KEITH EARLS WATCHES Connacht and sees great similarities to what Munster attempted to do under Rob Penney.
Ultimately, the Kiwi head coach’s approach was never fully embraced in the southern province and he departed for Japan in 2014 having been denied the type of contract extension he felt was fair.
Connacht are playing some of the most attractive attacking rugby in Ireland at present, with much of their phase play echoing what Munster looked to do under Penney.
The set-piece power plays and strike moves may be different, but Earls recognises the shape Connacht utilise in phase play.
“It’s been impressive,” says Earls of Connacht’s approach. “It’s high-risk, but they are pulling it off.
“It’s the same game plan Rob Penney brought in to us, the two-four-two, and obviously we didn’t take to it as well as Connacht. It’s obviously good to the eye.”
One wonders why Penney’s game plan was not totally accepted in Munster. The southern province reached two semi-finals under the former Canterbury back row, but there was so often a sense that they hadn’t fully bought into Penney’s ideas.
I don’t know,” says Earls when asked why Munster didn’t take to it as well as Connacht have. “I think there were a couple of games; out of the two years, it probably worked out for us seven times. We played really well, but different squads, and different characters.
“It’s probably tradition in Munster that we are able to go and beat up teams. They wouldn’t be used to Donncha O’Callaghan or someone out on the wing. And the lads like getting stuck in, Munster boys like getting stuck in.
“When it did work out for us we played really well. It’s an attractive style. Argentina, they are all starting to pick it up now. And it does need time.”
There are many different ways to win rugby games and certainly a variety of approaches makes this sport all the more fascinating.
Munster have moved away from the ideas Penney brought in since Anthony Foley was appointed as head coach in 2014, citing the need for the province to bring more directness to their play.
Munster have failed to exit their Champions Cup pool for two seasons in a row and now find themselves fighting to get into the top-tier European competition for next season. Earls stresses that the issue is not how Munster are attempting to play the game, but rather in how they are executing those plans.
When you look at our squad there is a lot of young lads and they are in their first or second year of professional rugby,” says Earls. “There is nothing wrong, we are beating ourselves. There is nothing wrong with our game plan now.
“We are leaving a lot of… when we break down the games, we are leaving a lot of opportunities out there. When you look at a team, whoever you are playing, you try and create moves to break down their defence, and sometimes they defend differently.”
Perhaps the finest example of execution letting Munster down was the missed overlap in the final minute of their defeat to Leinster in the Guinness Pro12 two weekends ago.
Earls was signalling for the ball on the left touchline as replacement prop John Ryan thundered into contact from Conor Murray’s pass, Munster ignoring the overlap that gave them a chance to win.
“Communication, it’s a noisy place,” says Earls when asked what Munster had highlighted in their review of that situation. “When fellas are tired they are just putting the head down to work hard. Obviously don’t give the pass, or hit the wrong man.
“It’s about performing under pressure and under fatigue. And that’s something we probably didn’t do in the last couple of minutes against Leinster.”
The result is that Munster find themselves in a tricky position with three regular season Pro12 games remaining. They sit sixth and can still secure a semi-final place, but are also looking over their shoulders at Edinburgh, who could beat them to the final Champions Cup qualifying spot.
“It’s scary, and that’s something that has to be a motivating factor for us,” says Earls of the prospect of missing out on the Champions Cup. “It’s win or bust now. We are not ruling out top four yet.
At a minimum we want to be in top four, and if not we want to qualify for Europe, because it could be a long season if we are not in it next year. That’s where Munster want to be. We want to play in front of full houses in Thomond Park on European days.”
What gives the Ireland international confidence that his team can get the job done?
“We’re back to being underdogs and that’s where we like being. Our backs are against the wall and that’s where Munster squads in the past have come out fighting. It’s a new group of players but hopefully we can show some of the Munster of old.”
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