Munster v Saracens: Five takeaways as ‘battle of the eights’ the highlight of Champions Cup throwback

Colin Newboult
Saracens number eight Tom Willis and Munster number eight Gavin Coombes in action during Champions Cup tie.

Saracens number eight Tom Willis and Munster number eight Gavin Coombes in action during Champions Cup tie.

Following a tense 17-12 victory for Munster over Saracens, here are our five takeaways from the Investec Champions Cup encounter at Thomond Park on Saturday.

The top line

Munster kept themselves in the Champions Cup hunt as they eked out a key victory over Saracens in a game full of intensity and physicality.

The Irish province may well be low on confidence and shorn of a head coach after Graham Rowntree’s departure, but that old Munster spirit came to the fore in this encounter as they came from 9-3 down to emerge triumphant at Thomond Park. They may not be the side that were perennial contenders but by hook or by crook the Limerick-based outfit tend to make the knockout stages and they are on course here.

Two Alex Lozowski penalties and another from Elliot Daly had put Sarries in control – Jack Crowley responding with a three-pointer for Munster – but the hosts scored two quick-fire tries to turn the game on its head. Dian Bleuler went over before John Hodnett scampered across the whitewash to give them the win, despite Lozowski’s third penalty setting up a tense finale.

Winning the big moments

In what was an extremely tight affair, the Irish province quite simply kept their composure at the crucial times and came up with the big plays when it mattered, particularly in the second period. While there were far too many handling errors from the hosts, their persistence eventually paid off in the final quarter.

It was a matter of key men stepping up with Gavin Coombes’ big carry leading to Bleuler’s try and then Hodnett finishing off a move started by Crowley’s kick for the decisive score. In contrast, Sarries were profligate in the opposition 22, with Liam Williams blowing a chance late on to condemn them to a narrow loss.

Tale of two eights

Coombes has already been mentioned briefly but he played his part in a fascinating number eight duel against Saracens’ highly rated Tom Willis. The latter has been in fine form this season and has been touted for England’s Six Nations squad, but the back-rower wasn’t quite as impactful in the carry as he has been.

Once again, his work ethic on both sides of the ball was exceptional, while he produced some excellent moments in the final few minutes, but it was not a display to really make Steve Borthwick sit up and take notice.

Willis actually finished top for carries and defenders beaten but, as the quote goes, ‘lies, damn lies and statistics’. In terms of the moments that mattered, it was Coombes who had the better of the game, as evidenced by his carry in the build-up to Bleuler’s score. However, if one moment summed up the battle, it was Coombes’ intercept of Willis’ pass. The Munsterman just had the edge and it ultimately had a significant impact on the end result.

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Battle in the air and on the floor

Some might say it was one for the purists and it certainly harked back to the amateur era. The breakdown was a ferocious confrontation, there was plenty of kicking and the aerial duel resulted in plenty of dropped balls. It was perhaps not the most free-flowing game but it did make for an enthralling contest in certain aspects.

Both teams had their moments of winning the small battles with the kicking games of Conor Murray and Ivan van Zyl both on point. At the breakdown, Maro Itoje and Tadhg Beirne were typically effective, which prevented the respective teams from gaining any momentum with ball in hand and led to a scrappy encounter.

Six Nations watch

With the squads being announced next week, this was the last chance for players to impress. Some invariably took it, while others didn’t, but it resulted in an intriguing subplot. For Munster, player of the match Beirne is an automatic Ireland pick, but there are plenty of players who are on the fringes of selection that needed a big game.

One such individual was Crowley. He was usurped by Sam Prendergast in the Autumn Nations Series and was then at the centre of a debate when he was rested for their URC clash with Leinster, denying those watching a chance to see a head-to-head between the leading Ireland fly-half contenders.

You feel that Prendergast has since edged ahead and this display probably won’t have helped Crowley’s cause. He was much better in the second period and the crossfield kick for Hodnett’s try was superb, but there are a few too many poor decisions at the moment.

Munster’s form has not helped him, however, and that may hold him back, and that possibly also applies to some of his provincial team-mates, such as Coombes, Jack O’Donoghue, Oli Jager, Calvin Nash, Shane Daly and Murray, who are there or thereabouts.

As for Saracens, Ben Earl, Itoje and captain Jamie George are certain to make the 23, but individuals like Willis, Theo Dan and Daly are battling to be involved. There are also plenty of fans of Lozowski, particularly with Henry Slade struggling in November, but his mistake which ended the game rather summed up the centre’s subpar performance.

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