Textbook Munster
Gloucester 3 Munster 16
THIS was a performance of champions by Munster and for their fantastic supporters a victory to relish.
For Declan Kidney it was a another public posting of an impressive cv with his tactics, selection and courage to make immediate change unlikely to go unnoticed on the residents of 64 Lansdowne Road.
It was an evening of drama at this wonderful venue where old-fashioned rugby continues to take precedence over blaring public address music, fireworks and other razzamatazz that diminishes the true value of the game at other venues.
Even the loss of Marcus Horan through a back spasm in the warm-up did not upset the Munster game-plan. Led by the magnificent Paul O'Connell whose organisational skills on the field were crucial, mostly in the opening half hour, Munster's defence was truly superb and you could have chosen any from 15 in the blue shirt for the man of the match award.
Declan Kidney was vindicated in his selections almost from the kick-off with Denis Hurley and Tomas O'Leary justifying their inclusions.
It was a tense opening but thanks to outstanding defence and two missed penalty chances from the boot of Chris Paterson, the home side had nothing to show for their temporary domination.
The Scottish international certainly left his kicking boots somewhere other than Kingsholm, missing one in front of the posts in the first minute and from exactly the same position seven minutes later.
In between Munster defended with discipline and in textbook fashion putting in a series of massive tackles and using the boot of O'Gara and O'Leary to lift intensive sieges close to their line.
The frustration began to show on Gloucester and referee Nigel Owen had to talk to home winger Vainikolo after a bit of handbag stuff with Rua Tipiko.
Hurley was displaying hands of gold from the testing high kicks from Lamb and as the game progressed Munster became more settled. Carlos Nieto was shown yellow on 15 minutes for killing the ball in a promising Munster ruck and Ronan O'Gara hammered the kick between the posts to give his side a confidence boosting three point lead with 15 minutes gone.
It was Munster's first visit to the Gloucester red zone and they came away with a big psychological boost.
Denis Hurley again dealt with the restart but when Wallace mis-read a Flannery throw the initiative was back with the home side. They attacked through the hands to force a third kickable penalty only for Paterson to once again muff the opportunity.
At that stage Munster fans were beginning to breathe more easily but there was a period to come that would seriously test the full character of their side. Tony Buckley, who was having a big game in the loose, was called ashore after the Munster scrum was dismantled by the Gloucester eight in a five metre scrum.
They opted for another set-piece instead of a guaranteed three points from a penalty and Kidney had seen enough with Pucciariello sprung from the bench to replace 'Mushy.' The next scrum still shuddered a bit but that was as close as the 'cherry reds' got to a pushover try. 'Freddie,' more familiar with the loose head role, was getting in under Carlos Nieto and the Munster scrum held solid for the rest of the game.
It was an instant and crucial decision by the Munster coach but the loss of Horan was obvious early on.
Even when Leamy knocked-on a few phases later to give Gloucester another five metre put-in, the Munster eight was solid, Quinnie forced the turnover and O'Leary booted clear to halfway. The Dolphin man was having the proverbial blinder.
A Quinlan turnover set up a Munster attack that saw Denis Hurley go over only to be whistled back for an earlier crossing offence but the visitors were not be denied. They played advantage after being awarded a kickable penalty with Mafi, O'Connell and Wallace making big yards. The ball was spread right and Howlett threw an overhead pass to Ian Dowling who had his arm raised in triumph before he touched down. O'Gara's conversion from the sideline went an inch wide of the near upright.
That 8-0 interval lead was comfortable but not enough for early celebration. It was Munster who put in the early pressure after the break and when Hurley and O'Connell combined to force a penalty on 51 minutes, O'Gara stretched the lead to 11-0.
The Munster out-half then made a rare mistake by kicking dead and this set up an anxious period for the Irish side. Gloucester were aware that they needed a score to keep in touch but the Munster defence was superb with Howlett fielding a Lamb crosskick seeking out Vainikolo and O'Connell stealing a Gloucester attacking lineout.
Again Gloucester attacked but Munster held out again. Simpson Daniel went close and Ian Dowling put in a massive saving tackle on substitute Willie Walker with John Hayes swallowing up the support. The Munster fans behind the East Stand goal went wild, waved their flags and scarves and the cheers of Munster, Munster, Munster sent the shivers up the spine.
This was a very special period of the game and the team responded.
Denis Hurley came into the line, got clear and kicked deep. He was blatantly tripped as he chased the kick but referee Owens allowed play to go on. Howlett read the situation and with his black fuzzy hair blowing in the breeze, he won the race for the touchdown.
O'Gara missed the chance of an extra brace of points but it mattered little. Munster were not going to throw away a 16-0 lead in this competition.
When Gloucester opted to kick a three pointer with ten minutes remaining it was an admission of failure and a sign of resignation. There was to be no breach of the Munster line on this visit to the West Country.
As the rain and sleet tumbled down, Foley was thrown on for Leamy and the rest of this fixture was played out in Shannon fashion. Slow it down, hide the ball up the jumper and play down the clock. It was all over apart from two late incidents. Howlett went close to a second try and Dave Wallace suffered a clash of heads as he forged forward for the umpteenth time in this memorable encounter.
The curse of Kingsholm was eventually put to rest and it is going to take a special team now to deprive Munster of their second Heineken Cup.
Saracens are up next but on this form Kidney's boys look must be favoured to spoil Alan Gaffney's big day,
Munster: Denis Hurley; Doug Howlett, Rua Tipoki, Lifefi Mafi, Ian Dowling; Ronan O'Gara, Tomas O'Leary; Tony Buckley (Federico Pucciariello 33, Buckley 70), Jerry Flannery, John Hayes; Donnacha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell; Alan Quinlan, David Wallace (Mick O'Driscoll 85), Denis Leamy (Anthony Foley 75).
Gloucester: Olly Morgan; Chis Paterson (Willie Walker 59), James Simpson-Daniel, Anthony Allen (Mike Tindall 39), Lesley Vainicolo; Ryan Lamb, Rory Lawson (Gareth Cooper 64); Nick Wood (A Dickinson 64), Andy Titterall, Carlos Nieto; Marco Bortolami (Will James 54), Alex Brown, Peter Buxton (Gareth Delve 38,50), Andy Hazell, Luke Narraway.
Referee, Nigel Owens, Wales.
Sin-bin: Carlos Nieto, Gloucester
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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