VIDEO: The 'jeopardy' of a URC trip to South Africa
Graham Christopher Rowntree has seen all in his professional career of 34 years – the first 17 as a player.
Now, as the Munster coach, he is facing some diverse challenges.
That includes preparing his team for rigorous trips to South Africa.
South Africa has had representation in all three of the United Rugby Championship finals to date – the Stormers beating the Bulls 18-13 in year one, Munster overcoming the Stormers 19-14 the following season and Glasgow Warriors beating the Bulls 21-16 last season.
Rowntree said the addition of South African teams to URC – which had its foundations in the Celtic League and Anglo-Welsh Cup in the early years of professionalism – has improved the standard of the competition.
The Cheetahs and Southern Kings were the pioneers of South Africa’s migration to Europe when they joined the Pro 14 in 2017.
In 2021, as sport slowly emerged from its COVID-induced lacuna, the Stormers, Bulls, Sharks and Lions replaced the Cheetahs and Kings – with South Africa’s diaspora north formalised.
“They [the SA teams] have all advanced their games,” he told @rugby365com, adding: “Look at the Bulls. They no longer just play a power game.
“They have raised the standards.
“We measure ourselves very strongly against the South African teams.”
Rowntree, with 54 England caps and three Tests for the British and Irish Lions, spoke of the ‘jeopardy’ of a trip to the Republic.
(WATCH as Munster coach Graham Rowntree speaks about the jeopardy of touring South Africa….)
“You have to select the right 30 players to go there for two games,” he said,
“Inevitably, if it is at altitude there is a different complicacy that the guys are not used to.
“I firmly believe, that to advance in the competition, what you do in South Africa, what points you can get there is vital.”
In the first three years of the URC, Munster won nine games on their road trips to the Republic – which also included a draw.
It was in the opening season (2021-22) when they learnt their most valuable lessons.
After comfortable wins at home – 42-17 against the Sharks and 34-18 over the Stormers – Munster suffered back-to-back losses on the Highveld, The Bulls edged them 29-24 at Loftus Versfeld and the Lions’ winning margin (23-21) was even narrower.
Since then Munster has not lost to a South African franchise.
In the 2022-23 season they beat the Bulls 31-17 and the Lions 33-3 in Ireland, edging the Stormers 26-24 in Cape Town and drawing 12-all with the Sharks in Durban.
They returned to Cape Town for the Final, which they won 19-13 in an epic face-off against the Stormers.
Last season Munster won all four of their games against South African teams – 34-21 against the Sharks and 10-3 over the Stormers, both at Thomond Park, before edging the Bulls 27-22 in Pretoria and the Lions 33-13 in Johannesburg.
Rowntree felt that the variety brought on by the very different brands – from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Italy and South Africa – is good for the game.
“If we play the Bulls and the Lions back-to-back, we go from the power game of the Bulls and a week later against the Lions you can’t take your eye off the ball – they test you everywhere.
“It has advanced the quality of the league,”
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