THE LOSS of Tomás O’Leary to injury actually makes Munster more like the team everyone has grown accustomed to this past decade. O’Leary brought an untapped physicality to the scrumhalf role both in attack and defence this season, as opposed to the lightning service that has become Peter Stringer’s signature.
Providing Michael Cheika doesn’t gamble and select (the albeit in-form) Jonathan Sexton at outhalf, the Munster and Leinster halfbacks have radically contrasting styles.
“They are two extremely different halfback units,” said former Irish number 10 Ollie Campbell. “Ronan O’Gara is the consummate team player while Felipe Contepomi, like his idol Diego Maradona, is more about individualistic flair.”
Stringer’s service is always snappy and predictable but Chris Whitaker’s actions this season, his last for Leinster before returning to Australia, have been laboured and predictable. Whitaker nearly always takes several steps away from the breakdown to fix the defensive cover close in and, in turn, provide scope for his outhalf to unleash the three- quarters.
The only problem is Whitaker (34) rarely tests defenders anymore, releasing after three or four steps, when not collared, allowing the backrow to drift on to the second receiver. Such actions are partially responsible for the malfunctioning Leinster “galacticos” this season.
That said, Whitaker has remained a team leader and utterly brave in defensive duties but the same can be said of Stringer.
“When analysing the halfbacks the bigger picture must also be examined,” notes Campbell. “Munster’s insatiable desire to keep winning is best exemplified by their dominant pack, while Leinster have struggled to find consistent form this season with certain games, like Wasps at home, being one-off big performances. So while Tony McGahan has added a new dimension to Munster back play, the Leinster backs seem to be low on confidence.”
None more so than Contepomi. Initially deployed in his more comfortable inside centre station, the Argentine was shifted back to 10 after Cheika abandoned the use of Sexton and then Isa Nacewa at pivot.
In this season’s Magners League meetings with Munster, just like the 2006 semi-final, Contepomi’s disastrous kicking displays denied Leinster any sort of platform against the European champions.
Denis Leamy and Donncha O’Callaghan seem to have found a way inside the head of the doctor.
“One of his best ever performances for Leinster was that New Year’s victory over Munster when he scored two tries,” said Campbell. “I don’t think there are demons in Felipe’s head when it comes to Munster.
“The problem is not Felipe. The problem is if you sit down today the Munster XV is easy to pick but the best Leinster line-up remains unclear. That includes the halfbacks, particularly outhalf. Felipe is probably best suited to 12 and Sexton played very well last week when coming on.
“If the Munster machine gets up and running it will have a huge impact on how the game will pan out but rugby, like all sports, is littered with outsiders rising to the occasion. If Leinster get a good start I can see something like what France did to the All Blacks at the Millennium Stadium in the World Cup quarter-final occurring. . . . It was just on the day.”
A Felipe day but maybe an O’Gara day.
– Gavin Cummiskey
