Scrapped but still scrapping

Rugby Celtic League countdownJust when it was getting interesting they go and scrap it. No fixture in the now defunct interprovincial championship caught the imagination quite like the meetings of Munster and Leinster. Suppliers in chief to Team Ireland in recent times, it was the internecine needle which gave it its appeal.

Alas, they have now become an inevitable victim of the Celtic League's expansion and the increased intensity of the rugby calendar, although one suspects the powers that be have a marked reluctance to let Leinster's and Munster's heavyweights trade blows. Lest someone get hurt.

Consecutive "interpro" weekends in the Celtic League, highlighted by another televised collision between Leinster and Munster at Donnybrook tomorrow, are a reminder of the interpros' good old days.

Ulster's eight successive titles had come to an end after the 1992-93 season, and the advent of the Exiles had briefly livened up the competition in the mid-90s. By the time their four-year stay had ended in 1996, Leinster and Munster (whose AIL-conquering clubs provided a winning base) had re-emerged as the dominant forces of the interpro scene, claiming the last eight campaigns - until it was scrapped two seasons ago.

Leinster's win in Thomond Park in 1995 was the platform for a first interprovincial title in the decade. Munster would subsequently win 18 competitive matches at their Limerick citadel and remain unbeaten there until a weakened side surrendered their proud record to Llanelli last season. Oddly though, in part because Munster's carve-up of matches sees European games played in Limerick, Leinster have not been back since and this season's return fixture on January 2nd is again in Musgrave Park.

Conversely, Donnybrook is a profitable venue for Munster and in a notably high-scoring 1996 championship, Munster won a thriller there by 45-40. "A year later Munster beat Leinster 15-12, by five penalties to four, in my first season with Munster, so that was my contribution," jokes coach Declan Kidney, now of course in charge of Leinster.

What really saw the interpros take off was the belated introduction of a home-and-away, six-game series for three years from 1998-99. Kidney still compares it to a Heineken European Cup pool. "The quality was every bit as high, if not higher, given the added intensity of local rivalries."

Not that the rivalry always generated such interest, however. Leinster won at Dooradoyle - the first ever evening fixture between the two - with scarcely two men and a dog in attendance. "I doubt there were two men there, two dogs maybe," says Kidney.

Had it been a three-game series, Munster would have finished bottom, but they won all three return fixtures, clinching the title at a packed Donnybrook, arguably the first outing of the travelling Red Army.

"They were shorter distances to travel than in the Heineken Cup and in a six-game interpro it meant you weren't out of contention after one defeat. In the three years of the home-and-away format that was a real competition."

Munster needed no second chances in 1999-2000. Keith Wood made a prodigal return and they scored 30 tries in completing a clean sweep, taking 24 points out of a possible 26, going on to reach the Heineken Cup final at Twickenham.

Further heartbreak awaited Munster in the inaugural Celtic League decider at Lansdowne Road the following season, against Leinster. "The atmosphere for that Celtic League final was brilliant," admits Kidney. "Huge hype, huge atmosphere, and huge disappointment."

Another utterly forgettable, tetchy, six-all draw followed in Musgrave Park in April, and the Lansdowne Road decider remains Leinster's only win over Munster in their last nine meetings as Kidney was wont to remind his new players - with mock indignation - during the week.

Kidney also admits that Leinster had become Munster's most prized scalp, and vice-versa. "It was a great rivalry, like all local rivalries, and there were some great matches and occasions."

Now he's on the other side of the fence, they're no less intrigue, and aside from bragging rights, the eight-point swing from each of the province's clashes could be critical in earning a relatively manageable Heineken Cup pool draw, or a proverbial group of death.

Hence, there may be a revival on the way and come January 2nd, when both provinces will be eager to have their frontliners on board a week before the Heineken Cup resumes, there mightn't be too much festive cheer in the air.

But now that they meet each other home and away every season anyway, and their final League ranking will determine their seeding in the Heineken Cup, why not have them double up as interpros? An annual trophy presentation - with nothing else tangible to play for - may not amount to a can of beans in the modern calendar, but it couldn't do any harm. Why throw away over half a century's history?

LEINSTER v MUNSTERS ix of the best

1995/96 - December 16th, Thomond Park: Munster 15 Leinster 19.

Despite two tries by Richard Wallace, a try by Alain Rolland and the accurate boot of Alan McGowan helped steer Leinster to the third leg of a four-match clean sweep and 10-match winning run which took them to the semi-finals of the inaugural European Cup.

1996/97 - September 28th, Donnybrook: Leinster 40 Munster 45.

This classic in a notably high-scoring campaign remains the highest aggregate score in the history of the interpros. Leinster outscored Munster by five tries to three but the unerring kicking of Brian Begley and then Mick Lynch, and a typically opportunist try by Eddie Halvey earned Munster a dramatic late win.

1998-99 - October 23rd, Donnybrook: Leinster 10 Munster 25.

The night this rivalry really caught on. A huge crowd descended on Donnybrook for a championship decider in the first year of its six-match series. Munster had been bottom at the half-way point but they gave Barry Everitt a torrid night, and Ronan O'Gara steered them to a third successive win and the title.

1999-2000 - Nov 3rd, Donnybrook: Leinster 13 Munster 30.

Munster's domestic zenith under Kidney. The Quinlan-Foley-Wallace backrow kept them permanently on the front foot and the game was as good as up in the 13th minute when Keith Wood - in a virtuoso performance - took Ronan O'Gara's one-handed pass, broke through and sidestepped Gordon D'Arcy. By the last quarter they were in Hamlet mode.

2000-01 - Nov 3rd, Donnybrook: Leinster 16 Munster 16.

With an historic third successive title in safe-keeping, Munster were denied a record-equalling 15th consecutive interpro win. The force was with Leinster, but Eddie Hekenui couldn't close the game out, the introduction of Peter Stringer and Jason Holland turned the game, and Munster settled for an equalising 80th minute penalty by Killian Keane.

2001-02 - Dec 15th, Lansdowne Road: Leinster 24 Munster 20.

Almost 30,000 attended the inaugural Celtic League final. Munster, missing Peter Stringer, John Hayes and David Wallace, also lost Rob Henderson and after Eric Miller's 26th minute dismissal, Leinster overturned a 15-6 deficit when Horgan, Hickie, Gleeson, D'Arcy, O'Driscoll and co memorably cut loose.