SPORTSPEOPLE WILL FIND positives in everything.
Four days on from defeat to Leinster, and with Saturday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Toulouse looming, Munster have done exactly that in regards to their performance at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
Post-match, head coach Rob Penney spoke about Leinster’s relatively greater recent experience of high intensity rugby having been one of the differences in the outcome. With an even more demanding test awaiting this weekend, those words could be taken as discouragement.
However, out-half Ian Keatley points out the the southern province have put their own constructive slant on the narrative in the last few days. The fact that the 27-year-old kicked six from six off the tee was a further good sign.
I was happy enough with the way my kicking went, but it’s still pretty disappointing losing the match. Looking back and reflecting, I’d say Leinster probably deserved to edge us out. I think we can take a few positives in that we didn’t play that well and we were still within a few points and touching distance of a very strong team.”
Last weekend’s setback has been parked and Keatley and his teammates are firmly focused on turning up for a game they were “striving for at the start of the year;” namely a home quarter-final in European rugby’s top tier club competition.
The former Connacht out-half is pleased that the people of Limerick and the rest of the province have this home clash to reward their dedication. Still, the best way Keatley and Munster can truly do that is by beating Toulouse on Saturday.
How much focus have they put on the Top 14 side?
“We’ve done a good bit of analysis on them. Our analysis of them has probably been going on for the last six or seven weeks, to be honest. We’re looking forward to it now.
“They’ve had an up and down season, but they seem, in the last two matches against Stade Français [27-27] and Toulon [28-32], to have started to find a bit of form and they’re going to be a serious threat on the weekend.”
That repeated study of Toulouse means Keatley heads into the weekend with an understanding of the opposition strengths, particularly in their backline. He points out that 70% of Toulouse’s tries this season have come from their back three.
McAlister the playmaker
Stopping those dangerous men behind the scrum will be demanding, but it’s a challenge Keatley is enthusiastic about.
They’ve got a lot of threats and that’s exciting to play against. You want to play against the best and you want to beat the best, so we’re looking forward to taking on that challenge.
“Whatever they throw at us, I’m sure we’ll be able to take it and throw something back at them too. McAlister is a strong number 10, very bulky. He attacks the line very well, he’s got a good boot on him and he gets his backline running. We know where their threats are.”
