Munster V Ulster (11- 37) 3rd January 2009

A terrible game for Munster what went wrong?
I suppose this has been coming for a while. Our recent results were alright when you look at the score but the way we got the results was not based on our best performances. The win at home to Clermont against 14 man side with a score in the last minute is not where we want to be. This has given us a real idea of where we really stand. We need to put in the performances now and grind out the results. If we win our next 3 games we can still be where we need to be but it is time to get completely focused.

What has been the response in the camp?
From a team perspective the only thing that really matters is results and up until now we were getting the results we needed, to be where we want to be. Now everyone needs to look at their individual performance and do the job they are supposed to do. If we all do our jobs we will get the wins we need. The last 6 weeks have been really rocky, the performances have not been our best but we don’t need to panic we just need to come together in the next 3 games and crank the performance up to where we want it to be.

Have the ELV’s changed the game significantly? Do they affect Munster’s performance negatively?
New rules really aren’t relevant in relation to this game. We played new rules at the start of the season and got the results. At the start of the season we adapted well and we can’t blame the rules now. Obviously we prepare slightly different with the new rules more kick strategy, fitness levels need to be higher and the general skill level needs to be better. We have a 6 day turnaround now we just need to focus on getting the results.

Munster’s traditional strengths were not there on the night are you aware of that as the game goes on?
As a player you are aware when you are putting the team through phases. We need to keep pressure on and the ball in hand and keep recycling, we have always been confident in our fitness levels and we like to control the tempo of the game, we didn’t do that they turned over a lot of ball. We kicked away a lot of ball and then lost control of the game. We need to be patient we have the backs now that can exploit holes in the opposition defence (Dowling, Mafi, Howlett), we need to keep building phases and then take the opportunities.

What was the response like in Thomand park?
26K people came to see us play a Magners league match, that is phenomenal support. We need to work harder for them. It is just a bit embarrassing to have a home defeat like that but crowd were very supportive. We are not focusing on the last 6 weeks but concentrating on galvanising our position and now it’s time to crank it up to the next level.

Jerry Flannery in conversation with USN