RUGBY MAGNERS LEAGUE: Munster 25 Connacht 10IT'S A shame that an interprovincial derby becomes a lull in a season of continuing highs. The Munster second string – besides three exceptions in Denis Leamy, Paul Warwick and Keith Earls – lacked accuracy and, late on, intent from the coaching staff to secure a bonus point.
On 77 minutes Leamy made the universal hand signal to be replaced after damaging his already-heavily strapped right knee. David Wallace was listed as the backrow replacement but Munster coach Tony McGahan opted to play out the remaining moments with a seven-man pack. It seemed to cost them a bonus point.
They were not overly concerned. Nor will they be by the malfunctioning lineout (coughing up seven of their own throws) as three men expected to be named in tomorrow’s Lions squad were rested. The frontline are expected back against Llanneli Scarlets next week. “I don’t think it would be plausible to go into a massive game in two weeks’ time without having played football for a couple of weeks,” said assistant coach Lawrie Fisher.
“I don’t think that is the best preparation so at some point in time we’ve got to take a risk.”
Munster’s fine state of affairs was merely highlighted by these deficiencies as they dismissed a full-strength Connacht without ever really looking troubled with Paul Warwick impressing at outhalf. “Our target would be the Dragons,” explained Michael Bradley afterwards. “We are playing them next. Then we have Ulster and Glasgow. The big match for us, if we get the win against the Dragons, is Ulster at home.”
Connacht continue to chase a Heineken Cup play-off against Italian opposition but they are not equipped for entry into Europe’s top tier. The recent 42-13 defeat to Northampton in Franklin’s Garden proved that.
The IRFU created this handicapped professional set-up. The attitude in Connacht is excellent, but financial assistance for recruitment and a constant supply of developing players from other provinces is simply not evident.
The introduction of the Anglo-Welsh-Irish A League from next season, just like it will land a potentially fatal body blow to the All-Ireland League, should ensure the flow of talent out west from Munster and Leinster will diminish further. Why let players like Ian Keatley or Seán Cronin go to Galway when they will be getting regular games at A-level in Dublin and Limerick? The IRFU attempted to disband Connacht in 2003. They may succeed seven years later.
Saturday night’s experience was some way short of what people have become accustomed to at the marvellously redeveloped Thomond Park. The familiar roar did reverberate for tries from a reinvigorated Barry Murphy, Doug Howlett and Freddie Pucciariello but for the opening half-hour Connacht’s resistance ensured a frustrated crowd increasingly vented their anger toward referee James Jones.
Then the Welshman made two decisions that put Munster out of sight. The match had been evenly poised at three-all after Paul Warwick and Ian Keatley swapped penalties, but Jones adjudged Cronin had stalled his throw at a lineout and awarded a Munster free-kick on the Connacht 22. It seemed a harsh call, partly influenced by the screaming red jerseys in the stands and on the field.
Munster immediately attacked right before coming back left where a Warwick cut-out pass exposed Fionn Carr’s impetuousness and allowed Murphy to gallop clear. Moments later Warwick made it 13-3 with his second penalty after Connacht captain John Muldoon was pinged for not rolling away at the breakdown. It seemed an unnecessary penalty as the ball was available.
Three more minutes passed before the contest was dead. This time centre Niva Ta’auso was guilty of rushing out of the defensive line to allow Warwick put Murphy in space again. After slipping out of Gavin Duffy’s ankle grip, the centre sent Doug Howlett racing into the corner.
A fine Duffy tackle denied Niall Ronan a third Munster try just before the break but at 20-3 the most marginal of calls seemed to sink any chance of repeating the Sportsground victory from last December.
They did give themselves a lifeline early in the second-half when a Carr try and Keatley conversion made it a two-score contest.
“In the second-half Ian Keatley put in a magnificent kick into the corner and we had a very, very poor and slow line chase on that quick throw-in and Munster ended up scoring from that movement. You can’t afford to do that against quality opposition and we did that today,” said Bradley, referring to excellent continuity from Howlett, Murphy and the increasingly important Earls down the right wing that led to Pucciariello squeezing under a mass of bodies for the third touchdown.
The Magners League adopts a play-off system from next season but with three rounds remaining the trophy seems certain to make the trip from Dublin to Limerick.
MUNSTER: D Hurley; D Howlett, B Murphy, K Earls, I Dowling; P Warwick, P Stringer; F Pucciariello, D Fogarty, T Buckley; M O'Driscoll (capt), D Ryan; N Williams, N Ronan, D Leamy. Replacements: L Mafi for D Hurley (63 mins), B Holland for N Williams (68 mins), M Essex for D Fogarty (76 mins). Denis Leamy (77 mins) no replacement.
CONNACHT: G Duffy; F Carr, N Ta'auso, T Nathan, L Bibo; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, R Loughney; A Browne, A Farley; J Muldoon (capt), J O'Connor, C Rigney. Replacements: D Gannon for C Rigney, M Deane for T Nathan (both half-time), M Swift for A Browne (54 mins), A Flavin for S Cronin (54 mins), B McGovern for R Loughney (60 mins), C O'Loughlin for F Murphy (73 mins), R Lougney for B Wilkinson (75 mins).
Referee: J Jones (WRU).
