RUBGY ANALYST:Munster are winners and sit atop the Magners League but I couldn't help notice as Ulster lost they played, at times, far superior rugby, writes LIAM TOLAND
AFTER SUFFERING heavy losses in the field, General Sir Anthony Cecil Hogmanay Melchett, in an attempt to cheer up the troops, pointed out to the blubbering Lt George a relief model. “Look, this is the amount of land we’ve recaptured since yesterday.” “Oh, excellent,” Lt George replies. Gen Melchett continues by asking his aide-de-camp Captain Darling “what is the actual scale of this map, Darling?” “Erm, one to one sir,” Darling replies. “Come again?” retorts the impatient Gen Melchett, to which Darling replies, “er, the map is actually life-size, Sir. It’s superbly detailed. Look, look, there’s a little worm”. Once again the impatient Melchett seeks clarification: “So the actual amount of land retaken is?”
Captain Darling unravelled his tape measure and confirmed to General Melchett the ground gained was a total “17 square feet, sir”. “Excellent,” exclaims Melchett. “So you see, young Blackadder didn’t die horribly in vain after all.”
After all, it’s just a matter of style; how one gains ground that is. General Melchett has his way and table-toppers Munster have theirs, as do Leinster. Leinster are getting huge plaudits but why so much criticism is being laid at Munster’s door is intriguing as both are winning styles. Connacht have no problem gaining it but can’t quite finish off. Ulster, however, have the most cost effective way of gaining ground. I wonder what Declan Kidney thinks of these varying styles.
The Irish provinces going head to head last weekend give us an early insight into the melting pot available to Kidney. I was in Thomond Park last Saturday and was amazed at the effort it took Munster to gain ground.
Apart from their late excellent scoring flurry, Munster engaged in trench warfare with Ulster and on many occasions gained minimal ground at the expense of exhausting themselves through rucking. In an effort to gain ten metres of Ulster territory they could go through five breakdowns.
Munster are winners and sit atop the Magners League but I couldn’t help notice as Ulster lost they played, at times, far superior rugby, rugby Kidney would be interested in.
Munster are the only team to win 10 Magners League matches thus far, have the best differential, 100 points, and are way out on their own by nine points. Only two other sides have a better points scored, Scarlets Ospreys, and yet they are being criticised.
In mitigation, Munster have been destroyed by key injuries, suspensions and a set-piece that hasn’t brought confidence. Damien Varley has been a revelation but Jerry Flannery possesses the subtleties of rugby through his presence on the ball and in particular his supreme lineout that generates enormous confidence in the set-piece. When he starts anything is possible, especially for Keith Earls.
Ulster, in contrast, have a very discernable style and, like the Australians, one which is very formulaic. Ulster are in many ways following the Leinster light but lack the oomph to maximise their clever backline moves. Outhalf is still a worry, somewhat offset by Paddy Wallace at 10. They do have a very strong scrum and equally good lineout.
They rely heavily on their set-piece moves bringing blindside wingers into play but it’s off second phase they kick into their repetition. From the base scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar will find a fatty to truck it up. From the quick clear out the first receiver (standing at 10) will run a “spot” line and the second receiver (standing at 12, generally Paddy Wallace) will drift away from the ball. The “spot” fixes the fringe defence and the drifting 12 creates a hole between the fringe defence and the first back who has been attracted by the drift. The beauty of the repetition is all the Ulster players know it’s happening and work in tandem. Firstly the blindside winger runs a line into the hole, Wallace can pass if he chooses. Secondly the remaining loosies run at hard angles from inside, further fixing the Munster backline defence.
Several times Ulster elected to go wide into the space and gained huge ground without a glove been laid on them. Contrast that to the trench warfare from Munster. Both gained ground but Ulster did so very quickly with the minimum of effort and five times in a row.
Leinster have had a brilliant few weeks where absences have been well disguised. Up front there is real steel in the belly of the front five. Much will be made of their backrow and, in particular, Seán O’Brien, but Nathan Hines is as important to Leinster as Brad Thorn is to the All Blacks. His hands for David Kearney’s try was pure class. Not many secondrows can be subtle and savage at the same time. Leinster have power all over the pitch, real hunger, run hard lines and decoys, know when to grunt and groan and with Isa Nacewa at 15 have a very potent tin opener. They rarely send an aimless ball carrier into contact. The ball carrier will have countless options.
Munster will argue they hammered Ulster in the end. True, but what of tougher Heineken Cup and Irish hurdles ahead?
Many focus on Munster’s scrum. Munster have never had a world class scrum but they have had a world class lineout and maul, a world class kicking game and, when needed, a world class broken field attack. The scrum is behind where it has been but against Ulster they looked ponderous on the ball.
Munster’s midfield is not working and their rhythm is not affording Earls any space. They could borrow from Ulster’s simple, but effective “spot” play for Earls’s benefit.
Connacht are showing signs of rugby improvement but they are forced once again to rebuild long before the foundations are even in place. However, losing semi-ripe Irish qualified players to their big brothers is a good thing as it confirms their key role in Irish rugby and also gives hope to many tackle-bag holders that moving west is a great option. For those left behind it is a turgid affair but if they could only score when they get their chance those tight games could be won.
All four provinces are gaining ground but, like Gen Melchett, at present Leinster are creating ground when there is none.
