Munster’s thirst quenched by Heineken
By Aidan Begley

It all seems to be going very well for Irish Rugby in recent months and it got even better last month when a spirited Munster side defeated Biarritz to land the Heineken Cup for the first time.
Having been defeated finalists in 2000 and in 2002, Declan Kidney’s men managed to stay calm and focused despite the onslaught of French champions Biarritz in front of a packed crowd at the Millennium Stadium to claim the trophy 23-19.
Over 50,000 of the sell-out 74,000 crowd were supporting the south Ireland province and with regular shots on the big screen of thousands of Munster fans watching in Limerick, it was to prove the perfect inspiration for the Reds.
Having reached the tournament’s knockout stages every year since 1998, Munster have lost previous finals to Northampton and Leicester and also crashed out in three semi-finals and two quarter-finals, so they were looking to stamp their authority on the game from the off.
However, they got off to the worst possible start when two-time finalists Biarritz went over for a try in the 2nd minute. With the roof closed at the Millennium Stadium, the atmosphere was electric and Munster managed to go into the lead with a penalty and a try before being pegged back to 10-10.
Munster centre Trevor Halstead went over the try-line to give Munster a 17-10 lead at the break – and despite constant Biarritz pressure with the French side closing to within one point of the Reds – Ronan O Gara’s third penalty of the game sealed the win and sparked wild celebrations in Cardiff and back in Ireland.
Following the final whistle, Munster coach Kidney revealed that the prime motivation for his side’s victory was the pain that they had suffered in losing two cup finals in the past six years.
“This bunch of guys have had some tough experiences over the years but have tried to learn every time they have lost. That experience of losing helped them today. I’m extremely proud of all of them as they were put under lots of pressure from an excellent Biarritz side,” said Kidney.
“Each one of them can hold their heads high after the way they all played and the likes of Peter Stringer and Ronan O’Gara did particularly well.
“I also must thank the fans. I haven’t seen such a passionate crowd like that at a sporting event for a long while – they all make up the unique set-up we have at Munster,” he added.
Munster captain Anthony Foley insisted the traveling support of more than 50,000 red-shirted Irishmen was added motivation to the players to make sure they held out for the victory, as a ‘Thank You’ to the fans for all their dedication to the side over the years.
“At times out there it was awesome to see the amount of red. When Biarritz came back at us the fans never got on our back, they are very knowledgeable. Our crowd wouldn’t be silenced today,” said Foley.
“Over the years they’ve been putting their hands in their pocket to follow us around Europe and it’s great that we can give them some silverware. We all just feel like one, that’s the big thing about this team.”
Foley, who has missed just one of Munster’s 77 Heineken Cup games over the last 11 years, added that this victory will not be the last time that the team captures silverware and is determined to win the Heineken Cup again.
“I’ve been in a ground twice when the opposition’s captain has lifted the trophy. To be the one to go up there and pick up the silverware is a great feeling.
“I felt we deserved it over the year. As a player there is nothing that will ever surpass your first international cap. That is the ultimate. But what we achieved today is magnificent. It’s a journey which is not over yet – it’s just another station on the way.
“We can kick on from here and if we do, we can compete for this trophy for a number of years to come,” said a bullish Foley.
Scrum-half and man-of-the-match Peter Stringer who scored Munster’s second try with a quick thinking solo break from a close-range scrum, said that the hard work in defence and discipline enabled them to capture rugby’s equivalent to the Champions League.
“We waited so long, I can’t ask for more than the 100% the guys have given. It has been a long time, we have worked hard. It was about honesty from one to 22 and we are delighted with the win.
“We worked extremely hard in the first half and we tried to produce the same performance in the second. But Biarritz had a purple patch. They came at us but we have worked hard on our defence in the last couple of weeks and we held strong in the end. Our discipline proved very good and I think that won us the game,” added Stringer.
Now that the celebrations have died down, several Munster players will now return to the international scene and head with the Ireland squad to Australia and New Zealand for the summer Test matches.
The games in the Southern Hemisphere will provide an interesting yardstick to see the progression of the Ireland side under Eddie O’Sullivan ahead of the World Cup next year and O’Sullivan thinks that a victory over either side will be the ideal way to end a trophy-laden season.
Irish rugby’s best season since the dawning of the professional era - with the Triple Crown, Heineken Cup and Celtic League trophies all safely in the vault - has O’Sullivan and his players brimming with optimism.
O'Sullivan said: “This tour is coming off the back of a long season - what was for most players a very successful one - but everyone is very much switched on to the task at hand.
“Playing New Zealand and Australia in their own backyards certainly sharpens the mind. The guys from Munster and Ulster (after their efforts in the Heineken Cup and Celtic League) have come into camp very much on a high and it's a great boost for everyone involved.”
Ireland play New Zealand in Hamilton June 10 and Auckland seven days later - and a one-off Test against the Wallabies in Perth on June 24.