Mighty Munster's attitude bigger than altitude

26/04/2024 15:13

Munster’s monumental win against the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria sets them up for a Highveld double this weekend.

Victory against the Emirates Lions in Johannesburg would also see their grip tightened on a top four league finish.

The Vodacom United Rugby Championship title-holders remain unbeaten in their last eight matches against teams from the Republic, and Munster's 27-22 comeback win against the Vodacom Bulls last week ended a streak of 21 victories at Loftus Versfeld for the hosts against overseas opponents.

Industrial performances have been at the heart of Munster's success in the Republic, reinforcing why they are the defending champions after doing it the hard way last season.

The Red Army took a hammering at the hands of the Hollywoodbets Sharks in the Investec Champions Cup Round of 16 in Durban last year, which took them out of the EPCR tournament.

That Hollywoodbets Kings Park loss would prove to be the last defeat of Munster's 2023-24 season, and their next five matches – all on the road – delivered the Vodacom URC title with a dramatic victory against the DHL Stormers in the Cape Town Grand Final. It was Munster’s first silverware in 12 years.

Munster head coach Graham Rowntree, renowned as a player and coach for the fire in his belly, has consistently challenged his team to front adversity and turn it into opportunity.

He has tapped into the rich history of the very best Munster teams and emphasised what it would take for the current squad to be judged as among the best in the province’s history.

Silverware gives an immediate entry for consideration, but the ethos of the team, the character, the fight, the ability to do it the hard way and, crucially, to win away from home is what defines the very best to have worn the Munster jersey.

Rowntree spoke of his admiration in how his players fronted the rampaging Vodacom Bulls at Loftus and how they controlled the opening quarter and the final quarter of the first half, and then in how they finished the final quarter.

It spoke of their confidence, their understanding of their strengths, their collective as a team and also the supreme conditioning within the squad.

“We spoke at the end of the game about dealing with adversity and moving on from errors. I thought we did that," said Rowntree.

Munster flyer Shane Daly spoke of the confidence gained in winning away from home and in the context of the Vodacom URC, winning in South Africa.

"You saw what happened to us last year on this trip to South Africa. It completely changed our season. The confidence that gave us then, if we can come to these places and win, who else can't we beat? It really changes our perspective, we believe we can beat any team. These wins really give us the confidence that is hard to come by. We are playing against the big teams at the end of the season and we’re getting the results when our backs are up against the wall. That's the special thing about this club."

Munster's grit and determination mirrors that of the Emirates Lions, although Munster have been more consistent in getting winning results.

Emirates Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen celebrated a resounding 44-12 win against league-leaders Leinster, which moved the Lions to ninth place on a congested league table.

Emirates Lions assistant coach Julian Redelinghuys described the Irish provinces as ‘tough’ and singled out Munster and Connacht as two teams who always refuse to go away in a contest.

"They've got that never-say-die attitude, and there's a reason they won the URC last year; they played their quarter-final, semi-final and final away, and they managed to find a way to win.

It speaks a lot to their way of play and their attitude, just the fight they have in them,” said Redelinghuys.

"Their coaches drive that really hard, which you can see, and in our view they are a really tough team and you can't just think they'll go lie down even though you're ahead. Like against the Vodacom Bulls, who started to get an upper hand but Munster never quit or threw the towel in, and kept fighting hard."

Photo: Shaun Roy/Sportsfile via Getty Images

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