In their hour of need last Friday, there's no doubting that Munster's Cork-based support in Musgrave Park delivered, and in spades. Whisper it quietly, and perhaps leave the car engine running, but would Thomond Park have done so?
On a superb playing surface, the 8,200 capacity attendance underlined the old maxim that a home side is better off with a smaller, packed ground than a half-empty bigger one.
Therein lies the rub, of course, for now it is over to Thomond Park and Limerick this Saturday, with Munster still in need of one win to secure their place in next season's European Champions Cup. Even if last Friday's attendance is swelled by 50 per cent, it would still be less than half-full.
That it was only Munster’s second game at Musgrave Park since October, and fourth of the season, perhaps contributed to the palpable enthusiasm within the ground last Friday, but either way the management and players were talking afterwards about how many points it was worth to them.
Under pressure
“I thought the crowd in Cork last weekend were excellent,” said
Foley
. “At 20-19, 20-16, the boys were under pressure out on the pitch and I thought they rowed in behind them really well. When the maul started to get going it really lifted the dander of the place and even though it was 20-19 we were camped on their line and there was only one team going to win the game.”
Munster have won three of four games in their revamped Cork home this season, while in nine competitive games at Thomond Park they have won six and lost three – but they were three high-profile games against Leicester in the Champions Cup along with Connacht and Leinster in the league.
That hoary old chestnut about Munster’s Limerick citadel losing some of its old intimidatory factor has reared its head again. When asked about this yesterday, Foley reasoned: “I think in the past, it’s like when you go to any ground. When we used to go to Stradey, you got there out of the shed, you wouldn’t get the greatest changing room in the world. The Gnoll was the same. It [changing room] would barely fit 14 players, never mind 23.”
“When you get to the grounds now a lot of the modern stadiums have comforts and everyone is fresh and keen, and they come here and look around, and everybody wants to play rugby in an atmosphere and a stadium like this. It’s about the people coming on Saturday and making sure that their voices are heard.
“I think that’s what we had in Cork. Rather than watch the game they participated in the game. They got into the mood of the game and they understood the consequences of winning and losing. I think if we can get that here on Saturday that’s what we’re after.
“To me, the volume, our supporter in the ground, isn’t really the point. It’s the volume that comes out of that supporter for us, as part of the team, is the more important thing.”
Best support
When it was put to him that there was an argument for playing more games in Cork each season, no doubt realising he was tip-toeing on eggshells, Foley said: “Look, we’ll play games where they’re put. It’s not my decision, to be honest with you. Like when I was involved in the [Munster] As we played in Nenagh, we played in Waterford, it’s where we can get the best support.
“I’m all on for the team being the best supported because when you get home advantage you need home advantage.
“I guarantee you that when we were over in Parc Y Scarlets it was a kick in the 80th minute that won the game for them. So there is a bit of pressure that can be put upon referees and that can come from the terraces.”
No less than Musgrave Park, at least the comparatively overused pitch in Thomond Park looks to be in pristine condition at the end of what Foley said is their 45th week of what has been an unrelentingly tough season.
“I’m not sure how the Premiership are doing it at the moment the way they have to go through their season, it’s hard on the body but it’s very hard on the minds as well and a lot of what you need to do is keep the top few inches fresh.”
Alas, either way, it will be Munster’s last game of the season and thus Foley’s last of his two seasons as the de facto head coach given the arrival of Rassie Erasmus from next season. No part of Foley wants the season to be ending, as he sees it, prematurely, or perhaps, one ventures, his time as the boss.
Aside from anything, he and his staff will be helping some players prepare for the senior summer tour and the Under-20 World Cup (to which end Bill Johnston returned to training this week) and other convalescing players with their summer and pre-season schedules.
“I’m never glad,” said Foley, in relation to Munster’s season ending without a shot at silverware. “Never glad. I want to fight to the end. I want to be in every competition and try and win as many trophies as possible. That’s the way I’ve been reared.”
