A SECOND HEINEKEN Cup semi-final in his second season in charge of Munster, but this time Rob Penney’s players achieved it in an even more comprehensive fashion.
It could be argued that this year’s Toulouse team were not of the same quality as the Harlequins side Munster defeated last season, but the Kiwi head coach was in little doubt as to the standing of this afternoon’s success among collection of Munster wins.
Penney said it was an “extremely satisfying win” against Toulouse – and one that “absolutely” ranks among his highlights at Munster – not just for the emphatic 47-23 scoreline, but more so the performance levels his men attained.
“Against a side like that and on the occasion that it was, the manner the boys went about their work was superb. Not once did they go into their shells or get nervous, even when a little bit of pressure was coming on them midway through the second half.
They stuck to the task, stuck to the strategies that we had put in place and got the reward out of it.”
It is difficult to pick out a weak individual performance from the Munster match-day 23, something Penney attributes to the mindset his squad built during the last week. The defeat to Leinster in Dublin stung and Munster’s pure focus was the result.
“They all had to play big today. There was just no doubt that if we had any weaknesses, they would be exposed. We talked all week about everyone having the biggest game they’ve ever had in a Munster jersey.
“You could look along one to 15 and all the guys who came on, so determined to do well for each other, and the spirit is really there. It’s going to see this organization well for a period of time, which is great.”
Penney was swift to pay tribute to the Thomond Park crowd too, who created one of those memorable atmospheres that must make the Limerick ground a nightmare to visit. The Japan-bound head coach believes his players were inspired by what they heard.
“It was indicative that two minutes before the boys went under the tunnel [after their warm-up], that support they got. The boys came into the changing room and there was a bit of emotion there, wanting to repay the fantastic support that they had and the emotion that the crowd pushed their way.”
Following the game, Toulouse coach Guy Novès suggested that Munster have moved forward as a rugby team under Penney, outlining an appreciation for the more rounded game the province have attempted to play in recent times.
Penney accepted it as “a great compliment from someone of his ilk,” before underlining that Munster needed to be at their very peak to limit Toulouse’s scoring: “It’s not a secret how dangerous they are and it’s great credit to the lads on both side of the ball, they were terrific. You need to be against a side like that.”
The former Canterbury back row lauded CJ Stander’s impact as “magnificent” but stressed that all of his players deserve credit. The one major blot on an otherwise near-perfect afternoon for the province was the serious-looking shoulder injury to captain Peter O’Mahony.
The Ireland back row hurt himself in the second minute, but battled bravely for another 19 before making way. Penney says the initial signs are not positive.
It’s terribly disappointing. It doesn’t look good but we won’t react too much until we’ve seen the scans.”
However, the overriding emotion is one of satisfaction, at least for the next 48 hours as “we’ll let the boys celebrate,” before turning attention to next weekend’s “massive” Pro12 clash against Glasgow.
A thrilling day’s work at Thomond Park was neatly topped off by Paul O’Connell taking a JJ Hanrahan offload to cross for the closing try. Penney wouldn’t have had it any other way.
“It was terrific, a great way for the big man to finish and close the game out like that. His contribution can’t be understated every time he takes to the pitch for us. It’s massive and I think the boys’ reaction when he scored was just terrific.
“They all know what he brings and what he offers to this group.”
