Munster rugby talking points: Home comforts crucial to retaining URC crown
Gavin Coombes of Munster, hidden, goes over to score a try during the United Rugby Championship match against Edinburgh. Picture: Mark Scates/Sportsfile
Munster host interprovincial rivals Ulster at Thomond Park on Saturday evening in the final round of the URC knowing that victory will ensure top spot in the table and with it a potentially lucrative home route to the final on June 22.
Here we look at the major talking points in the build-up to the vital fixture that could well define Munster’s year.
The landscape has changed for Munster almost on a weekly basis in recent times, with them travelling to South Africa last month hoping to just keep themselves in the frame for a home quarter-final by remaining in fourth spot.
That trip went so well, with brilliant bonus point wins over the Bulls and the Lions, that not only was a top-four spot guaranteed, but suddenly the leading pair of Glasgow and Leinster were in their sights.
Amazingly all three results a fortnight ago went their way, with Munster themselves winning a very tricky tie in Edinburgh, meaning they go into the final weekend in first place, and any kind of win over Ulster on home soil will ensure they finish the league campaign in top spot.
This would be the first time that Munster finished top of a full league table since 2017, with the bizarre conference system kicking in the year after, and if stay in top spot it would give them every opportunity to retain their URC crown next month.
Glasgow and Leinster are both in action on Friday night, while the second-placed Bulls play just before the game kicks off in Limerick, so Graham Rowntree’s side will know exactly what they need come kick-off.
Ulster may have had an extremely difficult campaign, but they look a completely rejuvenated side under the stewardship of new head coach Richie Murphy, with them picking up four big wins in their last four games.
Three of those victories have come by less than a score, which would indicate that the team has rediscovered that bit of fight that you would expect from Ulster.
Ulster lie sixth in the table thanks to this late run of form and are guaranteed a place in the play-offs thanks to John Cooney’s last-gasp winning penalty against Leinster at Ravenhill in the last round.
However, last week’s Challenge Cup victory by the Sharks means the South African side has secured one of the eight URC places in the Champions Cup next year.
For Ulster, this means that they cannot afford to lose more than one spot in the table, and with Edinburgh, Benetton and the Lions all just four points behind them, they may yet need something from Saturday evening. They will know the score by kick-off time, as all those sides will be done and dusted by then.
This need for points to ensure their Champions Cup existence next year could make Ulster dangerous, but the likelihood is that Ulster’s European spot will be secure before we kick off in Limerick.
With Alex Nankivell already out injured, Munster would have been hoping that Antoine Frisch would be available, but a few days out from the game at Thomond Park he remained on the doubtful list with a leg injury.
Rory Scannell was in superb form in Edinburgh after he came on for a sub for Mike Haley in the 22nd minute, while Sean O’Brien started in the centre the week before against Connacht.
And while the back-ups are good to go, it would still be a major boost if one of Graham Rowntree’s starting centres was fit and rearing to go, especially considering the challenge that Stuart McCloskey and Will Addison are likely to bring to the table.
Munster fans will get the chance to see their new out-half signing Billy Burns on Saturday as well, although they will be hoping that he might save his next win at the venue until he’s wearing Munster red.
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