Munster vs Perpignan
Dec 10th, 2009 | By Seconds Out | Category: RugbyShould Ronan O’Gara be replaced as place kicker for Friday’s crucial Pool One European Cup encounter with French champions Perpignan at Thomond Park?
Munster face the French side home and away over the next two weekends knowing that two wins will leave them in control of the group and en route to the quarter finals.
However, two wins for the French, who are presently trailing Munster by just one point, will leave them in control of their own destiny.
The Reds received a welcome boost mid week with the news that Paul O’Connell has shrugged off a calf strain and looks set to lead the two times European Cup champions into battle.
Denis Leamy and David Wallace will also make a welcome return after missing last weekend’s defeat to Ospreys through injury but Jerry Flannery has yet to recover from his damaged achilles tendon and his place is taken by Denis Fogarty.
Friday’s showdown in the Treaty City has already been billed as a must-win game for Munster – and the French. With both sides looking set to engage in what should be a massive physical battle up front, the onus will be on the kickers to take maximum advantage of any lapses in concentration.
And that means the pressure will be on O’Gara, the most prolific scorer in the history of the European Cup, to deliver
However, questions were once again raised about the Corkman’s confidence after he missed five from seven during last weekend’s defeat by the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium.
The axed Ireland fly half lost his Irish shirt to Leinster’s Jonathan Sexton for the recent “friendly” with South Africa though Irish coach Declan Kidney, the eternal diplomat, made all the right noises about O’Gara being an integral part of the Irish set up after the game. However, possession is usually nine tenths of the law in sport and unless O’Gara regains his confidence then Kidney will surely stick with Sexton, assuming he recovers sufficiently from a broken hand.
Munster, incidentally, lost by a five-point margin to the Ospreys, a margin that magnified the fact that O’Gara miscued a potential 15 points.
Commentating on O’Gara today, Munster coach Tony McGahan said that “any player is droppable”. He went on to add that they didn’t have a problem with the rest of O’Gara’s game, but did say that they have the option of another place kicker in Paul Warwick.
Acknowledging O’Gara’s contribution down through the years McGahan told the Irish Times: “O’Gara’s been a high-class place kicker for a long period of time so he clearly knows within himself where he is at the moment. Ronan will be the best decision maker in that process and we’ll discuss that but at the end of the day we’ll leave it up to him.”
McGahan appears to be saying that they will leave it up to the player himself whether he will take the kicks? So if O’Gara missed his first two kicks on Friday night will McGahan stick with the gun-shy fly half?
South African centre Jean de Villiers has been dropped from the Munster team for tomorrow night’s game. Keith Earls will instead partner Lifemi Mafi in the centre, with Denis Hurley named ahead of Ian Dowling on the left wing.
The bottom line is that Munster simply cannot afford to squander 15 points against Perpignan. Kick off is at 8pm.
Could be some serious re-shuffling in the back line if O’Gara once again brings whatever demons he seems to be carrying around in his head onto the field tomorrow night.
While Warwick might take over the place-kicking duties if O’Gara fails to land his first two attempts, who’s to say McGahan may just decide to rein ROG in completely and put Warwick in at out-half, put Earls out full-back and introduce DeVilliers to the centre.
In reality, this should really be a coaching decision from the start. If McGahan is unhappy as of this minute with O’Gara’s kicking then he shouldn’t feel obliged to pick him. Declan Kidney felt he wasn’t up to it a fortnight ago, and judging on last Saturday nights game, can feel justified in same. McGahan is taking a mighty risk in leaving it up to O’Gara to turn his kicking around during such a pivotal game, but if he wants to risk it all on the night it will require a major transformation from ROG.
I’d imagine squandering 9 or even as few as 6 points against the champions of France would be enough to see the European campaign lie in tatters.
I’d agree with above Hoof, McGahan leaving it up to himself. We’re not talking about the Transfield Cup here,
is there a Transfield Cup, eh Mr Sniffle? De Villiers was dropped it was announced earlier today. Earls will start in centre. Flannery hasn’t recovered fully from injury.
Ronan O’Gara is still the best place kicker in the Munster team. Last week two of the kicks he missed were on, or outside his range, add to this the weather conditions and anyone would have struggled.
A win and a loosening bonus point over the next two weeks will be a very good return, if we stop Perpignan getting a bonus point this week.
Munster has the best run in if they get these results over the coming two weeks.
Ronan’s loss of form is due to global warming, changing the air density around these parts and causing his spirals to err, not spiral like. Fix global warming first Mr Out and then we’ll have Ronan back to the shiny happy cute cork cunt we all know and love so well.
What chances the frogs will come and wreck everyone’s scene, I mean like, hair straightening and tanning isn’t bloody cheap in these recessionary times and if I’m going to splash out and then Paulie and the lads ruin everything , well fuck that for a game of cowboys .
So, chances.
Now’s here a fucking reactionary opinion. This team is a statement of McGahan’s low ambition.
Warwick at out-half is screaming down from tomorrow’s hopefully frosty heavens and put the Kurt back in the centre.
Donnacha the other cute cork cunt is dragging his fat arse for a long time now, and Donnacha Ryan is a well better player.
And Quinny is gasping more arriving at rooks and then inspecting them, then I am after twenty majors and sex with four altar boys. Gotta be Niall Ronan or Micko.
Ambition Mr Out – missing,and they’re going to fuck up our weekend too .
But I’ve been wrong before, many times actually.
Not too far wrong though.
Knowing Munster they’ll lose in TP and fucking win in France, just to give people nervous breakdowns.
Yeah Seconds,
Nervous breakdowns, heart attacks and wailing and gnashing of teeth an’ other such like.
Yep Mr Geek, I’d say their getting kick backs from the cardiac docs out at the Regional, look at all the business their bringing in…
No excuses for the ineptitude of ROG’s performance last week….de fan,you said they were out of his range and the weather was bad.He’s been kicking in the pissin rain since he could piss,and as for out of his range…I would’ve kicked 2 of them myself with a pair of high heels on…remember the winning kick in Welford road in the group stages a couple of years ago?Hate to say it but maybe he’s past his best and it’s not just a bad streak.I also cannot understand why he was taking so much ball into contact trying to make ground last week when that has and never will be a part of his game.
Seconds out,I agree on the Donnachas situation to a degree,Ryan has played at 6 and done very well,he should be in for Quinny,DOC was immense against the saffers and deserves his place,he does a lot of donkey work that is not as obvious as POC.
I thought Nick Williams was immense against the hairsprays last week when he came on,maybe shifting Leamy to 6 and bringing him in at 8 would be an option at some stage but he’s not even on the bench and TMG seems to have a personal problem with him for some reason.
JDV’s demotion to the bench shows that maybe he’s seen as a mercenary and he came here for the 10k a week but it stinks of scapegoatism when put in the context of last weeks game,ROG didn’t seem to want to pass him(or anyone else for that matter)the ball. Mafi and Earls were proven to be a lightweight combination against the west Brits and this and Earls’s weak left shoulder in the tackle worries me greatly.Fla’s loss is huge!
I have read how the senior players were instrumental in Mcg gettin the job(eg ROG) so maybe it’s a case of him owing a few favours in return,Warwick should be starting at 10 since the ABs game last year in my book but if ROG has close to a repeat of last week and we will be beaten.Have no doubt,this will be a forward orientated,low scoring game,penalties will be vital.We can not put up with him sorting his shit out when there is more than a viable alternative at FB.
Here’s hoping I walk out of Thomond park a corrected man but I have never had less confidence in a Munster team,fingers crossed I am proven very wrong.
I think it’s going to be some game. Interesting views on ROG here, no closing of ranks to protect one of your own but a realistic assessment of his form at the mo. I agree with Pauleire if Warwick can produce his form of the ABs game then he should be in.
It’s surprising to see a Munster team which were the best team in Europe fall so low (by their standards) so quickly. How long before people start pointing the finger at McGahan and who would they look to get in instead?
Anyway, good luck tonight.
I agree. Warwick at No 10 and Earls at 15. ROG for the bench.
Hey Pauliere, like the cut of your jib there and Mr Out’s and Monsieur Le Geek’s cardiac assessment and Herr Bock’s confidence in us all and his reticence in offering me a couple of tickets.
A rant about tickets lads ? Anyone , anyone ? I’ll be watching it below in the in-laws on the dodgy box, cause I couldnt be bothered walking up to our very own impreganble fortress . Bitter, me ?
Oh yea of little faith, Rog to land the kicks and have a stormer.
As i said I hope Im proved very very wrong Red mist and sniffle.I genuinely do,but if it was gridiron and he couldnt kick would he be in there? Dont think the Miami dolphins have much interest in ROG right now after the last 12 months,something’s not right with him,I wish that werent the case but I personallly would not let him near the pitch but instead TMG is giving him yet another chance to sort himself out at the coalface.
As for Mcgahan,the munster branch have just given him a 2 year extension to his contract? stinks of Eddie O sullivan pre world cup to me but as I said I really hope my “infidel” viewpoints come back to bite me in the arse…..here’s hoping!
I’m going to the match!
looks like O’ Gara is on fire but he’s definitely not the problem tonight.
Where are those holes coming from?
Both tries from forward mistakes looking at the replay
Beautiful Drop, Man is on fire…
Welcome back Rog
I’ve used the defibrillator twice in the last ten minutes man.
Well done Munster.
Whose this fucker Seconds Out criticising Ronan, the best fly half in the business.
Oh me of little faith.
Well ROG was hardly beyond criticism prior to Friday, sure hit the jackpot when needed but let’s hope his form has returned and this is more than a blip.
More worrying was the early Christmas presents of two tries handed to Perpignan, any repeat of that shite and there won’t be a sniff of even a bonus point in Catalonia.
Up the jersey/back to basics stuff come Sunday.