“I look at the current crop of players, and I think they’re probably sick of hearing about 2006 and 2008. They want it to be about them.”
That is what Jerry Flannery told me back in August 2014 as he settled into life on the Munster coaching staff.
The next generation wanted to forge their own path but, for long stretches, they seemed incapable of doing so. Stuck in the past and stuck in a ruck.
All that has changed but there is still history to be made. Three years ago, Munster did Toulouse in a Champions Cup quarter final only to fall at the next hurdle.
Peter O’Mahony is determined that won’t happen again. The Munster captain told us:
“There’s a big difference from three or four years ago, both sides – coaching and playing. Playing, more importantly. It’s a different group and with all that’s gone on in the club, with the trophies that have been won, the teams that have been there, the massive players we’ve had, it’s nice for us to be forging our own way a little bit.
“It’s based on our history and a huge amount of it goes back to our history, but it’s nice for us to put our stamp on it ourselves.”
A big part of writing your own history involves men stepping up to be counted. Billy Holland and Tommy O’Donnell did it with a 65th minute turnover. Jack O’Donoghue did it by winning a crucial penalty on 70 minutes. Jaco Taute saved his most crunching impact for the 75th minute.
It all started with a stolen lineout. Toulouse needed two tries to win it so attempted to run the ball out of their half. Much like Ireland in their recent win over England, Munster were not having it.
The line speed was there and so was the aggression. Jean Marc Doussain was tossed a airy hospital pass and Taute sniffed blood. He launched himself at the outhalf and forced him to take his eye off the ball. Maxime Medard was exposed and Darren Sweetnam, hacking on before controlling, did the rest.
Credit: Sky Sports
It was Taute’s reaction – not captured by the Sky cameras or official match photographers – that captured the spirit of this Munster team.
As Sweetnam dotted down, Taute turned and walked a few steps in the opposite direction, nodding, right arm held aloft in celebration. Job. Done.
Taute is right at home with this Munster squad and has been welcomed like a long-lost brother.
This is a growing confidence and certainty about this group of men.
Whether driven by a sense of purpose, destiny, togetherness, the spirit of Anthony Foley or a heady mix of all four, Munster are driven.
They are not done yet.
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