Despite Munster’s uncharacteristic recent form characterised by losses and scarce victories, the team has always found a way to shine when the pressure mounts. Their original exit from the Champions Cup quarter-final in Northampton allowed their rivals clad in blue to steal the media spotlight, although their own Ronan O’Gara did manage to retain some of the focus on Munster during those quarter-finals. And, as is their habit, Munster is now back in the game, albeit in a somewhat self-inflicted predicament.
The 24-14 loss they encountered at Franklin’s Gardens two weeks ago instigated Graham Rowntree’s statement about adopting a forward-facing perspective, despite the fact that winning merely one out of four pool games led to Munster having to follow an away route to the finals, a trip which could theoretically take them from Northampton to either Pretoria or Croke Park.
Despite the daunting eventualities, Munster found a glimmer of hope in their previous journey through Glasgow, Dublin, and Cape Town to the URC title that many had thought to be unattainable. Their 50-35 defeat at the hands of the Sharks in Durban was discouraging, leading many to doubt whether Munster would reach the playoffs.
However, among setbacks and challenges, Munster made a comeback. A week’s break allowed them to observe the Champions Cup Quarter-finals, refresh and return to South Africa where they bested the reigning champion Stormers 26-24 in their home ground, something which the Stormers had yet to experience since 2021.
Munster soon followed up on their victory with a tied game against the Sharks and after a week of respite they delivered a crushing blow to Glasgow in the quarterfinals, handing them their first defeat of the season. They then halted Leinster’s 25-match triumph streak in the semi-finals. Two weeks later, they once again outperformed the Stormers in the final at the DHL Stadium. It was a humbling victory, eliciting questions about the odds Munster was given at winning the URC just prior to their penultimate normal season match in Cape Town. Had anyone thought to check?
As the fog of sickness cleared for Tadhg Beirne, he looked back on the postponed match, realising Munster may have benefitted from their game against the Bulls being postponed. Were they to take on the Bulls in the highveldt of Loftus Versfeld in the Champions Cup quarter-finals, kicking off a three-match South African journey, it may have proved to be an unproductive and potentially detrimental ordeal.
Instead, Munster received a week-long respite as the Champions Cup quarter-finals went ahead without them. Tomorrow (Saturday) they are faced with the challenge of the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld (4.05pm Irish time/5.05pm local, live on RTÉ). RG Snyman has shaken off his illness which held him back from the Northampton match. Calvin Nash and Shane Daly will also return, with Simon Zebo shifting to fullback, as Conor Murray, Alex Kendellen, and Jack O’Donoghue regain their positions alongside an intriguing team selection.
Oli Jager has healed from his injuries to join an impactful bench that includes Tom Ahern, John Hodnett, and Gavin Coombes in a 6-2 split, with Craig Casey and Joey Carbery stepping in as the backline cover. Under the strategic guidance of Graham Rowntree and his team, the selection intends to resist the challenges of playing at altitude and bringing any necessary relief when the altitude starts to stifle the players.
Despite being fourth and only two points behind the Bulls, who hold third place, the objective remains to secure a home quarter-final. However, due to the tight turnaround between the Champions Cup quarter-finals and subsequent travel complications, Jake White chose to focus on the URC basket. With their first of four consecutive home matches, the Bulls are in a strong position, concluding with a final round away game against the Sharks.
As for Munster, they are barely in front of the Stormers by four points, while their forthcoming run includes an away match against the Lions, home games against Connacht and Ulster, and an away game to Edinburgh. The Stormers face the Ospreys this Saturday, followed by Leinster next week, and a concluding triplet against the Dragons, Connacht, and the Lions.
It’s important to mention that Thomond Park hasn’t hosted a home play-off match for Munster in this competition since their narrow 15-13 victory over Benetton in the quarter-finals of the 2018-2019 season. The most recent knockout match that Thomond Park was home to was the Champions Cup’s 16th round a couple of seasons ago, where they played against Exeter. Just a week later, they experienced the sting of disappointment in a goalkicking contest against Toulouse at the Aviva, as Thomond Park was being rented to Ed Sheeran for his concert tour.
Indeed, during the previous season, Munster embarked on a roundabout campaign, both aerobically and terrestrially. Nevertheless, it is clear that an opportunity to host a couple of overdue home matches would both financially enhance their reserves and statistically increase their odds of winning.