Staunton ready to take on the Tigers

All he ever needed was some rugby. The talent was always there, but despite being shunted around between three positions, the opportunities rarely were.

Now at last Jeremy Staunton has had an extended run in the team, the self-imposed pressure to perform has been eased, and an innate talent is finally flourishing.

"Five games in a row," that's been his mantra, that's been his goal. Ironically though, it was after his first run of five games in the Celtic League that his and Munster's season was first derailed away to Gloucester.

"That was probably a disaster for me, and for the whole lot of us, but it was a kick up the backside. I put an awful lot of pressure on myself that day. I felt as if I was still on trial, that I had to do something, instead of just doing good at what I'm good at. Be natural."

Worse, on the face of it, followed when Staunton was injured for six weeks, but it was during the autumn internationals and it allowed him the chance to take stock, first of all, of that Gloucester game.

"I was so nervous, Dominic (Crotty) was there and the jersey was still up for grabs, but I was thinking about things that I couldn't control instead of just thinking about my own game. I was so indecisive. Those six weeks off were probably a blessing when I look back. I play well when I'm natural and relaxed, as opposed to that day."

Back-to-back games against Viadana were an ideal means of kick-starting his season again. He had the opportunity to run plenty of ball, though Staunton learned as much from the Celtic League semi-final beating of Ulster as any other game.

"I didn't have to do anything special, all I had to do was do the basics. I caught a few balls, made a few kicks and that was it. The only thing that was missing was getting my hands on the ball a lot more, but I wasn't panicking at this stage."

Staunton admits he was "a bit all over the shop" and playing an outhalf's game at full back. "Mind the house first," he kept telling himself, "and as Alan Gaffney would keep telling me then you can get more involved."

Worse and better followed against Perpignan. Munster suffered a harrowing defeat but Staunton went in to that game far more relaxed and reckons that, personally, "I had my best game at 15 in two years. I caught a lot of high balls, got more involved and I was kind of an option in the back-line as well. So, although we lost, I was satisfied with the way I played and the way I was progressing. That was the big thing."

After the Miracle Match, aka the 33-6 win over Gloucester, came the Celtic League final triumph over Neath. By then he'd had his five games in a row. "That was the first time I really enjoyed a game at 15. The minute I walked onto the pitch I just felt comfortable with myself, and that was the biggest thing. I got the first high ball, made a few breaks, and the second half was so enjoyable."

He will forever remain an outhalf in full back clothing, and has had to curb a naturally free spirit. But if someone were to tell him he'd still be at full back in five years, then so be it. "As long as I'm playing, that's the big thing. People say you gotta practise your kicking, you gotta practise your tackling. There's nothing like matches. You've got to play, the intensity, the build-up, the whole thing. You've got to play."

And they don't come bigger than facing up to the two-time reigning European champions in the Tigers' lair. "Leicester won't lie down. They're not like a French side when they're beaten. The final last year was fairly even-steven, but they just showed their experience to win tight encounters in the final minutes. You've just got to take them on. That's the bottom line."