The new coaching ticket should take a lot of credit.
A lot has been written about the upturn in fortunes down at Munster. Since the untimely passing of head coach Anthony Foley, the province have gone on to win seven games on the bounce in all competitions, including a victory over the Maori All Blacks at Thomond Park.
There is absolutely no doubt that Foley’s passing has galvanised the squad which has led to some incredible performances on the pitch. However, the extent to which this can be attributed to the results over the last seven games is impossible to determine.
Credit also needs to be given to the positive effect that Munster director of rugby, Rassie Erasmus and defence coach, Jacques Nienaber, have had on the side.
One statistic which has emerged is Munster’s tackle success rate so far in European competition.
📈 @MunsterRugby are the only club in the competition with a tackle success rate above 90%, they are currently running at a 92% success rate pic.twitter.com/XIE4KZTaRp
— Investec Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) December 14, 2016
Munster’s tackle success rate is 92%, the only side in the Champions Cup to have a success rate over 90%.
Yes, we realise that Munster have only played two games so far in the competition compared to three games for most of the other teams but this defensive dominance is also reflected in the PRO12.
Two statistics which are circled above, are the number of points and tries conceded by Munster so far this season.
As you can see, Munster have conceded the least amount of points and tries in the league this season – an excellent representation of Nienaber’s influence.
Munster’s attack, which Erasmus has responsibility for among others, is also doing quite well.
Munster have scored both the second-most amount of points and tries in the PRO12 this season.
Obviously there are many other factors which determine the number points or tries that a team scores or concedes, injuries and the form of players to name a few.
But what cannot be denied is the positive influence the South African pair have had on Munster’s season.
