From one prop to another

It's one of the match-ups you might not see filling the column inches on either screen or newspaper ahead of the Heineken Cup final, and certainly not after it.

It's one of the match-ups you might not see filling the column inches on either screen or newspaper ahead of the Heineken Cup final, and certainly not after it.

But the clash between Daan Human of Toulouse and John Hayes of Munster at the coal-face of the scrum on Saturday will mean just as much as that of Thierry dusautoir against David Wallace, or Yannick Jauzion and Rua Tipoki.

Human was one of few Toulouse players to speak to the media this week, with coach Guy Noves slamming doors shut on intrusions into his preparations. Munster have been equally quiet, creating a prickly air of tension hanging over the match.

The South African, who has been in France for three years now, took the time to point out that Hayes will bring more to the game than the average prop, even if his reputation as a scrummager is more average than others.

“Maybe some people wonder why John Hayes has won so many caps for Ireland and been such a stalwart for Munster over the years when he doesn't have a reputation as a scrummaging prop” he said to the Irish Independent.

“But I would suggest it's appropriate to look at him in a different way.

“You can ask any guy, any jumper in the whole Irish team who appreciates John's quality of lifting at the line-outs.

“Today's rugby is not just about scrummaging. How many balls do teams play off scrums, how many off line-outs? The answer is, maybe twice as many off line-outs and John definitely brings a lot of quality to line-outs.

“John Hayes has definitely got enough quality to contribute fully to the Munster side. Besides his line-out work, he puts in a lot of tackles.

“Then there are the number of rucks he hits. He plays in such a good group, that is why Ireland have continued to pick him. The Munster pack is just about the Irish pack and we are very aware of the challenge they pose.”

As for the threat his opposition poses, Human was more concerned at what he saw as an apparent weakness in his team's pasyche.

“Most of the French players, whichever club they represent, would still choose the French Championship title over the Heineken Cup,” he said.

“I have been in the Toulouse dressing room and seen this. When we lost to Stade Français in the semi-final of the French Championship last season, almost all the guys in our dressing room were in tears.

“I haven't seen that sort of crying after a Heineken Cup match. It may be because of the history and tradition of the French Championship compared to the Heineken Cup, I don't know. A lot of French clubs don't worry too much about the Heineken Cup: the French Championship definitely assumes a greater importance, in their view.

“But I don't think that will be our attitude this weekend and I hope not. We have already qualified for the semi-final of the French Championship so we can concentrate fully on this Heineken final. For this club, everything is important these days.”

Munster will bring a kaleidoscope of challenges into play against France's flagship club, with the variety of their game perhaps the biggest threat on the day.

“They were paired in a formidable group yet came out of it to qualify,” said Human.

“This year, Clermont Auvergne have been a very good team yet Munster still qualified from that group. In my eyes, they earn a lot of respect for that achievement. We know they have a lot of high qualities and their achievement this year confirms that.

“They can pick and go, plus keep the ball the whole day. Obviously, we believe in what we have which is a quality side. But you have to acknowledge Munster's great consistency in this competition. It proves they are formidable opponents.”