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AN AWESOME ATMOSPHERE
at Kingsholm saw Gloucester overcome Heineken Cup favourites Munster
in a wonderfully entertaining contest.
As a match it may have been short of
tries but never short of passion or enterprise and endeavour,
from two well organised sides who matched attack with terrific
tackling and covering to provide a heart warming pulsating contest
that made you feel good just to have been a spectator on a special
day at a packed Kingsholm.
Last year in Limerick Henry Paul, out
of position at full back, had a most torrid time struggling to
cope with a virtual non-stop barrage of ‘Garry Owens’ which ultimately
set Munster on the way to a dramatic victory and condemned H.P.
to much of the blame for Gloucester’s defeat.
What a difference a year makes. This
time H.P. was the man of the moment. So much improved as a player,
confident and very much on form at the moment. Fourteen points
from his boot, plus the crucial try making kick that set up James
Simpson-Daniel with the chance to score what proved to be the
match winner.
A difficult wind, drizzle and a greasy
ball made for testing playing conditions and was played at a frantic
in a hurly burly first half.
Not surprisingly Munster targeted Jon
Goodridge with a barrage of early high kicks but the young full
back proved to be more than equal to the challenge.
The Cherry and Whites provided most of
the enterprising rugby with a mixture of adventure and ambition
but Munster’s cover defence and tackling held out as all too often
the home side’s attacks were let down as they lost the ball in
contact or failed to control the greasy ball.
H.P. kicked Gloucester into an early
lead but despite their appetite and ambitious attempts to score
that was the only score they managed in the first half. Gloucester
had a telling edge in the lineout where all too often, Munster’s
throw missed the target and allowed the home side to seize the
advantage.
Somewhat surprisingly in the set pieces,
even without Phil Vickery and Chris Fortey, Gloucester’s second
choice front row were in the ascendancy . Duggie Woodman enjoyed
a powerful time and young hooker Chris Collins came through the
match against international standard opposition, with very much
credit.
One of fourteen Irish internationals
in the Munster team, Ronan O’Gara kicked an easy penalty but then
just before half time missed two not too difficult kicks which
would have given them a flattering lead.
PRESSURE BUT NO POINTS
Despite their obvious superiority in possession
and territory, Gloucester had not been able to put points on the
board so it was all square at the interval. At the start of the
second half O’Gara kicked another simple penalty to rub it in
and put Munster in the lead against the run of play.
However as the game progressed, Gloucester
were able to do what Munster hadn’t been able to do - build up
a period of possession and establish territory deep in the opposition
half and in due course it told.
Henry Paul, Gloucester’s influential
three quarter began to make inroads and cause trouble for the
Irishmen and from a delicate kick behind the Munster defence,
super-sharp Sinbad was on the ball in a flash to dive over for
the only try of the match.
Gloucester monopolised proceedings and
although they went close to scoring on several occasions no further
tries were forthcoming. The remaining points coming from boot
of H.P. who added more penalties to his successful conversion
Munster had few forays into Gloucester territory but a late flurry
of forward drives did lead to a try from winger Anthony Horgan.
H.P. was not finished though as he added
a late drop goal to set the seal on a fine Gloucester team effort
and denied the visitors the chance of securing a bonus point.
Gloucester’s all round display deserved the win and quite how
they did not score more points is a bit of a mystery.
Next week the exposed terraces of Thomond
Park promise another severe trial for Gloucester. Memories of
conceding more tries and points to Munster in Limerick, than in
any previous game last season still causes sleepless nights.
On that day Gloucester got just about
everything wrong and thereafter the Cherry and Whites season faltered.
Munster have never lost at Thomond Park
and are very tough opposition for sure. Gloucester must play to
their full potential to get a point let alone a win.
Not impossible but very difficult!
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Paul
points the way