Advertisement

'Everyone has Leinster on that pedestal': Beirne bullish about Munster's chances

Tadhg Beirne helped scupper Munster’s last attempt to win a final, but he is a key man in a Munster side that have come a long way since.

MUNSTER HEAD COACH Johann van Graan didn’t have to add much in the way of hype for tomorrow’s Pro14 final against Leinster (kick-off 5pm, eir Sport). But when he did underline the game’s importance he noted that it was Munster’s first final in four years.

Not many in the southern province carry fond memories of that day, an Aviva Stadium thrashing at the hands of a rampant Scarlets.

Out-halves Tyler Bleyendaal and Ian Keatley are among eight of the matchday squad to  have moved on since, not to mention the head coach of the day Rassie Erasmus.

Among their tormentors in the 22-46 defeat – a scoreline that was even more lob-sided with six minutes to go than it was at full-time – was a man who will be key if they are to succeed in their return to the Pro14 decider.

Tadhg Beirne is in a different shade of red four years later, but he has a familiar scent in his nostrils, a sense that his side is being written off.

tadhg-beirne-celebrates James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

“If I think back, I think the Irish media had written off Scarlets pretty early,” Beirne said after being whisked from training to a press conference this week, “so I think we probably went in with an extra… I dunno, probably a lot of people were not expecting us to win that game back here.

“I’m not too sure where all your heads are at,” he says nodding at a screen full of rugby correspondents, “a lot of you could already be writing us off because everyone has Leinster on that pedestal.

“We are quietly confident in here. We were backing ourselves and we feel like we will be able to get the win on Saturday.”

Beirne has every right to be confident at whatever volume he likes. Even as Ireland lacked consistency as they moved into the second year under a new coach, Beirne was consistently excellent during the Six Nations. He chalks the rich vein down to simply having the chance to settle into a regular rhythm of playing.

“I feel that kind of form has been there for me,” says Beirne.

“When you are playing for Ireland it is going to be noticed a lot more, a lot more people are watching those games. To get a run of five games on the bounce was a massive opportunity for me and I only went out and tried to do what I had been doing for Munster.”

Now it is time for Beirne to bring the same red-hot form back to Munster when they need it most, there certainly isn’t much time for it to cool off.

Coaches routinely bemoan a six-day gap between matches as ‘a short turnaround’, but the incredible scenario that Covid-era rugby scheduling has brought us now is a final seven days after the Six Nations closing day.

tadhg-beirne Beirne at training in Thomond Park this week.

Seven days to change from one team to another, changing coaches, styles and turn team-mates to the most fierce of rivals. Once he gets his head around the system, Beirne has no concern that the nature of competition will allow the rest to fall into place.

“Both sides are going to be in the same boat. That is probably the most challenging thing is to get onto the same page, to where Munster have been working towards. We have been out of that environment for eight weeks now, so that is the biggest difficulty.

“In terms of flicking a switch on the day of a final, it is a final at the end of the day.

We have not won silverware here for 10 years, there’s not going to be a problem flicking a switch. Everyone in here is incredibly competitive and everyone wants to win, so that is definitely not going to be a problem.”

That 10-year wait since last winning a trophy speaks volumes about Munster’s motivation this week. There is little more needed to be said for a team that has so consistently challenged for honours even when they seemed to be punching well above their weight to do so.

Under Van Graan, Steven Larkham and Graham Rowntree, this Munster side are better prepared than most previous iterations. And although Conor Murray and Keith Earls are the sole survivors of the 2011 Celtic League win (also against Leinster, for what it’s worth), those without a professional medal to their name will look to those who have touched winning ribbons after a final to make a difference.

And talents like Beirne, Joey Carbery and Damien De Allende are well capable of being game-changers.

“Some lads have played in a lot of semi-finals and finals and haven’t won anything and then there are a lot of young lads who broke through in the last year or two who haven’t been involved in any of that. 

“It is a fresh game for them, so look, there are all different kinds of motivations there for different people, but everyone knows you don’t get too many opportunities to play in a final. Everyone is going in with the same goal and everyone is going to be going all guns blazing for the big one on Saturday.”

Somewhere in that array of varied motivations must surely be an intent from Beirne to prove more than the media projections wrong. He will walk out at the RDS for tomorrow’s final as a key man in Munster’s weaponry five and a half years after he made his professional debut at the venue for Leinster.

A lot of water has passed under the bridge, a lot of possession has flown through Beirne’s hands since then. Beirne is not the kind of person who feels they must wait until the dust has settled on Sunday morning to consider how far he has come since being released by his native province.

He has made it via the road less travelled by living moment to moment and proving his talent over and over again.

“I suppose when you do sit down and think about it, it has been a hell of a journey.

“I’m certainly enjoying it. There has obviously been a lot of ups and downs you know. This time last year I was trying to get back from an injury and if you told me I would be in this position a year ago I certainly wouldn’t have thought it.

“You have got to appreciate these moments as well and that’s something I’m certainly doing and am trying to enjoy my rugby a lot more as well at the moment.”


The42 Rugby Weekly / SoundCloud

Murray Kinsella, Bernard Jackman and Gavan Casey field listeners’ questions about Ireland’s victory over England before turning their attention to the club game, and Super Rugby in the Pacific Islands, prospective law trials up north and, of course, this weekend’s Pro14 final between old rivals.

Close
16 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Meatloaf
    Favourite Meatloaf
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2021, 2:56 PM

    Sheer boredom must have got him

    231
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Frainc Ó Broin
    Favourite Frainc Ó Broin
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2021, 3:13 PM

    @Meatloaf: he didn’t start once this year, he was just getting a sub appearance at the end of most championship matches. May have been frustrated with that.

    101
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Meatloaf
    Favourite Meatloaf
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2021, 3:21 PM

    @Frainc Ó Broin: yeah bad enough having to play could you imagine being forced to sit there an watch most of them!

    55
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Frainc Ó Broin
    Favourite Frainc Ó Broin
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2021, 3:27 PM

    @Meatloaf: you aren’t from Dublin and don’t remember the feeling of winning, it’s not something that gets boring. Worth noting mannion probably has studies to complete and the lad has given his all for so many years so deserves a break

    77
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute my name
    Favourite my name
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2021, 3:20 PM

    Unreal work rate and and ability to kick scores from any where. He’ll be missed for sure, thanks for your service Paul. Up the Dubs

    175
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerard Smith
    Favourite Gerard Smith
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2021, 3:56 PM

    @my name: point taking is fabulous. Dependable from anywhere. A real loss to the team

    69
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute my name
    Favourite my name
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2021, 4:06 PM

    @Gerard Smith: I should have mentioned he kicks off either foot too. Massive loss

    56
    See 4 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Finnster
    Favourite Finnster
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2021, 4:13 PM

    @my name: they are dropping like flies but the lads that are replacing them are just as good . Any chance they would take a year out and let Galway one of the traditional top four football teams in history win another one ; )))

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute my name
    Favourite my name
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2021, 4:23 PM

    @Finnster: part of me would like that as Galway really are the only side capable of taking Sam across the Shannon pal. But nah. We want more titles

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Gorman
    Favourite James Gorman
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2021, 9:20 PM

    @my name: just not unreal eneough to make the starting 15 now – hence his sensible decision not to give over his life to warm the bench. Dublin have the pick of a province. Ten more lads to fill his boots.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute my name
    Favourite my name
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2021, 9:59 PM

    @James Gorman: unreal enough to get 3 All Stars in a row James

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Looney Tunes
    Favourite Looney Tunes
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2021, 3:01 PM

    Players have no interest as its too much commitment & 1 way traffic for the Dubs, no competition & the Dubs are expected to win sam every year now, monotonous every year, ps good luck Paul, a fabulous player

    101
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seán Óg
    Favourite Seán Óg
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2021, 3:21 PM

    @Looney Tunes: Monotonous winning? That’s loser talk right there. You’re not from Mayo by any chance?

    100
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Togs
    Favourite Togs
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2021, 3:24 PM

    @Looney Tunes: you lost me when you said the players have no interest. That’s complete and utter malarkey. You must now spend a few hours looking for the 5 lamps as a penance..

    68
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Looney Tunes
    Favourite Looney Tunes
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2021, 4:02 PM

    @Seán Óg: it’s too easy Sean

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas O' Donnell
    Favourite Thomas O' Donnell
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2021, 7:41 PM

    @Togs: Why are they leaving early so?

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Togs
    Favourite Togs
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2021, 10:51 PM

    @Thomas O’ Donnell: ehh.. Not cuz it’s boring anyway fjs..

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pauliebhoy
    Favourite Pauliebhoy
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2021, 3:15 PM

    Apparently taking time off to complete his Masters

    88
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute GrumpyAulFella
    Favourite GrumpyAulFella
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2021, 5:31 PM

    Great, great player with a sweet left foot. Good luck with the studies Paul and hope to see you back in blue in 22.

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian James Moss
    Favourite Brian James Moss
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2021, 3:08 PM

    Offaly for Sam!!

    46
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eddie Walsh
    Favourite Eddie Walsh
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2021, 4:18 PM

    I think it’s very worrying that we are losing such Brilliant players from our game
    In any other Sport this would not happen
    Time for a rethink.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute JG
    Favourite JG
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2021, 4:25 PM

    @Eddie Walsh: rethink of what exactly. Paddy A and MD are at retiring age and Mannion will be back. Don’t exaggerate the extent. Lads retire every year from every sport.

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute my name
    Favourite my name
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2021, 4:25 PM

    @Eddie Walsh: players have careers to think of in Gaelic games though Eddie. Mannion already has to take a year out to got to China as part of his studies

    20
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Moya Power-kelly
    Favourite Moya Power-kelly
    Report
    Jan 23rd 2021, 11:24 AM

    @Eddie Walsh: Paul’s taking a year out to consatrete on his master’s which he’s obviously decided he can’t do both he hasn’t actually come out and said he’s retiring from inter county football

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen Mc Dermott
    Favourite Stephen Mc Dermott
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2021, 4:22 PM

    The weekly eulogy to retiring Dublin players is now as boring as the sport itself.

    Correct that, its sickening.

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel