The 'unbelievable' Munster verdict about decisive Jack Crowley kick
First-year head coach Graham Rowntree has paid great tribute to the youthful Jack Crowley following his dramatic match-winning drop goal which squeezed Munster past Leinster and into a URC final versus the Stormers in Cape Town on May 27.
Munster, who hadn’t beaten Leinster in the league in Dublin since 2014, had stayed in the semi-final fight to trail by only 13-15 with an epic contest coming down the finishing straight at Aviva Stadium. They then struck for the memorable win, the 23-year-old Crowley landing a 78th-minute drop goal to put his side into a 16-15 lead that they gleefully held on to.
“That is an unbelievable skill what he did there under pressure, but he practices that most days. That is the diligence of the kid, he is practicing after training,” enthused Rowntree, who just weeks ago faced the disastrous prospect of Munster not finishing high enough on the URC table to qualify for next season’s Heineken Champions Cup.
Salvation came by way of a dogged effort on their two-match South African tour, Munster winning at the Stormers and then drawing with the Sharks to lever themselves into a fifth-place finish. They have since defeated Glasgow and Leinster away in the knockout stages of the URC and will now battle the defending champion Stormers on the road to try and win the league for the first time since 2011.
Rowntree hailed the building blocks of recent weeks, adding that improvements in training over the winter were crucial to the better levels of fitness that enabled them to fight off immense Leinster pressure.
This is the moment when Jack Crowley wrote himself into the #BKTURC history books… ???#URC | #UnitedWeRise | #LEIvMUN | @MunsterRugby pic.twitter.com/lYVcG3pBG3
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) May 13, 2023
“We tend to stick in the game and our fitness is good,” said Rowntree, insisting he never lost hope after his team fell behind to a 63rd-minute Joe McCarthy try. “Just before the end of the third quarter we had missed a golden opportunity and we have got to be better near the opposition try line, but we never gave up hope.
“We came through some fires the last few weeks and when we go to Cape Town it will be our sixth away game on the bounce. That is where we are finding out about people, tough, battle-hardened so it was never hopeless, this team don’t go away.
“It [the performance] was not perfect. We have got to be more clinical, we spoke about it at half-time, more clinical near the opposition try line. So no, we weren’t perfect but delighted with the fight and the spirit.
“We are into a final. I said to the group during the week, 25 days ago we were paranoid about European qualification, now we are in a semi, now we are in a final and we are still growing. Pete (O’Mahony) spoke really well in the dressing room about this not being our final, so we go down to Cape Town with belief.
“I’m seen tangible improvements in our game. I saw that when results weren’t going our way back in the autumn, I had full belief in what I had seen, even in training. But we are here to win, aren’t we, and to go get this far and get to a final we will be gunning for it.”
About those changes in training, the ex-Leicester and England prop added: “How you train every day and what we do at training every day, we changed that a lot, you have got to train at intensity, test your skills under pressure and then on top of that we have the ability to chop and change and rest.
“We had a core group who have battled away from home for five weeks and that has given them true belief. Our fitness has been a huge improvement this year.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Ardie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
1 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to comments