IT’S PROBABLY STRETCHING it to say Munster received something of a reality check in the manner of their St Stephen’s Day defeat to Leinster, but what is for sure is that their provincial rivals have provided a considerable benchmark at this juncture of the season.
Munster failed to turn up for the first 40 minutes on Tuesday and a deeply disappointing performance before the break allowed the visitors gain a stranglehold to eventually inflict a first defeat on Johann van Graan since his arrival last month.
A first loss in six outings doesn’t immediately set the alarm bells ringing, particularly when you consider the back-to-back wins over Leicester Tigers, but both van Graan and Peter O’Mahony are in agreement that they have considerable work to do to catch the standard set by Leinster so far this season.
“Yeah they are,” O’Mahony said, when asked if Leo Cullen’s side are now the team to beat.
“I’m very impressed by them. They’re always a very good side and you know every year it’s difficult. You know it’s always a big game and they’ve proved over the last few weeks how good they are.
“To come out this week and put a performance in like that in the first 40 (minutes) is impressive.
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“Look there’s always something special about derbies and you never want to lose one so yeah it’s difficult.”
Leinster have now won five of the last six meetings between the sides. A Munster man through and through, that hurts O’Mahony.
“The supporters come out and spend a lot of money to see you play and we expect to win,” he added.
“We expect to win every single game we play but to lose at home is disappointing and it’s disappointing in the fashion we showed in the first 40 minutes.”
Van Graan echoed his captain’s assessment of the status quo.
“A year ago when I was in South Africa I watched them play games, week in and week out,” he said of Leinster.
“Quality coaching, such big squad depth, 10 internationals in their forwards alone. A guy like Jordan Larmour the fullback, he really impressed me, he looks like he has been playing for years.
“I’m very impressed by them. I think in this Pro14 they are definitely the side to beat. We said in the changing room we know now where we are, 10 points behind them in this one and we were seven short in the previous game [23-17 defeat at the Aviva Stadium in October].
“We need to adjust. We might see them late in the competition again but we have got a lot of hard work in front of us to get to their level.”
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
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O'Mahony: Leinster are now the team to beat
IT’S PROBABLY STRETCHING it to say Munster received something of a reality check in the manner of their St Stephen’s Day defeat to Leinster, but what is for sure is that their provincial rivals have provided a considerable benchmark at this juncture of the season.
Munster failed to turn up for the first 40 minutes on Tuesday and a deeply disappointing performance before the break allowed the visitors gain a stranglehold to eventually inflict a first defeat on Johann van Graan since his arrival last month.
A first loss in six outings doesn’t immediately set the alarm bells ringing, particularly when you consider the back-to-back wins over Leicester Tigers, but both van Graan and Peter O’Mahony are in agreement that they have considerable work to do to catch the standard set by Leinster so far this season.
“Yeah they are,” O’Mahony said, when asked if Leo Cullen’s side are now the team to beat.
“I’m very impressed by them. They’re always a very good side and you know every year it’s difficult. You know it’s always a big game and they’ve proved over the last few weeks how good they are.
“Look there’s always something special about derbies and you never want to lose one so yeah it’s difficult.”
Leinster have now won five of the last six meetings between the sides. A Munster man through and through, that hurts O’Mahony.
“The supporters come out and spend a lot of money to see you play and we expect to win,” he added.
“We expect to win every single game we play but to lose at home is disappointing and it’s disappointing in the fashion we showed in the first 40 minutes.”
Van Graan echoed his captain’s assessment of the status quo.
“A year ago when I was in South Africa I watched them play games, week in and week out,” he said of Leinster.
“I’m very impressed by them. I think in this Pro14 they are definitely the side to beat. We said in the changing room we know now where we are, 10 points behind them in this one and we were seven short in the previous game [23-17 defeat at the Aviva Stadium in October].
“We need to adjust. We might see them late in the competition again but we have got a lot of hard work in front of us to get to their level.”
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
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Munster Peter O'Mahony The benchmark Work to do