‘It’s pretty much a Springboks package’

Munster boss Graham Rowntree is prepared for a big clash with the Sharks in Durban this weekend in a game crucial to their season.

The former United Rugby Championship winners have not had the best start to their campaign, with just two wins from five, leaving them 11th in the table.

Of course, the regular season will only be one-third complete after this week, but given how competitive the league is, the province can’t afford to let it slip any further, especially considering they defeated the Stormers last time out couldn’t beat a match. could have won.

Find a way out

Rowntree believes his side can “move on” and find a way out of the rough patch, although the Springboks-laden Sharks are not making things any easier.

“You need to roll up your sleeves,” Rowntree said to the Irish examiner. “You have to roll with the punches. You get to work on it. Injuries come and go throughout the season. Obviously we’ve had a tough time with that, and we’ve done that before.

“You keep going and you test the depth of your team. As I’ve said before, we are fortunate to have many young men training with us every day, so we can do things like dive into the academy props. And some young men have done some famous things for us.

“So that’s in the back of your mind: you obviously test the depth of your team with injuries. But you keep going anyway, right? You get to work on it. Fix what you can.

“I’m incredibly lucky to have a great coaching group and I support them. I’ve seen them get better players. And so we drive on. You roll up your sleeves and get to work. I have nothing better to say than that.’

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A limping lineout

One of the handicaps of Munster’s season so far has been their lineout, which played a part in their defeat to the Stormers and the Springboks quality of Eben Etzebeth won’t make that any easier.

The Munster boss is confident the issues can be resolved.

“I’m pretty sure if we can improve our mechanics, our speed, our lift and our throwing accuracy, that will improve our lineout,” Rowntree said.

“I’m quite confident that if we take the right option our lineout will improve. I’m not here to consider insider knowledge. For many people, lineout calling is the same. It’s about who can get in faster, who can move faster than the opposition.”

The Sharks have flattered to deceive in recent years despite a jewel-encrusted squad, but they do have 11 World Cup-winning players in their arsenal and Rowntree’s plain language was once again evident as he tackled the magnitude of the task.

“It’s a big game. It’s pretty much a Springbok package waiting for us in the Durban heat on Saturday. What gives me comfort is that we have done it before.”

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