Last Word On Rugby, by Rory Boyd.

An emotional Munster side ran in five tries on Sunday, to beat Glasgow Warriors 38-7 at Thomond Park, Limerick. After the tragic death of their head coach and former captain Anthony ‘Axel’ Foley, the Munster boys did their best to honour his legacy. While it serves as an important game in the clubs European Champions Cup pool stage, it will be remembered as something much, much greater.

Honour the memory of Anthony Foley

Limerick is a city in mourning. One of their favourite sons has been taken from them far too early. The game at Thomond Park served as something of a ‘public wake’ after the funeral on Friday. The ground was full to overflowing [25,600 in attendance] and the atmosphere was extraordinary. Commemorative programmes sold out and everyone was in their seat well before kickoff.

By the match start, there was barely a dry eye in the house as the Munster supporters choir belted out the traditional ‘Fields of Athenry’, before singing Foley’s club Shannon RFC‘s anthem ‘There is an isle’. After the customary, and solemn minutes silence; where even the opponents paid homage, it was time to let all the emotions out.

Munster channeled the emotions

Munster made a thunderous start to the match. It was like watching the Munster of old, Axel Foley’s Munster. There was an intensity to the game that is usually reserved for the biggest international games. Every Munster player was at full-gas going into contact and it left a strong Glasgow side ‘out of sorts’.

Within four minutes Munster drove a lineout maul from halfway over the Glasgow 10 metre line, just like Axel did so many times in his career. A couple of phases later, Keith Earls ran a sharp line in off his wing, to deliver the sweetest of offloads. The receiver, Tyler Bleyendaal, looked a man possessed as he charged for the line.  Not known for his power, the Kiwi outside-half carried Sean Lamont and Alex Dunbar over the line with him. The crowd all stood in appreciation, heralding a move Axel would have drilled into his men.

Belated congrats to @Tylerbleyendaal, MOTM in his 1st European game. Euro debuts also for Sweetnam & Scott #MUNvGLA pic.twitter.com/NkX3jBXK7L

— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) October 22, 2016

Bleyendaal, who had a tremendous game in every way a five-eighth could, played a key role in the second try as well. A monstrous Dave Kilcoyne carry gave Munster quick ball in Glasgow’s 22. Conor Murray gave a flat pass to Bleyendaal who threw the most exquisite delayed pass to Rory Scannell, who held his depth perfectly. Scannell’s timing caused Glasgow’s drift-defence to stop in it’s track, giving Munster a three on one overlap. Scannell timed his pass perfectly to put Jaco Taute over in the corner.

Earls sees red

With Munster 14-3 up inside 15 minutes, one player in particular stood out. Keith Earls was playing well, but what was noticeable was how he was looking for hits. A couple of times he came off his wing just to smash a Glasgow player in defence. While everyone was fired up for the occasion, Earls looked to be a little ‘out of control’.

Come the 19th minute, he was defending in the middle of the park, lining up hooker Fraser Brown. He got his body gloriously low, ready to drive up and over his man. Sadly he wrapped around a solitary leg, which is always trouble. Driving up around someone’s knee a player is always going to commit to a flip-tackle–and it leaves the result of the tackle a lottery. Nobody wanted to see any cards today, but Brown landed fair on his head, so Jerome Garces had little choice but to show Earl a red card.

Now, an emotional Munster side was going to have to play for an hour without a winger. This would usually be a problem, but credit to the 14 remaining, they covered brilliantly. While the aforementioned Bleyendaal, Murray and Taute were excellent, the remaining back two were crucial. Darren Sweetnam is turning into a brilliant rugby player, strong under the high ball, quick as anyone and with great hands. He did a lot of the hard, un-glamorous stuff required on Saturday–but made it look easy.

Simon Zebo on the other wing, even though he started at 15, put in the perfect display to remind head coach Joe Schmidt he’s available for Ireland. His try was a perfect example of how any winger should keep themselves in play; feet in the air, body moving forward and committed to the advantage line. With this effort, Munster went into the break 24-3 up.

Forward dominance

While the backs were good, as with all great Munster performances it was the ugly boys up front that won it. CJ Stander was his usual combination of brute force and astonishing game intelligence. It was fitting that a player of his quality would play at number 8 for this game, even if he wore 24 out of respect.

Alongside him in the back row, Peter O’Mahony did everything he could to maintain the tradition of great Munster captains. O’Mahony understandably struggled to express himself in the Thursday press conference, but had no trouble on the field on Sunday. He was constantly in his teammate’s ears to keep them on task–reflecting the best traits of the teams mentor.

It was in the set piece where Munster where near unstoppable. The scrum in particular was almostly cruel in how dominant it was. Munster had already obliterated Edinburgh in the tight this season, so now they’ve completed the ‘Scottish double’. Dave Kilcoyne, who carried so well as has already been mentioned, made the supremely talented Zander Fagerson look as inexperienced as he is. At one point Munster managed to cleave off the entire loosehead side of the scrum; lock, flanker and all.

John Ryan continued his excellent season, not giving Gordon Reid an inch. Often forgotten in scrum analysis though, the second rows for Munster were pan-flat. You could rest your finest china on Donnacha Ryan and Billy Holland‘s backs and it would have been safer than in your cupboard. Solid as a rock, each had excellent games in the loose too.

Unforgettable occasion

In the end, nobody could argue with the result. Munster fronted-up, played to their traditional values and smashed out the result. Glasgow played their part, and played the full eighty, but it wasn’t a day for them. They still have the quality to get out of a tight group, but Munster needed this game. Munster desired this performance, in honour of their friend, mentor and coach.

The game will long live in the memory of anyone who witnessed it. It’s hard to think of a more fitting tribute to one of the most endearing, lovable rugby blokes that has ever lived.

RIP Anthony ‘Axel’ Foley. On Sunday, an emotional Munster played their hearts out, in honour of your memory, your family and team mates worldwide.

“Main photo credit”