Proinsias
02-10-2006, 10:27 AM
Yup, Christian Cullen managed 9 minutes of rugby before getting injured.
FFS, Crockery.
Is Cullen's future all black?
02/10/2006
By
Barry Couglan
IS it the end of the road in Munster for New Zealand legend Christian Cullen?
The jinxed ex-All Black lasted only nine minutes of Saturday's Magners League victory over Ulster, clutching his shoulder again as he trooped off the Musgrave Park pitch.
Whether it was a recurrence of the problem that has dramatically restricted his contribution to the province since his move to the northern hemisphere remains to be seen. Munster management were evasive afterwards but fans will fear the worst.
There was justifiable satisfaction in the Munster camp, however, at a result which got their Magners League challenge back on track — coach Declan Kidney admitting that a victory over champions Ulster, who beat them twice last season, was imperative.
But the injury woes didn't end with Cullen. Shaun Payne followed him off the pitch with a hip injury, and Anthony Horgan looked in serious trouble when he damaged a knee late in the game. That was on top of hamstring strains suffered by Ian Dowling during the match and by Frankie Sheahan last week.
Munster had their customary slow start, coughing up ten points in as many minutes. However, they dug deep, took charge of the battle up front despite an horrendous first-half line-out return, and finally beat Ulster into submission.
It didn't help that Andy Kyriacou's line-out throwing proved problematic for Munster, but new captain Paul O'Connell jumped to the defence of the young English signing.
"He hadn't been involved much in our line-out work until Frankie (Sheahan) cried off. He had no chance to work with us on the calls, and we didn't help him in the first half. There were a couple of occasions when we moved up and down the line and it appeared that he might have overthrown. That was our fault, not his," admitted O'Connell.
But if Munster had problems out of touch, the pack played superbly in every other aspect of play.
It said much that, with the game appearing to be slipping away, Ulster coach Mark McCall saw fit to replace flankers Neil Best and Neil McMillan because of the pressurehis side were under at the breakdown from Alan Quinlan, Anthony Foley and David Wallace.!
And then there was the famed Munster rolling maul. After conceding those early scores — a penalty by in-form David Humphreys, a superb try from Paul Steinmetz and conversion from the outhalf, Munster finally got their act together.
Ronan O'Gara's squeezed over the conversion of Wallace's excellent try after 19 minutes and soon afterwards, substitute Trevor Halstead broke the midfield line with sublime finesse. John Kelly broke free, was stopped short, but managed to recycle possession before the ball was whipped out by Peter Stringer for Horgan to score in the corner.
Ulster's petulant captain Justin Harrison was in the sin-bin at the time, but Ulster still managed to respond with a penalty from Humphreys to lead 13-12 at the break.
Munster dominated the second half. They moved back in front with a penalties from O'Gara in the 52nd and 72nd minutes. However, the 18-13 lead should surely have been greater.
Referee Donal Courtney awarded Munster that second penalty after Kelly was hauled back over the line when chasing an O'Gara chip ahead. Ulster substitute Kieran Campbell was despatched to the sideline for ten minutes but Munster were not awarded a penalty try. Strange decision.
MUNSTER: C. Cullen, A. Horgan, J. Kelly, S. Payne, I. Dowling, R. O'Gara, P. Stringer, M. Horan, A. Kyriacou, F. Pucciariello, D. O'Callaghan, P. O'Connell, A. Quinlan, A. Foley, D. Wallace.
Replacements: T. Halstead for Cullen (9, inj), E. Hickey for Payne (40, inj), T. McGann for Horgan (55, injd), T. Ryan for Puciariello (79), M. O'Driscoll for Foley (82).
ULSTER: B. Cunningham, T. Bowe, P. Steinmetz, P. Wallace, A. Trimble, D. Humphreys, I. Boss, J. Fitzpatrick, R. Best, B. Young, J. Harrison, M. McCullough, N. Best, R. Wilson, N. McMillan.
Replacements: S. Ferris for Best (52), K. Dawson for McMillan (54), T. Barker for McCullough, K. Maggs for Steinmetz (both 63), K. Campbell for Bowe (64, inj), D. Fitzpatrick for R. Best, P. Shields for Young (both 79).
FFS, Crockery.
Is Cullen's future all black?
02/10/2006
By
Barry Couglan
IS it the end of the road in Munster for New Zealand legend Christian Cullen?
The jinxed ex-All Black lasted only nine minutes of Saturday's Magners League victory over Ulster, clutching his shoulder again as he trooped off the Musgrave Park pitch.
Whether it was a recurrence of the problem that has dramatically restricted his contribution to the province since his move to the northern hemisphere remains to be seen. Munster management were evasive afterwards but fans will fear the worst.
There was justifiable satisfaction in the Munster camp, however, at a result which got their Magners League challenge back on track — coach Declan Kidney admitting that a victory over champions Ulster, who beat them twice last season, was imperative.
But the injury woes didn't end with Cullen. Shaun Payne followed him off the pitch with a hip injury, and Anthony Horgan looked in serious trouble when he damaged a knee late in the game. That was on top of hamstring strains suffered by Ian Dowling during the match and by Frankie Sheahan last week.
Munster had their customary slow start, coughing up ten points in as many minutes. However, they dug deep, took charge of the battle up front despite an horrendous first-half line-out return, and finally beat Ulster into submission.
It didn't help that Andy Kyriacou's line-out throwing proved problematic for Munster, but new captain Paul O'Connell jumped to the defence of the young English signing.
"He hadn't been involved much in our line-out work until Frankie (Sheahan) cried off. He had no chance to work with us on the calls, and we didn't help him in the first half. There were a couple of occasions when we moved up and down the line and it appeared that he might have overthrown. That was our fault, not his," admitted O'Connell.
But if Munster had problems out of touch, the pack played superbly in every other aspect of play.
It said much that, with the game appearing to be slipping away, Ulster coach Mark McCall saw fit to replace flankers Neil Best and Neil McMillan because of the pressurehis side were under at the breakdown from Alan Quinlan, Anthony Foley and David Wallace.!
And then there was the famed Munster rolling maul. After conceding those early scores — a penalty by in-form David Humphreys, a superb try from Paul Steinmetz and conversion from the outhalf, Munster finally got their act together.
Ronan O'Gara's squeezed over the conversion of Wallace's excellent try after 19 minutes and soon afterwards, substitute Trevor Halstead broke the midfield line with sublime finesse. John Kelly broke free, was stopped short, but managed to recycle possession before the ball was whipped out by Peter Stringer for Horgan to score in the corner.
Ulster's petulant captain Justin Harrison was in the sin-bin at the time, but Ulster still managed to respond with a penalty from Humphreys to lead 13-12 at the break.
Munster dominated the second half. They moved back in front with a penalties from O'Gara in the 52nd and 72nd minutes. However, the 18-13 lead should surely have been greater.
Referee Donal Courtney awarded Munster that second penalty after Kelly was hauled back over the line when chasing an O'Gara chip ahead. Ulster substitute Kieran Campbell was despatched to the sideline for ten minutes but Munster were not awarded a penalty try. Strange decision.
MUNSTER: C. Cullen, A. Horgan, J. Kelly, S. Payne, I. Dowling, R. O'Gara, P. Stringer, M. Horan, A. Kyriacou, F. Pucciariello, D. O'Callaghan, P. O'Connell, A. Quinlan, A. Foley, D. Wallace.
Replacements: T. Halstead for Cullen (9, inj), E. Hickey for Payne (40, inj), T. McGann for Horgan (55, injd), T. Ryan for Puciariello (79), M. O'Driscoll for Foley (82).
ULSTER: B. Cunningham, T. Bowe, P. Steinmetz, P. Wallace, A. Trimble, D. Humphreys, I. Boss, J. Fitzpatrick, R. Best, B. Young, J. Harrison, M. McCullough, N. Best, R. Wilson, N. McMillan.
Replacements: S. Ferris for Best (52), K. Dawson for McMillan (54), T. Barker for McCullough, K. Maggs for Steinmetz (both 63), K. Campbell for Bowe (64, inj), D. Fitzpatrick for R. Best, P. Shields for Young (both 79).