Munster v Connacht: Reds chasing a win but must avoid more injuries

MUNSTER host provincial rivals Connacht at Thomond Park on Saturday with every game feeling like a cup final now, as they bid to retain their URC title.

They find themselves tantalisingly within reach of the top two spots in the URC table, and know that if they can produce the form that saw them collect all ten points on offer in South Africa into their final three league fixtures, that they will have a serious chance of nabbing first or second spot, which would bring a home quarter-final and potentially a home semi-final in the play-offs.

Leinster play Ospreys and Connacht at home, with a tricky trip to Ulster coming seven days before their Champions Cup final against Toulouse, so Munster will be hopeful that the door might open for them to slip past their provincial rivals.

There is also the possibility of catching table toppers the Glasgow Warriors, even if they are currently five points ahead of Munster, as the Scottish side begin the exact trip to South Africa that Munster just collected maximum points from, as they face the Bulls and the Lions on successive weekends. 

Munster will be hoping that their Scottish rivals are not as successful in their efforts.

These are the uncontrollables. What Munster can control is their own form and results, with the visit of Connacht to Limerick this Saturday the first opportunity to make in-roads.

TARGET

The target has to be the maximum 15 points on offer in the two home games against Connacht and Ulster, as well as the away trip to Edinburgh, but that is a big ask as none of these fixtures are going to be easy.

But, as Graham Rowntree’s side proved last year, once they get on a roll they have the capability of riding that wave of momentum all the way to the title.

Connacht are reeling from the news that their former Munster outhalf JJ Hanrahan has suffered an ACL injury and will now be out until 2025, while they also have Mack Hansen, Santiago Cordero, Cian Prendergast and Denis Buckley on the injured list, although they are boosted by the return of Jack Carty.

Munster have their own injury issues with John Hodnett set to miss the next two fixtures, although they do welcome back John Ryan, Brian Gleeson and Liam Coombes to the squad.

Munster scored 60 points down in South Africa, and with the hard grounds finally arriving in Europe the hope is that Munster’s attacking game can flourish in the next month or so.

There is always a sense of vulnerability with this Munster team though, that one or two key injuries might de-rail them. 

One might think that the likes of Jack Crowley and Peter O’Mahony would be top of the list of players that Munster would be most likely to wrap up in cotton wool, but you could well argue that Jeremy Loughman and Niall Scannell are now Munster’s most important players, as the squad options at loose-head and hooker mean that Munster would be unlikely to be able to win big knockout games without them to lock down the front row.

So, while Munster can feel confident of getting the job done on Saturday, there will also be the sense of keeping all fingers and toes crossed that everyone gets through the tie unscathed.