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NZ Rugby World column, June 2006
At Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on Saturday May 20, I saw a triumph of grass roots passion, local identity, collective will, bravery and belief over the more modern fads of technique, analysis and preparation. I saw the old chestnut of a Champion Team beating a Team of Champions prove why truisms become truisms. And I saw a great rugby legacy taken to a new level. Munster won the Heineken Cup. After two semi-final defeats and two final tragedies, they beat the star-studded Biarritz side 23-19. As a banner proclaimed "Irish by birth. Munster by grace of God" and 13 of the team were local boys … friends and neighbours of the 74,500 capacity crowd in attendance at Cardiff (3,000 more than for the English FA Cup Final the previous week) … friends and neighbours of the 10,000 who watched the game in fiery Munster red on the big screen in O'Connell Street (surely named after Munster's inspirational leader) in Limerick. A triumph for everything that is good in Rugby. When big Anthony Foley - who is coming down to tour here with Ireland - lifted the trophy, the Munstermen almost lifted the roof off the stadium. And kicked off the biggest party since 1978 - when the All Blacks were out-passioned at Thomond Park - a game allegedly seen by every man of Munster I've met - now maybe they'll talk about this and not that. For the past 11 years, Munster have never lost at Thomond Park, Anthony
Foley has played in 76 of their 77 games, and Munster have won 20 out of
31 games against French opposition and the travelling Red Army have been
there for every game. And have never lost faith. At the head of the pack
is a mate of mine, Roger Downer, the President of the University of
Limerick, the Chairman of Munster, and a rugby man of the finest degree.
Through Roger's advocacy over the past five years - coupled with copious
amounts of the black stuff!!! - I have become caught up in the Munster
myth. Jim O'Mahony - born in Cork and the ex MD of New Zealand Breweries
in Christchurch - and I have been working with the Munster Board, Players,
Coach and ring-leaders to unlock the passion and share it throughout the
world of rugby. Munster have set themselves to become famous throughout
the world for success, excellence and all that is good about Ireland. They
see Munster men as being honest, passionate, inspirational, inclusive,
fearless winners. And so do I. |
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Ireland have won two Triple Crowns in the last three seasons. England haven't. They're bringing a full squad down here next month. They've got their strongest side ever I reckon … and we'll have our hands full. Their players never fired under the arrogant Englishman coaching the Lions; they'll fire in the green jersey and will fancy their chances given our rotation / Argentinean commitments. And if they make University of Limerick student Paul O'Connell captain, watch out. He's developing into this decade's Martin Johnson. A tough, passionate, abrasive, skilled leader who's added maturity and self discipline to his repertoire in the European Cup cauldron … and this would free up Brian O'Driscoll to focus on exploiting our Tana-less midfield defence … rather than embroiling him in captaincy responsibilities. And they have God on their side. Here's Limerick parish priests Mass on the Sunday before the Heineken Cup Final. St Jude, Patron Saint of the Impossible, Help me find a flight, ferry or paddle boat, a ticket for the stadium in Cardiff. Forgive me for the times when I consider rugby to be my first religion, And soften the heart of my boss and bank manager so I can travel on Thursday, Forgive me for the sick notes I have used on these occasions, Bless Paul, Rog and all the lads, so that they can bring home the Heineken Cup, The Holy Grail, If you answer my prayer, I promise to limit myself to one drink, if they win!! Thank you for all the gifts I am about to receive. Amen. This was a triumph for rugby as she used to be played … as she is still played throughout New Zealand, Thank God. Munster CEO, Garret Fitzgerald, said "People have a love affair with the team, the fact that we are a community side, not a big city club. We're all friends, neighbours and family. That's why it means so much." They'll probably make a play about it, write a book about it, the DVD'll go to Munster men all over the world - and as Fitzy would say, "Full credit to them". They've seen off the superstars, the imports, the money men and won through Passion. So hats off to Paul O'Connell, Peter Stringer, Ronan O'Gara, Anthony Horgan, Donncha O'Callaghan, Denis Leamy and Anthony Foley. We'll see you in the green in a few weeks. And wouldn't a Crusaders (or Hurricanes, sorry Wellington), Munster World Championship be a sight for sore eyes!!!!
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