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Irish Times
4 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Munster will need to dip into their reserves of emotional energy in Durban
If Munster are to defy the odds against a Sharks side studded with World Cup winners and X factor in front of a 54,000-capacity crowd in next Saturday's BKT URC quarter-final at Kings Park in Durban, as ever on such occasions the collective performance will have to add up to more than the sum of their parts. To that end, Munster will again need dip into their reserves of emotional energy. Munster's history is, unfortunately at times, sprinkled with examples of them uniting in times of need, most notably in their Champions Cup win over Glasgow at a crammed Thomond Park in October 2016 the day after Anthony Foley's funeral. More recently, the team and supporters were united in their last two regular-season games against Ulster and Benetton to ensure a fitting farewell for Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray and Stephen Archer, and secure the two wins required to qualify for these play-offs and next season's Champions Cup. That trio's Munster finale will remain a factor, and so will paying tribute to Michelle Payne, wife of former fullback Shaun and a one-time employee of the Munster Branch, and Sheelagh Foley, wife of former player Brendan and mother of 'Axel'. READ MORE In extending 'our deepest sympathies' to the two families, interim head coach Ian Costello said: 'They were two very important people in the Munster community and a massive loss to us this week, and that's very close to our hearts.' Speaking from Durban after the squad's arrival there, Costello added: 'Brendan rang me Sunday morning to almost apologise for not coming and wished us the best. 'Obviously Michelle and Shaun were huge in the club as well. That's really important to the group this week especially as we're in South Africa.' As Shaun Payne was fullback on the 2006 Heineken Cup-winning and also played for the Sharks, tributes to both families are being discussed. 'Rugby is a very, very emotional game and I think any contact sport is,' said Costello. 'People talk about physically and mentally where you have to be. I think the third part of that is emotionally: are you ready to invest everything you have and leave everything out on the pitch? [ Jack Crowley passed fit for Munster's journey to Durban Opens in new window ] 'That's you as an individual and you as a team. And when emotionally you're connected to a purpose or to a cause that comes out in any team sport, especially one as physically demanding as rugby, and then when you add in pride in terms of our province, our identity and what we stand for, what we represent. How much we want to make people proud of our performance, so they can identify with who we are and what we're about. I think all of that amplifies a lot of the good that's there already and a lot of sports teams do it really well. 'We really leaned into it the last couple of weeks to represent people that we really care about and what they mean to the organisation and that came out in the performance. We will continue that on this week as well.' Sean O'Brien of Munster tries to tackle Aphelele Fassi of Sharks at Kings Park, Durban on October 26th, 2024. Photograph: Darren Stewart/Inpho That said, utilising emotion is a balancing act. 'I won't go into what was said but Tadhg (Beirne) and Peter (O'Mahony) over the last couple of weeks, supported by other key guys like Jack (Crowley) and Craig (Casey), spoke so well about using that emotion but also making sure it's balanced with a performance that's built on execution and accuracy and being really smart. 'Same thing as discipline, if you're over-aroused you give away too many penalties but you want to be playing right on that edge. When you've got coaches who are on it the way they are on it, and senior players that have lived it so many times, that really helps.' Although conditions will not be unduly warm at the 6.30pm kick-off local time (5.30pm Irish), Costello said the humidity will make the ball very slippery. 'We'll train appropriately, in having the ball greasy at training and making sure that if the handling skills are difficult that we've contingencies around where we play the game and how we play the game.' Mike Haley of Munster and Eben Etzebeth of Sharks at Kings Park, Durban. Photograph: Darren Stewart/Inpho Munster will be seeking to win three matches in succession for the first time this season but touring also tightens the squad and they lifted the URC trophy two seasons ago by ending long unbeaten home runs at Glasgow, Leinster and the Bulls. The Sharks finished third with 62 points, compared to just 25 points when 14th last season, making them the most improved side this season. 'We obviously know that the quality is there. What we've seen over the last few weeks is how good they are off the ball, a team that's highly motivated, that scramble well, they're off the ground quickly. 'If you make a line break it takes a lot of finishing before you score. That's one of the key differences that we've picked up. Their work off the ball and their non-talent stuff is in a really good place in the last six to eight games anyway,' said Costello, who also singled out the Sharks' ability in transition. Costello maintained this game 'absolutely isn't a free shot'. 'Now that we're here, we're very, very ambitious on what we want to achieve,' he added. He believes the travelling squad is stronger than when beaten 41-24 by the Sharks in Durban last October in what proved to be Graham Rowntree's last game as head coach but admitted: 'We need to get to our best or very, very close to it. We need to be accurate. We need to execute well and physically, mentally and emotionally we need to be at the right pitch. 'If we go out and play as ourselves, if we're clear about our DNA, our identity, we want to play high-paced rugby, we want to keep the ball alive, we want to play with really, really quick rucks, to play in the right parts of the field, do that with a platform of having a really solid set-piece, and then apply our line speed and our contact work; if we can be true to our identity around those, that I think would beat anybody on their day.'
Agriland
13-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Call for 40% excise rebate on pints in rural pubs
The Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) is calling for a 40% rebate on the excise charged to draught products sold in pubs. The VFI said the rebate would help protect rural pubs that play a vital social role in their local communities, while also preserving employment in a sector struggling with soaring costs. According to the VFI, Ireland has the second-highest excise rate on alcohol in Europe, with taxes accounting for nearly 30% of the price of a pint. The federation added that the current tax burden is unsustainable and is placing severe financial pressure on publicans, particularly in rural areas. Excise rebate The excise rebate scheme is based on a report written by Anthony Foley from Dublin City University (DCU) Business School. The proposal would see pubs provide evidence from suppliers that it purchased a certain number of tax- compliant kegs of qualifying beverage. The rebate of 40% is calculated by Revenue, up to a maximum of €20,000. The appropriate rebate would be credited to the VAT due in each VAT period of the following year. A 50-litre keg of Guinness contains 88 pints and generates €47.36 in excise per keg. A 40% rebate would be €18.94 per keg. To receive the full rebate of €20,000, a public house would need to sell 1,056 kegs annually or 20.3 kegs weekly. The VFI said that most rural pubs would not sell this volume of kegs. Rural pubs Pat Crotty, chief executive of VFI, said that 'publicans are not asking for a handout – we are asking for fairness' 'A 40% rebate on the excise charged on draught products is a practical, targeted support that would make a real difference for small pubs across Ireland. 'These are businesses at the heart of their communities, providing employment, social connection and play a key role in our tourism offering,' he said. The VFI has welcomed the government's commitment to support small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Programme for Government, which acknowledges the increased cost pressures on the hospitality sector. 'However, it is vital that any measures introduced benefit all pubs – not just those serving food,' Crotty said. The VFI argues that while the proposed VAT reduction for hospitality is welcome, it will only benefit pubs that serve food, leaving traditional pubs without support. The draught excise rebate, in contrast, would ensure that all pubs, regardless of size or location, benefit. 'Rural pubs are facing an existential crisis. We have seen hundreds of pubs close their doors in recent years. 'If this trend continues, we will lose a vital part of Irish culture and community life. A draught rebate is a simple, fair, and targeted measure that would provide immediate relief. 'We estimate the rebate would cost €73 million annually, a small fraction of the VAT proposal,' Crotty said. The VFI is urging the government to include the draught rebate in the upcoming budget as a critical measure to preserve Ireland's pub culture and sustain rural communities.
Irish Examiner
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
O'Donoghue understands the effect adversity will have on Cardiff psyche
It will be an emotional Cardiff Arms Park which Munster enters on Friday night, making the province's bid to rescue a difficult campaign even more challenging as the hunt for URC play-off places reaches a critical juncture. A final home game of the season for sixth-placed Cardiff ahead of a challenging final two rounds in South Africa means Matt Sherratt's side need maximum points this weekend to give themselves the best chance of hanging on to the top-eight finish and a place in the knockout rounds that both home and away dressing rooms are on a mission to secure. There is also the added motivation, which Munster back-rower Jack O'Donoghue detects in the Cardiff psyche, of the recent turmoil behind the scenes at the Welsh capital club, having been taken over by the home union after entering administration. O'Donoghue, 31, has been around long enough to remember the galvanising effect Anthony Foley's sudden death had on the Munster squad during that most grief-stricken of campaigns in 2016-17 and he sees parallels in the way Cardiff's players reacted to their off-field problems with a rousing 36-19 win over derby rivals Ospreys last weekend at Principality Stadium. 'I think we can relate, we didn't go into administration but we went through a bit of turmoil with Graham (Rowntree) leaving during the season,' O'Donoghue said this week. 'Personally, went through Anthony Foley passing away, so it does bring the group closer together. You know, you go back to that Anthony Foley game against Glasgow (a day after their head coach's funeral) and how close we were as a team. It was really special and that's exactly what they're doing. 'Their backs are against the wall, it's going back to 'this is our club, this is our community' and everyone's rowing in behind them. It's galvanised them so I think they're going to be tough to beat.' Read More Costello makes seven Munster changes for Cardiff clash as key quartet return That Munster go to Cardiff off the back of successive defeats, a Champions Cup quarter-final at Bordeuax-Begles and last Saturday's 16-13 home reverse to the Bulls does not make life easier for Ian Costello's side. Home games against Ulster and Benetton will round out their league campaign but the seventh-placed province, currently at the upper end of bunched group of 10 teams between fifth and 12th within 10 points of each other, desperately need a victory on the road to bolster their chances of making the play-offs. Fail to win at the Arms Park and the prospects for Champions Cup qualification next season begin to look extremely precarious. The effects of a Challenge Cup pool campaign will be huge, not least financially, and not exactly the welcome gift new head coach Clayton McMillan would have envisaged when he agreed to leave Super Rugby's Chiefs for life in Limerick this summer. So an awful lot rides on the next few weeks and the outcome in Cardiff is crucial to how this season and what lies ahead pans out. 'We can't be feeling sorry for ourselves, there's too much at stake for that,' O'Donoghue said. "We have aspirations to win the trophy and we're chasing a knockout spot and that's exactly what we need to do. With three games left, I know it's a cliché but we're treating every game as if it's a cup final. 'With the team's we're playing, there's going to be massive shifts amongst those play-off spots and we can just control what we can control, and that's Friday night.' Munster make seven changes to the side beaten by the Bulls as they bid to save their season. Michael Milne will debut at loosehead prop while Mike Haley, Calvin Nash, Craig Casey and Gavin Coombes all return from injuries or illness for the must-win road trip. John Ryan at tighthead prop and second Fineen Wycherley also get starting roles. Haley starts at full-back after recovering from the ankle injury he sustained in January with Nash returning to the right wing following his ankle knock in Bordeaux a fortnight ago, while Thaakir Abrahams switches from number 15 to the left wing. Read More Wafer absent as Bemand names Ireland side for Scotland clash Casey returns to scrum-half alongside Jack Crowley, having been taken ill before kick-off last time out. Milne, who joined Munster on loan for the rest of the season last week ahead of his permanent move from Leinster this summer, will pack down alongside hooker Niall Scannell and veteran tighthead Ryan, who steps up following injuries to both Oli Jager and Stephen Archer during the Bulls game. Fineen Wycherley joins captain Tadhg Beirne in the second row while Peter O'Mahony's hamstring strain picked up in the warm-up for the Bulls fixture sees Jack O'Donoghue move from No.8 to blindside flanker in place of the injured Tom Ahern, Alex Kendellen retained on the openside and Coombes return at No.8 having also received an ankle knock in Bordeaux. CARDIFF: C Winnett; J Adams, H Millard, B Thomas; G Hamer-Webb; C Sheedy, J Mulder; D Southworth, L Belcher - captain, K Assiratti; J McNally, T Williams; J Botham, T Young, T Faletau. Replacements: E Lloyd, C Domachowski, R Litterick, R Thornton, A Lawrence, B Donnell, A Davies, T de Beer. MUNSTER: M Haley; C Nash, T Farrell, A Nankivell, T Abrahams; J Crowley, C Casey; M Milne, N Scannell, J Ryan; F Wycherley, T Beirne - captain; J O'Donoghue, A Kendellen, G Coombes. Replacements: D Barron, M Donnelly, R Foxe, J Kleyn, R Quinn, P Patterson, T Butler, S O'Brien. Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy).
