Munster March On
Munster are now on a 7 match unbeaten run since the untimely death of head coach Anthony Foley back in October and it has been refreshing to watch Munster improve week on week and are now two from two in Europe with their refixed match with Racing 92 set for January 7th and now there match up with Edinburgh is set for February 3rd.
Munster have been on the rise since that time and are now top of the Pro 12 and top of Pool 1 in The Champions Cup. They have returned to playing with the type of fire and passion that seemed to have disappeared for a few seasons. They are now playing with a focus and are water tight in defence which saw Leicester Tigers held scoreless last Saturday afternoon. Since the Leinster defeat in the Aviva Stadium in late September Munster have found a way to beat teams and it has been great to watch.
They are also very grounded , not one player is getting carried away with what’s gone on and supporters are beginning to return to Cork and Limerick in the droves and the old feeling of we will take on and beat all comers has returned. They are playing a very South African style with a cleaver kicking game mixed with hard carrying forwards and a miserly defence that gives away very little penalties and doesn’t give away cheap points.
There is still plenty to work on but what has been seen over the past few weeks has gone beyond the mantra of “Do It For Axel “It is now, go and do it for yourself and to hell with the rest. Rassie Erasmus and his coaches have done a terrific job in the last two months to help control the players emotions and just keep them focused on each job and game and this way of doing things has served them well.
They were ruthless against Leicester and previously against Glasgow they showed how to win ugly , both ways of winning had been missing in recent years but have returned in the last few weeks. The upturn in fortunes has seen the crowds come flooding back and Thomond Park and Irish Independent Park have been full to bursting on each occasion they have been used.
The chip on the shoulder is back and the next major test of this new found confidence will be this Saturday at 3.15 with the return leg against Leicester Tigers in Welford Road where Richard Cockerill and his squad will be hell bent on atoning for being niled last weekend. They like Munster are a proud bunch and Rassie Erasmus will need all his experience to try and help his squad leave Welford Road with a win next weekend. If they manage to do just that they will set themselves up really well for three tough games in January.
For Munster all is going well now and there big job will be to keep this momentum going because they know what’s its like to be on the other side and they have worked so hard to set themselves up in this strong position not to let all that good work go up in smoke.
Time is now for Munster to strike a real blow and really serve notice to the rest of Europe that they are back and are not going away that easy this time…….
By
Cian Mc Gibney
13/12/2016
