It’s an ill wind and all that, but Kiwi
Rob Penney
believes Irish rugby teams, especially his own
Munster
side, can learn from the manner in which the All Blacks snatched victory at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday.
Already this week he has talked to his own men about the value of never giving up, no matter how impossible the task may seem.
And while Penney is the first to acknowledge Munster have produced some remarkable escape exploits, he is quick to point out most of the players who achieved those dramatics are no longer wearing red.
Culture
"There is [a great legacy] but there are not many of those players here in Munster now. Just because it has been here before doesn't mean the culture of the team exists with the current crop, you know. Some of these guys have got to learn a bit of that."
He said they can learn from the never-say-die spirit that saw the All Blacks over the line on Sunday to break Irish hearts.
“It is never gone, there is always a sting in the tail there. It was an amazing weekend for New Zealand sports teams with the Kiwis league team doing the same thing the day before. Incredible. There are some great learnings for our group on the back of witnessing those two occasions. Time on the clock still means there is an opportunity.
“We discussed it, just what is it that allows teams to get to that position under duress and stress and when things are going against you how can you harness what you need to harness to get a result,” he said.
Big boosts
Meanwhile, Munster have received a big boost ahead of their Heineken Cup double date with Perpignan with Keith Earls expected to play this weekend against Dragons.
And Peter O’Mahony, who suffered a dead leg in the loss to the All Blacks, is expected to be fine for the visit of Perpignan on Sunday week, although he has been ruled out of Friday night’s match in Newport.
Paul O'Connell and Conor Murray may also be available , with Penney waiting to see if they have been cleared to play.
New signing Gerhard van den Heever, who is not yet Heineken Cup registered, could be poised to make his debut in Wales.
