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Dancing in the rain
Details
Scarlets vs Munster
Stradey Park
Saturday December 8th 2007
Heineken Cup
The Team
Munster: S Payne (P Warwick 82 min); B Carney, R Tipoki, L Mafi, I Dowling; R O’Gara capt, P Stringer; M Horan, J Flannery (F Sheahan 63 min), J Hayes; D O’Callaghan, M O’Driscoll; D Leamy, D Wallace (J Coughlan 82 min), A Foley.
Setting the scene
Its round three of the 07/08 Heineken Cup and Munster continue their march through Europe. A losing bonus point away at the Ricoh Arena against Wasps and try bonus point win at home in a reduced capacity Thomond Park versus Clermont mean that the back to back games against the Scarlets will decide if they continue on to the knock stages once again.
This was a Munster team with virtually an entire Irish pack. Paul O'Connell may have been injured but Mick O'Driscoll was in fantastic form and an able replacement. Tipoki and Mafi formed a centre pairing that was among the best in Europe and with Doug Howlett due to join in January there now appeared to be a vibrant backline to add to the traditional forward power.
The Game
The weather dominated the match. I was at the game myself and the wind and rain really had to be seen to be believed. The ground staff had pumps taking water off the pitch surface just a few hours before kick off. I remember being in the clubhouse bar from early that afternoon as fans and journalists speculated if the game could go ahead.
Munster played with the wind and rain in the first half and built up a lead through 5 penalties from Ronan O'Gara and a try from David "oh my god isn't he just gorgeous" Wallace - see Munster Moments #2 for the footnote on that. Munster led by 22-10 at half time but it could have been closer if it wasn't for Lifeimi Mafi chasing down a Scarlets breakaway that looked like a lost cause and tackling Dwayne Peel just as it looked like he would score.
Around the hour mark the referee, a very young Wayne Barnes, stopped the game for a while and spoke to the captains and came very close to calling it off. Several of the players (mainly backs to fair) looked like they were suffering from hypothermia. I was was extremely lucky to have a ticket far back in the stand and remained bone dry for the 80 minutes. I will always remember looking at 4 Munster fans dressed as Santa's who were the only fans who remained in the uncovered terrace behind the goal line for the game. Those boys took the full brunt of the weather and still cheered, clapped and sung their way through as many pints as they could consume.
Munster would go on to win the game 29-16 but it was the manner in which they did it that stood out.
The Moment
The clock passes 75 minutes and Munster have a penalty in the centre of the pitch half way between their 22 and 10 metre line. Kicking to touch was not an option with that wind. It was doubtful that you could advance the ball up the field and there were also doubts about making the distance to the touchline.
Anthony Foley, one of the greatest rugby brains this provinces and country ever produced, as always leads from the front. He knows whats required to see this out. He taps and goes and is followed into contact by the majority of the Munster pack. There is no fancy 1-3-3-1 forward pod system, there is no quick resets to release the backs. This is war in the trenches with each and every player expected to put their body on the line.
Stringer directs players into position. At times it resembles a committee meeting so that players are aware of their role and whats to come. Drive after drive takes them up towards the half way line. Big carriers like Leamy, Wallace, Foley all running hard, straight and low to the ground. One out passing from Stringer to reduce the risks. The handling is sublime given the conditions.
The Scarlets aware of what is coming continue to encroach offside with Barnes not willing to penalise them. John Hayes guards the ruck, ball and Peter Stringer, like any good farmer would defend his flock. He'd only use the shotgun if he had to.
Munster continue to hold possession but can't seem to move beyond the half way line. The Scarlets fans begin to leave Stradey as they realise the game is beyond them now. After 10 phases Munster are back on their own 10 metre line and after holding onto the ball for over 2 mins have managed to only go forward a few metres. The accuracy and handling required to do that in those conditions is world class.
Forwards and backs are indistinguishable, partly due to the amount of mud that every player is caked in and partly due to the requirements of the style of play. No matter what position you play, the expectation is to get stuck in. Backs are rucking and securing ball as if their lives depended on it. My guess is that some of them got involved merely to stay warm. 17th phase and they still haven't moved past the 10 metre line. You could easily throw a blanket over the team at times they are so close together to make this work.
Suddenly Scarlet's line speed isn't there and Foley takes a pass from Stringer and pops it off to Brian Carney who runs into space and makes 20 metres before anyone can catch him. Munster are up to the Scarlet's 10 metre line and on to the front foot. O'Driscoll, Tipoki, Sheahan and Foley all make heavy carries as Munster seek out the Scarlets 22.
25 phases and The Fields reverberates around the stadium. There is simply nothing that the Scarlet's can do, legally anyway, to stop this. World Rugby will take care of that after Munster win the Heineken Cup final later in the season. The players look out on their feet but continue to maintain unbelievable handling accuracy to keep the move going.
Phase 30 arrives and Munster are still on the Scarlet's 10 metre line. Mafi and Tipoki are playing like backrows. Marshaling every ruck along with John Hayes. Stringer is directing play like a conductor controls an orchestra. Wallace, Foley, O'Driscoll and Leamy carry the ball time after time into a solid wall of Scarlets tacklers.
Eventually on the 33rd phase the ball comes to Leamy on the far touchline. He spots a gap behind the onrushing defensive line and he puts through a fantastic grubber. Brian Carney chases through but its Leamy who gets there first and rag dolls Mark Jones into touch.
Its been over 5 minutes since Munster tapped and went outside their own 22. They fought hard for every carry, to secure every ruck, to go forward every inch. Sky Sports flash up a statistic, second half possession, Scarlets 28% Munster 72%. Thats not the last 5 minutes, thats an entire half. This team played into the most atrocious weather conditions imaginable and they owned that rugby ball. This was a win borne out the muddy fields of junior rugby, AIL battles, of Munster Cup rugby. This was a win that showed the rest of Europe what was to come that season. Even in weather that Moses would refuse to go out in, Munster were willing to take you on toe to toe and meet that fight head on.
The 33 phases
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