Anthony Foley: Munsterman promised to be an emotional watch, one year on from the untimely passing of the rugby legend, and so it proved.
The Foley documentary, which aired on RTE One, touched hearts across the nation as it recalled the life of a man that gave his all to Munster Rugby.
Legends such as Paul O’Connell, Ronan O’Gara and Jerry Flannery featured, as did Foley’s sisters and a host of current Munster players. Those fortunate enough to watch the documentary came away feeling like they learned more about the man himself.
A husband. A father. A son. A friend. A Munsterman. https://t.co/D7m3uvycth
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) October 16, 2017
Munsterman also shed some light on the fantastic figure of 8 tribute to Foley that was staged by Ireland ahead of their historic 40-29 victory over New Zealand, at Chicago’s Soldier Field. The idea itself came from Ireland coach Joe Schmidt.
Munster scrum-half Conor Murray said:
“Joe suggested that we form a figure of 8, for Axel, while the All Blacks performed the Haka. And you kind of went [exhales]… it kind of took the life out of you a bit and you went, ‘Yeah’.”
Murray continued, “And I think it was Johnny Sexton that suggested, ‘Why don’t the Munster players stand at the front of it and face the Haka?’“
CJ Stander recalled his reaction to the tribute idea – “I was like, ‘Why didn’t I think of that? This is unreal’.”
Those that were at the ground for the game will never forget the frisson that took hold as recognition the perfect tribute dawned.
8 for Anthony Foley.
Pure class. #haka pic.twitter.com/kjRf6JzQEi— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) November 5, 2016
In a moving interview with The Guardian, last December, Murray offered further insight into the tribute and how it felt at the vanguard.
“It was a big moment. At first the crowd didn’t know what it was but, slowly, you could hear recognition spreading through them… I was at one front with CJ Stander at the other. I didn’t have anyone around me and I was looking at the Haka and going, ‘Aaargh! You’re on your own here.’
“But you could sense the crowd feeling it. It gave us a big lift right just before we went out and laid it all on the line. It pushed us even further.”
Stander, Murray and Simon Zebo all scored tries that afternoon in Chicago. The Munster winger was certainly fired up and focused from the tribute.
“The buzz and the atmosphere we got off that was incredible,” he said, “and we, straight away, knew what we were playing for again.”
You can watch Anthony Foley: Munsterman here.
