MUNSTER’S COACHING STAFF have their own unique index of what goes into winning a rugby match, and last weekend’s performance against Sale broke the mould for the wrong reasons.
Possession, territory, individual stats, video and much more evidence on a wide range of aspects feed into Munster’s analysis of their performances, as well as their forecasts of what they need to do to be successful in the future.
The performance at the AJ Bell Stadium last Saturday fell short of where Foley and his staff believe Munster need to be to win games, but Ian Keatley’s late, late drop-goal rescued the situation.
No one needs complicated metrics to tell them that a similar display from Munster against Saracens tomorrow night in Limerick simply won’t do. In blunt terms, Foley’s men need to be far better.
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“We’ve analysed the Sale game and we were 5% off where we need to be to win games,” says Foley. “We were actually below where we were for the Ospreys game, which we lost. We’ve never won a game in the position we were in.
From the way we analyse the game, that’s the first time we’ve ever won at that percentage. We understand that we have to find 5% from somewhere, we understand where it needs to come from.
“We need to use that ball better, we need to get better positions and we need to restrict the opposition. We can’t allow them easy go-forward ball. Hopefully we can do that and get our percentages up where they need to be.”
Foley admits that Munster “were a small bit lethargic” in defence, particularly in the first half. Whatever about getting earlier control of possession, the southern province simply must shore up their defensive effort in midfield.
Hanrahan at Munster training in UL earlier this week. Cathal Noonan / INPHO
Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO
There have been calls for JJ Hanrahan to be installed at 12 after his lively cameo against Sale, although those suggestions are centred around the Kerryman’s attacking ability.
However, it looks likely that Foley will maintain faith in Denis Hurley and Andrew Smith as his centre partnership. That duo’s physical edge may be important against a powerful Sarries outfit.
Defensively, Munster have “highlighted, resolved and fixed” the problems of last weekend, according to Foley. Hurley and Smith will expect a major amount of traffic and decoy-running down their channels nonetheless.
Foley has utter faith in Hanrahan’s ability to make an impact from the bench again, from where he also covers out-half in case of injury to Keatley. His showing at 12 against Sale underlines Foley’s belief in the 22-year-old’s potential in that position.
I always believed he can play 12. Our issue is we’ve two out-halves. If we start playing both of them for 80 minutes, then suddenly one of them breaks, you suddenly run out of players very quickly.
“We’ve tried to manage the situation that we’re in. But it’s great, I thought his kick was magnificent, with about three or four minutes to go, to get us from our 22 to their 22. I thought that set us up and set up a platform to attack their line-out, which we had done throughout the game.”
Whatever way midfield selection goes this afternoon, Hanrahan will have an important part to play at Thomond Park.
Foley needs Munster to find crucial 5% as Saracens visit Thomond
MUNSTER’S COACHING STAFF have their own unique index of what goes into winning a rugby match, and last weekend’s performance against Sale broke the mould for the wrong reasons.
Possession, territory, individual stats, video and much more evidence on a wide range of aspects feed into Munster’s analysis of their performances, as well as their forecasts of what they need to do to be successful in the future.
The performance at the AJ Bell Stadium last Saturday fell short of where Foley and his staff believe Munster need to be to win games, but Ian Keatley’s late, late drop-goal rescued the situation.
No one needs complicated metrics to tell them that a similar display from Munster against Saracens tomorrow night in Limerick simply won’t do. In blunt terms, Foley’s men need to be far better.
“We’ve analysed the Sale game and we were 5% off where we need to be to win games,” says Foley. “We were actually below where we were for the Ospreys game, which we lost. We’ve never won a game in the position we were in.
“We need to use that ball better, we need to get better positions and we need to restrict the opposition. We can’t allow them easy go-forward ball. Hopefully we can do that and get our percentages up where they need to be.”
Foley admits that Munster “were a small bit lethargic” in defence, particularly in the first half. Whatever about getting earlier control of possession, the southern province simply must shore up their defensive effort in midfield.
There have been calls for JJ Hanrahan to be installed at 12 after his lively cameo against Sale, although those suggestions are centred around the Kerryman’s attacking ability.
However, it looks likely that Foley will maintain faith in Denis Hurley and Andrew Smith as his centre partnership. That duo’s physical edge may be important against a powerful Sarries outfit.
Defensively, Munster have “highlighted, resolved and fixed” the problems of last weekend, according to Foley. Hurley and Smith will expect a major amount of traffic and decoy-running down their channels nonetheless.
Foley has utter faith in Hanrahan’s ability to make an impact from the bench again, from where he also covers out-half in case of injury to Keatley. His showing at 12 against Sale underlines Foley’s belief in the 22-year-old’s potential in that position.
“We’ve tried to manage the situation that we’re in. But it’s great, I thought his kick was magnificent, with about three or four minutes to go, to get us from our 22 to their 22. I thought that set us up and set up a platform to attack their line-out, which we had done throughout the game.”
Whatever way midfield selection goes this afternoon, Hanrahan will have an important part to play at Thomond Park.
Check out Brian O’Driscoll’s brilliant analysis on BT Sport last night
It’s ‘absolutely untrue’ that I influence provincial selection – Schmidt
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Andrew Smith Central Concerns All-Ireland Senior HC European Rugby Champions Cup Denis Hurley JJ Hanrahan Munster Saracens