RUGBY MAGNERS LEAGUE: Scarlets 20 Munster 22: AFTER BEING ruled out of action with a serious, career-threatening injury for five months which cost you a prized place on the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, the worst nightmare would be to then see your immediate replacement impress. But not for Ireland and Munster star scrumhalf Tomás O'Leary.
The unselfish yet influential Grand Slam winner has toiled through a summer of sweat and pain to make his comeback two months ahead of schedule following a horrific broken ankle back in April.
Although, the 15 minutes of competitive action in the last-gasp win over the Scarlets, will probably never enter his top-10 personal or collective performances and even victories, it may yet be one of O’Leary’s most poignant.
After fighting the biggest battle of his career to date to regain fitness, ousting Kiwi rival Toby Morland and the experienced Peter Stringer, should not prove too big a mountain for O’Leary to overcome.
Morland, signed on a six-month deal from Super 14 outfit The Chiefs in his absence, produced another classy and sharp display by creating Denis Hurley’s first of two tries before pouncing for a second-half score himself to keep the Red Army firmly in the hunt at Parc y Scarlets.
O’Leary will be hoping for a starting spot for Sunday’s clash with Newport Gwent Dragons, but the 25 year-old realises this won’t be easy such is the strength of this Munster squad.
O’Leary said: “I want to be challenging for a starting spot next week but if not, then I want to make an impact off the bench.
“Obviously the Lions players are also returning so there will be stiff competition for places.
“Toby is a great little player and I’m sure the extra competition will bring the best out of the rest of us and make everyone train harder. It’s great.
“We’ve got three top-class scrumhalves with Peter Stringer too but we just have to look at other positions throughout the squad, especially in the pack.
“We’ve three or four players fighting for every position and that’s no different to number nine. This is the strongest Munster squad I’ve been involved in.”
Alone, that comment should send a worrying message of intent around Europe as the reigning Magners League and two-time European champions produce better performances than this in the coming weeks. But the way Munster claimed victory typifies their undoubted desire, determination and unparalleled doggedness.
Tony McGahan witnessed his men self-destruct twice in the opening period in Llanelli, with number eight Denis Leamy and lock Donnacha Ryan sent to the sin-bin for pushing the patience of Irish official Alain Rolland past his limit.
The Scarlets capitalised on the numerical advantage to claim tries through Deacon Manu and captain Mark Jones as the visitors trailed 20-15 with seconds remaining but, courageously, Munster refused to give up.
Wing Hurley burst through for a 83rd minute score and outhalf Jeremy Manning displayed ice-cool composure to sink the match-winning conversion.
The result lifts Munster into fifth place in the table, but for O’Leary, victory was a secondary thought as he reflected on being involved on the field once again.
O’Leary said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be back and it’s a great honour to be playing for Munster again.
“I suppose through any adversity you do come back stronger. Hopefully it has made me a stronger player and person.
“I realise you will get your fair share of injuries through a rugby career. Some players are lucky to go throughout their career without a major injury and some people aren’t. It’s part and parcel of the game.
“The ankle felt good and I wasn’t thinking about it when I was playing – that’s a good sign.
“I’ve waited a long time and worked really hard to come back but I was glad to get through the last 10 or 15 minutes of a game.
“I have been wary about the injury in training over the last few weeks but once you’re on the field, the game takes your mind off it. I put in a few hits and there were no problems.
“Hopefully playing will give me some confidence moving forward. But the most important thing is I am appreciating my rugby more now and I’m determined to succeed in my career.”
SCARLETS:D Evans; S Lamont, G Maule, J Davies, M Jones (capt), R Priestland, M Roberts; I Thomas (P John 55), K Owens, D Manu, L Reed (V Cooper 55), D Day, S Easterby, D Lyons, D Jones (R Pugh 55). Replacements: P John for Thomas, V Cooper for Reed, R Pugh for D Jones (all 55 mins).
MUNSTER: F Jones; D Howlett, B Murphy, L Mafi, D Hurley; J Manning, T Morland; J Brugnaut, D Varley, J Hayes; D Ryan, M O'Driscoll (capt); A Quinlan, D Leamy, N Ronan. Replacements: T O'Donnell for Ronan (40 mins), T Buckley for Brugnaut (47 mins), D Fogarty for Varley (58 mins), T O'Leary for Morland (65 mins), T Gleeson for Murphy (72 mins). Yellow Card: Leamy 10, Ryan 32.
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
