ii to saint hood even though he was the man heavily involved in cover ups for 25 years!
- In 2014 refusing to co-operate with UN investigation
- Refusing to compensate abuse victims
- Trying to influence Irish Government legislation by threatening our government ministers that if they don’t vote a certain way they’d be banned from communion.
- Silencing priests with progressive views such as, priests should be allowed to marry, gay marriage should be allowed etc
The Catholic church are hardly in a position to lecture anyone in relation to rights and wrongs in this world.
Who is?
I completely agree Michael. That was precisely my point!!
*Martin, not Michael obviously.
“Actually, this Pope doesn’t” <- whether he lives there or not, the Vatican is a fecken gold laden palace. How is he costing them less by living in yet another residence?
Why not go out and sell your car, computer, sky tv box etc if you’re so concerned about worldly possessions making people greedy and evil. Go live on a deserted island with little luxury and then come back on here and talk about pots and kettles. Although if you sell your expensive computers and other devices then that may be difficult.
Actually he doesn’t. He lives in a small room in a seminary with other priests and brothers. If you’re going to attack the man’s stance, at least do it with the truth.
Add being guilty of the deaths of thousands in Africa due to their stance on contraception
Agreed Mr Bishop,
But the man still has a point.
@John O’Call
“Why not go out and sell your car, computer, sky tv box etc if you’re so concerned about worldly possessions making people greedy and evil.”
Most people haven’t lied, raped, pillaged and murdered others for the computers/phones/homes/clothes etc that they own.
If he doesn’t indulge in the luxuries like his predecessor then fair play but he’s still head of the Catholic Church. Go to the Vatican and witness the opulence for yourself and then tell me this is the religion of charity!
It is most definitely not the religion of charity….but then what religion ever followed its own teaching? I do actually think this Pope is better than his predecessors but that’s not saying an awful lot really. The Vatican is still one giant bureaucracy and no one person can change it even if they really want to.
I don’t like the Catholic church one bit but you can hardly expect them to but the Vatican on Daft.ie or start flogging works of art on ebay ? Or can we.? *moves eyes shiftly * .
@Padraig McHale
Nice work. I’ve never seen an example of nested tu quoque fallacies before.
Thanks Jimbo. Appreciated.
He is guilty by association padraig
They could and should fold their tent and sell off everything and eradicate starvation worldwide
Pots and kettles
Yet our former pope would have taken the cash for an ole champions league blessing
Anything about the Money in Religion and charities?
I can’t believe it but I agree with the pope.
Pity he couldn’t have said that to the private interests in rugby before they destroyed one of its best competitions, the Heineken Cup, all in the name of greed.
I’d be more worried about the money in the Vatican! Maybe they should buy a football team just to add to the corruption! How about Plymouth Argyle otherwise known as the Pilgrims or maybe go straight for a PL club. The saints had a good year!!
The last few Popes would know a thing or two about football.John Paul 2 was a goalkeeper but he and the repugnant Benedict were Defenders! Defenders of paedophiles.
The Vatican and all its wealth and pomp are the polar opposite of the alleged teachings of Jesus.
Lets see P.R Pope do a Bill Gates and donate the Vatican Billions.
Too late popey – far too late.
I chuckle to myself everything I see your profile name and photo :-)
*everytime
Vatican
Keeper – of wealth
Defenders – of filth
Midfield engines – of Propaganda
Attackers – of critics
When he and his cronies honour their supposed vow of poverty I’ll listen…..until then best to say nowt Popemeister!
http://www.nytimes.com/…/vatican-suspends-german-bishop-known-for-spendin…;
What vow of poverty? Only applies to some priests.
Money in football = bad
Money for systematically raping children = fine
He’s only discovering this now?
I’m warning the pope against money in the church. Three collections in one mass Francis, THREE!
I’d much rather see people be greedy in sport than greedy in the drugs business. Sport is a nice, safe place for greed, IMO.
Greed is bad everywhere.
Is Martin bishop a bishop just asking
Careful ladies James Franco is here. What’s the next statement from the church? Opinion on current state of music scene? Maybe a statement about good holiday destinations. Can someone please tell that the world is considerably better educated than it was a couple of 100 years ago they are no longer relevant and we know hypocrites when we see them.
Of course he is right. We need the fA to step in and hand Liverpool the title. Whether by linesman, or maximum 20 million plus player quotas.
I see the red thumbers. Good day to our American brethren.
I wish he told them to stop diving trying to cheat , not that the Vatican can preach to anyone, at least not yet
You see the problem with arsenal is that they just walk the ball into the net
The more I hear from this pope the more I like him, let’s hope he lasts in the oldest corporation in the world.
Trying to close another stable door long after that particular horse has bolted a long time ago.
Barrys or lyons lads? That’s the question!
Even il papa is on Napoli’s side.