Preview: Munster v New Zealand
It's 30 years and 18 days since Munster ruined an otherwise flawless New Zealand tour of the UK with a 12-0 win in Limerick. Some 100,000 claim to have been at the match, even though the ground only held 15,000 at the time.
It's 30 years and 18 days since Munster ruined an otherwise flawless New Zealand tour of the UK with a 12-0 win in Limerick. Some 100,000 claim to have been at the match, even though the ground only held 15,000 at the time.
The only try of the game was scored by student Christy Cantillon, while Tony Ward landed the conversion and dropped two goals.
The night of glory even spawned a play called Alone It Stands, a performance of which was attended by New Zealand's current squad on Monday shortly after arrival in Ireland's south.
Neither side is even remotely at full strength for the anniversary clash on Tuesday – unlike the night of October 31, 1978 – but the significance of the occasion and the celebrations surrounding it ought to be enough to create another memorable night regardless of the outcome this time.
“We're going to watch the play to get some understanding of it,” Hansen said on Monday.
“By the the time the game comes round and they've walked around Limerick they'll be well versed about how they are feeling down there.”
Much has changed in the last 30 years. Munster now have a trio of Kiwis in their ranks, including one Doug Howlett who has played more matches with some of the visitors than he has with his own current team. The newly-refurbished stadium is twice the size it was before as well, although it is still trying to develop the aura it used to possess.
Howlett publicly speculated earlier in the week whether he, and compatriots Lifiemi Mafi, Jeremy Manning and Rua Tipoki, might not perform a haka of their own as the All Blacks go through their pre-match ritual.
“If they do (a haka) I think that'll be great. They're New Zealanders, they've got the right to do the haka,” Hansen said. Whether he will be as sanguine if the Welsh start trying to put on their own show on Saturday remains to be seen.
The match will also be preceded by a minute of silence in the memory of Shane Geogeghan, who was killed as a result of mistaken identity by one of the drug gangs currently ruling Limerick's less savoury neighbourhoods.
The increased demands of the professional game mean that players can no longer turn out for province one day and then national side four days later, or vice versa, as they may have done 30 years ago.
Thus it is that the Irish head into the game without pretty much their entire first-choice pack, while the visitors hand debuts to a few players.
Scott Waldrom, Ben Franks, Hikawera Elliot and Alby Mathewson should all get some game-time in the black jersey – the first two are guaranteed it as members of the starting XV. Joe Rokocoko is the only member of Saturday's starting XV against Ireland to start for the All Blacks again.
Munster's side includes a lot of players who have Heineken Cup experience and more than a couple of former Ireland internationals, as well as the recard-breakig Howlett. It's a side not as short on experience as many might think, but the reserves are stretched.
So home fans may not get the result they want, and with the teams as weakened as they are, it was the occasion that was always going to matter more anyway. But, bar the moment of silence to remember the unfortunate Geogeghan, it will be a night to enjoy for one of rugby's finest heartlands, a night to remember events of 30 years ago when rugby was a more simple sport.
Prediction: The All Blacks, second string as they may be, simply have too much firepower for Munster this time. But it might be close until near the end. New Zealand by 20.
The teams:
Munster: 15 Barry Murphy, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Rua Tipoki, 12 Lifeimi Mafi, 11 Ian Dowling, 10 Paul Warwick, 9 Peter Stringer, 8 Denis Leamy, 7 Niall Ronan, 6 James Coughlan, 5 Donnacha Ryan, 4 Mick O'Driscoll (captain), 3 Timmy Ryan, 2 Frankie Sheahan, 1 Federico Pucciariello,
Replacements: 16 Denis Fogarty, 17 Tony Buckley, 18 Mark Melbourne, 19 Billy Holland, 20 John O'Sullivan, 21 Mike Prendergast, 22 Jeremy Manning.
New Zealand: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Hosea Gear, 13 Anthony Tuitavake, 12 Isaia Toeava, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Piri Weepu (captain), 8 Liam Messam, 7 Scott Waldrom, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Ross Filipo, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Replacements: 16 Hikawera Elliott, 17 John Afoa, 18 Brad Thorn, 19 Kieran Read, 20 Alby Mathewson, 21 Richard Kahui, 22 Mils Muliaina.
Date: Tuesday, November 18
Venue: Thomond Park, Limerick
Kick-off: 19.30 GMT
Weather: 9°C, dry, fresh northerly breeze
Referee: Romain Poite
Touch judges: Christophe Berdos, Cédric Marchat
TMO: Eric Gauzins