An under pressure Munster team reverted to what they know best to come away with the spoils in a tense and edgy match a Thomond Park. Unfortunately what Munster know best is their systemic cheating at the breakdown which gave them the edge to take this bonus point win.
Now before you all start shouting sour grapes let’s get something clear, their cheating is so good that it is something you have to admire, and you have to admit that Ulster are still lacking the street smarts that Munster have in spades. It is unfortunate, but completely understandable that Ulster got very little joy out of referee Rolland as O’Connell and the Munster pack stood head and shoulders above their Ulster counterparts in their ability to work the Leinster official.
I decided to wait until I watched the replay this morning before I wrote this piece, but as I sat on my sofa sipping my early morning Colombian blend I’m afraid the match unfolded pretty much as I remembered it from the Rosie yesterday evening. I pulled out my notebook and pencil in hand I sat down and noted 22 Munster offences that went unpunished by “the best referee in the world” .
This failure from Rolland allowed Munster to build up pressure to score their tries with Munster players joining rucks from the side, taking players out in front of the ball and diving over the ball all going unpunished but perhaps Rolland’s biggest failure was his inability to referee the scrums.
The Munster front row were stood up and broke their bind so often that at least one of them should have been binned. While this happened all over the park, throughout the match, the most obvious occurrences were just before Munster’s final score when the Ulster front row completely destroyed their opposite numbers twice with no reward. Both penalty offences.
Very disappointing from Rolland as he, correctly, allowed Munster to benefit time and time again from their dominance of the lineouts but singularly failed to take any account of Ulster’s complete and utter dominance of he scrums. It also has to be said a poor showing from Ulster’s on field leaders for not getting this across.
Poor refereeing aside Munster did enough to deserve the win. They certainly wanted it more and as happens with all great sides on the wrong side of their glory days they were able to pull one more big performance out of the bag to put Ulster’s up and coming pretenders to the sword.
Ulster however showed more than enough to confirm that they are the team on the up, but they still have a lot to learn. In the cold light of day they will realise that the lessons handed out by Munster at the lineouts and breakdowns are exactly the lessons that this exciting Ulster side need to learn.
They should also realise that Munster’s commitment and determination to win this one is a huge mark of respect!
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3 Responses to “Munster 24 Ulster 10”
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I called it like that to the Revrent Kimble as the match unfolded. However like yourself Dewi didn’t want to sound disgruntled at the refereeing for risking the sour grapes stuff. You’ve opened the floodgates unfortunately. Quinlan twice handled on the deak and another Munster who is as yet unidentified and Rollaind displayed his customary reluctance to yellow card anyone.
Quinlan again in an offside position holding players back from the ruck safe in the knowledge the good ole days where you got a slap for such nonsense are now history.
Perhpas the most discomfitting of all was Rollaind being persistently ear bashed by Paul O’Connell, with lengthy discussions about the ‘weather’ or after match buffet, I’m sure???
At the end of it all we still could have won if the lineout hadn’t disintregated. Is Caldwell all there? I’m beginning to wonder, I saw it at Edinburgh, where the call was made and Caldwell is pissing about not sure what he is doing. Same again last night when Ulster called a short lineout and he was asked by the ref what he was doing, oh dear you couldn’t make it up!!
On the up side this is a team that is learning and hopefully fast.
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Having watched the match from the magnificent new Stadium that is Thomond Park a ground that has two 10,000 seat stands and not a corporate box in sight, the relief of the home fans was unquestionable. I will not dwell on Mr Rolland as I have been an advocate of non Irish referees for inter pro games for some time but on the hard decisions Brian McLaughlin has to make. Caldwell ………. what can you do with this walking penalty machine? I assume he went to RBAI and was a certain former teachers pet. The lineout was particular disappointment on Saturday and didn’t improve when the hooker was changed so you have to ask what was going on.
Front row – if BJ starts let him finish they are not the same with out him.
Back row – Henry easily the prettiest back row forward we have but does not have the ball handling skills of Robbie Diack at number 8. Ferris – maybe I am being harsh but the phrase “what have you done for me lately” springs to mind.
Wings – though much improved and much hyped Nagusa is very much a one trick pony. Give him time to think at your peril as it usually ends up in disaster. He is a luxury we just can’t afford it is no use if he scores one and lets in two. Danielli must start.
On the plus side even though we lost I would rather be a supporter of the men in white, the men from Munster are clearly at their sell by date. The future’s bright the future’s white!
PS
The biggest surprise was the fickleness of the home support all doom and gloom before the match and only 16,700 turned up. Almost 10,000 down on their previous home match. All is not well in Turnipstan.
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I have to agree that Munster deserved to win the match. They tried hard, pushed every rule well beyond the breaking point and got away with it. A.Rolland was ear bashed by O’Connell most of the match but i dont think i remember Paddy going to him once during the match. Caldwell is still the loose cannon, but Ferris was well below form, Nagusa – was type of tackle was that! needs to show better defence. However on a positive note at the start of the season if someone had of offered 4th place at this point in time – I think a lot of supporters would have taken it. Yes we have some great raw talent that will mature as each game goes by and I think that we have the basis of a great team in the making.
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