Report from the Computer Chair - Munster v Saints
By Ballagher
November 16 2011
From safely behind his computer feed, Ballagher offers a new dimension to Match reporting - sort of read as you go - what do you think?
Saints miss out on bonus point at Thomond Park
As Saints supporters, we've got to be happy with the result last Saturday; even if the performance for large stretches of the game left much to be desired. But at the end of the day, I suspect that we may be collectively regretting the fact that we didn't secure that crucial bonus point.
Unfortunately, I have been snowed under since the game (all but) ended, so this is my first opportunity to share my view of things. No doubt the match has been inwardly dissected by now but, as I haven't had the chance or inclination to do any further research (by say looking at the papers or supporters' message boards) you may find this report (unhindered by other people's views) an interesting read. Also, as I've taken the trouble to write it, so please indulge me.
Now I couldn't afford a long weekend in Munster and am too stingy to pay for the sports channels on cable. So I was restricted to watching on an internet feed (thanks to the good posters of coysdc that showed me where to go). These are the highlights of what I saw:
18:07A bit late logging on but I've learnt from past experience that you get fewer freezes if you wait for the game to have started. I would have logged on a couple of minutes before but the kids were arguing so I've sent them into the street to play with the traffic. Hopefully the match was delayed a couple of minutes (I dunno why – say the ref's mike wasn't working – it's happened before). Dewi Morris in the commentary box – OK, sound duly muted for the rest of the game. There's an annoying advert covering the top left hand corner of the screen so I can't see the score or time. But anyway nothing happens in the first few minutes of a game so I'm sure it's nil-nil.
18:10 The first chance (I'm reckoning there's been about 6 minutes play so far) at points falls to the Saints with a penalty shot at goal. A long range effort from Lamb; just not quite enough on it. Shame. Still all square.
18:12 That's more like it! Superb interplay including all of the back three. Ashton scores in the corner and Lamb converts. 0-7 to the visitors!
18:17 It gets better. Penalty to the Saints. Stroked over by Lamb. 0-10.
18:21 At last the Munstermen come to life and score ... oh no they don't. That was a forward pass. Well spotted ref.
18:22 And therefore we have (probably) the first scrum of the game. Penalty Saints of course. They now clear their lines. They'll be plenty more where that came from and it looks like it's going to be a long night for the men in red.
18:25 Another penalty to Saints. Another good kick from Lamb. 13 points to the good.
18:40 Lots of effort but very little to show for it. It must be nearly half-time. Hopefully Saints can go in at the break with this cushion.
18:41 Only just! Munster nearly score but neither Ashton nor the onrushing Munsterman can quite reach the ball before it goes dead. After consulting the video technology, the ref rightly awards a 22 drop out. For some reason Saints don't just boot it into touch but that must be half-time so I've got to log off and count how many kids I have left. (Oh hang on – we started late didn't we? Oh dear I've logged off now. Never mind; nothing ever happens just before half time.)
19:06 Oh good. It's looks like I've turned back on just in time to see the 2nd half kick-off.
19:07 And Saints don't wait long to capitalise on a Munster error resulting in a penalty. Lamb with the three points and it's 0-16. If Munster are to win from here then they're going to need to score three times at least.
19:21 And it's not going to happen. Finally Saints get the reward for which their dominance deserves. Downey goes over for the second try of the match. If I had the sound on I suspect the Munster crowd would be booing by now. It can't be for anything the ref (who hasn't put a foot wrong all night) has done. O'Gara had a hand in the try – knocking a Lamb pass backwards towards his own try line. (O'Gara is way out of his depth tonight and clearly no longer the man Munster need to yank this one out of the fire.) The crowd must be booing their team's poor performance which is harsh but fair. Munster are playing without any passion. Anyway Munster; 3 converted tries to level it (as if).
19:31 Try Saints! Argh – no it's not. Vasily knocks on with the line begging. He'll be cross with himself but I guess if you're going to make a mistake like that, this is the sort of scoreline you want at the time. All the same, that would have put us within one of the four try bonus.
19:37 What is O'Gara doing now? They finally win a penalty and he opts for the posts! (Let's see, they kicked off at 19:06 so there's 9 minutes to go by my reckoning.) Maybe he thinks there's time for 7 penalties to level it! Frankly, the losing bonus point looks beyond their grasp now - but I guess they haven't had a sniff of the Saints try line (apart from the two times they crossed it but the tries disallowed of course). Presumably, the only thing left is to avoid being nilled at home. Oh he's missed it (so even that didn't work).
19:38 Finally a cheer (I imagine) from the home crowd as John Hayes steps onto the field to win is 1,000th Heineken Cup cap (well it must be something like that – I remember he was in the front row that crumbled against us in the 2000 final). Well played John – great ambassador for the sport.
19:50 Boy is this dull. Munster have recycled the ball goodness knows how many times and I imagine we're now just about into overtime but they can't stop until someone boots the thing out. So why don't they? Saints can't get two more tries from here; Munster can't get a losing bonus point. I guess they don't want to be nilled – but they're going to be because they won't score a try and O'Gara lacks the nerve for a long distance drop goal. Well I've had enough. It's time I went to count the kids again.
Assuming there is no more scoring; a 21-0 victory is not at all bad for the Saints. But, as I said at the top, the performance was lacking and although it was largely the right result, I hope no-one feels wholly satisfied with four points from a match when frankly we should have had all five.
Signing out; thank you for reading,
Computer-chair supporter.
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