BEFORE FOCUSING ON what went wrong for Munster yesterday, it’s important to give credit to Zebre for what was a fully deserved victory at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.
The Italians were rooted to the bottom of the URC table last season, winning just one of their 18 fixtures, but just two weeks into the new campaign they’ve produced an historic result which highlights the good work being done at the club.
Zebre had lost all of their previous 20 games against Munster but changed the script in emphatic fashion yesterday, putting six tries and over 40 points on Graham Rowntree’s men.
The home side out-fought and out-played their visitors, delivering on head coach Massimo Brunello’s call for his players to be more ruthless following their opening weekend loss to Cardiff.
They were physical at the breakdown – winning eight turnovers to Munster’s one – committed in defence and sharp in attack. It was a highly encouraging afternoon for Brunello, who joined Zebre over the summer following four years with the Italy U20s, where he oversaw historic wins against England, France and South Africa. Now he has another to add to his CV.
For Munster, it was a deeply disappointing day and one of their poorest performances during Graham Rowntree’s time in charge.
Having recovered from a slow start to lead by 13 points at half-time, Munster were blown away in the second period, the Italians running in 24 points without reply.
Speaking on RTÉ after the game, former Munster and Ireland second row Donncha O’Callaghan labelled the display “totally unacceptable”, adding the players should be “embarrassed” about their efforts.
The post-match review will be a painful watch.
Individual errors played a part in Munster’s collapse but more concerning was how lethargic the province looked throughout.
Munster’s defence was far too soft, with players slipping off tackles and being bullied in contact, while the Munster pack were dominated at the breakdown.
With Munster chasing the game, the speed of Zebre’s play cut their defence open with ease – the excellent Jacopo Trulla beating six defenders and making four clean breaks on his way to scoring two tries, while lively scrum-half Alessandro Fusco – who also bagged a brace – topped the stats with 75 metres made.
After last weekend’s rollercoaster win against Connacht, Munster have now conceded 11 tries and 75 points in just two games. Those are alarming numbers for a team who leaked just 38 tries in their 18 regular season games last season – a figure only bettered by Glasgow (35).
Munster have reason to believe they can iron those issues out in the coming weeks. Rowntree has key internationals to welcome back in Jack Crowley and Tadhg Beirne, while an early-season string of injuries has left the province light on options in the backline.
With Billy Burns ruled out for the Zebre trip, Tony Butler started just his fourth game at 10 for Munster. The absence of Alex Nankivell saw Shane Daly start a competitive game at centre for the first time since November 2018, with Rory Scannell and Liam Coombes among the centre options unavailable through injury.
With yesterday’s sluggish start not dissimilar to the Connacht game, Munster are perhaps undercooked following a shortened pre-season. The province opted for just two warm-up games ahead of the new campaign, with Rowntree citing the potential for injuries as a key factor in not adding a third run-out.
The Munster boss felt the reduced schedule would stand to his players as the season progressed, but such is the level of competition in the URC now that dropped points in the opening rounds can prove costly later in the year.
As for the here and now, Munster need to tighten up their defence ahead of an important run of games.
Next weekend’s home game against the Ospreys – who beat the Stormers on Saturday after an opening day defeat to the Dragons – offers an opportunity to get back to winning ways before the season really starts to heat up.
In just two weeks, Munster go to Croke Park to take on a Leinster side who having been running in tries without hitting top gear, and are also set to welcome big hitters like Caelan Doris, Tadhg Furlong and RG Snyman back into the fold.
How Munster respond to yesterday’s harrowing experience in Parma could set the tone for the rest of their season.
Updated at 12.15 with correct Ospreys results.
Hopefully the trio make it! They are an integral part of our Six Nations squad. Keep it up lads!!!
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: lowe and Dan are part of the 6 nations squad but connors is nowhere near that squad. Hodnet, timoney, pendergast are all way ahead of him. Not to mention with conan going to 8 we have doris who can play 7 as can POM. Infact I’d rather see Scott penny get time for leinster than will.
@chris mcdonnell: I completely agree. I’d ate my own underpants if Connors is named tomorrow
@Niall Boyle: hopefully those pants are in better condition than the pair I wore on Sunday
@Niall Boyle: I’ll hold you to that
@chris mcdonnell: with the best will in the world POM cannot play 7 in the 6 Nations.
Hope they don’t rush Sheehan back this Saturday. 50 mins against the Stormers on the 25th of Jan and then into the 6 nations squad. Connors now needs to stay fit for the rest of the season if he wants to ever make an Ireland squad, at nearly 29 time is running out
Lowe is too slow. Osborne a better long term bet.
@conor carroll: Osbourne isn’t a wing, he can do the job but he’s a 12 or 15. Lowe being “slow” didn’t stop him being named in the world XV this year or being one of our best performing players.
@conor carroll: not on the wing he isnt,hes not a winger and it showed on sunday,great 12 and 15,lowe though offers far more on the left wing,breaks tackles,carries,big left boot and has vastly improved his defence,also always goes hunting for the ball and gets stuck in to mauls and excellent under the high ball,pace is not everything.
@conor carroll: Interesting statement. If you actually watched rugby you’d see that Lowe is probably quicker than Osborne in a foot race. Osborne has many, many strengths. Pace isn’t one of them.
@conor carroll: Nash is the pace merchant played all the 6 nations last year
Honestly, is Lowe still a starter for Leinster? I just really can’t see how you leave out Jamie Osborne even if he was rusty on the wing at the weekend, like his skill level for that try was ridiculous. He also has just a big left boot as Lowe.
@Eoin H: lowe is the left winger for both ireland and leinster.
@Eoin H: Osborne isn’t a winger and should only be playing there in a pinch. Lowe is also the better player generally right now
@Gary D: He definitely isn’t the better all round player generally, no way
@Eoin H: Well he has been a starter for the last 7.5 years. And he was a starter right up until his injury. Osborne is far far better utilised at 12 or 15. Let’s just play lads in their correct positions.
@Eoin H: I partially agree with you. Osbourne has an ability to hold on to passes that others would knock on and is too good to leave out of the team. Lowe is a try scoring machine as well though so not sure I’d leave him out either. I’d probably play Osbourne at 12 and leave Henshaw on the bench for impact