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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Mark Donlon

Munster blasted over 'rubbish' slogans by Donal Lenihan

Former Munster and Ireland second row Donal Lenihan has dismissed as 'rubbish' the slogans attached to the province and said more intricate tactical improvements are required to restore success to the Reds.

Munster recently crashed out of the Heineken Champions Cup after losing to Toulouse on placed kicks before last Saturday's interprovincial clash against Leinster saw Leo Cullen's men ease them out of the way in a 35-25 bonus point victory.

The 24-24 Champions Cup thriller against Toulouse did go all the way and drew a huge crowd to the Aviva Stadium, but while Lenihan was pleased with the reconnection with the fans, he said on-field performances must vastly improve.

The Munster slogan 'To the brave and faithful, nothing is impossible' was also dismissed as 'rubbish' by the Irish rugby legend.

Speaking on RTE's Against The Head programme, he said: "When you go back to that Toulouse game, it was brilliant in that there was a reconnection with the soul of Munster, which I felt had dissipated over the last two years.

"I know a lot of people in Cork who have just stopped travelling to Limerick for games.

"There's a lot of dissatisfaction about the way Munster were playing.

"That experience, on and off the field, young people coming to the game, was brilliant.

"But what drove me mad in the build up to that Toulouse game was this nonsense coming out from the coaching team: 'to the brave and faithful, nothing is impossible', 'we'll stand up and fight'; that's rubbish."

Lenihan pointed to the 1954 meeting between the All-Blacks and Munster where the Irish province were narrowly beaten at the Mardyke.

According to Lenihan, the performance on that day gave meaning to those slogans - but modern day rugby has evolved and now requires deeper tactical innovation.

He continued: "The All-Blacks came to the Mardyke in 1954 and Munster lost 6-3. That [slogan] was in evidence that day.

"From your coaching team, you want technical and tactical additions.

"I don't see that. This 'stand up and fight' is rubbish."

And former Leinster and Ireland hooker Bernard Jackman was in agreement and said Munster's incoming coaching team of Graham Rowntree, Mike Prendergast and Denis Leamy will need more than the current barrage of slogans to implement positive change for Munster.

He said: "The Toulouse game maybe gave a false dawn.

"Saturday exposed how far behind they are, plus they're not going to have a significant signing at hooker or tighthead.

"When they come up against the best, they're going to struggle in those areas, no matter what Rowntree or Prendergast or Leamy do."

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