United Rugby Championship: Munster ready for trip to South Africa but focus is on Dragons
File photo dated 22-10-2017 Munster forwards coach Graham Rowntree, who has signed a two-year contract extension with the Irish province. Issue date: Tuesday January 4, 2022.
Munster continue their United Rugby Championship season this weekend against the Dragons before they fly to South Africa to play against the Bulls and the Lions.
The games in South Africa were postponed due to the outbreak of the Omicron variant in rounds six and seven and left the Munster squad split up in multiple bubbles as a result.
Prepared for the trip
Despite the earlier complications, forwards coach Graham Rowntree claims there is no anxiety around the travel after the chaotic trip last time.
“All the protocols are sorted and we are happy with them. If I get Covid again, I’ll have another crate of wine in my hotel suite in Cape Town which got me through my isolation,” he joked when speaking to the Irish Times.
“No, we’re happy with the protocols and we’re ready for it. And as I keep saying, we’ll deal with that on Sunday. We’ve a big game on Saturday night and we have to get that right first.”
Rowntree touched on the plans for the travel and that the touring squad is dependent on the injury toll from the clash against the Dragons.
“We’re very clear in terms of what squad we are going to take,” he explained. “We’ll be flying the next day but the guys have done that before. They’re all professionals, they’re used to doing that and looking after themselves. We have a squad in mind. Obviously we have to look after Saturday night first in terms of injury. And we’ll look forward to that South African trip on Sunday.”
Aside from the travel, Munster will be up against very physical opponents in what will pose a different challenge to the province, according to Rowntree.
“They’ll know what to expect from the analysis we have shown them. Physicality is undeniable with South African teams. You know what’s coming. But it’s another thing trying to deal with it. It will be a real test of the basics of our game,” he said.
The Bulls endured a rocky start to life in the URC, copping heavy defeats to Leinster and Connacht but have since risen up the table with the return of their Springbok players.
“I’ve no doubt that at home they’ll be good against us,” said Rowntree. “They’ll be waiting for us. There will be some great places for our guys to go and challenge themselves, playing rugby against some top teams in some top stadiums in a great country. It’s a country I’ve been to more than any other country on the planet. It’s a great rugby country.”
The Lions have not enjoyed a very successful season, sitting low down on the table, but showed their quality against Leinster with strong scrummaging, mauling and running powered by typical South African physicality.
“Watch the Lions games, and see the size of their squad. It’s not fair,” said Rowntree. “It’s not fair. They’re huge men, and that’s a real strength of their game, the Lions. So that’s what we’ve got to deal with in the Lions game.
“The Bulls, physical breakdown. They’ve a physical backrow. Big men running at you very quickly on the high veldt. It’s a bit of a different challenge from what we’re normally used to but it’s a challenge we’ll be ready for.”
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