IAN COSTELLO PRAISED the role of the Munster bench after watching his team finish on top of Saracens in a tense Champions Cup pool clash at Thomond Park this evening.
The province were trailing 9-3 with almost 60 minutes played before summoning a strong finish powered by a big impact from the Munster replacements, which saw them move 17-9 up thanks to two tries from Dian Bleuler and John Hodnett in quick succession, with a determined defensive effort helping them hold out for a five-point, 17-12 win.
“I think we stayed really true to what we said we would do, and at times we have gone a little bit away from that at key moments under pressure,” said Costello.
“We went 6-0 down, we were disappointed with two poor penalties, but the lads stayed really calm. I thought we were unlucky in the first-half not to score that maul up in the top left, we probably felt like we deserved that but we came in 6-3 down, and everyone was really calm at half-time.
We focused on two things: out-working them and having to win the physical battle, and we set ourselves up to do that. Everything we did for the last 10 days has been about that challenge, and we made sure that lads were incredibly fresh, and we had huge energy from the bench to really finish strong. I thought that paid off tonight.”
At half-time Munster had just three points to their name, with Saracens edging a scrappy and niggly opening 40 minutes 6-3, with all the scores coming from penalties.
“We hadn’t had a lot of chances,” Costello said.
“They are a very difficult side to break down and play the type of game where you don’t get a lot of opportunities, because they kick so well and have a strong setpiece.
“If they got ahead, I felt if they went beyond seven it would have been difficult, and that was key, at 6-0 and 9-3 we had a couple of massive defensive sets. We didn’t concede a try tonight and probably only once they looked like scoring which was pleasing.
“At half time we took a lot of reassurance in that, and everything was about freshness. We set ourselves up in the last 10 days to be fresh for the type of battle that it was, and that probably came through in the end.”
It leaves Munster second in Pool 3, one point off Northampton Saints ahead of next Saturday’s trip to Franklin’s Gardens. Northampton top the pool on 10 points after losing away to Stade Francais today.
Having welcomed key players in the form of Conor Murray and Jack O’Donoghue back this week, Munster hope to have more of injured men back available for the Northampton game, with Peter O’Mahony in contention to return.
“The beauty of it is, since the last time we sat here (after Leinster defeat), we got five players back and there’s a huge amount of leadership in that group as well if you work through them – (Diarmuid) Barronsy, the two Jacks (Crowley and O’Donoghue) and Diarmuid Kilgallen, who is back but wasn’t selected. He will come into the mix over the next few weeks.
“That made a huge difference for the likes of Tadhg (Beirne) and in key moments we could feel that the team were really in control, really calm, and decisive around what we were trying to do, especially when we made a few mistakes.”
Back in time for the autumn internationals… injuries after them maybe?
I’m a Munster fan first and foremost, but I’ll support the other 3 provinces when not playing Munster. There’s just something about this transfer that annoys me. I know we released him, and Kleyn, who has been a linchpin, was chosen, but the amount of spent on Snyman, of which there is not a lot in Munster these days, that could have been used elsewhere still hurts. Irony is, he’ll prob score a hat trick against us in an interpro. Especially with our current leaky defence.
@james joyce: if I was a Munster supporter I probably would be upset too, but looking at it as someone without skin in the game, I don’t see any problem really. First, the start of his injury travails were completely not his fault – POM dropped him in the lineout, and I don’t really see how being injured by a teammate who didn’t do his job should lead to club loyalty. Second, yes, he cost a lot, but it didn’t come from their budget, but from a certain Swiss resident who bankrolled him. In terms of the cost of treatment, last time out Snyman opted to get it done in SA as opposed to by the club. Lastly, he played only a few games for ye, but I 100% believe you wouldn’t have won the URC without him…whatever few games he played, he was immense. That alone for me is ample payback.
@james joyce: Yeah I’m a Leinster fan but I don’t like this signing at all.
@JoeVlogs: first point, JP was nothing to do with Snymans wages. secondly, he had his 2nd surgery through munster. nothing to do with south Africa. munster also funded him to go to San Diego to visit a knee specialist who deals with majority of nfl players who do their ACL. get your facts right.
@Niall English: wouldn’t be like Joe not to be talking out his hole
@james joyce: I can understand where you are coming from. But there is an element of swings and roundabouts. Leinster supporters were up in arms when Kidney abandoned us after 1 year of a 3 year deal to go to Munster. As a neutral though, you could hardly begrudge the man a chance to win European Cups with his home province… and it all worked out for the best in the end. Someone called Snyman a snake the other day – I don’t think that is fair. He wanted a contract with minimum disruption to his family. This deal made sense. The only thing that maybe didn’t make sense was the IRFU forcing him to move. But just like Mathewson, Pienaar, Thorn and Hines before him, there is always logic behind their decisions.
@Niall English: a) it is well reported that it was the 1014 group, which includes yer man, who paid Snyman. Here is an IT article for reference
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/johann-van-graan-activated-release-clause-in-two-year-contract-to-leave-munster-job-1.4755449
b) I’m not saying first, second, or third surgery. I’m saying some of his treatment was in South Africa
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/2023/11/06/munsters-rg-snyman-to-undergo-surgery-in-south-africa-after-another-injury-setback/
And it’s only fair that a club would pay for an injury that happened to a player in the course of playing for his club. Paying top € for a player yet skimping on his treatment, would be a sure fire way to disincentivise any top quality player from joining the club
@Paul Brown: He may be the guy that can get Leinster no.5 – when fit and firing he can be world class and has great ball handling skills. There is a reason why South Africa have continually stuck by him despite his injury woes
@JoeVlogs: Snyman is quality but Munster absolutely would have won the URC without him. Even in the final run of away games he played very little. Injured again after 19 minutes against Glasgow (nothing to do with O’Mahony). Didn’t feature against Leinster. When he did play (as he did in the final for 47-odd minutes) his contributions were unremarkable in the sense that he wasn’t important for any pivotal play in the game (unlike several other players who were vital). He wasn’t in the top 10 most influential players by any shot.
As to the rest, it’s your usual thing of putting the most uncharitable spin on anything Munster-related. Spare me the “someone without skin in the game” shtick, you know well what you’re doing but so does everyone else.
I don’t think he should have been signed, 1 year ( or half year signings ) are a waste. We have 50 players as it is. Still he’s here so we should milk every minute we can from him.
@chris mcdonnell: so you’d rather go into the season with just 3 senior second rows? Plus a 4th who is in year 2 of the academy? That’s a pretty wild take and quite misguided.
@chris mcdonnell: that’s interesting, didn’t you defend the Barrett signing last week?
@brian o’leary: no I don’t think I did. I understand why and he’s signed so I will get behind him but we just don’t need him. We have quality all across our backline as it is.
@Carmine Lorenzo: signing a player for 1 season makes no sense, a player with one of the worst injury profiles in world rugby, he actually arrived injured. we let a fantastic club secondrow in ross molony leave . we also have the likes of Baird and soroka who can play 2nd row but I’d we are so low in secondrow stock, just like our prop situation maybe we need to look at the coaching and future planning from Cullen. 5 outhalves and 3 second rows?
@chris mcdonnell: well fair enough, although getting behind him is kind of the same as defending him. Ultimately there are limitations on niq’s and these have increased over the years, and hopefully will continue to increase as irish rugby gets stronger. Barrett plays 12, and with Aki’s age profile , ireland need to develop options quickly.
@chris mcdonnell: The point though is RG is a tight head lock, Molony a loose head lock, big difference. Ryan sometimes covers THL but really isn’t one, Joe McC would have been the only THL in the squad, we needed another. Baird and Soroaka can cover LHL only, listen to any professional forward and they’ll tell how import having a THL is
@brian o’leary: The Barrett deal has definitely been set up to suit NZ and the player more than Leinster. We just couldn’t resist the temptation and I am not sure many clubs coukd have (there have been lots of these deals in French rugby in the past). Having said that, would Leinster have won their Heineken Cups without Rocky Elsom in 2009 or Brad Thorn in 2012? Plus, young Charlie Tector could learn a tonne from Jordie as he has a similar physique and range of skills. Personally I think that NIQ players should and will only be short term signings going forward. 6 months to a year is the perfect amount of time to have an impact without getting in the way.
@chris mcdonnell: How do you know Snyman won’t get an extension? One year deal makes perfect sense – let an injury prone player play a lot and prove he’s worth a 2 year renewal. Leinster are fully entitled to argue they need the renewal due to a dearth of quality locks. Unfortunately Deeny hasn’t shown anything to prove he’ll be a starting URC quality lock. Furthermore you cite that “Soroka and Baird can play 2nd row.” Baird is now a 6 first and foremost and should be allowed play there and prove he should be the Ireland 6. How many times has Soroka played 2nd row? He’s another 6 who is not a proven 2nd row URC starter type, yet. COT is still academy and Spicer is only 19 or 20 so he’s a year or two away yet.
@Andrew Slazenger: Stop speaking sense! Let’s just bash any NIQ signings without them even having taken to the pitch and also arrogantly think that we’re better off without them.
Release the Kraken!!!!
Given his horrendous injury record, RGS is obviously a very risky signing for Leinster. But sometimes you need something extra special to get you over the line, and Snyman certainly fits the bill in that regard.
It was of course a shame for him and Munster that he was available so little, but they won their first trophy in 9 years when he was available. Would they have done it without him? Would Leinster have lost repeatedly to Wil Skelton had they had RGS?
Dan Carter only played 5 times for Perpignan, yet that season – mostly without him on the field – they won their first Top 14 in 54 years. Brad Thorn only played 8 times for Leinster, but one of those was a winning CL final.
@Brian Corcoran: He’s not risky at all. A one year deal is perfect – if his injury record is bad, he’ll be released and we move on. Will have been totally worth the potential upside. What is more risky is letting two senior second rows leave this summer and replace with just one. Lack of depth there unless Soroka can break through as a 2nd row.
The snake himself
@James Molowney: why is he a snake? Munster released him, he wanted to dtay in Ireland! Would you say the same if he went to Ulster or Connacht?
@James Molowney: Any other insights?
@James Molowney: more money, bigger city to live in, more chance of top level trophy. He’s a smart snake if he’s a snake
I worry about Leinster’s strength in depth.
As Brendan Grace used to say “good luck with dat “.