Much of the post-match reaction after Munster's famous win over Harlequins saw praise heaped on the players.

While Paul O'Connell and co deserve major credit for pulling off a win at The Stoop, should head coach Rob Penney get as much credit as his charges?

Former Ireland and Munster scrum-half Tom Tierney spoke to Newstalk Breakfast's Oisin Langan this morning and suggested that yesterday's attritional victory was a mix of the expanisve game plan that Penney has been trying to instill and old-school Munster rugby.   

"As a coach, sometimes you have to accept that if things are not exactly the way you want them to be, you have to involve the players," said Tierney.

"Get the players on your side and come up with a plan that suits everyone."

"Rudderless"

And Tierney believes that the blend of typical Munster tactics and Penney's methods should be the blueprint against "the best team in the Heineken Cup and the Pro 14" Clermont in the semi-finals:

"If they really focus on that style of rugby for the rest if the year, they will give Clermont a big, big fright in the semi-final."

Tierney also felt the return of Paul O'Connell was crucial. The Ireland second row recently returned from a lengthy lay-off and put in a Man of the Match performance and Tierney believes Munster had been "rudderless" earlier in the year.

"He's such a massive player and personality in relation to what he gets out of himself but also forcing other players to start believing in themselves and play at a higher level. When you look at that team during the season, they were a small bit rudderless. With O'Connell walking out as captain it showed a super sign to everyone yesterday. It was fantastic."

Listen to the full interview here: 

 

©INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan